Family Adventure with Steppes Travel by Steppes Travel

Go on kids... Close your eyes... Imagine being a great explorer, conservationist, adventurer... Well now you CAN! On the BEST family adventure EVER.

Mums and Dads

We at Steppes Travel understand that you have only four to six truly memorable family holidays (pre-six they may not remember and post-fourteen they are too cool to travel with Mum and Dad).

So what are you waiting for! Need some ideas? Our team of experts have put together the best ‘once in a lifetime’ ‘memory-making’ adventures for you and your family to experience. Let us show you our favourites.

Managing Director and father of three mini explorers.

For further details on these, or any of our other holidays, please visit the Steppes Travel Website at www.steppestravel.com or call us to speak to one of our specialists on 03300 378 234.

Not too many temples but enough to spark the imagination, with time for evocative train journeys, a game of cricket or a charge about on the beach.

Insight from a family expert Sri Lanka has it all. In one small island families can enjoy a sun soaked beach one day then bump along through the tracks of Yala National Park, in search of leopard, the next.

ave you ever wondered where you can find the oldest living tree? Visit a 1,000 year old fortress on top of a massive rock?

It offers something for all the family, whether you’re wanting high adventure or down-time on the beach, with fabulous food, smiling people and private transfers through stunning, diverse scenery.

Spend time exploring the sites but with a family twist and get off the beaten track with less discovered parks, villages and beaches. Stay in family friendly accommodation such as the peaceful Jim’s Farm, an organic farm in the heart of the spice country and two nights in a family tent while seeking out the elusive leopard.

See the world’s largest land mammal, the elephant and largest marine mammal, the blue whale, in the same day? Oh, and where you can see fishermen sitting on poles in the sea, find a cave full of Buddhas and track wild leopard? The answer is, Sri Lanka.

➽ Explore giant stupas and ancient temples by bike ➽ See elephants in the wild ➽ Take a seaplane flight ➽ Camp in the wild and track leopard ➽ Take a rickety train through tea plantations and jungle ➽ Visit a highland tea plantation to watch tea being made 4

With loads for everyone to see and do and some quirky ideas on offer – kids will love it.

Insight from a family expert Using public transport is key to a holiday in Japan so we will help build in plenty of time for this when travelling with children. Japan is an incredibly safe and family friendly country where children are respected and adored and visitors are well cared for. It has a culture and history to fascinate the whole family legendary Samurai swordsmen, Karate lessons, bento box preparation and ancient temples which blend seamlessly with modern technology museums, bullet trains and bright manga (comic book) images.

Japan D

id you know that this mountainous, forested country is made up of 6,852 tiny islands and has over 200 volcanoes. Slurping your noodles is even seen as good manners!

➽ Meet the Kamui Sword Artist group ➽ Visit a traditional Japanese house ➽ Learn how to make a ‘bento box’ meal ➽ Kayak around Miyajima Island ➽ Visit the strange floating Torii Gatem

In the past, Japan’s warriors were known as ‘Samurai’ and were excellent warriors and swordsman. Today, a world leader in robotics, Japan produces another type of ‘super human’ in the form of human robots.

➽ Get interactive at the Cup Noodle Museum ➽ Take a quirky class in making plastic food 6

ome to the oldest continuous civilisation on the planet, India boasts the world’s biggest family (one man, 39 wives and 94 children), the largest school (45,000 students) and the oldest university (700BC).

➽ search forests and jungles for tigers, leopards and panthers ➽ Learn jungle craft and become a naturalist ➽ Take a tour in a rickshaw

Chess and ‘Snakes and Ladders’ were both invented here and the country has the world’s highest cricket ground and biggest postal service. All this plus magnificent temples, magical forts and palaces and heaps of wonderful wildlife.

➽ Ride the toy train through India’s foothills ➽ Meet local school children ➽ Discover magical forts and palaces

around archaeological sites or temples. We believe that an active holiday is the recipe for a successful holiday, going beyond the normal sightseeing itineraries and getting the children involved in local experiences that hold an interest for them.

