Whether you have tiny tots, teens or tweens, we have compiled some of the must-have family holidays around the world. From jungle treks to cooking classes, nature trails to zip-lining, there's something for everyone. You'll find no-expense-spared splurges and extremely affordable options, but these priceless experiences will stay with you all for a lifetime.
Prepare to be inspired as you click or scroll to explore our ideas for the perfect family holidays...
The children will think they’ve stepped into a storybook at Giraffe Manor, a grand 1930s mansion near Nairobi. Except it’s not a tiger who’s coming to tea but giraffes coming for breakfast. The herd of resident Rothschild giraffes visit most mornings and evenings, peering into the windows in the hope of a tasty treat before retreating to their forest sanctuary. It’s not just the children who will be entranced by these graceful giants.
You might already have tried glamping, but quirky campsite Blackberry Wood in East Sussex has ramped it up a level with its zany collection of accommodation. This delightful structure named Piggledy (Higgledy is next door) sleeps four with a kitchen, toilet, shower and wood-burning stove. The outside terrace has a chimenea where you can keep cosy while enjoying al fresco evenings. Should that not appeal to your kids, there's a gypsy wagon, double decker bus, helicopter or traditional tents to stay in too.
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For a truly exhilarating experience, drive your own husky sled in north Norway’s ethereal wintry landscape. Or snuggle under reindeer skins on a guided safari, followed by a meal in a lavvo (traditional Sami tent) at Tromsø Wilderness Centre. With any luck the Northern Lights will make an appearance, but if not the kids won't care as they'll be too busy playing with the seriously cute husky puppies.
Paddle off in search of moose in Algonquin Provincial park, a vast stretch of wilderness in Ontario. Most of the park is only accessible by canoe (there’s 1,200 miles/1,931km of canoe routes around the lakes, streams and portage trails) so join a guided canoe trip to navigate some of little visited parts and you'll be in with a good chance of spotting the magnificent creatures. You can also spend the night camping out in the wild.
Even disbelievers will feel the magic of Christmas on Best Served: Scandinavia's Snow and Santa in Finnish Lapland break, especially after spending the night in a glass-domed igloo. They're all north facing so perfect for viewing the Northern Lights – an alert system will ensure you don't miss them should they shine. The jolly one makes a private visit to your igloo and there's a thrilling reindeer expedition among other surprises.
Cruise around the magnificent Norwegian fjords, looking out for orcas and minke whales as you journey with Havila Voyages. The Magical Fjords of Norway tour begins in Bergen, the capital of western Norway. Then you will visit the Geiranger Fjord World Heritage site, the art nouveau city of Ålesund and small island communities north of Trondheim. Customise your trip by adding on excursions including hiking, biking, or even a sea eagle safari.
Meet Mosha, the first elephant to receive a prosthetic leg, at the Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital near Chiang Mai. Sadly, Mosha stepped on a landmine near the Burmese border when just seven months old. As part of this special excursion, arranged for guests by luxury hotel akyra Manor Chiang Mai, children can also design, paint and keep their own model elephant at social enterprise Elephant Parade and meet local artists on a tour of the studio.
Hurtle through the rainforest with a canyoning experience, visit coffee and chocolate farms, keep watch for howler monkeys, sloths, caiman and iguana, and spot sea turtles laying eggs in the sands of the Pacific. Pura Aventura’s incredible Costa Rica Family Adventure takes you from the Caribbean to the Pacific coasts and will astound you all.
Yes, you could go to Sydney, but Cornwall has sandy beaches, great surf and clear waters too. Plus you don’t need to spend a day on a plane to get there. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to family-friendly surf beaches and surf schools. Splash out on private tuition – try Sennen Surfing Centre on stunning Sennen Cove – and you’ll all be standing and riding the waves in no time.
Who says grown-ups should get all the 5-star treatment? Everyone is treated like a VIP at the seriously exclusive hotel, Velaa Private Island. After arriving by seaplane at this little piece of paradise, you’ll be met at the jetty and children handed a personal invitation to the kids' club. You won't see them for dust: this is no run-of-the-mill club as it has its own water park, superior playground and wonderful menu to suit discerning little palates. Obviously there is a price tag to match (a week for a family of four begins at over $8,000/£6.2k a night).
Cast aside your landlubbing ways, clue up on your pirate lingo and raise anchors away for a swashbuckling journey on one of England’s 2,000-plus miles of waterways. OK, a canal boat holiday is not quite sailing the seven seas, but you'll discover how to navigate locks and chug through deep dark tunnels on a wonderful watery adventure. Get the kids swabbing the deck as you keep watch for enemy pirates (or a great pub to moor up at).
