0 – 4 Year Olds

BOOTS AND BOATS

Looking for an adventure beyond the beach? There’s a dormant volcano’s crater – Trou aux Cerfs – that’s perfect for picnics after little-leg friendly hikes. Swap the land for the sea and chase the horizon on a dolphin-watching boat trip. Glittering eyes and wind-swept hair are guaranteed.

BEACHES AND (SUN)CREAM

This is Mauritius, so you’re not short of beautiful beaches to choose from, but some are even more beautiful than others. Trou aux Biches is one that’s perfect for families with shallow calm waters, an area cordoned off for swimming and great snorkelling. Talc soft Ile aux Cerfs – an island off the ‘mainland’ – is another winner, with watersports galore (including pirate ship cruises) and a treetop adventure playground.

MAURITIUS

Direct flights from the UK and school holidayfriendly weather patterns make Mauritius a great option for young families. The island’s gently sloping and sheltered beaches are the ideal natural paddling pool for little ones, while those with more established water wings can enjoy snorkelling or even swimming with wild dolphins. This is also an active family’s paradise, with hiking and watersports galore. We’ve got a range of super family-friendly hotels up our sleeves too, where bunk beds, bicycles and brilliant (and complimentary) kids clubs are a given.

SPOTLIGHT ON CREOLE CULTURE

For a slice of Creole culture, take your brood to the Central Market in Port Louis. The little ones will love the flavours and the smells wafting from the bustling stalls. Come sundown, our Concierge can arrange for you to see a sega (traditional Mauritian music) show, where the children can give their dancing skills an outing.

All of these pictures are from Founder Tom’s fab family South Africa trip earlier this year. Clockwise from left: Cable car to Table Mountain; Boogie boarding at Muizenberg, Riding at Ant’s Hill; Rhinos at Ant’s Nest

SENSATIONAL SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is home to the full house of familyfriendly activities. In uber-cool Cape Town, explore the wild and woolly Cape Peninsula, play hide and seek in magical Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and climb Table Mountain. Next, bundle your brood into the car for a road trip through the Winelands to Plettenberg Bay, which boasts an awe-inspiring array of wildlife experiences. Satisfy your youngsters’ demands for ‘more, more, more’ with a final stop in the wildlife wonderland of the Waterberg, where you can enjoy a whole host of family-friendly activities and learn about creatures great and small during your stay in a heavenly private reserve.

FROM PRICE: This 17-day trip to South Africa starts from £22,000 for a family of four including flights, transport, accommodation and activities where relevant. WHEN TO GO: January–December

Waterberg

Johannesburg

Cape Town Winelands Plettenberg Bay DAYS 1-4: CABLE CARS IN CAPE TOWN Cape Town is ideal for families. Base yourselves in one of the excellent family hotels (special shout out to the Belmond Mount Nelson) and spend your days riding the revolving cable car to the summit of Table Mountain, boogie boarding and penguin spotting your way around the wild Cape Peninsula and traversing the Boomslang canopy walkway in beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

DAYS 5-6: WONDERFUL WINELANDS Hop in a hire car or minibus (depending on the size of your brood) and spend the next few days travelling through the legendary Winelands. Once the preserve of parents only, now you can sample some of South Africa’s finest wines while the nippers give their verdict on different flavours of iced tea. Enjoy spooky cellar tours and bike rides and meet Pigcasso, a rescue pig famed for painting abstract works with a paint brush gripped in her teeth. For real. DAYS 7-11: GARDEN ROUTE GALLIVANTING Next, it’s on to Plettenberg Bay along the seriously scenic Garden Route. Your base for the next four days will be a wonderful working polo ranch where you can borrow bikes to explore the 1,700-acre estate and meet another porker, this time the resident pot-bellied pig. During your stay in the area, tour the top family spots: Monkeyland (where your cheeky monkeys can meet their distant – or not so distant – cousins), Birds of Eden, Jukani Big Cat Sanctuary and the exceptional Elephant Sanctuary to walk with these extraordinary animals. If there’s time, chuck in some surfing for good measure.

DAYS 12-17: WILDLIFE IN WATERBERG End your African adventure with a five-day stay in the Waterberg, a wildlife wonderland that your little ones will fall in love with. Stay at characterful Ant’s Hill in a private 12,500-acre reserve full of fab wildlife, but minus the predators. Spend your days riding (even beginners, because they match horse and rider so well), enjoying expertly guided 4x4 and walking safaris, and even meeting the reserve’s protected white rhinos.

PORTUGAL

Portugal is a short flight away from the UK but feels a world away. How come? Well, for starters, if you know where to look there’s a wilder, woollier side to the Algarve, away from the golf resorts and villa complexes of the south coast. Portugal’s coast is also a wonderful (and warmer) alternative to Britain’s chilly beaches for teaching children to surf. Then there’s Lisbon, a city having a major moment (in a good way), and the mysterious and mystical Alentejo region. All blessed with excellent weather and home to a host of family-friendly activities.

SPOTLIGHT ON LISBON

Portugal’s supercool capital is fun for all the family. The children can craft their own version of the city’s azulejos (decorative tiles) at a creative tile painting workshop. Next, ride one of the city’s iconic trams to Belem to learn about Portugal’s heroic sailors who first circumnavigated the globe, and finally try your hand at making (and devouring) the famous pasteis de natas (custard tarts).

