School trips to Colombo

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School trips to Colombo offer the opportunity to explore all that the beautiful country of Sri Lanka has to offer!

Most school groups who choose to visit Colombo on an educational visit do so as part of a cultural school trip to Sri Lanka. But whatever your reason for choosing to visit, we’ll work closely with you to ensure your trip supports your specific learning objectives.

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Why visit Colombo?

Discover Sri Lankan history and culture

As the nation’s capital and an important port throughout its history, Colombo is the perfect base from which to explore Sri Lanka. It’s also the perfect place to learn more about Sri Lankan history and culture.

The city still bears the evidence of its past reincarnations as a Dutch and then British trading post. And it remains a multicultural, religiously diverse city that your students will have an unforgettable time exploring.

One visit you mustn’t miss on your school trip to Colombo is Sigiraya. This iconic ancient rock fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fortress was built in 5th century and the ruins of the citadel survive today. There are some beautiful frescoes and the gardens are considered among the oldest examples of landscape gardens in the world.

You’ll also want to spend some time exploring Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings’ era. You’ll explore the sacred Buddhist Temple of the Tooth, and you can even enjoy a cultural show featuring a traditional Sri Lankan dance.

One of the best ways for your students to really understand Sri Lankan culture is for them to spend some time with Sri Lankan children. We can arrange for you to visit a rural village, where your students can join in with some lessons, giving them the unforgettable experience of interacting with the local students.

Explore the spectacular landscape

Colombo is the perfect base from which to explore Sri Lanka’s spectacular landscapes, from rolling coastal plains to impressive mountains and serene lagoons.

Sri Lanka boasts high biodiversity and is home to elephants, leopards and many aquatic birds.

On your school trip to Colombo, your students will love the opportunity to explore some of Sri Lanka’s beautiful National Parks.

Yala National Park is the most-visited national park in Sri Lanka and is famous for the variety of wildlife that live here, including Sri Lankan elephants and leopards – in fact, it’s believed to have one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. There are a variety of ecosystems here, from monsoon forests, to grasslands, marshes and sandy beaches.

Horton Plains National Park also boasts a variety of ecosystems, including swamps, grasslands and montane forest. The park is home to sambar deer, toque macaques, purple-faced langurs, and the Horton Plains slender loris, one of the world’s most endangered primates.

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Why choose Halsbury?

We build your trip around you

Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.

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We’re trusted for a reason

We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.

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Our Education specialists

Laura Lucas

Tour Consultant

Paul Hudson

Tour Consultant

Laura Martin

Language Sales & Product Manager

Emma Gray da Silva

Tour Consultant

Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.

Meet the education team

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FAQs

How long should we spend in Colombo on a school trip?

To really make the most of everything that Colombo and Sri Lanka have to offer, we would highly recommend planning to spend around 10 days there on your school trip.

What's the best time of year to visit Colombo on a school trip?

The best time of year to visit Colombo is February or March, before the onset of the rainy season.

What's the best way to get around Colombo?

If, like most of our school groups, your using Colombo as your base from which to explore the rest of Sri Lanka, then we will arrange for you to have a comfortable coach to use throughout your school trip.

Which visits are a must on a school trip to Colombo?

We would highly recommend visiting Sigiriya, one of the most iconic sights and important historical sites in Sri Lanka. You'll also want to visit the majestic city of Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. And you mustn't miss a visit to the spectacular Horton Plains National Park.

Can I arrange a cross-curricular school trip to Colombo?

You certainly can! Colombo offers exciting opportunities for geography and sports, and as a general cultural experience designed to broaden students' horizons!

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