Long haul, fortnight in late aug/early sept?

[SparkleandFlights]

I have been toying with the idea of a family adventure this summer as DH turns 50 and oldest dc finishes GCSEs. DC have never been long haul, bith dh have done a fair bit many moons ago.

However we are really limited as to when we can go and it looks like it would be between results day and them going back to school (7th Sept).

Is there anywhere exciting that we could squeeze into thay gap that would be ok weather wise?

We are not luxury people and prepared to book elements separately as required.

Where would you look at if you were me?

Depends what sort of holiday you'd class as exciting? Are you looking for beach / pool, city sightseeing, jungle safari, outdoor activities??

Borneo and most of Indonesia is perfect at that time.

We're open to ideas. Kids love a pool and splashing around but we're not sunbathers. Definitely up for a bit of city exploring but not the whole time.

We're active and outdoorsy and up for walking etc.

Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies then

Southern Africa? SA, Namibia, Botswana...

I know it's their winter but it's dry season and warm during the day.

A friend went last year and found it pretty chilly in the eves!

You've sent me off looking at all sorts of snowy adventures!!

I think this may be what we are looking for!

It’s worth popping into Trailfinders, they will have loads of good advice and cheap deals

Reunion Island has snorkelling, volcano, kayaking, hiking

No snow there in the summer, but lots of fabulous places to visit.

A West Coast trip in the states, using Seattle as a base, would be amazing. Mount Rainier, Mount Saint Helens there are all these amazing parks and then the coastal parts of Oregon are absolutely stunning.

If you’re going seriously long haul, have you considered the pacific islands, somewhere like Palau? Solomon Islands?

If you do go to Indonesia, I would consider trying to get to somewhere like Sumbawa or travelling along the eastern islands, Lombok through to Flores. Borneo - Kalimantan bring the Indonesian part - is heavily deforested but there are some amazing jungle trips (see Camp Leakey near Sampit for starters)

Peru is fantastic at that time of year
Tanzania
Indonesia as has been mentioned, Komodo and other islands not just Bali
Iceland although not long haul, certainly no sunbathing!
Brazil
Hawaii
Namibia is much more varied than just safari.
Our kids favourite summer trip has been Svalbard, again no sunbathing but incredible once in a lifetime stuff

Thanks everyone - so many ideas!

Yes would have to be another trip!

This is great timing for Canada and it’s a really WOW trip. Also recommend Trailfinders. For my last couple of trips they’ve worked out cheaper than what I could find for myself.

Bali

Japan, so much to see and do. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and then north to see the snow monkeys.

In Aug and Sept? Isn’t that typhoon season?

We've had some quotes from trailfinders and it looks like we might need to spend £12-15k for a trip via an agent.

I think I could possibly it cheaper if I do it all separately myself but not sure its a good idea for the stress.

What would you expect to spend on this kind of trip?

Easily that, and often more I’m afraid. We focus on travel though so my old car will have to wait!

What I should have added is that base costs vary greatly.

Hawaii or Tanzania are going to cost much more than Vietnam. Brazil is more than Peru.

Where is your quote for?

We've had detailed quotes for Sri Lanka, less detailed for borneo but it was more expensive

Try speaking to Families Worldwide for Sri Lanka, they are a good touchstone.

Our holidays in both places were the same in terms of pricing though, more to Borneo.

In terms of stress, I MUCH prefer to go via an agent. When things go wrong the backup is invaluable