Ideas for big family trip post A levels

[cheezncrackers]

DH and I are just starting to kick around some ideas for next summer (2026). DC will be 18 and 15. We're open to anywhere really, although I suggested Western Australia and DH said it's too far and he has no interest (although he knows nothing about it), so I guess not Australia, NZ or the South Pacific.

We've travelled a lot in the US, so not there and not Canada, also been to Costa Rica, going to Japan this year. DH's idea is South Africa (Cape Town, garden route, etc), but I know it's midwinter in July/Aug and it's not the best time to go. We're active, but not full-day, hardcore hiking type active, more a nice walk of an hour or two. DH and I like a good museum, plenty of local colour and culture, we all like good food, wildlife, meeting local people and exploring.

We don't like AI hotels, don't want to go on a cruise or go anywhere bland or mega-touristy. We've travelled a lot in Europe, particularly in Spain, France and Italy and we don't like it too hot. Any suggestions for a good family holiday or info on South Africa in our summer/their winter much appreciated. TIA

Mauritius doesn't appeal @Nejnej. Firstly, we're not water sports people, secondly we're not beach-lovers, and thirdly my DSis went there a couple of years ago and she didn't think it was that nice. It seems there are a huge number of gigantic hotels all along the nicer bits of coast and that sounds like Tenerife in the Indian Ocean to me! But thank you for making a suggestion - all are appreciated.

I’m a bit miffed he said no to Western Australia. It’s fab here.

The distance is a big part of it - WA is a very long way from London. But it's also his ignorance - I asked him if he knew anything about WA and he said 'No, but there's nothing there'. Nothing there??? Argh!

DH and I have been to the east coast of Australia (20 years ago) and I remember how amazing the wildlife was. The exotic birds flying around, wallabies in the parks, the gorgeous tropical plants everywhere. I think two weeks seeing Perth, Fremantle, Rottnest, Margaret River, etc would be a fabulous way to celebrate after DS1's A levels. So I agree with you! The kids have actually said to me that they'd love to go to Australia ...

Well, just to help the argument:

school holidays are the first two weeks of July. After that, the state is your oyster.

Pass this to the kids https://www.westernaustralia.com/au/home

For a little bit of heaven https://donnellyriver.com.au/. It’s self catering but that’s not difficult. Everything else you need would be supplied. But please just keep it between you and I.

And only half an hour away from the Donnelly www.margaretriver.com/towns/busselton/

Definitely Africa, potentially a safari -- look at Kenya or Tanzania.
Flight times aren't bad to East Africa, and there is so much to do.

If DH was thinking South Africa, how about Namibia for something a bit left field, but with amazing wildlife opportunities, it will be their winter but that is good for wildlife spotting. However the distances between places of interest are very large. Admittedly I haven’t been but got quite far down a planning exercise and abandoned the idea due to insufficient funds.

Self drive in the Kruger so no early starts.

DH and I want to go to Cape Town and there is enough in that area to visit in a 2-week trip that gives us a mix of city, wildlife, wine tasting, countryside, coast, walking, etc, which is the kind of thing we like.

I've looked at Namibia before and some friends of ours did a trip there, but it's so vast and empty and the distances between the various bits do put me off. I think I see a trip to Cape Town as a sort of 'beginners Africa' trip and one to Namibia as the kind of thing you graduate to after that!

I don't think we'd feel confident doing a self-drive in that area. Plus, we know from experience in Costa Rica, that if you don't have a guide with you you miss 99% of what there is to see! Plus, the reason for early morning game drives is that that is when the animals are most active and visible. If you don't head out until 11am they've all gone to lie in the shade and have a nap and you don't see a thing!

It has to be Peru! It has everything, and along with Iceland (seen you’ve said no), and Tanzania is one of our top holidays.

We loved wider Indonesia too, not just Bali, but Komodo and Borneo.

we have also been to Namibia and there is a lot of driving, but it’s worthwhile.

Peru would win for sheer variety

You should get this pinned to the top of the holiday board @minipie I’ve added Brazil & Namibia

Long haul with good weather in our summer:

Borneo
Indonesia (Bali, Lombok, Komodo etc)
East Coast Malaysia
Singapore (combine with one the above)
Sri Lanka (north & east)
Kenya
Tanzania
Botswana (I think)
Namibia
Peru
Brazil
Ecuador (I think) - Galapagos
Canada
USA - inc Hawaii & Alaska

We’ve just booked the garden route for August 2025, taking our 11 year old before she starts secondary school. Following the same route we did on out honeymoon 13 years ago.

3 day safari to start with then driving the garden route all the way to Cape Town.

I cant recommend it enough!

We did a big family trip to Colombia.

Fly to Bogotá.
From there to Letitia for the Amazon.
Back to Bogotá then Medellin.
Then flight to Santa Marta for the Caribbean coast.

Amazing trip and so much wildlife. A good mix of adventure and relaxing and 4 very different places. We felt very safe although having some Spanish was very useful, if not essential.