School Trips · Coastal School Trips

Coastal trip to Alicante

A Moorish castle above a sweeping bay, palm-lined promenades and warm Mediterranean days, Spanish immersion on the Costa Blanca.

Spain 5 days / 4 nights, residential Ages 13–16
Duration
5 days / 4 nights, residential
Group size
15 to 60 pupils
Ages
Ages 13–16
Season
Apr – Oct

Alicante with your class

Sun-soaked, friendly and refreshingly authentic, Alicante is an ideal base for Spanish immersion on the Costa Blanca. It combines genuine Spanish daily life with a dramatic hilltop castle, a beautiful old town and an easy Mediterranean pace, the kind of place where students relax into using the language without quite realising they’re doing it.

Dominating the city is the Santa Bárbara Castle, perched high on Mount Benacantil with the whole bay laid out below. Its origins lie in Moorish Spain, and exploring its ramparts is both a history lesson, Muslim Iberia, the Reconquista, centuries of Mediterranean conflict and trade, and a spectacular vantage point. Below, the old town of Santa Cruz, with its narrow whitewashed lanes and flower-filled balconies, and the marble Explanada de España along the seafront, give students the real texture of a Spanish city.

The Mediterranean is everywhere. The city beach sits right beside the centre, and the surrounding region offers plenty: a boat trip to the island of Tabarca, the dramatic mountain village of Guadalest, or the UNESCO-listed palm grove of nearby Elche. Whether through watersports, a coastal walk or simply an afternoon by the sea, students connect with the geography that shapes life on this coast.

Most importantly, Alicante immerses students in Spanish, in its markets, cafés, tapas bars and easy sociability. Spending time in a real Spanish city, where the language is a tool for everyday life rather than an exam subject, builds confidence faster than anything else. Students return more fluent, more independent and genuinely fond of the place.

Cultural stay school trip

Trip highlights

01 The hilltop Santa Bárbara Castle and its views over the bay

The hilltop Santa Bárbara Castle and its views over the bay

02 Exploring the old town of Santa Cruz and Spanish daily life

Exploring the old town of Santa Cruz and Spanish daily life

03 The Mediterranean coast

The Mediterranean coast, beaches, a boat trip to Tabarca, or the village of Guadalest

Curriculum links

Spanish language & culture
history
geography
coastal & outdoor activity

Practical information

TransportTravel arranged to suit your school's location.
AccommodationThe group stays in residential accommodation, with guided visits at the main sites.
  • The trip is based in Alicante, on Spain's Costa Blanca, with day trips along the coast and into the surrounding region.
  • The Mediterranean climate is warm and sunny; sun protection is advisable.
  • Local currency is the euro; spending money recommended.
  • On the Move is the officially accredited school trips provider for the European Schools in Belgium; every trip has a dedicated project manager with 24/7 emergency support.

A day by day

1
Day 1
Arrival & the seafront, The group arrives and settles in, with an evening stroll along the Explanada de España and the marina for a first taste of the city.
2
Day 2
Castle & old town, A morning climbing to the Santa Bárbara Castle and exploring its history and views, followed by the lanes of the Santa Cruz quarter and time in the city centre.
3
Day 3
The Mediterranean, A coastal day, a boat trip to the island of Tabarca, time on the beach or watersports, immersing students in the geography of the Costa Blanca.
4
Day 4
Spanish life & a day trip, A market morning and Spanish-language immersion, with an excursion to the mountain village of Guadalest or the palm grove of Elche.
5
Day 5
Departure, A final morning by the sea before the journey home.

✏️ This is an example timetable: we can adapt the destination, programme, duration and budget to suit your group.

Students come home with…

  • more confident, practical Spanish, an understanding of Moorish Spain and Mediterranean history, a feel for Spanish culture and daily life, and the easy confidence that comes from a week on the Costa Blanca.

In pictures

Coastal School Trips - your questions

Our Belgian Coast programme is designed for P3–P4 (ages 8–10) and is available as a day trip. Secondary programmes on the Dutch coast and Picardy suit ages 12–16, with content adapted to each year group.

Yes. All water-based activities are run by qualified, certified instructors with the correct ratios and safety equipment. Non-swimmers are always catered for.

Return travel, full-board coastal accommodation, all workshops and activities, qualified guides, insurance and a dedicated On the Move coordinator.

Spring and early summer dates fill first. We recommend booking 4 to 6 months ahead to secure your preferred week.

A coastal trip to Alicante?

Tell us your group and dates - we'll build the programme around you.

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