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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.

Trips to the Black Forest are part of a wide selection of school trips to Germany that we offer. 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

Cultural & Transition Year

Cultural & Transition Year

This picturesque region, situated on the east side of the French-German border, provides a great base for students to strengthen friendships whilst exploring and comparing two countries in one visit. We can build an itinerary that includes various visits and attractions in the cities of Strasbourg and Freiburg and the many other forest and spa towns on either side of the border.

Learn more about our cultural & transition year trips to the Black Forest here

German Language

German Language

A language study tour to this popular destination is ideal for both German and French language groups, and comes complete with a varied and exciting range of target language-focused experiences.

Learn more about our German language trips to the Black Forest here

Music

Music

With NST, we can combine performances and visits in France and Germany for a memorable two-country concert tour to the Black Forest.

Learn more about our music trips to the Black Forest here


Black Forest trip highlights - our groups love...

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.

Wolfach Glass Blowing Demonstration & Tour

Wolfach Glass Blowing Demonstration & Tour

The last glassworks in the Black Forest that still manufactures mouth blown glass, here you can watch glassblowers and glass grinders at work and explore the engraving studio.

Gutach Open Air Museum

Gutach Open Air Museum

The museum has many restored 16th century buildings and has preserved the old customs and traditions of the town.

Europa Park Theme Park

Europa Park Theme Park

With over 100 attractions, 11 roller coasters and 13 European themed areas, this theme park is a popular choice for our groups!

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.

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

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 
  • Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip 

Risk assessment support including preview visits

Risk assessment support including preview visit

Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.

Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.

Planning first school trip

Planning first school trip

Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process. 

If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. 

Our helpful guide covers the following: 

  • 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 

 

View our essential guide to a successful school trip here

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Get live updates on your group's tour location

Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track. 

With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.

Watch our short Locate My Trip video here

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager

Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you. 

With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too. 

What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go. 

Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here

Free classroom resources

Free classroom resources

We've created a range of free geography resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!

Take a look at our downloadable posters here

Why choose NST...

Here's why hundreds 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 to support 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 20 years’ experience

With over 20 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.

Financial protection from the moment you book

NST are fully bonded & licensed:

  • ABTA
  • ATOL
  • IATA
  • Commission for Aviation Regulation

 

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

Package Travel Regulations 2018

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. 

We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured

For groups travelling from Northern Ireland... the Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.

Learn more here