From safaris to sailing, 'big trips' become more accessible for families
Family holiday specialist, The Adventure Company has added a number of ‘big trips’ to its small group family adventures programme for 2014, including an island-hopping sailing adventure in the British Virgin Islands, a trip to see the incredible wildlife of the Galapagos, and a safari and island getaway in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Designed for families who want a hassle-free and affordable way to get-off-the-beaten track and have a memorable holiday, The Adventure Company’s range of Family Adventures includes activity, wildlife, cultural and trekking trips across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas, with prices starting from £440 per adult and £395 per child for a week in Morocco.
A new Family Sailing Caribbean trip (eight days from £2,225 per adult, £2,005 per child with flights) offers families an affordable way to explore the British Virgin Islands on board an eight-berth skippered yacht, which can be shared by two or three like-minded families. From exploring Norman Island, which is famous as the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, to swimming with sea turtles at Dead Man’s Bay and discovering a sunken shipwreck near Salt Island, there’s plenty for younger children and teens alike to enjoy.
There are also new family sailing adventures exploring the islands of Thailand (11 days from £2,345 per adult, £1,929 per child with flights) and the Amalfi Coast (7 days from £1,469 per adult, £1,325 per child with flights).
The Adventure Company’s new Galapagos – Enchanted Island itinerary (9 days from £2,955 per adult, £2,659 per child with flights) explores the archipelago’s unique flora and fauna up close, with opportunities to spot rare birds and mammals, swim with sea lions, and trek to the peak of the world’s second largest volcano crater. Trips to the Galapagos can be prohibitively expensive for families, but this tour stays in hotels on the islands of Santa Cruz and Isabela, making it a more affordable and comfortable option for families than a boat-based itinerary.
The Longleat Family African Safari (10 days from £2,555 per adult, £2,299 per child with flights) takes the safari experience that many families will have enjoyed in the UK out to the African bush. An abundance of wildlife can be spotted on game drives through Tanzania’s unspoilt Saadani National Park, which is located on the coast and offers superb game viewing without the crowds (or the price-tag) of better-known wildlife reserves. There’s a chance to learn about conservation from experts at an elephant collaring project and time to unwind on the paradise island of Zanzibar.
“Sitting on a beach may help to recharge the batteries, but increasingly families are looking for more memorable ways to share their precious holiday time together,” said Tim Winkworth, Family Product Manager at The Adventure Company. “By joining a small group family adventure you can see more and do more for less, without the hassle of organising everything yourself. That means all you have to do is concentrate on enjoying your holiday,” he added.
The Adventure Company has streamlined its Family Adventures programme for 2014, so that it features around 40 of the company’s most popular family trips alongside eight new adventures. Departures for the best-selling itineraries have been increased and every holiday is now guaranteed to depart as soon as one family books. The maximum group size has been reduced to 16 passengers on most land-based trips and eight passengers on sailing trips.
For more information, visit familyadventurecompany.co.uk.
