Firstly, I would say that Thailand can be regarded as a ‘safe’ destination which receives a great many visitors who rarely have any security issues. There are a number of ‘family adventure’ group trips to Thailand that explore the temples & markets of Chiang Mai in the north as well as the beaches & national parks further south. The best time to go to fit around the school holiday dates would be the Christmas holiday or at Easter. July/August are possible but humidity is a lot higher at this time. Another country that we have found is very popular with families is Sri Lanka where there is a similar blend of temples, elephant riding and beach time but involves slightly less flying time. Both Madagascar and the Galapagos Islands can also be visited as part of a ‘family adventure’ type holiday. For Madagascar, you would need to be looking at the August summer holidays or late December/early January. You are right though – they are rather more expensive than Thailand! To give you an idea of cost, for Madagascar you should budget for approximately £2500 per adult/£2000 per child for a 13 day trip including flights with one of the group operators. The Galapagos Islands would be similar in cost for the same length of trip. One thing to bear in mind is that mainland Ecuador has a lot to offer in addition to just visiting the Galapagos with places such as Otavalo market, the Amazon rainforest, and numerous volcanoes. There are trips that include both the Galapagos Islands and some highlights of mainland Ecuador that might be more appealing than just a wildlife trip to the Islands alone. (Simon Gibson, Nomadic Travel)

Supplied By: Nomadic Travel Ltd
Website: www.nomadictravel.co.uk
Telephone: 01392 221199

 

Its great families are taking more adventurous holidays than “bucket and spade”. There are some exiting destinations and several companies offer family adventures THAILAND – excellent value for money -is one of the most child friendly destinations in the world and there is plenty to do and see. Visit to the Hill Tribes, have an“elephant” adventure in Chang Mai and time on the beach Excellent and varied cuisine caters for the most fussy palates. A Guide called Thailand4kids is excellent. THE GALAPAGOS is a wonderful destination though needs to be booked well in advance, especially if you want to join a “family” departure. Some boats have strict regulations about age and it would be best to wait until your youngest is at least 7. It will be expensive but would be a once in a lifetime trip MADAGASCAR, whilst excellent for families wanting to venture somewhere “different” would also be best left for a year or two. Away from the beach, whilst there are no poisonous snakes or dangerous mammals there can be a lot of walking. How about a self-drive summer holiday in ICELAND? Activities include horseback riding, whale watching and snow mobiling! Or gulet cruising around TURKEY? Always check with your doctor on medical requirements. (Journeys a la Carte)

Supplied By: Journeys à la Carte
Website: www.journeysalacarte.co.uk
Telephone: 01889 567755

 

The Galapagos Islands would be an excellent adventure for a family which would include children of the ages 5,11,12. With two main seasons – a warm wet season which lasts from January to June and a cooler, dry season from July to December so there would be plenty of opportunity to travel during school holidays. If clients were to take a cruise of the Galapagos obviously prices would be costly however, there is a further option which is quite not so expensive - to stay land based at the Finch Bay hotel located at Punta Estrada which is also near a sandy beach. From the Finch Bay families can take yacht excursions to nearby islands such as Sante Fe, North Seymour or Bartholome. The location of the Finch Bay means that a range of facilities such as snorkelling, Kayaking or mountain bike hire can also be arranged. (Terry Adams, Haslemere Travel)

Supplied By: Haslemere Travel
Website: www.haslemeretravel.co.uk
Telephone: 01428 658777