When deciding on the best way to see Europe, train holidays are an often overlooked way of exploring the fascinating landmarks and landscapes of the continent. The rich history of the region is exhibited in many of its famous buildings, most of which have well organised museums and exhibitions that allow visitors to learn about the complicated course of events that shaped the people, cities and countries. In eastern and central Europe, the Ottoman, the Habsburg (or Hapsburg) and the Austro-Hungarian Empires all played an incredibly significant role in the shaping of the states. Buda castle in Budapest, Hungary, is one of the best places to explore in this part of Europe. Train holidays often pass through this city, so why not stop off in Budapest and visit the castle?

Buda Castle

A castle was first built on the hill by King Béla IV, between 1247 and 1265. Of what remains today, the oldest section was built by Stephen, Duke of Slavonia in the 14th century. Unfortunately, all that is left of this original structure are the foundations of what is known as ‘Stephen’s Tower’ and three interconnected, barrel-vaulted rooms. Stephen’s Tower was a formidably large structure with a distinctive turreted spire. The tower was destroyed by an explosion in 1686. The castle was greatly expanded by King Sigismund, perhaps the monarch most closely associated with the structure. If you want to see Sigismund today, you can spot him in statue form on the back of a horse in a prominent position outside of the castle. Through various repairs and redevelopments the castle continued to develop into one of the most impressive structures in this part of Europe. Train holidays to the region will offer you a good view of the castle rising above the city and the Danube as you roll into one of the stations.

Exploring History in Budapest

When you’re in Europe, train holidays that pass through Budapest can introduce you to a very different type of rail transport – the funicular railway, a common sight around many castles in this part of the world. If you do choose to take this route to Buda Castle, you will be treated to a stunning panorama of the city. That said, for those who enjoy stretching their legs, the walk up the switch-back cobbled road isn’t strenuous and also provides a great view.

In 1987 the region was announced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This encompasses more than just the castle, with its official name being: ‘Budapest, including the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue.’ Cultural sites around the castle include a number of galleries and museums.

Anna Copeland is the Marketing Manager for The Danube Express, which specialises in < a href="http://www.danube-express.com/"> Europe train holidays . The Danube Express has a range of exclusive, luxurious European train holidays taking in travel across fascinating countries such as Poland, Hungary and Turkey.

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It’s the kind of holiday you want to go on if your objective is getting away from the paparazzi (the privileged few!), the stresses of the boardroom, or just the strain of everyday life. It isn’t just your average island in the Caribbean though – it’s St. Barths. Saint Barthélemy, if you would like to be formal about it, is the site of the stylish, ultra-chic Eden Rock St Barths, the famed boutique resort-hotel that’s a getaway favourite of the rich and famous.

What to do at St Barths
For many who fall into this category, a getaway means lounging around on the beach and sunning their film-ready bodies far from screaming fans and camera flashlights – but what exactly does one do here? Plenty; just ask any of the A-listers who are among the super-secret guest list at the exclusive <a href=”http://www.essentialhotelcollection.co.uk/hotels/eden_rock_-_st_barths_french_west_indies”>Eden Rock, St Barths</a>, or the other chic resorts in this hideaway in the French West Indies. Barring that, just read on and we’ll tell you!
Relaxing at the beach

The beach, of course, is de rigeur – and there are many. Baie St. Jean (St. Jean Bay), for instance, is surrounded by pink and white coral sand, with its own live coral reef. It is the perfect, idyllic setting to lounge around and enjoy a luxurious, yet peaceful day in the sun, being massaged on your lounger, cold drink in hand.

Something more active
If you fancy something more active, but still taking advantage of the surrounding paradise, there are other options: walking to the natural pools and enjoying their recuperative waters, kayaking, paddle boarding, and even surfing, should the waves permit. You can also swim with dolphins and come nose to nose with sea turtles should you wish to do so. As well, you can take the opportunity to scuba dive from any one of 17 departure points straight from the beach. For those lucky enough to be a guest at Eden Rock St Barths, making arrangements are easier, as private instructors and trainers are available to initiate you into the joys of some of these activities.
Sailing is another option; after all, what’s more relaxing than spending a sunny day out on the blue ocean, wind whipping at your hair? Private yacht hires are available for a sunset sail or a leisurely cruise around the island, and, if you’re up to it, the local yacht club organises regattas all year round.
Shopping

For many, nothing is quite as relaxing as retail therapy. The region has options for shopping (with the added bonus of being a duty-free port), from simple souvenirs, crafts and beachwear, to luxury brands from shops in a setting that has been said to compare with Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré in Paris.
Culture

Should you wish to indulge in a touch of culture, particularly fine art, Eden Rock St Barths even has an art gallery, with regular exhibitions to suit the taste of even the most discerning culture vulture.

