Planning a family activity holiday from scratch, and fitting it into UK school holiday dates, takes a lot of time, patience, and skill. Just ask Activities Abroad, they’ve been doing exactly that for almost two decades, and know how much work is involved, and how good it feels to have an expert organise everything, leaving you and the kids to concentrate on the fun side of the adventure.
So whether you want some sun this October half-term, a snow-white Christmas or exceptional ideas for next spring and summer, have a look at the fantastic family holidays Activities Abroad are already planning for the next 12 months.
October half-term
Winter feels a lot less like an endurance test if you’ve stocked up on some sunshine during October half-term. Madeira or Croatia are both warm and bright in late autumn, less than four hours from the UK, and packed with the type of outdoor fun that preps kids perfectly for the colder months ahead.
1/2 Madeira
Madeira is fast becoming a byword for adventure holidays, and Activities Abroad are big fans of its scope for unforgettable family experiences. See what Activities Abroad have included in just seven-days this half-term.
October half-term highlights for families
- Snorkelling with dolphins
- Jeep expeditions round the north and east of Madeira island
- Hiking and biking the famous Madeiran levadas
- Sea kayaking, snorkelling, crater swimming and canyoning
- Whale and dolphin watching RIB boat tours
- Exploring São Vicente volcanic caves, days out on Seixal volcanic beach
What’s included in seven-nights from 20 to 27 October 2018
- Return UK flights from London to Funchal, and transfers
- Seven nights hotel accommodation
- Seven breakfasts, two dinners and two lunches
- All activities, transport and equipment
- Experienced activity guides and instructors
Seven night October 2018 half-term break in Madeira from £1535 per adult and £1345 per child (8-11).
2/2 Croatia
Choose Novigrad on the Dalmatian Coast this autumn for warm, sunny days on Adriatic beaches and plenty of the friendly, easy-going atmosphere which makes Croatia so popular with families.
October half-term highlights for families
- Novigrad Bay sea kayaking expeditions
- Days out in historic Zadar: home of the Marin Zadar sea organ
- Biking in Krka River National Park
- Hiking round Paklenica National Park
- White water rafting and canoe safaris on the Zrmanja River
What’s included in seven-nights from 20 to 27 October 2018
- Return UK flights from London to Split or Zadar, and airport transfers
- Seven nights in one-bedroom family apartment
- Seven breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners
- A choice of extra activities, transport and equipment
- Experienced activity guides and instructors
Seven night October 2018 half-term break in Croatia from £910 per adult and £850 per child (8-12)
Find out more about family holidays designed just for UK school holidays by Activities Abroad, or call on 01670 337 078 and speak to one of the team.
Christmas holidays
Activities Abroad know the magic of Christmas doesn’t have an age limit, so even children too old for Father Christmas can expect full-on enchantment. Spellbound doesn’t begin to describe the reaction of young believers to everything from encounters with elves to personal meet ‘n’ greets with the old man himself.
1/2 Jeris, Finnish Lapland
Snow-laden Jeris is so magical in winter, the spoiled-for-choice Finns love it better than anywhere else. This fairy-tale family holiday is set in a deliciously cosy Jeris Winter Cottage and every day is filled to the brim with everyone’s all-time best Christmas fantasies.
Christmas holiday highlights for families
- An audience with Father Christmas
- Snow shoeing and cross-country skiing expeditions
- Reindeer farm visits, sleigh rides, husky safaris
- Wishing Tree treasure hunts and snow-day adventures
- Christmas craft making and winter village visits
What’s included in seven nights from 23 to 30 December 2018
- Return flights from London to Kittilä, airport transfers
- Seven nights in a Jeris Winter Cottage
- Seven breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- All activities, transport, cold weather clothing and equipment
- Experienced activity guides and instructors
Seven night Christmas family holiday in Lapland from £2395 per adult and £1359 per child (5-12)
2/2 Kuusamo, Finnish Lapland
When it comes to keeping children’s faith in Christmas, authenticity is everything, and Activities Abroad have gone to extremes to make everything believable, beautiful and utterly captivating on this wonderful four night winter holiday.
Christmas holiday highlights for families
- Guided snowshoe search and meeting with Father Christmas
- Encounters with reindeers, elf-guided animal feeding time
- Husky safaris, snowmobile sled-rides, snowshoeing and kick-sledding
- Snow sculpting
- Day out at Angry Birds Activity Park in Kuusamo
What’s included in four nights from 8 to 12 December 2018
- Return flights from London to Kuusamo, airport transfers
- Four nights in a two bedroom Winter Cottage
- Four breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners
- All activities, transport, cold weather clothing and equipment
- Experienced activity guides and instructors
Four night Christmas family holiday in Kuusamo from £1955 per adult and £1365 per child (4-11)
This holiday is also available from 15 to 19 December 2018 (£1975 per adult and £1375 per child (4-11))
Find out more about family holidays designed just for UK school holidays by Activities Abroad, or call on 01670 337 078 and speak to one of the team.
