How to have extraordinary adventures with kids

I have always loved to travel, to explore the world and get off the beaten track (that’s why I became a travel agent after all), but since having a kid, most people assume my adventuring days are over, for now at least. But wanderlust doesn’t disappear when you have children and having kids does not have to mean your adventuring days are through. I am a big believer in the importance of travel for families; it introduces us to the world, creates inquisitive minds and gives us confidence. Experiencing the world through your children’s eyes also provides a fresh perspective to more travel-hardened parents. Plus, an adventure together offers an escape from daily life and time to focus on the family. So how do you organise a trip like this now you have children? An adventure tour is a great place to start, whether you are looking for a stress-free, active family holiday or are experienced travellers looking for a unique adventure. The family adventure travel market caters to families of all shapes, sizes and budgets including tours expressly for solo parents and their kids. Some are designed for teenagers and some for younger kids (usually 5+). There are literally hundreds of family adventure tours exploring exciting destinations such as Vietnam, India, Borneo, China, Sri Lanka, the Galapagos, Europe and more. These tours offer the perfect mix of activities and cultural experiences, adventure and education, from bush tracking and cookery classes to river tubing and ziplining. From kid friendly hotels with swimming pools to sleeping in tee-pees, a tuk-tuk ride through the streets of Bangkok to a bubbling thermal pool in Iceland or a safari in Kenya. Who needs the hotel animation team when the whole world is your adventure playground? Maybe your children will groan when you wake them at the crack of dawn to head out on an early game drive in the Masai Mara, but less than an hour later their eyes will be wide open in wonder as you watch a heard of elephants heading to the watering hole. Or imagine their shrieks of delight as they watch you get soaking wet whilst white water rafting in Costa Rica. Of course, it is possible to do all of this independently but that takes a lot more work and there are some real benefits to joining a family adventure tour. Travel with other families and make life-long friends. The clue is in the name: travelling on these tours will be families only. One of the advantages of group travel is the diversity of people you get to share your experience with. Family trips are a great way for children to meet and interact with other kids from around the world of a similar age with common interests. Usually the group is made up of 3–5 like-minded families and often the whole family ends up making lasting friendships, staying in touch long after the bags are unpacked back home. Small groups Generally, the group sizes are small enough to avoid the crowds and reach some off-the-beaten-track places. You can hop aboard local transport, eat at family-run restaurants and sleep in traditional accommodation and homestays. But someone else will make all the arrangements for you – this is a holiday after all! Private Touring If you like the sound of family adventure tours but would rather holiday with just your family and friends, it is almost always possible to arrange a tailormade tour that gets every last detail just the way you want it – but without the hassle of planning and booking it all yourself. This kind of extraordinary travel will create memories your family will cherish forever. What will your children remember about their next holiday?