Annecy: Supérieur Trip France
5 Days
Nestled on the shores of a sparkling alpine lake at the foot of the Alps, Annecy offers a beautiful destination for MFL students to practice their French language skills. Known for its rich history, pristine canals, and vibrant old town, this charming destination combines the natural beauty of its setting with cultural depth. An ideal destination for meaningful, experiential learning.
Often referred to as the “Pearl of the French Alps”, the picturesque streets provide the perfect classroom to practice in real-world settings. From its medieval architecture, quaint cafes, and bustling markets, the town’s welcoming atmosphere invites interaction and opportunities for practical conversation. The town’s cultural sites, such as the Château d'Annecy and the Palais de l'Ile, will transport students back to the 12th century, while the lake and parks provide a beautiful setting for extra-curricular activities.
Our team of travel specialists and former MFL teachers know the importance of real-world learning when it comes to languages. That’s why our itineraries step away from the general and focus on providing unique activities that encourage engagement with locals and learning through fun activities that allow students to explore a region’s unique culture and diversity.
Throughout your trip, a specialist local Language School Tour Leader will guide you, leading engaging activities, and ensuring that your key learning objectives are met. Your students will also benefit from our various pedagogical activities. These on-the-go sessions provide the ultimate classroom without walls, allowing your students to engage in targeted workshops and tailored teaching in local settings, all with an enhanced educational focus. With a maximum ratio of 15:1, your students have every opportunity to deepen their learning and build their confidence in real-world settings.
Though your final itinerary will be tailored to your group, below is an example of what you can expect on a 5-day, 4-night trip. For more options, look at our optional activity brochure or speak with your travel specialist.
What's included
- Return flights from London to Geneva
- Access to language school facilities and staff
- Local Language School Tour Leader providing outstanding knowledge of the region’s culture
- Staff rooming based on same gender teachers sharing multi-bedded rooms
- All excursions, activities and entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
- Full board basis
- All transportation in France, including airport transfers, in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle
- Peace of mind with our unique Travel Disruption Support, protecting your group should the unexpected happen
- Loyalty Scheme with a range of benefits and discounts
- Unique no surcharge guarantee
Day
1
Guided walking tour of Annecy
Flying into Geneva, the towering peaks of the Alps will set the scene for the start of your alpine trip. From the airport, the beautiful town of Annecy is just one hour south. Driving into Annecy, you’ll notice a stark change from the modern suburbs to the old medieval town. As the lake comes into view, you’ll be amazed by the sight of the edge of the Alps descending to the shimmering waters below.
Once you’ve settled into your hotel, your specialist language school tour leader will meet you and introduce themselves. Not only are they a language teacher, but they are also a local expert in the history and culture of Annecy. They’ll be with you throughout your trip to answer any questions and ensure that your students are learning at every opportunity.
To acquaint yourselves with the town, your language school tour leader will take you on a guided walking tour of Annecy. As you explore the maze of canals and streets in the old town, be sure to take in the medieval architecture and the wide-ranging options of cafes, boutique shops, and historical monuments. Your language school teacher will provide some deeper insights into the interesting facts about the town and highlight some key cultural talking-points that separate Annecy from other French towns. This tour is provided in French and can be adapted to suit the abilities of your class. They will also suggest some of the best spots around town to find delicious French treats and lunch options.
Day
2
Musée Château d’Annecy and the animation movie museum
You’ll start the day with a 2-hour language workshop at the Ifalpes language school. This will be tailored to your students’ abilities and will tie in with the days upcoming activities by providing them with all of the key vocabulary and phrases that they will use.
After lunch, dive into the town’s history at Musée Château d’Annecy. Set in a beautiful, restored castle, students will explore the museum’s vast collection of artworks, statues, and furnishings, and get an understanding of Annecy’s medieval past.
Once the residence of the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours, this historical monument now hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, and the museum’s tower offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and lake. Your local language school tour leader will provide additional French commentary about the different museum pieces, and will encourage students to translate and decipher the stories behind the artefacts.
Next, head into the neighbouring animation movie museum to learn about why Annecy is famous for its animation. With an introductory presentation to animation film, CITIA EXPOSITION presents the development of this art with the help of the animation film collection conserved at Annecy Museum-Castle.
End the day by enjoying a relaxing game of pétanque. This classic French game will allow students to improve their technique, to socialise, and to have fun practicing their French.
Day
3
Treasure hunt and boat trip on Lake Annecy
Kickstart your day with a fun treasure hunt activity to encourage students to explore and chat to the locals. Students will split into groups and the language school tour leader will give them clues to analyse and decipher. These clues may be enough for students to find the points of interest around the town, but they can put their new language skills to the test by asking the locals for help. This activity is a great opportunity for students to build confidence and practice conversational skills in a real-world setting.
After lunch, it’s time for an exciting boat trip on Lake Annecy, France’s third-largest lake. As you cruise over the sparkling alpine waters, your tour leader will provide commentary in French that will tell you about the towns that surround the lake, their history, and what originally drew people to settle around the nearby mountain peaks. You’ll also learn about how the lake formed and how it supports the local economy through fishing, tourism, and water sports. This is also a great opportunity to ask questions in French and build your confidence in finding out information.
Spend the evening watching a film at the cinema. After some prep beforehand from your tour leader, watch a selected French film with English subtitles at a local cinema or at the school. This is a great way for students to test their comprehension skills and work out the meaning of new words and phrases.
Day
4
Lakeside cycle and cheese tasting workshop
Explore Lake Annecy’s beautiful waterfront by bike. With wide, flat cycling paths around it’s shore, students can exercise in the fresh mountain air and get close to the iconic buildings and landmarks. The bolder cyclists of your group can take the routes uphill for great views over the town and lake.
Following a light lunch, discover the culinary specialties of Annecy and Haute Savoie with a cheese tasting workshop. Students can learn about the different varieties, and choose their favourites from some of the region’s most well-known, including Abondance, Beaufort, Chevrotin, Reblonchon, Raclette, Tomme, and more!
Once you’re back at the hotel, it’s time for a fun learning activity. Board Game Olympics is a pedagogical activity where groups of students rotate around three or four different board games, all competing to win points for their team. Following an initial activity to learn the key French terms and phrases, they must play the games in French to win. Students will learn through fun and repetition, and the winning group will be awarded a delicious Annecy treat.
Day
5
Home
Your final day will see you transferring to the beautiful Swiss city of Geneva for your flight home. Located 1-hour north of Annecy, your flight will depart either in the morning or early afternoon.
Additional option (+£50pp): Late afternoon/evening flight home with the option to spend the day exploring Geneva.
Geneva’s lakeside location and Alpine views will provide the perfect backdrop as you explore the city and practice your linguistic skills one last time.
Upon arriving, a local guide will take you on a walking tour of the city. From the offices of the United Nations and the unmissable Jet d’Eau, to the countless watchmakers and chocolatiers, your guide will highlight some of the key features and landmarks that put this city on the map.
You’ll also visit the International Museum of the Red Cross. With a guided tour by one of the museum’s experts, you’ll learn and the history and challenges of the red Cross’s humanitarian action around the world through a variety of exhibits and photography.
Finally, you’ll transfer to Geneva International Airport for your late afternoon/evening flight home. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to pick up a memento from your trip, or a delicious treat to take home with you.
Please note that the option for a later flight and the activities in Geneva are at a supplemental cost on top of the advertised trip price.
Trip notes:
This trip itinerary is just one example of a trip to Annecy. We have a wide range of activities to suit different academic interests, budgets and abilities. You may also like our 4-day Annecy Fantastique trip.
School Trip Planning Hub
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Launching Your School Trip
