Abstract Due to the limitations associated with real field trips (RFTs) and considering the advances in technology in the last decade, virtual field trips (VFTs) have been introduced to replace RFTs. In the present study, we investigated the essentiality and usefulness of VFTs on student’s learning as well as the acquisition of insight for designing an industrial scale plant. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to investigate the importance of different types of field trips in promoting student’s knowledge and perceptions. The results show that students rated RFTs higher as it enhanced their perceptions, provided an opportunity to communicate with experts in the field and witnessed how theoretical knowledge can be applied to practical knowledge. However, the lack of pre-information substantially decreased the effectiveness of RFT. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that VFT can be a powerful supplement to RFT as it provides the necessary pre-knowledge to students in a way that maximises learning during the RFT while concurrently providing opportunities to digitally revisit the plant after the RFT has ended.