Cheryl Matthews works for the Essential Hotel Collection, offering a handpicked portfolio of privately owned hotels, such as <a href=”http://www.essentialhotelcollection.co.uk/hotels/eden_rock_-_st_barths_french_west_indies”>Eden Rock, St Barths</a>. We have an intimate knowledge of every property and <a href=”http://www.essentialhotelcollection.co.uk/”>Eden Rock St Barths</a> is the perfect place to make your island dreams a reality.

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In a place where the clientele are used to only the best, one can be certain that the cuisine will range from the exquisite to the sublime. One such place is Eden Rock St Barths, the luxury resort-hotel that may be the closest thing one would ever get to Fantasy Island.
One look at the regulars of the stylish island of St Barths (assuming, of course, that you coul sneak a look, the elite guest list at Eden Rock St Barths) one may wonder just what kind of cuisine would be considered good enough. The answer: the kind of food and wine you will find at the superb restaurants dotting the island. And there is quite a variety – from simple sandwiches to the crowning jewels of haute cuisine. There are around 80 restaurants on the island, all unique but with one thing in common – they serve only the best!
Here are just a few of the restaurants considered the crème de la crème of St Barths’ gastronomic scene.
<a href=”http://www.essentialhotelcollection.co.uk/hotels/eden_rock_-_st_barths_french_west_indies”>Eden Rock St Barths</a> has the distinction of being home to two of the best restaurants on the island.  With the famed French chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the helm, both venues boast menus that are nothing short of inspired. The high-quality palates of the elite guests to the island can’t seem to get enough.
The aptly named Sand Bar With Jean Georges, which is right on the beach and open for breakfast and lunch, offers exotic salads, pizza and other wonderfully-crafted fare. The menu is perfectly designed to complement the stunning oceanfront scenery. It is the ideal place to start the day, no matter what time you may get up! The wholewheat pizza with fontina cheese and black truffle is a must-try! Carefully selected wines from around the world make up the extensive wine list and include an an oft-recommended organic wine from Alsace.

On The Rocks With Jean Georges, Eden Rock St Barths’ gourmet dinner venue, is situated high on the rock itself, and offers a menu to match the exquisite views of Baie St. Jean. Similar to his famed Spice Market, the restaurant offers spectacular haute cuisine of the kind that Chef Jean Georges is known for. Whet your appetite with a salad of grilled octopus, eggplant compote and marinated pepper, followed by a succulent St. Barths lobster in toasted garlic-drawn butter and Thai coleslaw.
For something completely different, yet no less delicious, Le Bête à Z’Ailes, is an eclectic sushi bar that offers superb food and live music. The exquisitely cut sushi is not exactly traditional Caribbean fare, but it’s a dining experience to die for. With an exceptional sushi menu, sourced from the finest ingredients, it’s one of the few places on the island you’ll find a lively nightlife.

Cheryl Matthews works for the Essential Hotel Collection, offering a handpicked portfolio of privately owned hotels, such as <a href=”http://www.essentialhotelcollection.co.uk/hotels/eden_rock_-_st_barths_french_west_indies”>Eden Rock, St Barths</a>. We have an intimate knowledge of every property and <a href=”http://www.essentialhotelcollection.co.uk/”>Eden Rock St Barths</a> is the perfect place to make your island dreams a reality.

<span style=”color: #800000;”>This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the <a href=”http://www.leadgenerators.co.uk/seo.html”>smartest online marketing agency in London</a>, and the proud host a series of <a href=”http://www.leadgenerators.co.uk/seminars.html”>internet marketing training seminars</a>.</span>

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For those contemplating organising a school ski trip, choosing a destination is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. Such trips can provide students with a fabulous time, a chance to build up their strength and resilience and enhance their skills, and a connection to a new part of the world. The right choice of resort will make all the difference to the students’ experience. Andalo is one of Italy’s best-kept skiing secrets: located on the beautiful Paganella Plateau in the Trentino region, it offers a great range of runs, first-rate facilities and bundles of mountain charm. Besides the excellent skiing, there are plenty of chances for off-piste fun and learning too. Here are a few of Andalo’s best features and activities you may want to consider.

