MTI are fully compliant with Package Travel Regulations 2018 by using Protected Trust Services which ringfences funds securely, up until the tour date and only releases funds upon return. With this assurance in place, MTI are not ABTA/ATOL members.
For families
Read our guide to discover what to expect from our tour experiences.
Founded in 1996 by Edinburgh History teacher Des Brogan, Mercat Tours International was built on decades of experience in the classroom and understanding of how our young people learn. Since then, The Brogan family have grown the team and carefully crafted our tours to deliver 1st class, student-centred, immersive learning experiences.
Our guides compel a deep connection with historic events which lie beyond living memory through powerful and balanced storytelling, enhanced with carefully chosen music, poetry, drama and archive footage. We thoughtfully combine facts with the human stories of conflict, exploring how war shaped lives, communities, and values across generations, around the world
Encourages critical thinking on the consequences of war, building a stronger grasp of how the past shapes the present and future.
We promise to:
We know that organising a school trip can be a big task—passenger lists, rooming plans, travel documents, special requirements—it’s a lot to manage!
Our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way, with help from our specially designed Tour Support Pack:
• Easy-to-use templates for efficient collection of Advanced Passenger Information
• Supplier Risk Assessments
• A detailed breakdown of key milestones and deadlines
• Clear Health & Safety Policies and Procedures
• Parent & Carer Communications
Peace of mind
We value our connection with your school community and the benefits of bringing people together. That’s why we offer a Parents Evening led by one of our team, either in person or online, depending on what’s possible for your location and our availability.
In accordance with the EC Directive on Package Holidays, all monies received by Mercat Tours International are deposited in a Trust Fund administered by Protected Trust Services. This means your monies are safeguarded until after the tour has returned and can therefore be refunded to you in case of cancellation by MTI.
Travel
We take care of all travel arrangements so your group can enjoy a smooth, well-organised journey from start to finish. Students will be collected directly from school and travel by coach to the ferry port, before boarding either a day or overnight ferry to the continent.
Our trusted coach partners have a long-standing reputation for safety and professionalism, meeting all statutory transport requirements in the UK and across Europe.
Their experienced drivers prioritise comfort and care, ensuring every journey is safe, reliable, and positive for all.
We are proud to partner with DFDS, a ferry company recognised for exceptional reliability, and outstanding customer service. Awarded World’s Leading Ferry Operator in 2024 and nominated again for 2025, DFDS shares our commitment to responsible tourism.
Their strong environmental initiatives are a key reason we choose to work with them, helping us provide journeys that are not only efficient but also light impact on the environment.
Food & Drink
Each day while staying at the hostel, students will be provided with a continental breakfast, a packed lunch and an evening meal. An evening meal and breakfast will be provided onboard for any groups travelling by overnight ferry. For those travelling by day ferry, an onboard breakfast will be included.
We do encourage students to bring spending money for any meals, snack and drinks they require on both the outward and return UK leg of the coach journey, and for lunch in Bruges for those that choose the Dover to Dunkirk ferry crossing. Some schools choose to collect money from families and keep safe until it is needed.
Accommodation
We work closely with our accommodation partners to select hostels that best suit each group’s needs and can support any additional requirements such as accessible rooms. Your group’s safety, security and comfort are our top priorities.
For this reason, we personally inspect all new accommodation before any stay and ensure that all local legislative requirements are fully met.
You will stay in the same accommodation for the duration of your trip, giving you a safe and consistent base to return to each day - a place to rest, recharge, and reflect on everything the group have experienced.
To ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible, please let us know about any specific requirements concerning accommodation, such as accessibility needs, at the time of booking. Demand for accommodation is high and once we have reserved your place with accommodation it is very hard to change it.
We will ask the school to advise us of any specific needs within your group, including any dietary, medical and mobility needs. We ask early in the booking process to ensure these needs are factored in at all stages of your child's trip. We understand that not all additional support needs are physical.
All travellers will require their own Passport and GHIC card. Any non UK, non-Irish travellers may require an ETA.
There are plans to introduce a new scheme, ETIAS, in the near future - if this is required we will let you know. You can find out more about each of these documents by clicking the links above
We'll provide a kit list for the tour, which varies depending on weather and time of year. You should bring a small overnight bag for travel, as all main luggage will be kept on the coach until you arrive at your accommodation. We would suggest including toiletries, essential medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, and PJs if on the overnight ferry. Check out our Packing List.
There is no specific limit, however your child will need to carry all their belongings a short distance from the coach drop off point to your accommodation, so please bear this in mind
All coaches are fitted with seatbelts for safety, and a toilet for emergency use. There will be AV equipment that your guide will use during your trip. Not all coahes have USB charging ports.
Euros/£s. Meals on way to ferry and way back. Pre-loaded card
Don’t take our word for it. Read our customer reviews
"Thanks so much for this amazing trip and for helping me understand about The Great War. Thanks for some of the stories of the soldiers who fought there. You have definitely changed me."
Dominic, Edinburgh Academy
The WWI Battlefield Experience
"Thank you greatly for what you taught me. Not only do I respect the men who died for us but I also respect you for showing us there is more to find if you look deeper."
Holly, Dunbar Grammar
The WWI Battlefield Experience
"We have learned more on this trip than all previous trips to The Western Front put together. Excellent organisation. Will recommend this ‘experience’ to others."
Mr Ian Gourlay
The WWI Battlefield Experience