For high schools, the bay crossing is available for either an educational field trip or an orientation day.
Two options are offered to high schools:
→ The “Traditional” crossing: guided but without commentary, ideal for orientation days. This crossing allows students to discover the vastness of the bay, the mudflats, the quicksand…
→ The “Bay Discovery” crossing: guided with commentary. In addition to exploring the bay, high school students will have a guide who stops to discuss the local wildlife, flora, and traditional activities…
Themed outings with more specific commentary for half or full days are also available for high school teachers.
Loop observation walk along the coastline and salt marshes
Landscape reading and interpretation
Migratory bird tracks in Mont Saint-Michel Bay
Geology
Impact of completed and planned developments
Ecosystem characterization
Study of species adaptation to the environment
Birdwatching
Basics of environmental management
Resource exploitation
Sites: Bec d’Andaine, Saint-Léonard, Mont-Saint-Michel
Duration: 2½ to 3 hours
Output enabling comparison and characterisation of the two most common types of ribs.
Observation of morphology and characterization of environments, effects of the elements
Study of the ecosystem and specific species, relationships between individuals or species
Study of the impact of human activities, developments, and concepts of environmental protection and management reconciling various potentially conflicting economic activities.
Sites: Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, Carolles. Marine massifs created by honeycomb worms, a refuge for certain marine species
Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours
Discovery tour of various human activities on the mudflats.
Technical presentation of equipment and species involved, adaptation to the environment and tides
Ecological impact, required developments
Economic, social, and historical aspects
Demonstration of traditional shore fishing equipment setup by a fisherman.
Sites: Bec d’Andaine, Saint-Léonard
Duration: 2½ to 3 hours
Visit to the village to understand its organization and architecture. The “Wonder of the West,” Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, and its adaptation to the site and historical events. Optional guided tour of the abbey.
Geographical features
Civil, military, and religious history
Architecture
Current operations of this major tourist site
Site: Mont-Saint-Michel
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours
Specialized outing illustrating geography and geology concepts through a concrete case study of silting, as well as completed and planned development works.
Landscape reading and its evolution
Identification and impact of developments
Presentation of the project to restore the maritime character of the surroundings of Mont-Saint-Michel and the “Grand Site” Operation
Sites: Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, Bec d’Andaine, Saint-Léonard. Mont-Saint-Michel
Duration: 2½ to 3 hours
Introduction to coastal ecology
During this outing, students will be made aware of the importance of respecting the natural environment through a trip into the Bay,
Recognizing man-made waste in the tideline
Understanding the impact of waste and its degradation
Learning how to use the coastline sustainably
Sites: Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, Bec d’Andaine.
Duration: 2 hours
Guided tour of the Bay Ecomuseum in Vains Saint-Léonard, presenting the formation of the Bay, the phenomenon of tides, various environments, wildlife, flora, and human activities.
Landscape reading from the observatory. Optional short outing in the surrounding area. Guided tour of the Bay Ecomuseum in Saint-Léonard
Site: Saint-Léonard
Duration: 2 to 2½ hours
Guided tour of the Scriptorial, a museum dedicated to manuscripts from Mont-Saint-Michel.
The exhibition traces the production context, content, and manufacturing stages of the manuscripts.
Site: Avranches
Duration: 2 hours
Scriptorial Museum in Avranches, discovery of illuminations
Formation and development of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, market gardening, and polderization of the salt marshes
This day trip, combining a tour and an outing, allows you to discover the natural and cultural heritage of the bay, as well as the architecture and civil, military and religious history of Mont Saint Michel.
Morning or afternoon
Guided tour or treasure hunt in the medieval village to understand its organization, architecture, and history through the ages.
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Afternoon or morning
Guided crossing on the mudflats between Genêts, Saint-Léonard, and Mont-Saint-Michel, or a guided loop walk between Mont-Saint-Michel and Tombelaine.
Duration: 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the route and tide.
The Ecomuseum visit and the outing or crossing showcase the various aspects (technical, economic, social, historical) of traditional activities, past and present, taking place on the coastline or foreshore.
Morning or afternoon
Visit to the Bay Ecomuseum in Vains Saint-Léonard, an exhibition presenting the wildlife, flora, and human activities in the Bay.
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Afternoon or morning
Guided tour of the beaches between Le Bec d’Andaine in Genêts and Mont-Saint-Michel, or a loop around Saint-Léonard, depending on the tide, the season and the activities you wish to do.
Duration: approximately 3 hours
For full-day programs including a visit to a “Maison de la Baie,” picnic facilities are available on-site.
A room can be made available for meals in case of inclement weather or for educational activities, at an additional cost.
This day trip, combining a tour and an outdoor excursion, allows you to discover the phenomenon of the tides, the birth of the bay, its evolution, and the work being done to restore the maritime character of the area surrounding Mont-Saint-Michel.
Morning or afternoon
Visit to the Bay Ecomuseum in Vains Saint-Léonard, which presents the formation of the Bay and the phenomenon of the tides.
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Afternoon or morning
Guided tour of the beaches around Mont-Saint-Michel or crossing from the Ecomuseum.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours depending on the route and tide.
This day, combining a visit and a field trip, allows you to discover the birth of the bay, the phenomenon of the tides and their impact on the bay’s evolution, the environments and human activities.
Morning or afternoon
Visit to the Vains Saint-Léonard Ecomuseum
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Afternoon or morning
Guided outing on the beaches between Genêts and Mont-Saint-Michel or loop around Mont-Saint-Michel. Map reading and orientation in the bay, landscape reading.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours depending on route and tide.
For full-day programs including a visit to a “Maison de la Baie,” picnic facilities are available on-site.
A room can be made available for meals in case of inclement weather or for educational activities, at an additional cost.
A visit to the Scriptorial, a museum dedicated to the manuscripts of Mont-Saint-Michel, completes an outing to the Bay. This day trip allows you to make the connection between Mont-Saint-Michel and Avranches, the former seat of the bishopric, one of whose incumbents founded the sanctuary dedicated to the archangel and who collected the precious manuscripts during the Revolution.
Morning or afternoon
Guided tour of the Scriptorial, the Mont St Michel Manuscript Museum in Avranches
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Afternoon or morning
Guided crossing between Genêts and Mont-Saint-Michel or guided loop tour around Mont Saint-Michel.
Duration: 2½ to 3 hours.
Traditional activity in Mont Saint-Michel Bay, human impact on the sandy foreshore of the bay