GCSE Glacial Landscapes Trip to Andorra
Our GCSE Geography field trips are designed to align with key themes in the curriculum, enabling students to engage directly with the natural world while developing essential geographical skills.
GCSE Glacial Landscapes Trips to Andorra focus on glacial landscapes connects theoretical classroom learning with real-world applications, offering students the opportunity to explore glacial features, processes, and human-environment interactions in dynamic alpine settings.
GCSE Glacial Landscapes Trip to Andorra: Curriculum Alignment
- Physical Geography:
- Glacial processes and landforms: Students study erosion, transportation, and deposition associated with glaciation, including corries, arêtes, moraines, and striations.
- Landscape evolution: Investigate how glacial and post-glacial processes shape the environment over time.
- Environmental sustainability: Assess the impact of human activities on fragile alpine ecosystems.
- Fieldwork Skills:
- Map reading, field sketching, and the use of compasses to measure striations and glacial flow direction.
- Data collection methods, including sampling strategies and analysis of moraine deposits.
- Developing hypotheses and using field data to draw conclusions, critical for coursework.
GCSE Glacial Landscapes Trip to Andorra
- Duration: 4 days 3 nights
- Board: Full board
- Passengers: 40
- Free Staff Places: 4
Accommodation
Hotel Vall Ski
The Vall Ski is a traditional located about 1.5 km away from both the centre of El Tarter and the base station for the Grandvalira area. It’s facilities include a reception, lift, Wi-Fi, café, restaurant, and TV room. In addition, the hotel offers an entertainment programme and there is also table tennis and billiards.
The Vall Ski is a great location for school group to enjoy both El Tarter and the Grandvalira.
Excursions & Inclusions
Col Blanc and La Portella glacial lakes, Incles Valley and then to Cabana Sorda
Where it’s held
Andorra, Spain
Nestled in the Pyrenees, Andorra offers an ideal setting for geography school trips with its stunning landscapes, including glacial valleys, mountain ecosystems, and rivers. This safe and accessible country provides excellent opportunities to study glaciation, alpine environments, and sustainable tourism. Andorra’s compact size and beautiful natural areas, such as the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, make it the perfect destination for immersive fieldwork and hands-on learning in a spectacular, mountainous environment.
Sample Itinerary for GCSE Glacial Landscapes Trip to Andorra
Day 1 Arrival and Introduction to Glacial Geography
Morning:
Flight to Girona or Barcelona.
Coach transfer to hotel in Soldeu.
Late breakfast on arrival.
Midday:
Class Session 1:
Health and safety briefing.
Glacial geography revision games.
Introduction to fieldwork methods, map work, and equipment check.
Afternoon:
Fieldwork Session 1:
Coach transfer to Port d’Envalira.
Walk from Port d’Envalira to Col Blanc (2500m) to identify glacial landforms (e.g., corries, arêtes).
Activities: Field sketching, map reading, and landform analysis.
Return to Port d’Envalira for coach transfer back to the hotel.
Evening:
Dinner at the hotel.
Class Session 2:
Review fieldwork from Col Blanc.
Discuss sampling strategies and quantitative methods in preparation for the next day’s activities.
Day 2 Glacial Deposits and Ice Movement Analysis
Morning:
Breakfast and preparation for fieldwork (kit check, collect packed lunches).
Coach transfer to Port d’Envalira.
Fieldwork Session 2:
Walk to Col Blanc and onwards to the glacial lakes and moraine fields at La Portella.
Activities:
Field sketching and identifying glacial deposits.
Using compasses to measure glacier flow direction through striations and chatter marks.
Analyze moraine rock types to infer ice movement in adjacent corries.
Afternoon:
Lunch in the field at La Portella.
Continue fieldwork and return to Port d’Envalira.
Coach transfer back to the hotel.
Evening:
Free time for relaxation.
Dinner at the hotel.
Class Session 3:
Review data from moraine and striation analysis.
Plot findings onto maps and discuss interpretations.
Day 3 Economic Uses and Sustainable Resources in Alpine Landscapes
Morning:
Breakfast and field preparation.
Class Session 4:
Introduction to economic uses of glacial landscapes using maps and Google Earth imagery.
Fieldwork Session 3:
Walk from the hotel to a nearby ski area.
Study the environmental impacts of skiing on soil quality and biodiversity.
Afternoon:
Return to Soldeu for lunch and free time for shopping or relaxation.
Fieldwork Session 4:
Walk along GR trails into the Incles Valley.
Study alpine woodlands and high-altitude agriculture as sustainable resources.
Return to the hotel on foot.
Evening:
Dinner at the hotel.
Class Session 5:
Review findings from the day’s fieldwork.
Group plenary and reflection.
Day 4 Departure
Morning:
Breakfast and check-out.
Coach transfer to Girona or Barcelona Airport for return flight.