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 which will be advertised with the local trips later in the year. 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 the number of students that sign up for each trip. Trip prices will be finalised in September. Please consider other costs relating to an overseas trips before making your decision such as spending money for souvenirs, specialist clothing, visas etc.

Sign up for overseas trips opens on 23rd February at 4pm and closes on 26th February at 4pm.

Sign up for local trips opens on 2nd September at 4pm and closes on Thursday 5th September at 3pm.

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.

Students that do not wish to go overseas should indicate this by clicking the relevant box on the sign up page. This enables us to plan for local Horizons Week experiences.

*You need to sign up for a designated number of trips because if numbers are too low on a trip it will not run. Signing up for multiple trips therefore ensures you a place on an overseas trip.

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

• 12th April: 50% deposit 

• June: 25%

• September: 25%

Local trips will be issued one invoice in September.

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 2024 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, 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.

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. 

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. 

• Introductory letter: sent 1st February 2024 

• FAQs: sent 1st February 2024 

• Overseas website launch: sent 7th February 2024

• Letter to Year 6 parents about Year 7 camp: sent June 2024

• Local trip sign up information: sent 30th August 2024

• Local trip FAQs: sent 30th August 2024

• One month to go: letter sent to parents 17th October 2024

• One week to go: letter sent to parents about Announcements and technology during Horizons Week on 8th November 2024

• Travel documents reminder letter: sent to parents 12th November 2024

• Bali Adventure update: sent on 13th November 2024

• Philippines - typhoon update: sent on 14th November 2024

• Bali Adventure - further updates: sent on 14th November 2024

• Philippines - rescheduled trip: sent on 15th November 2024

• Year 7 pre-departure letter: sent on 15th November 2024

• Year 7: camp update: sent on 17th November 2024

• Year 7 FAQs: sent on 17th November 2024

• Year 7 Monday update: sent on 18th November 2024

For further information please contact the relevant person:

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

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

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