Winter Sport Wonderland

Several factors make Andalo ideally suited to school ski groups: its medium size; good quantity and quality of snow; excellent, safe lifts; great beginner areas and challenging intermediate runs. Add to this a wide range of other winter sporting activities and you may start to see just how much Andalo has to offer. In between skiing excursions, you and your students might want to mix things up by indulging in some other activities, such as ice skating or snowshoeing; and, for a complete change of pace, the magic of a sleigh ride through this picturesque region with its sublime views is bound to be a memorable experience.

Staying In?

Maybe some of your students need a break, or maybe an unusual bout of bad weather keeps you off the slopes for a day. Not to worry – Andalo has plenty to do while keeping out of the cold. School ski trips can offer students learning opportunities of all kinds, and a visit to the Italian-language cinema is a great way for them to pick up some new vocabulary while being entertained. Or, to stay active, head to the sports centre with its ice-skating and swimming pool. The centre is also great for evening activities that will be popular with the students: there is an amusement arcade as well as karaoke and a disco.

A Taste of Mountain Life

The lively and welcoming towns around Andalo are a delight to spend time in, even if it’s just kicking back at the end of the day to enjoy a well-earned meal. A farming region since the Middle Ages, the area has some wonderful local delicacies to be sampled, including the cheeses, salamis and desserts. (The honey that is produced here in the warmer months adds a unique local touch to many sweet dishes.)

Young people have seemingly boundless energy, and your students will, at the end of the day, be keen to take in some of the legendary Alpine après-ski atmosphere. Morzine caters to teens as well as adults in this regard, with plenty of restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy a well-earned meal and compare notes on ski techniques. Then there’s the cinema, the bowling alley, the skating rink, and disco parties in town, along with the range of activities that most hotels lay on for their younger guests. With all these options, a school ski trip to Morzine, with its tangible sense of history and easygoing hospitality, will be one that students remember for a long time!

Catherine McCabe works for Slopping Off, a specialist winter sports travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school ski trips. Sloping Off offer a variety of affordable, good value packages to Austria, France and Italy.

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For students and teachers alike, school ski trips are a great experience. Fun and active, they also help to boost students’ sense of adventure and help mould them into well-rounded, experienced individuals. As a resort for such trips, Folgaria in Italy is ideal. Picturesque and hospitable, with a variety of different kinds of slopes, it offers suitable challenges for skiers of all levels as well as the chance to enhance visitors’ cultural awareness. Here are just some of the treats in store for those that make Folgaria their school ski destination:

Stunning landscapes

School ski trip participants will have plenty of things on their packing list – not least hardy winter sports gear – but they shouldn’t forget to add their cameras to that list. Folgaria is located on the high Altipiani Trentini plateau, surrounded by sweeping mountain vistas, sun-lit slopes and dense pine forests. The resort’s highest ski lift takes passengers to 2060 metres above sea level, from where the panoramic views make for a truly breathtaking experience for students to enjoy.

Fun beyond the pistes

Folgaria is a popular destination all year round, and has facilities for many more activities beyond simply skiing. With an indoor swimming pool and a sports centre, it offers plenty of opportunity for sporty activities even if there is a bad weather day, or if students just want to warm down at the end of the day. For a change of pace during the day, or an active evening activity, you can visit the ice rink; and on the afternoons and evenings when something less physical is in order, there are plenty of opportunities for a spot of shopping. To really wind down and relax, Folgaria has some great restaurants and cafes where students can enjoy a full-on meal or just a warming drink and a snack.

Mountain charm

This region of Italy is also steeped in history and culture, giving school ski participants the chance to learn a bit about the heritage and arts of Northern Italy, all while enjoying the friendly and fun mountain-village vibe. Excursions to the old towns of Trento and Roveretto can be arranged, where winding streets are lined with quaint frescoed houses and students can gain an authentic sense of mountain life.

The landscape is dotted with castles and medieval churches, the people are welcoming, and the food is delicious. Your group will relish the chance to ‘explore’ Trentino cuisine – all the more so because it will feel so well-earned after a hard day’s skiing! Trentingrana cheese, salamis, local pork dishes, and the polenta are all on the ‘must-try’ list. As well as being highly enjoyable, getting hands-on with the local cuisine can be a great way for linguistically inclined students to practise their Italian and pick up some new vocabulary.

