Educational Trip To Geneva & CERN For International Schools

Geneva is one of the most international cities in the world with a tradition of international movements such as the United Nations which can be visited. Groups can wander around the old town, stroll along the lakeside, visit the clock museum or enjoy a boat trip on the lake.

Chamonix lies at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps. The town was the first to embrace winter and summer Alpine tourism and has been a popular destination since the 19th century and a gateway to explore the Mer de Glace glacier and the Aiguille du Midi. The Leisure Park is popular with groups.

Running from Chamonix to an altitude of 2000 metres. The railway line with its famous red train is just over 3 miles long and takes 20 minutes to reach its destination half way up the spectacular Mer de Glace glacier. From the top of the railway it’s possible to take a cable car to visit the Ice Caves (seasonal opening).

Starting in Chamonix this fantastic cable car ride takes 20 minutes to reach an altitude of 3,842 metres up the Aiguille du Midi. The views are stunning and perfect for studying the geographical features of the Mont Blanc region. Recent additions include a walkway around the central peak, a covered terrace at the summit and a new Skywalk.

Known as the “pearl of Lake Geneva”, Evian is a spa town famous for its water.  You can visit the lakeside gardens, see the grand buildings built in the Nineteenth Century, take the funicular to enjoy the view over the lake, or take to the water with a boat ride to nearby Thonon-les-Bains.

The main waterpark in the area provides a full day of fun and relaxation with water-based attractions both outdoors and indoors: lazy river, splash lagoon, a beach area, a 15-meter-freefall slide, a pitch-black toboggan.

This picturesque village is famous for its cheese and you can visit a local cheese factory to witness the preparation process. Do not miss the many medieval buildings including the Castle, the fountain and the ramparts.

The town lies in a sheltered bay on Lake Geneva against the stunning backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Thanks to its mild climate, reminiscent of Mediterranean resorts, it has attracted many celebrities such as Freddie Mercury and Charlie Chaplin. Walk past the many Belle Epoque buildings, stroll along the beautiful lakeside promenade or enjoy a visit to the Château de Chillon built on a promontory jutting out into the lake itself.

No trip to Switzerland would be complete without a visit to a chocolate maker. Situated in the small village of Broc, the Maison Cailler allows visitors to witness the various stages of chocolate production from the cocoa bean to the finished product. A tasting is included in the visit.

Witness first-hand the spectacular power of erosion with a visit of the Gorges. Specially created paths allow visitors to experience the site in safety.

CERN is the world’s leading particle physics research laboratory. Special tours can be arranged for schools which must be pre-booked well in advance directly by the school. Each tour lasts about three hours and includes an introduction with a short film followed by a visit to one or two of the ground-level visit points. (It is not possible to visit the underground experiments) Pupils must be 13 years and over.

Tip: Groups can also visit the two permanent exhibitions at CERN – The Microcosm and The Universe of Particles.

This museum showcases the city of Geneva’s scientific past inside the beautiful neo-classical Villa Bartholoni in the Perle du Lac Park. The collections include many scientific instruments including microscopes, barometers, sun dials, astrolabes, books and documents.The exhibits have been bequeathed by the families of Geneva’s scientists or donated by the bodies for which they worked.

ICT Discovery takes visitors on a journey through the connected world. There are hands-on exhibits of key items of technology and explanations of how they work. The exhibition shows the development of communication technology through the ages, including to the rapid changes in the 19th, 20th and 21st century, and looks into what the future might hold.

The imposing buildings of the Palais des Nations house the European headquarters of the United Nations, the largest UN centre after New York. Guided tours are available and subject to meetings taking place may include the art-deco Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations room, richly decorated by the artist Miquel Barcelo, The Assembly Hall and Council Chamber. The guide will explain what currently takes place at the UN HQ and the history of the Palais des Nations.

Geneva is the birth place of this humanitarian organisation founded by Henry Dunant. The Museum’s permanent exhibition ‘The Humanitarian Adventure’ follows three contemporary themes of concern to us today and which will affect our common future – defending human dignity, restoring family links and reducing natural risks.

This is Switzerland’s largest natural history museum. There is a focus on the animals of the region including mammals, birds and reptiles and a collection of tropical animals. The museum looks at geosciences, astronomy and the history of mankind. Parts of the museum are currently under renovation until 2018.