New Year
Activities Abroad have masses of experience in making family New Year holidays exciting and memorable, funning them up for kids, and giving everyone plenty of reason to love January a lot more than usual.
1/2 Luleå, Sweden
Celebrate New Year in Luleå, the city that overlooks Sweden’s legendary ‘frozen sea’, and get your children prepped for four days of unforgettable adventure.
New Year holiday highlights for families
- Northern Light seeking on snowmobile pulled sleighs
- Ice fishing on the Gulf of Bothnia
- Husky safaris
- Traditional Swedish New Year celebrations
- Snowmobile forest tours, frozen sea icebreaker tours
What’s included in four nights from 29 December 2018 to 2 January 2019
- Return flights from London to Luleå, airport transfers
- Four nights in Brändön Lodge winter cottage
- Four breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners
- All activities, transport, cold weather clothing and equipment
- Experienced wilderness guides and instructors
Four night New Year family holiday in Luleå from £1865 per adult and £1225 per child
This holiday is also available from 28 December 2018 to 1 January 2019
photo credit: Timo Halonen
2/2 Menesjärvi, Finnish Lapland
Right at the heart of Finnish Lapland’s ‘Aurora Zone’, wild and beautiful Menesjärvi is a wonderful setting for a New Year holiday for older families, heaped with extraordinary sights and magical experiences.
New Year holiday highlights for families
- Aurora workshops and Northern Lights snowshoe expeditions
- Working alongside Sámi reindeer herders
- Aurora kota dinner and traditional New Year celebrations
- Ice fishing, wilderness days, husky safaris, snowmobile adventures
- Lake Menesjärvi, visit to Sámi Siida Museum
What’s included in seven nights from 29 December 2018 to 5 January 2019
- Return flights from London to Ivalo, airport transfers
- Seven nights hotel accommodation in Menesjärvi
- Seven breakfasts, six lunches, seven dinners
- All activities, transport, cold weather clothing and equipment
- Experienced wilderness guides and instructors
Seven night New Year family holiday in Menesjärvi from £2235 per adult and £1735 per child
Find out more about family holidays designed just for UK school holidays by Activities Abroad, or call on 01670 337 078 and speak to one of the team.
February half-term
From weekends with wildlife in the far reaches of Finland to week long holidays lakeside with the Northern Lights for evening entertainment, Activities Abroad are intent on making February 2019, the half-term holiday to remember.
1/2 Saariselkä, Northern Finland
The resort village of Saariselkä sits on the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park. Spend half-term here and you can design your own holiday from a wide range of family activities, fit in some skiing, and stay in a glass-roofed Aurora Cabin: the cosiest (and coolest) way to search for the Northern Lights.
February half-term highlights for families
- Aurora camps for Northern Lights hunting
- Snowmobiling and ice-fishing
- Staying in the impressive Aurora Glass Roofed Cabin
- Meeting reindeer and Sámi reindeer herders
- Husky sledding, forest trekking
What’s included for three nights between 7 and 26 February 2019
- Return flights from London to Ivalo, airport transfers
- Three nights, half-board, in Aurora Glass Roofed Cabin
- ‘Pick and Mix’ range of family activities to choose from
- Transport, cold weather clothing and equipment
- Experienced activity guides and instructors
Three night half-term family holiday in Saariselkä from £1365 per adult and £865 per child (4-14)
2/2 Ranua Wildlife Park, Finnish Lapland
Ranua Wildlife Park is home to over 50 rare and beautiful Arctic creatures, including polar bears. Spend a weekend here exploring the wilderness landscape, meeting the wild residents, and playing in the snow, of course.
February half-term highlights for families
- Guided tours of Ranua Wildlife Park
- Five-kilometre husky safaris
- Snowmobile safaris
What’s included in a weekend from 22 to 25 February 2019
- Return flights from London to Rovaniemi, airport transfers
- Three nights in a Superior Apartment in Gulo Gulo Holiday Village
- Three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners
- All activities, equipment and cold weather clothing
- Experienced local guides and instructors
Half-term family weekend in Ranua Wildlife Park from £1065 per adult and £545 per child (4-14)
Find out more about family holidays designed just for UK school holidays by Activities Abroad, or call on 01670 337 078 and speak to one of the team.
Easter holidays
What goes into your dream Easter holiday? Big sunny beaches, historic cities and mighty mountain adventures? Or some last minute skiing before spring sets in for real? Either way, Activities Abroad have the perfect match for April 2019.
1/2 Gozo Island, Malta
Historic and tranquil, Gozo is the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago, a bit of an eco-icon, and brilliant for warm May sunshine, beaches and easy-going family fun. It’s so eco-friendly in fact that it was voted the most sustainable destination in the Mediterranean at ITB in Berlin in 2018.
