Two teams of students from the Fifth and Sixth Form at The King’s School have just returned from a four week personal development expedition to South America after 18 months of team building and fundraising. Initially both teams travelled to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, landing at the highest international airport in the world at 400m, then they went on to Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca and the Incan ruins and sacrificial table on the Isla Del Sol.

One team began the expedition by heading on a challenging trek in the high Andes of Bolivia, reaching the Laguna Glacier at over 5000m with the help of local guide Eduardo, the team camped overnight with temperatures dropping well below freezing. Meanwhile, the second team journeyed over the border and into Peru, trekking in the Cotahusai Canyon which is the deepest canyon in the world.

During their time in Peru, both teams took part in different projects. Team one enjoyed activities such as raising a vegetable bed, levelling a football pitch and constructing a stone path. Whereas the second team worked with the local community, in the Sacred Valley, and became fully involved in Peruvian village life.  

Once the project work was completed both teams were given the opportunity to travel to Aguas Calientes before ascending on the awe-inspiring trek up to Machu Picchu – the lost city on the Incas. They then headed to the oasis at Huacachina for some relaxation as well as to try out sand boarding in the dunes.

Finally, the teams had a final shopping spree in the markets of Lima as well as a celebration meal on the last night to finish off the expedition in fantastic style. The students have gained enormously from the experience- from managing a budget, organizing transport to doing their own washing on occasion but most importantly enjoying themselves and becoming fully immersed in another culture. Next year the King’s expedition will be visiting Madagascar and are hoping to go to the school funded by King’s over the last few years.