Fifth Year students Aditya and Adrian travelled independently to Gdańsk, Poland, during the holidays, supported by a grant from the Trinity Travel Award.
The pair, both aged 15, planned a four-night History and Geography trip to explore the city’s historic sites and coastal landscape, and to put their organisational skills to the test.
In their application, they explained why Gdańsk appealed to them: “Gdańsk brings together centuries of European history in one place, allowing us to explore everything from medieval trade to the outbreak of WWII and the rise of the Solidarity movement.” They researched and organised the trip themselves, including flights, accommodation, transport, activities and a detailed budget, with plans to make their travel as environmentally responsible as possible.
During their stay, Aditya and Adrian explored Gdańsk’s historic Old Town, learnt about its famous amber trade and visited the Museum of the Second World War. They were particularly impressed by a film bringing together major historical events from the twentieth century to the present day. “Seeing so much history connected together in one place made the visit much more interesting than just reading about individual events,” they wrote in their report.
Their favourite part of the trip, however, was cycling around the city. They said, “After getting slightly bored of public transport on the first day, we rented bikes and discovered how easy it was to get around Gdańsk. There were cycle lanes everywhere, and cycling didn’t take much longer than using public transport. It turned travelling from one place to another into part of the experience itself.”
Travelling independently also brought some unexpected challenges, particularly when shopping for food. With allergies to consider, the students sometimes struggled to translate ingredients on Polish packaging, finding that English labels were not always available and translation apps weren’t entirely reliable.
Reflecting on the experience, they wrote: “We had learned how to manage money, bookings, accommodation, transport and food independently, while still having an amazing time.”
The Trinity Travel Award was established through a legacy from former Trinity student FLR Smith (1945–1953), who had a passion for adventure and outdoor pursuits. The award offers grants to students from Fourth Year upwards to support independently planned trips, encouraging them to pursue their interests, explore new places and develop confidence and practical skills.
For Aditya and Adrian, the experience was well worth the planning. “Overall, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that gave us memories, and a lot more confidence in travelling independently.”
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