Catherine McCabe works for Slopping Off, a specialist winter sports travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school ski trips. Sloping Off offer a variety of affordable, good value packages to Austria, France and Italy.

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Tucked away in the mid-Pyrenees mountains in the south of France, this quintessential skiing village is close to the Spanish border, but still within easy reach of Toulouse. Superbagnères is connected to the nearby classic spa town of Bagneres de Luchon by a gondola and is a great place for beginners on a school ski trip. While you are in the Superbagnères area, you can ski or snowboard, try cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and other traditional snow sports. As well, you can spend an afternoon at one of the indoor activity centres, such as the horse riding facility, and learn about the history of the area at the Grand Hotel Museum.

Skiing and Snowboarding — As two of the most popular snow sports, skiing and snowboarding are the main winter attractions of the Superbagnères area. Students on school ski trips can learn how to ski or snowboard and can progress over several levels of pistes as they gain confidence. With 35 kilometres of marked runs – and with most of them being ‘easy’ or green runs – it is the perfect place to learn to ski or snowboard. Before long, students can head up to the medium runs and maybe, finally, one of the six difficult runs that the area has to offer.

Cross-country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowscooting — If you have mastered the art of carving your way down the slopes and want a new challenge, or just think you would like to spend a day out in the snow doing something a bit different, then ask your school ski instructors to introduce you to the art of cross-country skiing. With specialised skis, in cross-country skiing you will follow a guide and use your poles and a skate/ski hybrid motion to move forward on special trails. Or, you can get the thrill of the downhill by snowscooting. Snowscooters look like little tricycles mounted on three tiny skis. You sit on it as you would bike and glide down the hills much as you would in sledding. For something different again, students can book time for a snowshoeing trek around the Superbagnères. An experienced guide will lead the expedition and point out local wildlife and areas of interest.

Indoor Activities — If you have had your fill of the outdoors on your school ski trip, why not take a break by spending the day checking out the indoor activities that the Superbagnères area has to offer? Pay a visit to the local indoor riding arena if you fancy taking a turn on the back of a pony or horse; or you can do something a bit less strenuous and visit the Grand Hotel Museum, located in the Grand Hotel at the heart of the resort area. This museum will walk you through the history of the region, with interactive exhibitions and photos to give you an excellent overview of Superbagnères.

Catherine McCabe works for Slopping Off, a specialist winter sports travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school ski trips. Sloping Off offer a variety of affordable, good value packages to Austria, France and Italy.

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Greece has a distinguished history, with signs of civilisation dating back from many centuries BC. It is considered one of the most historically important areas of Europe with people flocking to visit for both its culture and its amazing landscape.

Its mainland is a peninsula that is formed from the tail end of the Balkans mountain range, and the country has between 1,200 and 6,000 islands – several hundred of which are inhabited. With the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Gulf of Corinth to its north, the Peloponnese Island is ideally situated for school sports tours to introduce students to various watersports. The North Peloponnese area of the Peloponnese Island, located just southwest of Athens, incorporates beautiful coastlines, cosmopolitan cities, and fascinating history. It is also one of the best places to learn sailing and windsurfing in the Gulf of Corinth.

Sailing — One may think that sailing chartered boats and wind-driven vessels is something that is learned from childhood by those who have been exposed to the seafaring life. But on school sports tours to Greece, learning to sail is an option that will teach students their way around the decks in no time. The area around the islands (particularly the Peloponnese) provides some of the best places for beginners to get their sea legs. On these trips students will learn about the types of sailboats and rigs, become familiar with the terminology of the sea, discover the points of a sail and the trim, learn how to tie the necessary knots, how to raise and lower the mainsail, how to tack and gibe a sailboat, and finally how to moor, anchor, and dock.

Windsurfing — Once students have mastered the art of sailing on school sports tours, they can take their skills to the next level and combine it with surfing! Sound strange? The result of such an adventure is, essentially, a surfboard with a small sail with handles attached – a windsurfer. Though windsurfing originated in a river in Pennsylvania, USA, the water in the Gulf of Corinth is the perfect place to learn. Beginners are often started on a large board with a small, triangular sail in less than five knots of wind, in the shallow areas near the shore. Once a newbie has managed to develop their balance and feel that they have a bit of control over the motion, they will move up to the ‘intermediate’ category where they are provided with more choice of board lengths and widths, and a variety of sail sizes and materials. Eventually, with practice, patience and persistence, students may progress to skipping across the water in a move called ‘planing’ in winds up to 50 knots. Although it is not an easy sport, once mastered it can become a firm favourite with active youngsters.

