Discover the World Ltd

We know that school trips are a rite of passage for many. Our own recollections often bring warm memories of classroom discussions about room sharing arrangements, snacks to bring, and most importantly, being parent-free for a short amount of time. The taste of independence on the horizon and excitement for the ultimate adventure that lay ahead. An average school trip spans around five nights, but the positive impact lasts a lifetime.

Clive Stacey first founded Discover the World in 1984. He had a unique vision to share winter Nordic holidays, which go beyond snow-themed winter sports, with the rest of the world. He blazed trails by being the first operator to focus on the Nordics and then went on to offer the first ever trips to view Iceland's volcanic eruptions. In 1988, it was time to spark the curiosity of young student's minds, and our Living Planet Education programme was born. This resulted in the first ever geography school trip to Iceland from the UK. Pioneering not only runs in his blood but is the foundation Discover the World is built on. 

Whilst our holiday division is busy serving discerning travellers, our education team is supporting teachers both in and outside the classroom. Visiting a new country, trying a new activity, and experiencing a new culture has the power to shape a young person's future and lay the foundation for their lives ahead. And that’s why we are meticulous about what we offer. We are specialists, not generalists, and our school trips go beyond the usual.

Take our geography trips for example, where young geographers will encounter iconic geographic landscapes from the active volcanoes of Iceland or the snowcapped peaks of Norway. Or for adventures further afield, students can participate in unique activities such as cooking their own lunch, geothermally, in the Azores or experience conservation firsthand at the sea turtle conservancy centre in Costa Rica.

This year we are also excited to be launching our fully immersive language trips, and we are proud to be the first company to truly do so. Our language programme, carefully curated by former language teachers, has been especially chosen to focus on smaller towns outside of bigger, well-known cities. Experience tells us it’s in these locations that students can really lift the lid on local culture, participate in once-in-a-lifetime activities, and practice their language skills in a way that is impossible in the classroom. 

Our specialist team is made up of former teachers, parents, and destination experts who are obsessive about providing young people with real-world experiences. Passionate about offering an all-encompassing service, our level of support extends beyond the accreditations and badges we hold. For teachers, we provide award-winning resources, free, to all schools, including classroom packs, videos, revision sessions, and webinars to enhance students learning. We also provide engaging and informative CPD sessions for teachers, bringing together the latest teaching strategies in line with the national curriculum.

For parents whose children are ready to embark on one of our school trips, we have a dedicated support zone answering questions from spending money to kit lists. And as parents ourselves, we know how apprehensive it feels to wave goodbye to a child departing on an international school trip. However, nothing can prepare you for the young person that returns. Beaming with independence and eager to share their memories with their families, it’s easy to see why school trips benefit every type of student.

Making these life-changing experiences accessible to all truly inspires us. We are proud that through our industry-leading bursary scheme, each holiday booking funds 30 school trip places for disadvantaged students across the UK, opening doors to opportunities that will benefit them for a lifetime. We think that the world is great so pass it on, and we know you do too.