Insight from a family expert North India basks in the sheer beauty of its monuments – all of which come with interesting stories of battles, heroes and princesses. South India offers a wonderful combination of river cruising, wildlife safaris, coffee and spice plantations, stunning coastline and shorter driving distances. India is brimming with activities to satisfy even the most adventurous of children.

Travelling doesn’t always have to be in an air-conditioned car. We suggest travel by train, auto rickshaw, camel and even bullock cart with fun, easy days to follow longer car or train journeys. Avoid one night stays to prevent constant repacking and don’t attempt too much or go too far in one trip. We’ve chosen small personable hotels with plenty of outside space and many of our hotels allow children to share a room with parents free of charge. We’ll help you organise an exciting, challenging and rewarding trip for the whole family.

India is as much of an adventure for children as it is for the parents, but good forward planning is essential for a successful family holiday. Children do not want to sit in cars for hours on end or spend all their time looking 8

➽ White water rafting and summer bob-sleigh tours in Whistler

an you believe that awesome Canada spans six times zones, has the longest street in the world (2,000km Yonge Street), more lakes than all the rest of the world put together and the world’s longest coastline. AA Milne’s ‘Winnie-thePooh’ was based on a real bear cub,

➽ Cross rainforests, glaciers and volcanic peaks in a gondola

Winnipeg, who came from Canada to London Zoo in 1915 and was often visited by the author’s son. In Canada, police handout “positive tickets” if they see locals doing something good and Canadians eat more doughnuts and macaroni cheese each year than any other nation on the planet!

➽ Stay in a floating lodge and search for grizzly bears ➽ Have an underwater family sleepover at Vancouver Aquarium ➽ Ride horses with cowboys ➽ Go whale watching, paddle boarding, rock climbing or learn to surf ➽ Kayak alongside orca and humpback whales ➽ Visit Denman Island chocolate factory ➽ Learn about Canada’s history from dinosaur fossils ➽ Visit Niagara Falls then go canoeing, hiking and rafting

exciting accommodation from floating lodges to ‘glamping’. Kayak, jet boat and zipline before heading to the beach to relax, rock-pool and surf. Canada really is a wonderful destination for families with an adventurous spirit.

Insight from a family expert Get the children back to nature amidst some of the most pristine landscapes in the world. A perfect self-drive destination, explore the soaring mountains, wide open spaces and incredible wildlife by hire car or Winnebago, at a pace to suit your family. Introduce the children to whales, bears and a host of thrilling outdoor pursuits and stay in a range of

The summer months of July to September boast long days and warm temperatures plus orca and bear sightings. Peak season gets very booked, so tell us your family’s interests and passions so we can ensure no incredible adventures are missed out on. 12

beautiful beach resorts, ecological wildlife lodges and even a private floating adventure home on the Amazon. All can be combined to create the perfect Brazilian family holiday for you.

Insight from a family expert Our advice is that, with so much on offer, you don’t try to do too much. Three destinations in two weeks will give you huge variety and diversity but without packing and unpacking all the time. We’ve got some great family friendly accommodation, private villas,

here can you find jaguars, pumas and armadillos in the wild, the world’s best beach and a 38 metre high Statue of Christ the Redeemer? Where can you experience the largest carnival on the planet? Which country still has undiscovered tribes in its rainforest, the world’s most impressive waterfalls and a record breaking football team? Brazil of course.

The options for a family holiday to Brazil are endless. A hugely diverse country that is home to the largest jungle in the world, the mighty Iguazu waterfall and over 4,000 miles of coastline. Listen to the squawks of the macaw in the Pantanal, climb giant trees in the Amazon or try fishing for piranha. Head to one of the beaches for some surfing, snorkelling or swimming or try the local pastime of football on the beach.

➽ Explore the beaches of Rio by bike ➽ Learn the Brazilian dance-based, martial art of capoeira ➽ Learn which plants are medicinal and which you can eat in the rainforest ➽ Test your monkey skills and climb a 60-metre tree ➽ Play volley ball or ‘keepie uppie’ on the beach ➽ Head into the jungle to see arguably the most impressive waterfalls in the world ➽ Track jaguar, anaconda, macaw, sloth, tapir and giant anteaters ➽ Snorkel with sharks, dolphins and turtles or go whale watching

COSTA RICA B elieved to be the inspiration for Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’, Costa Rica’s magnificent Isla del Coco is seen in the opening moments of ‘Jurassic Park’ and is the largest uninhabited island in the world. This stunning

family holiday destination boasts 10% of the world’s butterflies and is the hummingbird capital of the world. But beware, it is also a country where witches are known to be very much alive and practising their dark art!

