School Ski Trips To Sunny Spain’s Sierra Nevada

School ski trips can be fantastic fun and a great way to reward your students, but they can also be valuable experiences that help develop a range of important life skills. If you are planning on taking your students away for a week of shredding powder, you will probably be thinking of resorts in The Alps. This is understandable, but there is actually another destination which is better suited to school ski trips – Spain! 

Spain and skiing may not seem like an obvious good match, but the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southeastern Spain is a brilliant resort and great destination for an unforgettable school trip. Here are a few reasons why you should select this as your destination.

Location

Sierra Nevada is a beautiful part of the world and the most southerly ski area in all of Europe. The resort is high in the clouds at 3,300m; this makes it a snow-sure resort and one that boasts incredible views. Pupils will be amazed by the fact that they can see Af-rica from the top of the mountain.

Weather

You can expect plenty of sun in this southern European resort, so remind students to pack and use sun cream! It also benefits from a long season from November through to May, so you can choose the most appropriate time to take the students away. 

Convenience

The charming resort is ideal for school ski trips because it is very easy to get around. There is a chairlift that takes you from one side of the village to the gondola with stops along the way, so students only have to walk a few minutes to get out and ski each day and return home. You are also able to lock ski equipment away at the top of the gondola instead of lugging it around – something that weary pupils will appreciate!

Après

Of course, you will need plenty of activities to keep a group of young minds happy and engaged on a school trip. Sierra Nevada has a range of après activities once the slopes are closed that your group is sure to love. This includes swimming, film showings, pizza nights, snow tubing, a mountain rollercoaster, and incredible astronomical observation evenings. 

Culture

It is important to introduce new cultures to students on school trips; Sierra Nevada is a great place for this. The resort itself has a handful of authentic village shops and local cuisine for a healthy dose of Spanish culture, but you can also arrange an overnight stay in the wonderful city of Granada. Highlights here include the Alhambra Palace, Parque de las Ciencias (a science park with a 50m observation tower), and the stunning medieval architecture which is best enjoyed on a tour of the city.

Accessibility

For teachers, there are few things as stressful as attempting to get a large group of stu-dents from one place to another! Fortunately, reaching Sierra Nevada is relatively straightforward with Grenada airport just an hour away from the resort. Alternatively, you can fly into Malaga airport which is just a few hours away.

Value

Skiing in southern Spain may sound like a pricy school trip, but it can actually be fantastic value for money. Spanish school holidays do not clash with the UK’s, which means that you can arrange your trip for the most popular weeks and school holidays for affordable prices.

School ski trips to Sierra Nevada can be great fun and a valuable experience for both students and teachers. With so much on offer and in such a beautiful part of the world, the pupils are sure to highly appreciate such an unforgettable adventure.

John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational travel for school and youth groups. Whether you’re planning school ski trips to Europe or North America, day trips in the UK or educational tours abroad, you can trust the value of their itineraries, which can be ready-made or specifically designed to suit the needs of your group.