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School trips to the Black Forest

The incredibly scenic Black Forest region covers southwest Germany and provides a stunning backdrop for many scattered villages and a few large towns, such as Freiburg.

A school trip to the Black Forest gives students of all ages the chance to experience authentic German tradition and customs for themselves – from costume museums to clock-building, and everything else in between. It’s the perfect setting for language classes to practice their German comprehension and speaking ability.

NST also offer bespoke music tours that cover both the Black Forest and parts of nearby France. This region has a host of brilliant venues that regularly attract enthusiastic audiences. You may even choose to perform (and gain free entry for) the nearby Europa Park theme park, which boasts over 100 attractions and roller coasters. This option is guaranteed to make a memorable day out for any school group.

Take a look at some of our most popular options below, or get in touch with one of our highly experienced travel advisors to talk through your ideal school trip to the Black Forest.

Browse our curriculum-linked school trips to the Black Forest


Black Forest trip highlights - our groups love...

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Popular with groups, the Cathedral, with its astronomical clock, offers a superb view of the city. Students can visit the picturesque “quartier de la Petite France” and take the tourist train for a tour around the old town.

Triberg
 

Triberg

This full day visit takes your group through the scenic Black Forest to the town of Triberg. Students can explore the Town Hall, with its intricate wood carvings, and the Heimatmuseum devoted to the traditions of the Black Forest including costumes, watch and clock-making, cooperage, ceramics and woodcarvings.

Lake Titisee

Lake Titisee

Formed by a glacier melt in the Pleistocene era and situated in the dense groves of the Black Forest, this is the perfect setting for free time.

Black Forest school trip experts

Lots of groups travel with NST to the Black Forest every year, and members of our team regularly visit to really get to know the ins-and-outs of the area, from logistics and visits to our range of student-friendly accommodation.
  
Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their knowledge of Germany to create an itinerary that’s tailor-made, perfectly timed and meets your exact school travel needs.

They’ll be able to share their first-hand experience, suggest options you might not have considered and give you insight into the feedback other teachers have given us too.

Planning your first school trip?

If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process...

  • Choosing your destination
  • Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
  • Promoting your tour in school
  • Confirming your booking

 

  • Tailor-make your tour
  • Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
  • Quick reference timeline
  • Pre-tour checklist

 

Additional support, resources & information:

Brexit & your school trip

Brexit & your school trip

How will Brexit affect my school trip?

Following the end of the transition period there are several changes that will affect groups travelling with us to the EU.

For more information on these changes, visit our dedicated Brexit page here.

If you're travelling with NST and have any specific questions. please contact your Educational Travel Advisor.

Tour planning service

Tour planning service

With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:

  • Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
  • Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
  • Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals


You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.

Free school trip promotion pack

Free school trip promotion pack

We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:

  • Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete A3 posters to promote your trip around school
  • PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
  • Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip


For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery. This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways.

Why choose NST...

Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...

  • Unrivalled knowledge

Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise of the Black Forest to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.

  • Making it easier for you

With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters and trip launch resources to support your in-school promotion.

  • Free group leader inspection visits

We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning. 

  • Value for money

We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.

  • More than 50 years’ experience

With over 50 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.

  • Risk assessment guidance

Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.

  • Peace of mind

Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.

  • Offsetting carbon emissions

For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions. 

 

Looking for protection on your next school trip? 

Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.  

 

Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial.

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA

 

Managing safety on school trips

For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:

  • 24-hour emergency cover
  • Audited accommodation & transport
  • Excursions & school visit assessment
  • Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.