Flight-free school trips— try these European residentials by coach!

1 May 2024, 09:57
by Kate Moore

Eifel National Park German Language Immersion School Trip

With the climate at the forefront of many young people's minds, more school groups are being encouraged to reconsider how they travel.

As the trend for more environmentally friendly travel is set to continue, we explore the benefits of taking a flight-free school trip and recommend our top European destinations than can be reached without boarding a plane.

Four reasons to consider a European school trip by coach

1. Flight-free school trips are more affordable

Visiting Europe by coach is more affordable meaning more learners can participate and benefit.

Coach trips are cheaper for schools than air trips because you spread the cost of the vehicle and driver across the whole group. What’s more, by organising your school trip by coach, you don’t have the worry about additional luggage fees, airport taxes and transfers.

Top tip - to maximise savings travel in the Autumn or Spring terms when Channel crossings to Calais are considerably cheaper.

2. Hassle-free door-to-door travel & full use of the coach on your trip

Take your school trip to Europe by coach for a seamless journey.

Travel from school to your destination and back again with zero hassle, with the chance of including a shopping stop or visit to break up the journey. What's more, you can enjoy the convenience of having your own dedicated coach and driver for all your excursions your during your stay.

3. Easier to supervise your group

Taking a school trip by coach can make life easier for the teachers as it is easier to keep an eye on every member your group throughout the journey – without the worry that one or more of your students might get waylaid at the airport and miss their flight!

4. More school groups want to travel jet zero

There is no doubt that a coach trip does less environmental harm than plane travel. According to the Department for Transport's National Atmospheric Emission Inventory a group travelling from London to Glasgow by air would emit seven times more CO2e per passenger than the equivalent overland journey by coach.

Top tip - aim for a group of 35 to make the most of a standard coach.

Our top picks for flight-free school trips to Europe in 2025

Whatever reason you want to avoid a flight in 2025, we have a great range of educational residentials that can be easily reached without boarding a plane. Take a look at our pick of our no-flight tours to Europe which are reachable by coach and ferry.

German language immersion – staying at Hellenthal centre, Rhine-Westphalia

Journey time from Calais by coach – 6 hours

Immerse your students in authentic German language and culture at a traditional youth hostel, in a picture book setting of hills, lakes and half-timbered buildings. This immersive German language school trip to Hellenthal, Western Germany combines onsite adventure activities with local cultural visits. Children also learn about protecting the natural environment with a trained German-native speaking instructor.

Spanish language immersion – staying at Mas Pagès centre, Girona

Journey time from Calais by coach – 14 hours (overnight trip)

Less than an hour from the French border, this Spanish language school trip to Mas Pages, near Girona Northern Spain, has been specially designed for groups travelling by coach. This immersive Spanish language trip makes the most of the lush Spanish countryside, temperate climate, and stunning historic sights of the area. Learners enjoy onsite adventure activities and visits to traditional Spanish sites with our Spanish-native language and activity instructors.

French language immersion – staying at Château de Chantereine centre, Normandy

Journey time from Calais by coach – 2 hours

Our popular French language immersion programme, at Château de Chantereine in Upper Normandy, has a nature theme – with guided walks to the Baie de Somme nature reserve where students will explore this unique protected natural environment and encounter the area’s own seal colony close-up. All activities are led in French, with our own animateurs, with students staying in a 17^th century château just a short walk to the beach.

All aboard Voyager's own coach fleet

Where possible our European coach groups use Pegasus Coaches, our own specialist coach company. With a long-standing reputation for transporting school and student groups and with their expertise in European travel, we fully understand the needs and expectations of coach travel.