Insight from a family expert Costa Rica is known to be one of the happiest nations in the world and a magical destination for a family holiday. It is a small country and hugely diverse and a holiday here can include rainforest, beach, mountains, rivers and mangroves, all in two weeks. Wildlife is abundant too, as are the experiences on offer, with the chance to swing through the trees, climb volcanoes or career down rapids. As distances are small so the family can be ziplining in the morning, surfing in the afternoon and spotting multicoloured frogs by nightfall.

➽ Peer into the crater of a volcano ➽ See how chocolate is made ➽ Raft and zipline through the jungle canopy ➽ Abseil down to and swim in waterfalls ➽ Join a local family for a cooking class ➽ Search for crocodiles in the mangroves where Jurassic Park was filmed

We have hand-picked some of the very best properties for you and your family, whether you are looking for luxury in the jungle, a lodge in the shadow of a mighty volcano, accommodation so private it is only accessible by white water rafting or by boat, or a wilderness retreat in a national park.

➽ Snorkel with manta ray and turtles and see them nesting ➽ Explore the rainforest at night and see giant bugs, bats and multi-coloured frogs ➽ Spot sloth and wake to the sound of howler monkeys roaring

Invest in head torches and some binoculars to get the most out of wildlife viewing and a Go Pro to capture all the action.

➽ Learn to surf or float in natural hot springs

Insight from a family expert Ecuador may be small but it has incredible variety and is easy to get around. In the highlands of the Andes you can stay in a traditional hacienda, learn about the endangered condor, horse ride around a volcano or wander around a market filled with local food and colourful handicrafts.

➽ S tay in the rainforest and search for monkeys, parrots and crocodiles ➽ B ecome a Junior Naturalist, learn bird calls, how to paddle a canoe and find food in the jungle

Wherever you chose to go in this region, remember that you are on the equator and that the sun is extremely strong. Ensure you cover up with plenty of high factor cream and keep hydrated.

Stay in a jungle lodge in the Amazon or up in the cloud forests - fascinating playgrounds with monkeys, sloths, hummingbirds, frogs and parrots to name a few. Add on some time exploring the beaches and wildlife of the iconic Galapagos Islands and it’s a family holiday that is hard to beat.

➽ V isit the local community for a game of football ➽ G o cycling, rafting and hiking in the Andes ➽ S norkel alongside sealions and get up close to wildlife in the Galapagos ➽ L earn about Inca culture at the Ingapirca ruins ➽ G o to the equator for a science lesson

id you know that on the equator, eggs can stand on their ends and water can spin in both directions? The first two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are, The Galapagos Islands and Quito – the highest capital city in the world.

the closest country to space and the peak of its highest mountain, Mount Chimborazo is the closest point on earth to the sun and furthest from the earth’s core. But please don’t visit if you are a guinea-pig – you are considered a delicacy in this country.

As it sits on the equator, Ecuador is 18

➽ Visit an elephant orphanage and adopt an elephant ➽ Go to a chimpanzee sanctuary, spot big cats and meet the last three surviving white rhinos ➽ Set out on camel-back, camp by rivers and jump off waterfalls

Insight from a family expert

➽ Learn how to track and make bows, from local guides ➽ Try snorkelling, sailing, kayaking and wakeboarding

Combine all of Kenya’s highlights on a fun, family-friendly holiday that includes both spectacular wildlife and lots of activities. Go mountain biking, try horse riding and dive off waterfalls in Laikipia, before learning Maasai bush skills and spotting big cats in the conservancies of the Masai Mara. Kenya’s interior offers a mix of adventure and wildlife for all ages, whilst the coast is the perfect place to unwind and relax on beautiful white beaches.

