Family Adventure Holidays - can anyone recommend any?

[Hulababy]

We are considering doing a family adventure type holiday next year - me, DH and DD - she is 10y, 11y in April. It is mine, and DH's 40th birthdays next year, so we are treating ourselves to a big holiday so budget is higher than normal.

We are very much open to ideas at the moment although I'd like to see some wildlife. I've looked at some of the African ones and like the sound of some of them, but open to other ideas to. Dh has also fancied west coast America perhaps, but again - we are just looking for ideas to see what is out there.

We prefer non camping tbh, although the odd night might be okay.

Has to be school holidays - so we'd have to look at Easter and summer to get in the days.

Anyone been on any? Can you suggest some good companies?

TIA

Explore, Exodus, Imaginative Traveller and Intrepid (Australian) are all reliable companies and I THINK they all do some family trips as well as the ones that are for adult groups. The trip is only as good as the tour leader though so you can never be 100% certain that just because others have had a good experience, you will too. They all do a very wide range of destinations. I have used Im Trav and Intrepid but not for family trips. Friends have used the others and praised them.

If cost is not an issue then I'd highly recommend Wild Frontiers who will tailor a trip to your needs (I think their group ones are only for adults). It's a high quality outfit and the leaders/guides are very experienced.

Enjoy the planning....almost as much fun as the holiday!

Thanks.

When I say budget is higher than normal - we do have some restrictions. We are looking at keeping it below £10k all in for the 3 of us.

I will look at the companies suggested, thanks.

I have seen some trips that look good with The Family Adventure Company - anyone heard of them?

Any more?

Hi.. Have 2 kids of similar age and did a brilliant trip to Borneo with Orangutans and some amazing wildlife with True Traveller. www.trueadventures.co.uk . They do tons of family adventures - they have the panda thing too in China. Probably worth taking a look at the site. I am so jealous! Ours was a trip of a lifetime and now I'm thinking that maybe once isn't enough!

lol Waswondering; scary isn't it? Last year of primary - can't wuite get my head round that!

Thanks Joanna - will go look.

DD is really liking the sound of one of the Namibian safari tours with that link Joanna - think the thought that there might be meerkats is a big draw.

I am however somewhat unsure what full service camping means???

Gap adventures do great family trips. We went per baby to costa rica but there were lots of families there Was amazing. Wildlife galore and rappelling, white water rafting, zip wires. A great family adventure.

Shudder at big zip wires - imagine DD and dh would like; me less so!!!

Thabks for company name though - off to look!

We did a family advenure holiday to Thailand with Exodus last summer. It was fabulous. It your DD loves elephants and trying new things like treking through rainforests and staying with a hilltribe, she'll love this holiday.

How about "dude ranching" in America - riding/hiking/fishing/wildlife viewing/whitewater rafting/canoeing/gold panning/hayrides/wagon trains and some have spas too!

You usually stay in log cabins/lodges or rooms in the main ranch. The big ones often have kids programs too - with pony rides and creek swimming so you can go off to the spa or be more adventurous.

www.duderanches.com gives an overview of the sort of things and places...

It cost us £10k for 4 Adults (kids were 15 & 20) last summer for 2 fab weeks on safari in Kenya (in our own safari vehicle)

For that price we got flights to Nairobi, One night near Treeptops, 2 nights in the Samburu game reserve in the most luxury "tents" you can imagine (double beds, loo, shower etc), 1 night on Mount Kenya, 1 night at the Lakes & 2 nights in the Masai Mara. Then flew to Mombassa for 5 nights at an All-inclusive on the beach. We went early July, so would cost a bit more in the hols - but it was not THAT much cheaper - and we were paying for 4 adults.

We have been on family friendy adventure trips (to Morocco, Jordan & Cuba) with Exodus & Families Worldwide. Would recommend them both. DH and i had travelled extensively with Exodus pre children so we got a good discount.

Also friends of ours (DC's 13 & 10) went on safari with The Adventure Company and had a fantastic time. Quite often it's teh group you end up with. I always ask what other children are on the trip (and their ages).

For my 40th DH booked a few days in Hong Kong, then a week in Borneo. It was the trip of a life time. didn't use a holiday company. We have two kids who were ten and seven then. They enjoyed it immensely.

if you interested in South Africa, let me know and I can put together a few options for you to explore :-)
wikivillage.co.za/globe-discoverers-unite-africa/

And i can give u SA ideas for free, let me know if u are interested

and to touting message below

Hi. When you went to Borneo, did you all have any vaccinations . Thinking of doing same trip but lots of conflicting advice on vac, malaria tabs etc

If you dont mind driving Hulababy youd have such fun in America. We took our trio for a months road trip starting in San Francisco, covered so much with them, Yosemite, Vegas Grand Canyon and so much more. They were only 9 and still talk about it today and would love to do it all again.............................and so would I !

Just got back from a family adventure to Egypt. Had a fab time... The country was a real surprise with amazing experiences. Booked through Explore and would recommend.

Would love to do USA, but have been spoilt with family adventure companies doing it all for us. There do not seem to be companies offering family adventures in the USA. The thought of self driving, trying to find hotels and attractions, frightens the life out of me... Days of arguing with OH and bored kids on long drives!

Any USA recommendations / advice welcome.

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