Aiden Armstrong works for Pavilion Tours, a specialist travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school sports tours as well as adventure, performing arts and geography. Pavilion Tours offer both local and international tours covering a variety of programmes.

This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the smartest online marketing agency in London, and the proud host a series of internet marketing training seminars.

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Tucked away in the Austrian Alps near the German border is the Austrian state of Salzburg, which is one of the country’s smallest states in terms of population. But what it lacks in inhabitants, it more than makes up for in location and natural beauty. In the heart of this mountainous region of Salzburg lies the Bezirk Zell am See region, home to the town of Zell am See. School sports tours to this region are ideal during the summer months, and can provide a trip that is exhilarating, adrenalin pumping, and great fun! While staying in the area, there are many activities to keep students busy including mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing.

Mountain Biking — For those students who love an intense and energetic activity, mountain biking is an ideal activity to take part in on school sports tours. This fast-paced sport consists of riding specialised bicycles off road, over rough terrain, and often in elevated areas – the mountains surrounding Zell am See are ideal. There are multi-day length cycling paths that combine a bit of mountain biking with easier paths if you want some variety; and if students want to try the thrill of downhill mountain biking, gondolas that will take them and their bikes to the top of the mountains to make their way down a choice of trails with differing levels of difficulty. Some of the toughest paths can have riders jumping, swerving and skidding down the mountain, and, though not dangerous, they are not for the faint hearted either!

Hiking — If mountain biking sounds a little too energetic for some students, then school sports tours can include hiking around the Zell am See as an option. For this type of adventures all students need is a good pair of boots or shoes; water; snacks; and a good guide or map to indicate the routes. Hiking up the mountains in the area will present a range of physical challenges to suit each group, but the end result is a panorama of stunning views over the Bezirk Zell am See, with its mountain lakes and pastures. Along the way, there are rustic alpine huts to explore and even some restaurants to rest and have a cup of tea or a bite to eat before carrying on.

Climbing — Climbing is differentiated from hiking by the ‘up and over’ mind set that climbers often come to embody. Climbing in the Zell am See region can require the use of hands and feet to navigate a steep incline or cliff face. School sports tours can include climbing with experienced instructors to ensure students safety. Locations to climb in the area include the Schmittenhöhe and Maiskogel, and the “Gipfelwelt 3000″ on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, where climbers can take the guided route to the 3,203-metre peak for a view across some of the highest mountains in the Austrian Alps.

Aiden Armstrong works for Pavilion Tours, a specialist travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school sports tours as well as adventure, performing arts and geography. Pavilion Tours offer both local and international tours covering a variety of programmes.

This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the smartest online marketing agency in London, and the proud host a series of internet marketing training seminars.

Thank you for visiting our article directory! Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

Bordering Italy in the southeastern part of France, the French Alps include Mont Blanc – the highest mountain in the Alps, and in fact all of Europe (west of Russia). During the winter, skiing is the sport of choice; the French Alps draw in large winter crowds and have been host to the winter Olympics three times. But, although the Alps may immediately bring to mind snow and skiing, they also provide access to a variety of other interesting activities for students on school sports tours to participate in during the summer. Through the warmer months, via ferrata, hydrospeed, and kayaking are just a few of the activities available to try.

Via ferrata — Via ferrata is an Italian word meaning ‘road of iron’, and it can be considered as such. On school sports tours to the French Alps, the via ferrata will present a challenging sport of scrambling up rock faces on man-made courses equipped with pegs, ropes, ladders, cables and stems. These facilities allow more isolated routes to be joined to others to create a network that can cater for all abilities. The via ferratas in the French Alps are divided into six difficulty categories, ranging from the relatively easy ‘facile’ which is useful as an introduction to the sport, to the hardest ‘extrêmement difficile’ which is best for those who are very physically fit and prepared to work. Helmets and harnesses are provided, and with expert guidance, the activity is completely safe.

