1. SET SAIL IN THAILAND
Why go? Brand new for 2015, if your family loves to swim, snorkel and enjoy the beach, this is the perfect family holiday. What better place to have some quality family time than in one of the world’s most beautiful archipelagos? Set sail from Koh Samui towards Ang Thong Marine park, a 42 strong group of islands home to limestone massifs and dense forests inhabited by langur monkeys, crab-eating monkeys, monitor lizards and hornbills. If you’re feeling energetic you can even climb to the Emerald Lake!
Island hopping: Sail to the luxurious islands of Ko Tao, Mango Bay and Ko Phangan before heading back to Koh Samui. Along the way you’ll experience a whole host of new adventures from hiking in the forests toward the beautiful Than Sadet Waterfall, to shopping in little markets dotted around Ko Phangan’s town. Thailand’s coast has something for everyone in the family, regardless of age. Kayak, swim, snorkel, hike or just kick back with a good book. In the evening, enjoy family dinners on secluded beaches or chow down some authentic Thai cuisine aboard the vessel.
The Lowdown: The Family Adventure Company offers a seven day tour of the east coast islands aboard a multihull catamaran. The price includes six nights’ boat accommodation, all breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners and all in-country transport. You’ll be accompanied by a local group leader for the duration of the trip.
Price: From £990 per adult and £891 per child
Book it: familyadventurecompany.co.uk
2. DISCOVER CULTURE IN JORDAN
Why go? This Jordan family holiday allows you to try something different as you experience a journey to the lost city of Petra and follow in the footsteps of T. E. Lawrence to the majestic seven columns of wisdom in the vast desert of Wadi Rum. You’ll visit the ancient, 2,000 year-old Roman city of Jerash, take to 4WD vehicles to explore the towering sandstone landscapes of Wadi Rum and camp Bedouin-style, under vast, star-filled skies.
The Pink City: The highlight of this journey is Petra, the city of the Nabateans, which was hewn by hand from solid rock. You’ll discover the salty and amazingly buoyant waters of the Dead Sea which is a perfect way to end your holiday. Families will enjoy interacting with the local community, learning about their lifestyle while having fun and playing traditional Jordanian games with locals.
The Lowdown: Explore this fascinating country that is often overlooked as a family destination with The Family Adventure Company. Prices for an eight day holiday include five nights’ hotel accommodation, one night desert camp accommodation and one night in a resort, all breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner. Entrance fees and local activities are included and you’ll be accompanied by a local group leader for the duration of the trip.
Price: From per adult £630 and per child £567
Book it: familyadventurecompany.co.uk
3. WATCH WILDLIFE IN KENYA
Why go? To kick off your family holiday you will visit the Sheldricks Wildlife Trust and the Giraffe Centre to get up close to some of these amazing animals and find out about the work that these organisations do to care for those that have been orphaned or injured. You’ll visit Lake Nakuru National Park, the home of the qyirky pink flamingos and take some time to relax and explore Lake Naivasha with water-based game viewing, and maybe even a bike ride around the shores.
Learn to jump: You’ll finish on a high in the Maasai Mara, a continuation of Tanzania’s renowned Serengeti with the same prolific fauna. During your stay you’ll hopefully see an array of wildlife: the big nine – lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, rhino, zebra, giraffe, hippo, plus wildebeest and many species of antelope – in addition to some of East Africa’s incredible bird life. You’ll also meet with the local Maasai people and learn about their fascinating culture, maybe even challenge them to jump!
The Lowdown: The Family Adventure Company’s Kenya Family Safari combines the excitement of camping out under the Africa stars for some nights with comfortable accommodation for other nights so you have the best of both. The tour includes four nights’ camping in incredibly diverse Kenyan landscapes and three nights’ hotel and bungalow accommodation, all meals, in-country transport, entrance fees and local activities and you’ll be accompanied by a local group leader for the duration of the trip.
Price: From £1,490 per adult and £1,341 per child
Book it: familyadventurecompany.co.uk
4. GET ACTIVE IN ANDORRA
Why go? Squeezed between Spain and France, the mountainous principality of Andorra is a perfect place for an action-packed summer activity week.
Get active: There are plenty of chances for mountain biking, including cycling through the Cortals Valley and downhill into Spain. In Spain, get the adrenalin pumping as you shoot the rapids, white water rafting down world-class rivers near Sort. While on this family holiday there’s also the chance to get off the beaten track. The mountain scenery is fantastic, the climate perfect and the experiences thrilling!
The Lowdown: Spend eight days exploring the magnificent mountain scenery of this centre-based activity week. The price includes seven nights’ hotel accommodation on a B&B basis and six dinners, local activities and gear hire and you’ll be accompanied by a local group leader for the duration of the trip.
Price: From £610 per adult and £549 per child
Book it: familyadventurecompany.co.uk
5. TRAVEL WITH TEENS IN PERU
Why go? Discover the ancient land of the Incas on this active adventure, taking advantage of Peru’s varied terrain on this trip designed especially for teenagers. Enjoy the vibrant city of Cusco, the colourful Sacred Valley and the chance for all the family to trek the Inca Trail. From Lima, on the arid Pacific coast, you fly to Cusco, the seat of Inca rule for some 500 years and then drive to your base in the Sacred Valley.
Follow the trail: In the Sacred Valley, you’ll enjoy activities including biking, walking, passing remote farming villages, Inca ruins and the curious terraces of actively mined salt pans. Continuing through the Sacred Valley, you’ll set off on a four-day trek along the Inca Trail through dramatic mountain scenery to the lost city of Machu Picchu, isolated amongst jungle-clad mountains and swirling mists. As a final contrast you could take the optional extension to the Amazon rainforest, home to a diversity of life unequalled anywhere on Earth.
The Lowdown: Spend 15 days exploring the homeland of the Incas on The Family Adventure Company’s Inca Trail Family Holiday. The trip includes 13 breakfasts, five lunches and four dinners, eight nights’ hotel accommodation, three nights’ camping and one night on a homestay. All in-country transport is included in the price plus a complimentary airport arrival transfer, entrance fees and local tours of guided attractions, and you’ll be accompanied by a local group leader for the duration of the trip. The minimum age on this trip is 11 years.
Price: From £1,575 per adult and £1,418 per child
Book it: familyadventurecompany.co.uk
About Family Adventure Company
With over 30 years’ experience leading families to some of the world’s most incredible places, The Family Adventure Company has rounded-up its top 5 trips to suit all manner of family bucket lists in 2015. Offering 50 small-group holidays, there are no kids’ clubs on a family adventure – just lots of fun and shared experiences. Enjoy!