A collection of family holidays our experts are proud to have recently put together for our clients – outstanding, tried-and-tested experiences to create enduring shared memories.
Islands of Indonesia
Time of Travel: July / August
Also Perfect In: Summer is best
Family Dynamic: Two adults & two children aged 14 & 24
Length of Trip: 15 days
Highlights from their trip:
- Cruising the remote jungle waterways of Indonesian Borneo, on a traditional houseboat, to see orangutans in the wild.
- Cycling through paddy fields and past Buddhist temples on Java.
- Private charter through Komodo: snorkelling, seeing Komodo dragons and hiking to viewpoints.
- Three of the family dived to the USS Liberty Shipwreck off Bali’s eastern shore.
- Trekking, canoeing and volcano cycling in Ubud.
“ The underwater world is my passion and Komodo is such a special place, it is where I had my first experience with manta rays. It can get busy so nothing gives me greater pleasure than being able to put together a trip for clients that enables them to see this special region at its best, on the water, away from others.” – Clare Higginson, Asia, Australasia and Oceania Expert
A Family Adventure Through Botswana
Time of Travel: October
Also Perfect In: July & August
Family Dynamic: Two adults & three children aged between 13 & 18
Length of Trip: 14 days
Highlights from their trip:
- A mobile safari in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
- Exploring on foot and by boat during the day and camping on lantern-lit islands at night.
- Meerkat encounter in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
- Exhilarating quad bike rides across the pans.
- Sleeping under a star-studded sky during a salt pan sleep out.
- Wildlife moments including a wild dog kill and spotting aardvark, leopard and lion.
“ Exclusivity was the theme that ran throughout this family adventure, culminating in the celebration of a landmark birthday by firelight, under the stars, at a remote private camp in the heart of the Makgadikgadi Pans which they reached on quad bikes – it was a pleasure to plan this for them.” – Illona Cross, Africa Expert
A Taste of Italy and the Aegean
Time of Travel: June / July
Also Perfect In: April, May & October
Family Dynamic: Two adults & two adult children aged 18 & 22
Length of Trip: 15 days
Highlights from their trip:
- A glassblowing workshop with master artisans on Murano Island.
- A performance of ‘The Barber of Seville’.
- Truffle hunting in the countryside near Florence.
- A hands-on cooking class, tailored to their family’s dietary needs.
- A day spent on Antiparos, a tiny islet in the Aegean, only reachable by boat.
- Swimming and snorkelling in the waters off the uninhabited island of Despotiko.
“I loved organising this trip. Nothing was run of the mill, with unique activities tailored to the family’s interests in farming and gardens. Focusing on nature and local cultures with a smattering of historical sites, I would definitely do something similar with my young children, who are seven and four!” – Kate Hitchen, Europe, Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Expert
India Through a Child’s Eyes
Time of Travel: October
Also Perfect In: December & February
Family Dynamic: Two adults & three children aged between 8 & 13
Length of Trip: 10 days
Highlights from their trip:
- Staying at carefully chosen hotels, complete with dogs, Max and Maya, giving the children a chance to enjoy cuddles while away from their pets.
- A fascinating traditional block printing experience.
- Leopard spotting in Jawai.
- A village visit where the children got to play football and cricket with local children.
- Their guide Ram in Jodhpur who immediately captured the children’s attention by showing them where Batman Rising and The Jungle Book were filmed, followed by ice cream.
- Sampling streetfood.
“ The success of this trip was all about the little details and the people – the guides and the characters and how it all knitted together to inspire the whole family.” – Charlotte Lawton, Europe, Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Expert
Panama in Style
Time of Travel: April
Also Perfect In: January – April
Family Dynamic: Four adults and two children aged between 8 & 14
Length of Trip: 12 days
Highlights from their trip:
- Panama City, including a visit to the canal lock gates and Casco Viejo.
- The Bayano Lake Caves; walking over rocks and wading through water pools.
- A private catamaran charter around the Guna Yala (San Blas) Islands.
- Snorkelling, paddleboarding and kayaking in coves.
- Meeting the Kuna communities to learn about their culture and traditions.
- A boat ride along the Panama Canal to Chagres River and seeing capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths and toucans.
- The pinata on a tiny Caribbean atoll for one of the children’s birthdays.
“This was an outstanding family holiday including shared experiences that were educational, active, fun and worked for the whole family. They returned with tropical images etched into their memory and will never forget attacking a pinata hanging from a palm tree on a remote sandy coral atoll.” – John Faithfull, Americas Expert
Canada’s West Coast Adventure
Time of Travel: August
Also Perfect In: June, July & August
Family Dynamic: All ages are welcome onboard, from newborns to grandparents
Length of Trip: 7 days
Highlights from their trip:
- Sailing the fjords of the Desolation Sound aboard the Pacific Yellowfin.
- Anchoring in secluded coves.
- Water trampolining and shooting down the 40-foot inflatable slide.
- Seeing bears, eagles, orca and sea lions.
- Fishing for lunch, including Dungeness crab, prawns, oysters and salmon.
- Mountain biking and visiting remote communities on land.
“Perfect for two families, this is one of the only boats of its kind in North America. Geared towards both children and parents, the itinerary was packed with family-friendly activities, high-level cuisine and unique history lessons. The captain of over 20 years’ experience knows all the nooks and crannies, so maximised every moment.” – Roxy Dukes, Americas
This article is an excerpt from our new Steppes Traveller magazine – please get in touch with us to receive your free copy.