Hydrospeed — Also known as riverboarding (in New Zealand), hydrospeeding in the French Alps takes students on school sports tours a long way from climbing the mountains on a via ferrata! Instead, you will be rushing down a river on a hydrofloat – a high-buoyancy half-length surfboard. Equipped with a wet suit, a helmet, and flippers (and sometimes a variety of padding, depending on how rocky the route is and how much extra protection participants desire) students will be schooled in the basics of steering and safety before setting off down the river – head first!

Kayaking — If students don’t mind a little bit of water, then a kayaking expedition is an ideal activity to enjoy – although age limits may apply, so do check with organisers before making any promises on school sports tours! While many students may have tried boating or yachting at home, there is nothing quite like the thrill of an Alpine river route to get the adrenaline pumping. The sport of kayaking is supervised by experienced instructors, familiar with the rivers, and all safety equipment is provided.

Aiden Armstrong works for Pavilion Tours, a specialist travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school sports tours as well as adventure, performing arts and geography. Pavilion Tours offer both local and international tours covering a variety of programmes.

This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the smartest online marketing agency in London, and the proud host a series of internet marketing training seminars.

Thank you for visiting our article directory! Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!

Some school sports tours head to South Africa to savour the delights of that country’s sporting heritage, and may also offer the chance to visit the wonderful city of Cape Town.
If so, it’s an opportunity not to the missed.

Why Cape Town and South Africa for sports tours?

South Africa has a long history of investing in sports and their facilities are excellent – both indoor and outdoor. Over many years, their athletics, cricket and rugby teams have become world famous, and it goes without saying that their weather also plays a factor in sporting development!
Students on school sports tours to South Africa are always given a very warm welcome. You’ll get the chance to join in with local clubs and associations in their coaching and training sessions and play competitive games against local sides. Opportunities exist in several sporting areas and you’ll also get the chance to see something of the country and its people.

The beauty and wonder of Cape Town

This magnificent city in South Africa is deservedly famous for some of its natural wonders – perhaps the best known of which are Table Mountain and its incredible natural harbour.

Yet this concentration on nature occasionally allows one to overlook the fact that historically and culturally this is a fascinating city and one that is well worth exploring.

A bit about the history

If school sports tours include Cape Town on their itinerary, knowing a little about its background may help students to put some aspects of the city into perspective. Although the Portuguese initially explored this area of South Africa, in a European sense, it was the Dutch that settled here in numbers and indelibly imprinted aspects of their culture on the city and surrounding areas. Indigenous inhabitants had, of course, occupied the area long before the Europeans ever arrived on the scene.

After some centuries of growth under Dutch rule, following various wars and machinations between the European powers, the city and surrounding colony passed into the hands of the British Empire who, in turn, gave it their own cultural flavour. Yet even before becoming part of the independent republic of South Africa, Cape Town benefited from successive waves of immigrants from various parts of the world. All of these peoples enriched the social and cultural melting pot that the city eventually became (even though in some cases, these populations were imported as slaves by the original Dutch colonists).

Modern times and the modern city

The birth of the modern Republic of South Africa is one of the great inspirational stories of modern times and it is likely many students will already be familiar with it. The legacy of all this history, along with more recent events, is visible in certain aspects of this great city and it is well worth exploration. The exact itinerary of school sports tours to South Africa may vary but if you get the opportunity, you may wish to try and see:

• The Malay quarter (more correctly called Bo-Kaap) – an incredible area of colourful houses and marvellous cuisine, with roots going back to slaves from Indonesia brought in by Dutch settlers in past centuries;

• The Victoria and Albert Waterfront – a very interesting development of 19th-century British imperial period harbour side buildings, now converted into cafes, bars, restaurants and interesting shops;

• Robben Island – a small, offshore island that is now a museum and wildlife sanctuary, but which was for many centuries was a place of imprisonment and isolation (e.g. for lepers). It achieved international fame and notoriety as the long-term prison of Nelson Mandela.

Of course, this is just sample and the actual sightseeing opportunities may vary from those above; but what can be said with certainty is that if you are visiting Cape Town on school sports tours, you won’t find yourself bored or at a loss for something to do!

Aiden Armstrong works for Pavilion Tours, a specialist travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school sports tours as well as adventure, performing arts and geography. Pavilion Tours offer both local and international tours covering a variety of programmes.

This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the smartest online marketing agency in London, and the proud host a series of internet marketing training seminars.

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