f you liked The Lion King, then you are going to love Kenya. It is here that you can see Africa’s ‘Big Five’ all in one day, trek the glacial ridges of Mount Kenya, balloon over the Masai Mara and snorkel in Malindi’s National Marine Park. Oh, and did we mention that you can

even take breakfast with a giraffe in Nairobi! Mankind is thought to have originated from Kenya’s Rift Valley that was formed more than 20 million years ago and Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II here when she learnt of her father’s death whilst visiting in 1952. 20

➽ Visit a local community, tour the school and dine with the elders ➽ Hang out with local children and see what it’s like growing up in the bush

We recommend that you upgrade to a private vehicle, so it is just you and your family. This gives greater flexibility and privacy. Also, when thinking about your itinerary, consider adding in extra days at each place, so that you don’t have to pack up too frequently. 21

the city, sample South African cuisine, hike up Lion’s Head, paddleboard along the seafront or visit penguin colonies.

Insight from a family expert

In the game reserves of the Kalahari, Madikwe or Eastern Cape, learn bush skills and explore on horseback. Even dart, notch and tag a rhino as a family, getting hands-on with conservation in Kruger National Park.

South Africa is the only place in Africa where you can take a malaria-free safari. This, combined with the excellent range of accommodation options, make it ideal for very young children.

outh Africa is often called the ‘Rainbow Nation’ because there are so many cultures and so many different languages all in one place. The country is home to the world’s fastest mammal (cheetah), the largest fish (whale shark), the largest bird (ostrich) and the largest reptile, which is the leatherback turtle.

With brilliantly designed family rooms at many properties and dedicated guides and activities, South Africa is a perfect destination for families with children of all ages.

A family holiday in Africa offers the ultimate combination of sightseeing, fabulous activities and bountiful wildlife.

It has the world’s oldest cave, one of the oldest mountains on the planet (Table Mountain) and seven World Heritage Sites. While, for those with a head for heights, it also has the highest commercial bungee jump in the world!

In lively Cape Town, take a cycle tour of

➽ See Africa’s iconic ‘Big Five’; lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros, in the same day ➽ Explore Cape Town on foot, paddleboard, kayak or by bike ➽ Join the Junior Rangers programme and meet meerkats and pangolins ➽ Snorkel with playful seals ➽ Cycle through the landscape of the Cederberg ➽ Swim in the Indian Ocean and see turtles nesting on the beaches ➽ Visit a local community and meet South African children ➽ Head out on-foot in search of aardvark 22

here can you find a giraffenecked weevil, a Malagasy giant rat, a forest of stone and an octopus tree? Madagascar. This tropical island has been isolated from any landmass for over 70 million years and so most of its animals are found nowhere else

on the planet. Lemurs are sacred here and are believed to carry the souls of the dead, while half the world’s chameleons live on the island. Pirates once roamed these idyllic shores and were even supposed to have had their own colony, Libertalia.

➽ Snorkel over submerged shipwrecks off the coast ➽ Search for pirate graves and elusive aye-ayes ➽ Make bow and arrows and hunt for bugs ➽ Board your own skippered yacht and hop between islands ➽ Meet different types of lemur ➽ On a night walk, spot chameleons and tenrecs by torchlight ➽ Sail, windsurf, snorkel and canoe

Insight from a family expert Explore this diverse, exciting and adventure-packed island which combines quirky endemic wildlife with unspoilt tropical beaches. In the forests of Andasibe, spot lemurs and chameleons as you explore on foot, before searching for haunted tombs in the mangroves of remote southern Madagascar. Spend the last few days of your holiday on the beach, where you can snorkel, swim, kayak and sail, surrounded by an array of colourful marine life.

wander freely without too much concern. There are so many energetic activities for everyone to enjoy that, at the end of the day, the kids will fall straight to sleep, leaving parents with some alone time to enjoy a glass of wine.

Madagascar is wonderful for families because there is almost nothing poisonous or dangerous – kids can 24

Competition Time! Now it's your turn...

Tell us what your dream family holiday would be, both the destination and the experience and we will try and turn your dream into a reality...There will be a mystery prize for the very best (but realistic) idea.

Name: Age: Address: Telephone: Email:

Once completed, please tear this page off and return to: Steppes Travel, 51 Castle Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1QD Or email your idea to: adventuretime@steppestravel.com 26

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