Scott Dunn have just released their top 100 experiences of a lifetime, and every one will make your adventure-loving hearts beat a little faster.
Orang Utan, Borneo
Of course, you have to take a look at them all, but we couldn’t resist taking a sneaky first peek and picking 10 of the ones we think will particularly thrill you and your kids this year.
Giraffe Manor experiences of a lifetime
Meet the giraffes who come for breakfast
Forget The Tiger Who Came To Tea and meet the giraffes who come for breakfast at Giraffe Manor just outside Nairobi.
This stranger than fiction encounter is one of the signature experiences at this world famous hotel which balances old-fashioned charm with a very contemporary commitment to conservation. So apart from giraffes popping their heads through the dining room window in search of grass seeds (there’s a pot of them on every table), you also have the chance to visit the AFEW Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrake elephant orphanage, both near neighbours to Giraffe Manor.
Once in a lifetime experiences with orangutan in Borneo
Bio-diverse, mysterious and staggeringly beautiful, Borneo is described as one of the planet’s ‘richest treasure-houses’, by none other than David Attenborough.
Of course it has a place in the Scott Dunn 100 experiences of a lifetime. But it makes it into our cut too, thanks to irresistible orangutan, best seen at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in the Bornean rainforest.
Snorkelling off Santa Cruz Island
The Galápagos Islands hold the ultimate wildlife experiences
The Galápagos Islands have topped the wildlife adventure list since Darwin first dropped anchor there in 1835.
Fiercely protected and practically untouched by the outside world, this is where animals rule the roost and humans are mere spectators. Although not always. One experience not to miss – apart from seeing Blue-Footed Boobies and Giant Galápagos Tortoise – is snorkelling with the resident sea lions.
As far as unforgettable goes, this probably tops every kid’s list.
Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland experiences of a lifetime
Find endless experiences of a lifetime in magical Iceland
If you didn’t know how easy it was to get there, you could almost convince yourself Iceland was a figment of some wild imagination.
Certainly the landscape just stops short of mythical with its volcanoes and glaciers, astonishing waterfalls and more natural phenomenon than seems strictly fair.
Where else can you snorkel between the North American and European continents and touch both at the same time? Or journey beneath the enormous Langjökull glacier into the dazzling blue of the world’s longest ice caves? Or catch the most spectacular Northern Lights’ displays, even in the middle of cities?
It’s true what Scott Dunn say, adventure does not have an off-switch in the land of fire and ice.
Traditional tastes of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City
Hop on a Vespa for a taste of Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam is another country with an adventurous soul and some seriously good food.
A taste tour of Ho Chi Minh City might sound a little refined for your teens, until you add a Vespa to the mix. Then it goes from food tour to a Scott Dunn once in a lifetime experience.
There is nothing tame about winding through vivid alleys and bustling city streets, stopping off to sample everything from authentic phở to bánh mì, learning culinary secrets from locals and discovering hidden away places known only to the likes of your seasoned foodie guide and Ho Chi Minh City expert.
Pacuare River rafting, Costa Rica
Rafting in Costa Rica is one of the experiences of a lifetime for teens
Costa Rica is known the world over for its bio-diversity, incredible wildlife and lived commitment to conservation. It’s perhaps just a little less well known as one of the greatest places on earth for white water rafting.
If that sounds too out there, head to Scott Dunn 100 experiences of a lifetime and settle down to learn about the Pacuare River.
Not only one of the best white water spots in the country, but also a place for gentle paddling too. So you get thrill blasts in between scenic sails, spotting the jungle residents and even catching the Huacas waterfall. If you’re thinking this adventure sounds just right for teens, you are not wrong.
Desert experiences of a lifetime, Wahiba Sands, Oman
Extraordinary stargazing adventures in Oman
Few places can claim clearer night skies than the earth’s deserts, which might sound like an adventure too far for kids, until you learn about Wahiba Sands in Oman.
All the soaring dunes and tented Bedouin camps are in place and, we promise, the sky is awash with stars. But otherworldly as this sounds, it’s really amazingly accessible and one of the experiences of a lifetime Scott Dunn highly recommends, even for younger children.
Clayoquot, Vancouver Island
Great glamping experiences on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island has to be one of the most incredible destinations in Canada, and the competition there is very strong.
The landscape is a mesmerising mix of wildly beautiful coast, sweeping beaches, mountains, rivers, forests and rainforests. So perhaps you won’t be too surprised to learn it’s also the natural habitat of seals, otters, bears, whales and even the shy Vancouver Island Wolf.
Scott Dunn suggest glamping at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge for the full-on outdoors in the wilds and the rest of the world can wait experience. Another one your kids will never forget, or stop talking about.
Uluru, Red Centre, Australia
Fly over the magnificence of Uluru and Kata Tjuta in Australia
Flying over Kata Tjuta National Park in the Red Centre of Australia earns its place in Scott Dunn’s 100 experiences of a lifetime, and then some.
Not only is the vastness of the desert landscape mesmerising, this protected land is home to two of the country’s greatest icons: Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Nothing can prepare you for the sensation of seeing these monolithic rock formations from the air. But suffice to say, it’s not difficult to understand why the Aboriginal people have worked tirelessly to have the immense sacred and cultural significance of both, officially recognised and respected.
Christmas in Finnish Lapland
Finnish Lapland delivers Christmas experiences of a lifetime
Too early to think about next Christmas? Not if you’re thinking of adding one of Scott Dunn’s most festive experiences of a lifetime to your 2024 adventures.
Christmas in Finnish Lapland enchants with reindeer sleigh rides and snow laden forests, blazing Polar night skies, good chance of the Northern Lights and, of course, Father Christmas himself.
It’s nothing short of a fairy tale and everyone loves a fairy tale. So to make sure yours has a happy ending in December, think about booking one of Scott Dunn’s gorgeous, wintry chalets round about right now.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
How Scott Dunn adds experiences of a lifetime to every family holiday
The team at Scott Dunn don’t just work in travel, it’s their passion. You can guess what they do in their free time. And, as most of them are parents too, they’re also creating a new generation of world travellers. So it’s easy to understand why we were thrilled when they released their 100 experiences of a lifetime: nobody knows more about those.
Bold adventures tailored to your dreams
Scott Dunn’s talent for family adventures is endless and their plans are never anything short of bold, imaginative and precisely matched to your family. When it comes to awe-inspiring destinations, you’ll be amazed by how many of them the team know first hand. Then there’s the global network of Scott Dunn guides who give you insight into local life and culture, even in the most remote parts of the world.
The luxury of knowing every detail is covered
Of course, because every experiences is individually tailored and your Scott Dunn travel expert is on hand before, during and after your trip, nothing is left to chance. Luxury is another constant you can rely on too. Even wilderness glamping on Vancouver Island is luxurious. You can look forward to Bedouin camps in Oman being as opulent as glamorous chalets in Finnish Lapland. And because no detail of your holiday is too small to go unnoticed by Scott Dunn, you also have the luxury of not having to worry about a thing, no matter what experiences of a lifetime you have planned for 2024.