Spotting the world's largest lizard in Indonesia’s Komodo National Park is as close as they're going to get to seeing a mythical dragon. These giant reptiles are the most famous attraction of the Lesser Sunda archipelago in eastern Indonesia, but the marine life is amazing here too. Stay on Angel Island's lovely resort on the edge of the national park on Komodo Island and you can snorkel in the shallows to spy another magical creature, the seahorse.
Fling yourself into blue lagoons, scramble over rocks, scale craggy cliffs and swim into frothing sea caves all under the watchful eye of experienced guides on the wild north Pembrokeshire coast. Kids must be over eight, but if they're adventurous enough they’ll discover coasteering is an utterly exhilarating and addictive experience. And with no two trips ever the same, it’s likely they’ll be clamouring to go back for more the next day.
Cookouts, hayrides, rodeos and moonlight bonfires are all on the menu at a ranching holiday in family-friendly White Stallion Ranch in Arizona. Sitting at the foot of the Tucson Mountains, the ranch is a fabulous place for families to enjoy a ride together, or children over five that are confident riders can join scenic trails while their parents gallop off on more adventurous rides.
Le Morne Lagoon on the south-west tip of the stunning island of Mauritius is a world-famous kitesurfing spot. Its shallow waters and sandy bottom make it ideal for families wanting to master the extreme sport together. Stay at nearby laidback luxury resort LUX Le Morne, where younger ones can enjoy the brilliant kids' club while you get to grips with this thrilling activity with the older family members.
Learn the art of katana (sword) wielding, shuriken (ninja star) throwing, concealment and ninja running as part of Audley Travel’s 16-day Japan Family Adventure. All of this and more will be covered on 'ninja workshops' in Kyoto. You'll also visit Odaiba, a man-made island out in Tokyo to see the Science of the Future museum, among other attractions; and explore Tokyo's shopping hub of Akihabara, a well-known place for fans of gaming and manga comics. You can even try your hand at drawing your own.
Whale watching, bungee jumping, jet boating, heli-hiking, swimming with dolphins, snorkelling, kayaking: you name it, you can do it in New Zealand. Hands Up Holidays has an action-packed 15-day trip for adventurous families in the South Island that covers all of this and more. Plus you'll stay in some eco-friendly lodges and learn the importance of positive tourism.
See lions on a hunt, elephants trooping, giraffes munching trees, and endangered rhinos with their calves. Families visiting Kwandwe Private Game Reserve on safari have their own private safari vehicle, guide and tracker, with Big Five sightings one of many magical moments on offer. There's also a range of activities for kids, designed for maximum fun and subtle education. There are scavenger quests, fishing trips and making fire with sticks. Back at camp, cooking classes, a pool and star-lit barbecues will also appeal.
You don’t need to go all the way to Africa for a wildlife adventure: spot shy red squirrels and sika deer in Brownsea Island's woodlands and heathlands, look for rare seabirds in the lagoon, and watch for water voles in the lakes. The kids will love running wild on this National Trust island in Poole Harbour. Stay at one of the two quayside cottages and you’ll virtually have this treasure island to yourself once the last ferry departs.
Australia is as diverse and vast as countries get, so a two-week holiday is unlikely to scratch the surface of all there is to see and do. But you have to start somewhere and camping out in the Red Centre, snorkelling above the Great Barrier Reef, spotting crocs in Daintree rainforest and seeing stunning Sydney are all great options. Hands Up Holidays can help you hone the perfect holiday for you and your family in this epic country.
Have some good old-fashioned outdoor fun on an adventure holiday in Sweden in summer. Based at the Johannisholm Adventure Camp in the Dalarna region, you have the option to head off on guided rafting, biking and hiking expeditions into the surrounding forests and lakes, plus you can join a two or three-day guided canoe trip across two lakes, with overnight stays in a makeshift camp. There are also cosy cabins with a wood-fired sauna to help soothe aching limbs.
Perched on the edge of a cliff with nothing but the crashing waves beneath you, the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage in north Devon is perfect for families seeking a dramatic escape. The kids can keep watch for ships, dolphins, porpoises and gannets from their lofty look-out in this still functioning lighthouse. However, its spectacular position means there are sheer drops so it's best avoided if you have really little ones in tow.
Ancient history lessons will truly come to life in the eternal city, especially if you enrol your kids in a gladiator training class. They'll get hands-on with Roman history as they dress up in tunics and learn basic swordsmanship techniques. Don't miss a trip to the catacombs either – Horrible Histories fans will love exploring the creepy crypts. And of course, the city's many gelato stands and restaurants are ample compensation for any history-averse companions.
