Ten family adventures for summer that won't break the bank
This week's Budget contained welcome news for some families, including a new tax-free childcare scheme and increased personal allowance for income tax. But many of the changes that were announced won't come into force until 2014 or even 2015, so family holiday specialist, The Adventure Company has rounded up its best value trips for families who want to get away on a summer holiday this year without breaking the bank.
Minimum age 3 years
Malta & Gozo Adventure - 8 days
Soak up history in tiny Valetta, Malta's UNESCO World Heritage capital, before exploring rural Gozo by jeep and bike, and spending the day with a shepherd learning to tend the sheep and make cheese. Take a boat excursion to Comino, to swim and snorkel in the Med. Price includes hotel accommodation, breakfasts, one lunch, activities, local transport and a local tour leader. With flights price starts from £759 per adult/ £721 per child.
Minimum age 5 years
Kids in the Kasbahs, Morocco - 8 days
Excite your senses with the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of vibrant Marrakech, explore Berber villages hidden away in the Atlas Mountains by donkey, then head to Essaouira to ride camels along the beach and explore old pirate hideouts. Price includes hotel and guesthouse accommodation, breakfasts, entry fees, local transport and a local tour leader. With flights price starts from £799 per adult/ £759 per child.
Desert & Reef Adventure, Egypt - 8 days
A hotel in Dahab is the ideal base for activities such as exploring the Sinai desert by camel and 4x4, and sleeping under the stars. There is time to relax on beautiful beaches and snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Price includes hotel and desert camp accommodation, breakfasts and some other meals, entry fees, local transport and a local tour leader. With flights price starts from £1,079 per adult/ £971 per child.
Dordogne Family Adventure, France - 8 days
On this twin-centre break, families can canoe, cycle and hike through picturesque landscapes, explore medieval towns and discover the area's prehistoric sights, while staying in riverside campsites with swimming pools and a plethora of facilities to keep children entertained. Price includes campsite accommodation, breakfasts, four lunches, activities, local transport, a tour leader and transfers from Brive La Galliard train station. The trip is sold without flights, so families can travel there by car or take the train via Paris or Lille.
Minimum age 7 years
Active Pyrenees, Andorra - 8 days
Squeezed between Spain and France, mountainous Andorra makes a great base for an action-packed summer activity holiday. Go walking, mountain-biking, zip-lining and white-water rafting, and get off-the-beaten-track with an off-road 4WD adventure along old smugglers' routes. Price includes hotel accommodation, most meals, activities, local transport and a local tour leader. With flights price starts from £799 per adult/ £759 per child.
Tatra Mountain Adventure, Slovakia - 8 days
Explore Slovakia's spectacular Tatra Mountains as you walk among towering pines and waterfalls, try river rafting, discover spectacular ice caves, visit an ancient castle and make your own cheese at a farm. Spend a day soaking up the culture in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital. Price includes hotel/pension accommodation, breakfasts, two other meals, activities, local transport and a tour leader. With flights price starts from £929 per adult/£836 per child.
Croatia Family Sailing Adventure - 7 days
Sail aboard a fully-equipped, skippered yacht along the stunning Dalmatian coast to explore Split, Cetina Canyon, Brac, World Heritage site Stari Grad, the Blue Grotto, Vis and Solta. Swim, snorkel and take scenic hikes by day, then dine in local restaurants by evening before returning to the cabins to sleep. Budding Ben Ainslies can learn the ropes and help to sail the boat, or simply relax on deck. Price includes twin cabins, breakfasts and lunches, excursions and an experienced skipper. With flights price starts from £1,129 per adult/ £1,173 per child.
Teen trips - minimum age 12 years
Atlas Trails, Morocco - 8 days
Spend four days crossing mountain passes and traversing valleys as you hike in Morocco's Atlas Mountains and stay overnight in rural Berber villages. Get away from it all in the Sahara desert, visit the stunning UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou and experience the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. Price includes accommodation in hotels and gites, most meals, entry fees, local transport and a local tour leader. With flights price starts from £689pp.
Active in the Sinai, Egypt - 8 days
Trek on camels, explore narrow canyons and sand-board from the highest dunes in the Sinai, before camping out under the stars in Bedouin tents. Staying on the shores of the Red Sea, there is the chance to take a snorkel safari and free time to chill out on magnificent beaches. Price includes hotel and desert camp accommodation, breakfasts and some other meals, entry fees, local transport and a local tour leader. With flights price starts from £899pp.
Bulgaria Activity Week - 8 days
Explore Bulgaria on foot, by bike, in kayaks and on horseback during an action-packed week. Trek to Cherni Vrah, the highest point in the Vitosha Mountains for great views of the valley below, enjoy a day horse-riding in the Rila Mountains, cycle to the Valley of the Iskar River and kayak across Lake Iskar. Price includes hotel and apartment accommodation, breakfasts, two lunches, activities, local transport and a tour leader. With flights price starts from £909pp.
All holidays can be booked at adventurecompany.co.uk.
