The Best Small-group Family Adventures

By Tracey Davies

Whether you want to see Machu Picchu at sunrise or swim near turtles in the Galapagos, small-group tours combine the best of both worlds – exploring as a family with the camaraderie and confidence of travelling with friends.

In our experience, long-haul adventures often feel daunting when travelling as a family. If you're keen to explore further than Europe and perhaps somewhere more diverse than North America – in places such as Southeast Asia and South America – then our small-group tours can take the stress out of organising the logistics on the ground.

For perhaps the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime holiday for families, ask us about an organised group holiday to the Galápagos Islands, for sunbathing near sea lions, walking past giant tortoises and spotting whales and dolphins frolicking in the ocean.

With accommodation, tours and activities organised for you, and with flights taken care of by us, opting for a guided family adventure holiday means you can kick back and really enjoy the experience of exploring a new country, knowing that everything is taken care of.

Organised group tours are a great way to explore countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Peru, where sorting out your own travel and tours on the ground can be tricky and overwhelming for the uninitiated.

And sharing the experience with other families adds a different dimension to your holiday. Kids make friends with others the same age as they enjoy activities such as meeting elephants, swimming in waterfalls or dune-bashing in the desert, while parents love meeting and relaxing with like-minded folk too.

Organised tours appeal to families with children of all ages, although many of the more adventurous itineraries/destinations, such as Peru, Costa Rica and Japan, are best for older children and teenagers. The following are some of our favourite places to send families on organised tours.

Morocco

Whether you want to rock the kasbah or be mesmerised by a snake charmer, Morocco is a great destination for a guided family adventure. Some of the best family tours include visiting the souks in Marrakech, trekking in the Atlas Mountains and bouncing over the dunes in a 4X4 on the fringes of the Sahara Desert.

Jordan

This is of the most unique and welcoming countries in the Middle East. Among the array of things to see and do on a Jordan family holiday are bringing the Indiana Jones movies to life in the ancient city of Petra, going dune bashing through the Mars-like Wadi Rum desert and floating in the Dead Sea. Only a five-hour flight away, Jordan is a great alternative to a family adventure holiday in Europe.

India

If there's ever a family bucket-list holiday that benefits from a small-group tour, it's India. One of the most enchanting, colourful and chaotic countries in the world, it's a once-in-a-lifetime holiday for families. Group tours, which take out all the stress of organising travel on the ground, often include the Golden Triangle of the Taj Mahal, Delhi and Jaipur, plus meeting tigers in Ranthambore National Park and visiting Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Sri Lanka

From safaris and surfing to sauntering around ancient temples, a Sri Lanka family holiday is one of best family adventures you can choose. There are dozens of excellent small group itineraries, which can combine history and culture, game spotting in national parks and days spent relaxing on a palm-fringed beach.

Japan

This is the home of manga, Hello Kitty and Nintendo, so a Japan family holiday often has bucket-list status with teenagers. Whether you want to explore the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, visit the Shinto shrines and temples of Kyoto or witness snow monkeys bathing in hot springs, or combine them all, a guided family adventure is a great way to see the best of Japan.

Thailand

Paradise islands, family-friendly beach resorts, jungle treks and elephants… A Thailand family holiday is often one of our families’ first forays into Southeast Asia. If you're looking for fun family activity holidays with a group, Thailand brings together everything from tuk-tuk tours and Muay Thai boxing to visiting ethical elephant sanctuaries.

Vietnam

From the lush rice paddies of Sapa to the white-sand beaches of Phu Quoc Island or a cruise around the rocky islands of Ha Long Bay, a Vietnam family holiday is a great way to introduce children to Southeast Asia. To get the most of this diverse country, ask us about a fully guided family adventure starting from Hanoi in the north and winding down to Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

Costa Rica

Rainforests, volcanoes, curious wildlife, paradise beaches… Costa Rica is one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet and a great spot for a family activity holiday. Some of our best family tours include nights in rainforest lodges, kid-friendly hiking trails up a volcano and jungle treks to meet the resident sloths.

Peru

Peru with kids is another one of those family bucket-list holidays – one particularly suited to active families with children aged 12 and up, who love hiking in the Sacred Valley or walking part of the Inca Trail. But younger kids also adore roaming around Machu Picchu, the city in the clouds. Some of the best Peru family tours also include trips to Lake Titicaca and Rainbow Mountain.

Galapagos

For perhaps the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime holiday for families, ask us about an organised group holiday to the Galápagos Islands, famous for its abundant wildlife. Kids will adore sunbathing near sea lions, walking past giant tortoises and spotting whales and dolphins frolicking in the ocean. And with everything from the sea-plane flights to nights in ecolodges organised for you, a small group family trip is the way to go.

Let us tailor-make the perfect small-group family holiday for you. Call us on 020 3633 0653 or contact us using our enquiry form for a quote or more inspiration.