May half-term highlights for families
- Round island eco-adventures
- Sea-kayaking and Mini-B diving
- Climbing and abseiling experiences
- Afternoons on Ramla Bay Beach
- Lazy family boat day
What’s included in seven nights
- Return flights from London to Malta, airport transfers
- Seven nights’ hotel accommodation
- Seven breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners
- All activities, transport and equipment
- Experienced local guides and instructors
Seven night Easter family holiday in Gozo from £1855 per adult and £1730 per child (6-12)
2/2 Essaouira and Marrakech, Morocco
Add the Atlas Mountains to sun, sand and sea. Then throw in one of the world’s most exciting cities, along with fabulous food and ancient culture into the bargain, and you have the basis of a brilliant family holiday for Easter 2019.
Easter holiday highlights for families
- Visits to traditional Berber villages
- Guided tours of the historic souks in Marrakech and Essaouira
- Atlas Mountains expeditions
- Camel trekking and cookery lessons
- Quad biking, and surfing on the Atlantic coast
What’s included in seven nights from 6 April to 13 April 2019
- Return flights from London to Marrakech, all transfers
- Seven nights luxury accommodation in Marrakech and Essaouira
- Seven breakfasts, four lunches, one dinner
- All activities, transport and equipment
- Experienced local guides and instructors
Seven night Easter family holiday in Morocco from £1240 per person
Find out more about family holidays designed just for UK school holidays by Activities Abroad, or call on 01670 337 078 and speak to one of the team.
May half-term
Island holidays feel more adventurous somehow, even when they’re as easy to do as the ones designed by Activities Abroad for May half-term 2019.
photo credit: Futurismo Azores Adventures
1/2 São Miguel Island, The Azores
The Azores are still flying a little under the radar for family holidays, which is amazing considering they have everything from stunning volcanic beaches and explorable lava tunnels to some of the world’s best whale watching experiences and the chance to swim with dolphins. Read the Family Traveller review of The Azores here.
May half term holiday highlights for families
- Exploring historic Ponta Delgada
- Sete Cidades Lake adventure tours
- Whale watching cruises
- Snorkelling with dolphins
- Jeep tours, themed island tours, canyoning
What’s included in a seven night summer holiday in July or August 2019
- Return flights from London to Ponta Delgada, all transfers
- Seven nights’ hotel accommodation
- Seven breakfasts, five lunches, two dinners
- All activities, transport and equipment
- Experienced local guides and instructors
Seven night family holiday in The Azores from £1205 per person.
2/2 Giardini Naxos, Sicily
Diverse Sicily is packed with wonders but none of them come close to the marvel of Mount Etna. Pretty Giardini Naxos is just under an hour from the legendary volcano, minutes from beautiful Ionian beaches, and close to a wide range of family activities.
May half-term highlights for families
- Island cycling tours
- Sea-kayaking on the Ionian coast
- Mount Etna guided treks
- Snorkelling with dolphins
- Snorkelling and swimming in Isola Bella Marine Park
- Trekking along the Alcantara River
What’s included in seven nights from 25 May to 1 June 2019
- Return flights from London to Catania, airport transfers
- Seven nights’ hotel accommodation
- Seven breakfasts, three lunches, two dinners
- ‘Pick and mix’ range of family activities to choose from
- Experienced local guides and instructors
Seven night May half-term family holiday in Sicily from £1475 per adult and £1220 per child (8-11)
Find out more about family holidays designed just for UK school holidays by Activities Abroad, or call on 01670 337 078 and speak to one of the team.
Summer holidays
Start planning summer 2019 now with Activities Abroad and you can set your sights on adventurous Borneo or Croatia’s sunny Adriatic coast.
1/2 The best of Borneo
As far as once-in-a-lifetime family holidays go, summer in the Sabah Region of Borneo is almost impossible to beat for incredible experiences, wildlife and sheer excitement.
Summer holiday highlights for families
- Island hopping cruises and zipline adventures.
- Jungle trekking by day and night; white water rafting; snorkelling.
- Tours of Orangutan and Sun Bear sanctuaries.
- Gomantong Caves and the Rainforest Discovery Centre.
- Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary.
What’s included in eleven nights from 3 to 14 August 2019
- 11 nights family accommodation in both five-star hotels and luxury lodges.
- Airport transfers from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan.
- 11 breakfasts, eight lunches, one dinner.
- All activities, transport and equipment.
- Experienced local guides and instructors.
11 night family summer holiday in Borneo from £2540 per person.
2/2 Skradin, Croatia
The town of Skradin sits between the historic cities of Split and Zadar, on Croatia’s beautiful Dalmatian Coast. It’s a fantastic base for hopping round Adriatic islands, exploring national parks and packing a seven-day summer holiday with everything from sea kayaking to fun family hiking and biking.
Summer holiday highlights for families
- Sea kayaking to Zlarin Island
- Bike tours in Krka River National Park
- Paklenika National Park guided hikes
- Canoe safaris on the Zrmanja River
- White water rafting on the Cetina River
What’s included in a seven night holiday in July or August 2019
- Return flights from London to Split or Zadar, airport transfers
- Seven nights’ accommodation in a family apartment
- Seven breakfasts, one lunch, seven dinners
- ‘pick and mix’ range of family activities to choose from
- Experienced local guides and instructors