The good news for school travel organisers is that in 2023, there are so many more destinations to choose from thanks to many countries now having lifted their Covid entry requirements. 

However, the not so good news is that flights costs are increasing on what seems like a weekly basis, with fuel costs and other external factors continually forcing them higher. It is possible to lock in a competitive fare for a period of time if you plan early, which we strongly recommend. Planning early is vital, not just for better flight costs but also for securing limited ground services. Planning now will provide you with the opportunity to launch your school travel program to your community to garner interest before paying deposits. 

Our team has been busy tailoring school travel programs for 2023. Where are schools travelling to? Here’s the pick of the bunch.

Nepal

There’s perhaps no better outdoor classroom and value for money destination for schools than Nepal. Thanks to the highest mountains on earth, the famous hospitality of its people and a broad range of climatic zones ranging from tropical to alpine, there is so much to learn, do and see in this tiny land-locked country (which, if flattened, would have a surface area greater than the United States). 

For schools looking to undertake a Service Learning or Regenerative Travel project, Nepal offers many opportunities where real benefits can be realised for both the local communities and the students who spend time taking part in these worthwhile programs.

Our tip, head to the Annapurna region where the altitude is lower, you'll encounter a rich culture and the mountain vistas as spectacular as anywhere else on earth. Oh, and if you can, give yourself at least two weeks to truly soak in everything Nepal has to offer. 

Ideal for: Geography, Service Learning, Physical Challenge

View Nepal school trip ideas

 

Vietnam 

Vietnam is a great introduction to international travel for students. It’s very affordable, has a rich history dating back 20,000 years, and the diversity of experiences, from the limestone pinnacles of Ha Long Bay to the mountain tribes of Mai Chau, ensures students are continually inspired to learn and explore. 

The culture is a major reason so many schools enjoy coming here. Combine a homestay with a regenerative Service Learning project in as little as 8 days for a complete learning outside the classroom experience. 

Ideal for: Service Learning, Cultural Immersion and Physical Challenge

View Vietnam school trip ideas

 

Cambodia 

For experienced school travel organisers looking to take their students deeper into Asia, consider Cambodia. The country offers an intriguing mix of jungles, rice paddies and great rivers, blessed with iconic temples, ancient culture and the joyful spirit of the Khmer people that rises above the country's challenging history. 

The temples of Angkor Wat are worth a visit alone. In less than one-week students can learn more about these fascinating ruins, then experience them from a different angle when they cycle through them! Cambodia is also a very affordable destination. 

Cambodia's varied landscapes provide the perfect setting for a multi-activity physical challenge. Combine a cycle through the Angkor temples with kayaking on the Tonle Sap River and trekking in the Kulen Mountains.

Ideal for: Service Learning, Cultural Immersion and Physical Challenge

View Cambodia school trip ideas

 

Australia’s Northern Territory 

The Northern Territory is a remarkable region of contrasts and one of our most popular destinations for schools looking to introduce their students to authentic Indigenous immersion programs. 

Teeming with unique flora and fauna and rich with 40,000 years of human history in the hands of Australia’s Indigenous custodians, this is a region of staggering beauty and significance, from vast, sunburnt outback in Central Australia to lush gorges, waterfalls, and swimming holes in the Top End. 

Ideal for: Indigenous Cultural Immersion and Physical Challenge

View Northern Territory school trip ideas

Blue Mountains 

Just two hours west of Sydney is a World Heritage listed gem that is a virtual adventure playground. It is the ideal destination to immerse students into nature and to boost their confidence by providing them with new skills through exploring the great outdoors by foot, abseil or even canyoning. 

They may be blue, but they are not much more than a thousand metres high, and they are not even mountains! In the language of science, the Blue Mountains are really a dissected uplifted plateau where the magic lies not in their heights, but in their depths – amazing canyons that have been carved into its sandstone soul. 

Ideal for: Physical Challenge and Immersion in Natural Environments

View school trip ideas in NSW

Patagonia 

If you’re flexible with budget then consider one of the most spectacular locations on earth, the Magallanes region of Chile, specifically Patagonia. Ice-hike on one of the largest icefields on earth, kayak alongside small icebergs, marvel at mountains rising over 3000m from the ground and spot the world’s biggest flying bird, the condor. 

Getting to Patagonia, which is at the far south of the world's longest country, requires a little more time and effort, the locals like to refer to the region as the end of the earth, but there is nowhere else like it on earth and it is well worth the extra effort to experience it's wonders.

Few destinations will inspire a student’s spirit for adventure like Patagonia will. 

Ideal for: Culture, Physical Challenge and Geographical Wonders

View Patagonia school trip ideas

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Ready to start planning your next school journey? Start designing your program here.

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