Family guide
Our family travel guide conjures up what we rate and what we don’t as well as an awesome section entitled 'out of the mouths of babes' which gives you a family vacations travel guide from the mind set of eight to fifteen year olds.
Health & safety on family vacations
There is nothing more boring than an obsession with health and safety. It stops young ones learning what an adventure life can be. Luckily there are countries that encourage a little bit of going feral, breaking out of protective shells and letting rip. However, this is not to say that health and safety rules for kids on family adventure vacations should not be adhered to. And for adults too of course. Responsible family adventure vacation companies will always have procedures in place, use reputable, qualified guides and, most importantly, be able to assuage any of your concerns. Here are a few pointers relating to different activities on family adventure vacations:
Our family adventures Vacations
Activity vacation in Montenegro
An active villa vacation at stunning Lake Skadar, Montenegro
From
£695 to £795
7 days
ex flights
Altiplano de Granada activity vacation, Spain
Multi-activity Family vacation in the Spanish Lake District
From
€396 to €607
8 days
ex flights
Croatia activity vacation for families with teenagers
Rafting, kayaks, canyons & beaches. Family action in Croatia
From
£995
8 days
ex flights
Family sea kayaking vacation in Croatia
Relaxing & fun family kayaking vacation on Croatian islands
From
€835
8 days
ex flights
Family whale and dolphin vacation in the Azores
Learn about dolphins, whales & fiery volcanic Islands!
From
£835
7 days
ex flights
Alternative family winter vacation in Sameons, France
Easter family ski, yoga & circus vacation
From
£965
7 days
ex flights
Sea kayaking and other water activities
PLAY
Vedat Vural, owner of Alternatif Outdoor, one of our suppliers in Turkey: "There have been no serious accidents in sea kayaking in Turkey. But unfortunately, the government has not put safety regulations in place in the same way that Europe has. So we set our own rules, using universal safety standards within our company, and we talk openly about this with our guests because we are proud of that. They can also see our standards from our equipment and the way in which we operate our trips. Sadly, there is no other company in Turkey with the same safety standards as we apply on our trips. I am not blowing my own trumpet, because I hate that. But this is a fact, and I hope it will change. Because that is good for everyone. The problem is that there is still no regulation or a sea kayaking federation here to make other companies oblige. That would be one of my missions, as Turkey is such a perfect place to paddle."
Sophie Hurst, owner Preseli Venture, our sea kayaking specialist in Pembrokeshire, Wales: "In terms of equipment, you do get what you pay for in sea kayaking. We might not be the cheapest, but we have been told that we have the best kit in Pembrokeshire. And we check it all year round. The buoyancy aids have to float, the helmets have to withstand hitting the rocks and the backrests need to work. It’s cheaper not to bother doing all these things. But we always do. Plus we also have highly qualified instructors. But we are not the cheapest. But cheapest isn’t necessarily the best."
Sophie Hurst, owner Preseli Venture, our sea kayaking specialist in Pembrokeshire, Wales: "In terms of equipment, you do get what you pay for in sea kayaking. We might not be the cheapest, but we have been told that we have the best kit in Pembrokeshire. And we check it all year round. The buoyancy aids have to float, the helmets have to withstand hitting the rocks and the backrests need to work. It’s cheaper not to bother doing all these things. But we always do. Plus we also have highly qualified instructors. But we are not the cheapest. But cheapest isn’t necessarily the best."
Our top family adventures Vacation
Activity vacation in Montenegro
An active villa vacation at stunning Lake Skadar, Montenegro
From
£695 to £795
7 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2022: 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct
2023: 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep
2022: 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct
2023: 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about family adventures or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Hiking and biking
Jonny Bealby, founder of our leading supplier Wild Frontiers: “Don’t overstretch yourself on a family walking vacation, especially in remote parts of the world. Some children are great and can walk as far as the parents can, depending on age of course. But in general, it is better from a safety point of view to aim low and achieve, than aim high and not achieve. Because not achieving, in some of these places, can cause you some quite serious problems.”
Marijana Filipovic of our supplier Cycling Croatia: “We want people to enjoy themselves on vacation, so if they get too hot or tired, we have a backup van to pick them up and travel back with us if they are tired. We just want to create trips for people who want to enjoy visiting off the beaten track by bike, but we don't want them to be exhausted”.
Marijana Filipovic of our supplier Cycling Croatia: “We want people to enjoy themselves on vacation, so if they get too hot or tired, we have a backup van to pick them up and travel back with us if they are tired. We just want to create trips for people who want to enjoy visiting off the beaten track by bike, but we don't want them to be exhausted”.
Seeing wildlife
Do not touch the wild animals. Ever. We carry diseases and bacteria that are very harmful to them.![]()
More about family adventures
This family adventure travel guide is one that we would like you to look through with your children, and watch their eyes light up and their jaws drop. The choice is vast, and you really don’t have to be super fit or super high achieving to do them either.
Getting the school vacations to match with rivers being full enough to raft down, guaranteeing snow for that Christmas snowshoeing and working out where to see wildlife during Easter... Let us help you plan your family adventure.
One of the questions the travel writers here at Responsible Travel get asked the most is ‘what has been your most exciting trip, the one that your kids still talk about?’. Well, we have mapped a few of our highlights.
The best family adventure vacation activities are when they combine not only the adrenalin factor, but also the element of surprise. Seeing a baby bear while hiking in Yosemite or seeing a seal swim alongside you when kayaking in Wales.
There are often minimum ages for certain activities but remember to always chat with a tour operator, as often height or weight are the real issues, to make sure that safety measures are met. And also remember, there is never a maximum age.
Forget about beach resorts and kids’ clubs. Family adventure vacations are all about discovery, whether that means trekking through cloud forest in Costa Rica or teaching the kids how to guide their own kayak in Andalucía.
We have some great family adventure vacation tips from the people who really know how to make these the best family vacations ever. The tour guides, the hosts, the adventure leaders, the people who have spent years crafting the itineraries.
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