Horizons Week

There are a wide range of trips to choose from. Provisional itineraries and estimated costs have been shared to help you make the most informed choice. Photographs featured on the website are from previous trips to the advertised destinations and testimonials provided are from students who have attended each trip;  these are designed to give you an authentic indication of what to expect from each experience. Please read trip blurbs and itineraries carefully as not all trips will be suitable for your child. Note that itineraries might be adapted once our flight schedules are confirmed. Parents are responsible for getting their children to and from the airport/West Kowloon train station.

Please note: if your child wishes to do HKAYP next academic year, they must sign up for AYP for Horizons Week. More information can be shared by contacting Ms Minter - anna.minter@wis.edu.hk

Prices of all trips are approximate. Final prices will depend on student numbers, exchange rates and flight price fluctuations. Please consider other costs relating to an overseas trips before making your decision such as spending money for souvenirs, specialist clothing, visas, tourist taxes etc.

Sign up for trips opens on Monday 10th February at 3pm and closes on Friday 14th February at 12pm.

Sign up is completed through the student's WISDOM account but must be done with permission from parents. Guidance is provided here.

The place on a trip is not secured until the deposit has been paid. 

Trips are not allocated on a first come first served basis; take some time to discuss your options and what you personally want to get out of your Horizons Week experience before making your decision. 

Please ensure you have read the website and policies carefully before committing to a trip.

Students must sign up for 3 trips and be willing to attend the one they are allocated; this is because trips may not run if there are not sufficient student enrolments, and some trips may be oversubscribed. 

Following feedback from parents, we have changed the overseas payment timeline so there are now three payment deadlines:

• 28th February: $3000 HKD ($10000 HKD for NYC) to give us more chance of securing flights at the best price 

• May: 50% of remaining balance 

• August: 50% of remaining balance 

Local trips will be issued one invoice which must be settled by May.

We understand people's circumstances change and you may wish to withdraw from a trip at a later date. Every effort will be made to cover costs but no guarantees can be made. 

See the Horizons Week 2025 policy for further information. 

Passports

Passports must have 6 months validity from date you will return to Hong Kong. It is the responsibility of parents, not the school, to ensure passports are valid. The school does not permit students to obtain visas on arrival so visas, if required, must be obtained before the trip.

Visas

Parents are responsible for arranging visas, completing pre-landing e-declarations and paying country specific tourism tax/levies if required. The necessary paperwork to support visa applications will be provided by the school. The cost of visas is not included in the trip price. It is strongly recommended that visas are secured before the summer holiday so all paperwork can be checked in a timely manner.

Inoculations

Please consult with your doctor about inoculations for travel. If required, you must ensure you complete the course of inoculations before the travel date. 

Have you joined WIS after February 2025? 

Horizons Week is a compulsory part of West Island School's curriculum and a key component of the school's identity and culture. During Horizons Week, the normal school timetable is collapsed and students spend the week participating in an activity that will broaden their horizons. This is because we believe in the holistic development of our students and the value of experiential learning. Horizons Week is a great opportunity for new students to form social connections with their peers. Students who join WIS after the initial sign-up will be welcome to join overseas trips subject to there being space on the trip. For enquiries, please contact gigi.cheung@wis.edu.hk

Many of our trips are based in rural parts of the world where tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue could be present. We encourage all students to take precautions against these diseases by discussing preventatives with a doctor before travel and wearing, and regularly reapplying, deet mosquito repellant. 

It is anticipated that the first day of the HKSSF finals will fall during Horizons Week, on Wednesday 19th November. If students wish to represent the school in this competition they may wish to select a local trip for Horizons Week. Students should contact Mr Cobley (owen.cobley@wis.edu.hk) or Mr Donald (james.donald@wis.edu.hk) if they wish to find out more information and to see if this affects them. 

If you are in receipt of financial assistance from ESF and would like to discuss your options for Horizons Week, please contact jessica.gilbert@wis.edu.hk 

For further information please contact the relevant person:

• Your child's trip leader (contact details provided alongside the trip information on this website where confirmed)

• Gigi Cheung (administration & finance queries) gigi.cheung@wis.edu.hk

• Jessica Gilbert (general Horizons Week queries) jessica.gilbert@wis.edu.hk