Where to go for a real adventure with teens?

[Chocguzel]

We need an Easter destination for next year. Somewhere with lots to see and do that feels really different.

Places we have loved before include:

• Vietnam - the kids adored cycling around the Mekong Delta, a street food tour by Vespa in Saigon and kayaking in Halong Bay. Some parts were too touristy though (I’m looking at you Hoi An)
• Morocco - we hiked the Atlas Mountains, loved running down the sand dunes of the Sahara and enjoyed the chaos of Marrakech.
• Botswana - safari was a hit, especially searching for hippos my canoe, but there was more time in cars between safaris than the kids really wanted.
• Oman - again they loved the desert but also hiking to deserted swimming Wadis. They loved the old forts and market towns too.
• Silk Route - we camped in yurts in the mountains of Krygistan which was stunning and they loved the history and ancient sites of Samarkand plus the chaotic bazaars. Another highlight was meeting people on the old sleeper trains.

So where next? It has to be a good Easter destination ideally with a mix of outdoor adventure in nature and interesting towns/cities.

Thailand - fly into Bangkok, spend a few days in the city then take a sleeper north to Chiang Mai. There’s loads to do there (we filled 5 days) but the elephants were the highlight.

India - the golden triangle OR Kerala (look into house boats in Alleppey and a few nights at Thekkady and/or Munnar.

I hope you are collecting airmiles! NYC and DC are pretty iconic for teens - I know you said no US but they would be a big hit I'm sure.

Another vote for Sri Lanka! We've just got back and absolutely LOVED it 😍

Another vote for Sri Lanka. My teens loved it - spice farms, fishing, safari, temples, tea plantations and collapse on a beach.

We did lot of travelling with our teenage sons when we lived in Singapore. Their favourite holidays were definitely adventures with busy itineraries, Australia & Sri Lanka probably being their favourite.

We loved Sri Lanka at easter, so much to see and do and the food is fab! Other places we’ve been and loved with our teen are Japan ( as pp have said flights are most expensive part although I guess Sakura season will push prices up a bit), so much to see, our son loved the old, the new and everything in between, so much so that we’re going back this summer,
Canada- at Easter you could do a fab road trip in the Rockies and ski if you fancy- we did dinosaur provincial park and drove up to Banff, lake Louise and jasper. The west coast whistler, Squamish and Vancouver island are also amazing.

we loved Borneo and Malaysia last year, so much to see and do and the marine and wildlife were incredible.

also loved our self drive around the Yucatan, swam with whale sharks, swam in cenotes, saw amazing Mayan ruins and went to the best natural lazy river.

my husbands all time favourite holiday was Peru, it’s so different, we went into the Amazon, saw Macchu Picchu, stayed in a homestay on Titicacca, magical!!

We’ve also had great holidays in Australia, again so diverse and lots to see and do.

ooh and Jordan, although that maybe a bit too similar if you’ve been to Oman recently.

other places on our list are Namibia, Brazil, Guatemala ( although our son is doing a school expedition now next year), South Korea but political situation a bit unclear, the Silk Road ( love the sound of your trip!), Chile and Ecuador.

happy planning!

Manchu Picchu

Your holidays sound epic and I am very envious indeed!! Your dc will some have amazing memories.

Would your dc enjoy a Andalusian adventure, lots of history involving visits to Alhambra, Pampaneiras village, Palaces of Seville, and the Cathedral in Cordoba? You could do a 3 city tours - Cordoba, Granada and Seville. We went a couple of years ago and it's my fondest holiday memory so far.

Ooh and forgot- Cambodia was amazing! We stayed at somewhere run by an NGO and did a day in the life of in a local village and a cooking class, all the money went back into the village. Angkor Wat and the other temples were fab, including the tomb raider one! Phare Circus too. You could go to Kampot and the islands too.

Costa Rica

Peru - walk to Machu Picchu. Nepal - walk to Basecamp. Eastern Europe- some beautiful & cheap places, not bad in March. China - so much to see and very different - you can even do a cruise along to Yangtze. Japan is brilliant in March/April as it is cherry blossom season & flights are cheap. Norway Hurtigruten - northern lights but expensive. Finally, Sri Lanka.

Another vote for Costa Rica

I'm intrigued as to how you found a holiday to Botswana that was cheaper than going to Japan! Everywhere I look it's minimum £2000 pp + flights, and most are a lot more. A cheap way to do safaris is to go to one of the National Parks in South Africa, where you can self-drive and stay at rest-camps, which is what we're hoping to do.

How about Turkey? I mean properly exploring rather than just sticking to the coastal resorts - Cappadocia, Istanbul and other cities. There is a huge amount to see.

I was also going to suggest Argentina but saw your earlier comment about cost. Have you looked at Mexico or Costa Rica?

We loved Japan, and as others have said it’s not as expensive as you expect once you get there.

Canada is great - I’ve been a lot for work, and we had a great holiday a few years ago in Toronto and surroundings. I also love Quebec City, and we’re going to Vancouver this summer.

Next year we’re planning a South-East Asia trip taking in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam over Easter.

Australia feels surprisingly different and there’s so much to do there

Following! Mine are tweens and I think a lot
of these are a little ambitious at present but I have plans for future adventures.

I will add Galapagos to the list of adventurous destinations that are good at Easter - but it isn’t cheap.

I love your ambitions and sense of adventure.

I have nothing to add though as we thought we’d done quite well coming to Devon and going surfing in April 😂😂😂

@Chocguzel You must have had bargain basement in Botswana! We went last summer and it’s not cheap as park fees are high and camps are small. No direct flights either.

i was going to say Galápagos Islands but if money is an issue, Peru. Argentina is reasonable when you get there. Flights to South America are not cheap but holidays there are great. The Peruvian Amazon basin is superb too.

We also liked Alaska but that’s not cheap! Canada is worth a look but it’s too early for salmon and bears. Our DC really liked Boston and New England. The cities of Philadelphia and Washington are also great for learning about American history and there are amazing areas west of these cities for relaxation such as the Skyline Drive.

Vietnam and Thailand are fairly obvious. Families Worldwide have great ideas.

Brazil - so much to see, the rainforest, Salvador, Rio, São Paulo, Manaus, iguassu.

Costa Rica - two coasts, beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, hot springs

India as a PP said - golden triangle or Kerala

We are in Bali currently, had a week in Singapore first. Best holiday we've ever had. So much to see and do.

Bit of a tour round India ?
Thailand with a couple of islands ?

Oh please—someone who’s conquered the world and ticked every box on the life experience bingo card hardly needs Mumsnet for ideas. You’re here to brag and boast. Cringin’ ‘ell.

We are just back from Costa Rica. It’s certainly not cheap, but it’s easy to organise yourself rather than relying on a tour which cuts the costs considerably. We met some backpackers and they recommended Peru as a lot less expensive, but also safe to DIY.

Another vote for Iceland. Loads to do and gloriously different to anywhere else we have been lucky enough to visit.