You'll walk into a real-life wildlife show on the mind-blowing Galápagos islands. Everywhere you turn there’s an amazing creature to behold: giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and shoals of colourful reef fish. Responsible Travel has a number of options for families with accommodation in lovely family-run lodges – activities can include snorkelling, kayaking and visiting the tallest lighthouse in South America.
A real-life Night at the Museum experience is likely to be on most kids' bucket lists (if not yours). As long as they're aged 7-11, they can join Dino Snores at the Natural History Museum in London, a roarsome sleepover with a couple of hundred other excitable kids. Expect dino-themed craft sessions, torchlit explorations, midnight feasts, giggling fits galore and not much sleeping at all.
Charter a yacht to voyage around the Adriatic, skirting past secret coves and dropping anchor in little bays for a swim, or go ashore to feast on tasty seafood. It sounds idyllic and will be as long as you have experience in sailing a yacht – if not, let a skipper take control, leaving you to hang out with your little shipmates. Sunsail has a range of sailing holidays including skippered yachts from Dubrovnik and around the Dalmatian coast.
Enter the land of the giants at Sequoia National Park – home to the ginormous sequoia trees – on a road trip through California. The vast state is a place for big adventures with little ones: whether it's visiting the fabulous amusement parks near LA, star-spotting in Hollywood, sea lion spotting on the Big Sur or hearing the call of the wild in Yosemite National Park, there is something to keep everyone in the family enthralled.
India will captivate kids with its colours, chaos and sheer energy. Rajasthan is a good bet for kids of all ages with its dazzling palaces, forts and monuments. Other musts – according to family holiday experts Stubborn Mule Travel– are a cycle rickshaw through the bustle of Delhi, a dawn visit to the Taj Mahal, searching for tigers on safari and helping to feed elephants.
Teens yearning for independence? Take them to Peru and they'll never complain about going on a family holiday again. Real World Holiday's 14-day trip includes an expedition into the Amazon, a trip to Machu Picchu, white-water rafting in the Sacred Valley, wildlife watching in the Ballestas Islands and sandboarding and dune-buggying in the Huacachina desert oasis. That should tick all their boxes, but if not itineraries, can be tailored to individuals.
Who doesn't want to ogle an otter at least once in their lifetime? Pack waterproofs and set off to the beautiful wilderness of the Outer Hebrides, home to some of Scotland's rarest creatures and where fun-loving sea otters can often be seen frolicking. Wilderness Scotland's adventure holiday includes a crossing to remote and windswept North Uist, prime otter territory, and – weather permitting – a boat trip to the far-flung archipelago of St Kilda.
From tales of hidden people and trolls to voyages on Viking long ships and rides on sturdy little Icelandic ponies, Iceland has plenty to capture kids’ imaginations. That’s not to mention its steaming volcanoes, bubbling hot springs, spurting geysers and the mystical Northern Lights. It’s small, friendly and the scenery is seriously mind-blowing.
Set on the edge of Loch Corrib, centuries-old Ashford Castle will tick all the kids' fairy-tale fantasy boxes. Little ones will love following fairy paths and finding Rapunzel's tower in the huge grounds. There's also tree climbing, zip lining, falconry and horse riding, as well as a cinema room and a fantastic playroom for rainy days. There's even an in-room Lego butler service, where kids pick out which Lego set they'd like to make and a butler will deliver it to their room on a silver tray... This place certainly knows how to treat its guests – both big and small.
Families in search of adventure can trek through tropical jungle, explore deep, dark caves, bathe in thermal springs and play the most epic game of I Spy imaginable as they keep watch for orangutans, pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys on a boat ride in Borneo. A visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is likely to be everyone's highlight, however. Watching the rescued baby orangutans swinging from branches is an absolute thrill.
For a fuss-free and fun holiday, sail away to the eastern Caribbean on board Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Norwegian Escape. You’ll visit some amazing places including St. Thomas, Tortola and Nassau and have incredible onboard adventures along the way. There's an aqua park, a ropes course, 10-pin bowling and rock climbing to keep you entertained. And with a new kids' club for teeny ones (three months to three-year-olds) there's even more chance for parents to relax.
If you don't or can't have a pet dog, this is the activity for you. Meet a pack of golden retrievers as part of the aptly named Golden Retriever Experience in beautiful West Somerset. Impeccably trained and extremely affectionate, the dogs are happy to cuddle and play and the family-run business is happy to accommodate children with Autism or other social, behavioural or learning disabilities. They also help blind and deaf clients and the elderly, so every member of the family can enjoy some pet therapy.