Full day excursions in Spain
Our full day trip programme is an essential part of the Top School learning experience as it gives our students the opportunity to leave Elche for a while and get to know other famous, historical cities such as Valencia, Murcia or Benidorm. It’s not all culture though, as there are also fun trips out to Terra Mítica theme park and the zoos Mundomar and Terra Natura.
City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia)
Valencia is one of Spain’s most well-known and modern cities. You will fall in love with its monuments and narrow-streets. We will make the most of this trip to go and visit the City of Arts and Sciences, a unique complex dedicated to the dissemination of scientific and cultural information. Our students will learn about a whole host of scientific curiosities through numerous interactive games.
Terra Mitica Theme Park (Benidorm)
We will enjoy a full day out at Benidorm’s main theme park, Terra Mitica. The park is divided into ancient regions, such as Egypt, Greece or Rome and our students will have fun discovering all that each one has to offer. There are countless shows, rides, restaurants and shops. A real fun day out.
Mundomar Marine Animal Park (Benidorm)
Mundomar is a park full of exotic, marine animals. The visit is a real adventure for animal lovers, as they will be able to stand back and admire more than 80 different species that live together in a special, natural environment purposely created for them. There is a great deal of respect for the animals and the environment in all of the facilities and shows that are on display.
Terra Natura Wildlife Park (Benidorm)
In Benidorm there is also another animal park to be seen, Terra Natura. The Top School students who visit this zoo will experience what is known as “zooimmersion”, a concept that allows us to get close to the more than 1,500 animals of 200 different species that Terra Natura has to offer, thanks to invisible barriers. The facilities are divided into 4 sections; the park entrance, Pangea, America and Asia.
Guadalest and Benidorm
This excursion combines one of Spain’s most popular tourist resorts, Benidorm, famous for its beaches and lively nightlife and Guadalest, a charming little village up in the mountains. In Guadalest, students will enjoy this special visit to such an idyllic location, taking in its countless figurine and doll museums.
Alicante: MARQ Archaeological Museum and Santa Barbara Castle
On another of our visits to Alicante, our students will have the chance to visit the city’s most important archaeology museum, MARQ. There are 3 large rooms, containing pieces of urban archaeology, archaeology from the countryside and underwater archaeology. Interactive activities will help students understand the archaeological method and how professional archaeologists discover the past.
The second part of the visit will be at Santa Barbara Castle, an ancient fortress from the 4th Century. Situated at the top of mount Benacantil, it has a legend that our students will be able to discover on their trip.
Trip to Murcia
Murcia is a stately city situated 45 minutes away from Elche. Although it is mainly famous for the excellent quality of the fruit and vegetables produced in its orchards and allottments, it has much more to offer. For example, the stunning Santa María Cathedral and it’s 93 metre high bell tower (the 2nd highest in Spain), its centenary bridges and the old quarter. There is also a wide variety of tapas to sample, with typical dishes from Murcia to try. A truly pleasurable culinary experience.
Canelobre Caves (Busot) and Valor Chocolate Museum (Villajoyosa)
24 kilometres from Alicante is the little village of Busot, where you will find the famous “Cuevas de Canelobre”, a cave full of marvellous forms and shapes that water and time have sculpted on to the rockface. In the cave you will also find one of the highest caverns in Spain, with an amazing acoustic sound which makes for the perfect stage for concerts.
We will round the day off with a stop at the Chocolate Valor Museum, an old 19th Century house which holds the secret to making chocolate. We will take part in the process of making the chocolate, as well as finding out about the history of the company and how the growth of cocoa-based products has come about. And, of course, we will not be leaving until we have tried some delicious chocolate.
Villena (Bullring, Bullfighting Museum, Atalaya Castle, Moors and Christians Festival Museum and Shrine of Our Lady of the Virtues)
In order for our students to get to know an important part of Spanish culture, bullfighting, Top School offers them the possibility of going to Villena’s bullring and museum. A visual way of finding out all the secrets of this profession. As well as this, there is also the opportunity to visit other important monuments, such as the majestic Atalaya Castle and the city’s treasure, made up of 60 pieces of 23.5 carat gold, a true display of the city’s splendorous past.
Toy Museum and Factory (Ibi)
This trip is not for those of you who are nostalgic. How are toys made? We will visit a toy factory where we can see for ourselves exactly how it is done. After the visit, we will have a great time at the Toy Museum in Ibi, and see what toys our grandparents’ generation played with and how they have changed over time, thanks to modern technology.
Naval Museum and Roman Amphitheatre (Cartagena)
On this trip, we will visit the naval museum at Cartagena. A military exhibition of all things related to this branch of the Spanish army. It is split into themed areas, such as naval construction, nautical science, navigation, flags and uniforms and submarines.
We will also visit the singular Roman Amphitheatre, which has been incredibly well-preserved over time. Performances of ancient Greek and Latin plays take place, in their original language, taking us back to the Hispania of the Roman Empire.
Isle of Tabarca
Only 3 miles off the Costa Ilicitana is the Isle of Tabarca, famed for its tales of pirates, where students will be able to see the most crystal clear water of the whole area. It is a day to simply enjoy being at the beach, although there are a few historical monuments to be seen, such as the old lighthouse or the Tower of San José. As well as this, students who go on this trip will be able to taste some of the delicious seafood that is typical of the isle.
Aquopolis Water Park (Torrevieja)
A day at Aquopolis waterpark is the perfect plan for those hot, summer days. With plenty of rides for both adults and kids, our students can spend the day sunbathing, splash about in the wave pool, have a massage and, of course, take part in some of the numerous water activities that take place each day.
Day at Arenales beach
To keep cool on those hot, summer days, we will spend a day down at Arenales del Sol. It is an ideal place to enjoy being in the water and for those who love snorkelling, what can be found on the seabed is simply stunning. As well as that, there will be time to stop and have a browse round the street market, or have a drink or an ice cream at one of the many beach bars.