BRANCH OUT

Get back to nature (and travel back in time) during a stay at one of the old wine estates in the vast Alentejo region. Offering a delectable smorgasbord of activities from riding and treasure hunts to archaeology tours and cooking classes, children will be endlessly entertained.

SURF’S UP

Portugal’s coast, with its beach breaks and excellent surf schools, is the perfect place to learn to surf. Best in show family surf destination is the Algarve’s Costa Vicentina National Park, but there are also great family-friendly surf spots (and hotels) dotted along the coast further north that we also recommend. Expect exhilarated and (come evening) exhausted children. The perfect combo.

PELOPONNESE PIRATES

Little explorers to entertain? The picture perfect Peloponnese peninsula will capture their imaginations – it’s the stuff of Greek legend after all. Take your pint-sized pirates sea kayaking in Navarino Bay and you may see the rare loggerhead turtles who nest there. Then moor up at Sphacteria Island for paddling through caves, tunnels and arches, swimming and snorkelling.

GREECE

Greece is the family holiday gift that keeps on giving for children of all ages. We’ll come on to idyllic Ionian villa holidays and more on the opposite page, but for now let’s just celebrate that uniquely Greek triptych of deep blue sea, bright white buildings and cloudless cobalt sky. Throw in hotels where nippers are welcomed with open arms and a cuisine that includes ‘squeaky cheese’ (otherwise known as halloumi) and Greece comes close to rivalling Italy in the perfect young family holiday destination stakes.

SPOTLIGHT ON HALKIDIKI

Watersports galore, tennis and football academies, age appropriate cultural trips (i.e. nothing too dry) and even the chance for the children to try their hands at beekeeping. The three-pronged ‘trident’ of land in the north of Greece that makes up Halkidiki is about much more than glorious beaches and excellent family-friendly hotels, although they scrub up pretty well too.

COOL CORFU

Your family will adore the Ionian idylls of Corfu (and quieter Paxos). We work with the finest family-friendly villas on both islands, but your happiest days will be spent messing about in boats. We can recommend the most reliable boat charter operators, book the finest tavernas for long lunches and tip the wink on the best secret swimming coves.

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL

For a sensational slice of sleepy village life, spend the day with Mr Prapat and his family in Northern Thailand. Take a tour of the village and then return to his home where you’ll learn how to cook some traditional dishes using ancestral recipes passed down through the generations.

ALL OVERBOARD

Climb aboard a longtail boat, cast off into the emerald green waters of the Andaman Sea and dive into a day of underwater family fun. Snorkel over colourful corals, swim in warm waters teeming with fish and cruise past pristine islands. Enjoy a hearty picnic lunch before returning to dry land.

THAILAND

The ‘land of smiles’ earned its moniker from the warm, welcoming locals. Rest assured, your little ones will also be beaming from ear to ear as they whizz through the streets of a Thai town in a tuk-tuk, hear the chatter of monkeys in the forest canopy and explore gilded pagodas straight out of a fairy tale. Add a plethora of sandcastle-ready beaches and family-friendly hotels to the mix and you’ve got the makings of the perfect first family foray into Asia.

SPOTLIGHT ON ETHICAL ELEPHANT ENCOUNTERS

Visiting an elephant sanctuary and getting up close to these massive mammals is an extraordinary experience your youngsters aren’t likely to forget in a hurry. We know a handful of responsible sanctuaries that encourage young visitors to roll up their sleeves and help the centre volunteers feed and bathe these gentle giants.

VISIT FATHER CHRISTMAS IN LAPLAND

As the home of Father Christmas, Finnish Lapland has cornered the market for Christmas holidays. For any young child (and many adults), the chance to meet the man himself is magical, but get it wrong and it can feel a touch commercial. The good news is we know how to do the whole thing so privately and so perfectly that we actually had one eight-year-old ‘non-believer’ come back converted. We can even arrange for an elf to come to your home and hand-deliver your invitation to Lapland.

Kittila

FROM PRICE: This three-night day trip to Lapland starts from £5,400 for a family of four including flights, transport, accommodation and activities where relevant. WHEN TO GO: December

Helsinki DAY 1: ARRIVE IN WINTER WONDERLAND Fly via Helsinki to Finnish Lapland and arrive at your private traditional-style log cabin, complete with sauna (what else?). Once you are settled in, it’s time to release your brood into the wild. When they have had their fill of snowball fights, cosy up by the fire. Don’t worry about cooking, a chef will come to the chalet to prepare a delicious supper using local delicacies such as reindeer and lingonberries.

DAY 2: SLEIGH RIDES AND SNOWBALL FIGHTS Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, it’s boots on first thing this morning. Diving into powdery drifts of shimmering snow; tobogganing and making snowmen will make young faces light up with joy and cheeks turn rosy red with cold. Retreat inside for a delicious traditional lunch and some R&R time before an evening visit to a nearby reindeer farm. Learn about local Sami culture before a sleigh ride through the forest; dashing through the snow to the soundtrack of reindeer bells. DAY 3: MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS Thundering through snow-iced forests, pulled by a pack of eager huskies on a snow-safari; how’s that for a wake up? Parents can mush their own team, with bambini snuggled in the sled. Then, try to keep a lid on the mounting excitement before a horse-drawn sleigh ride through glittering forest. Take an elf’s hand to cross a magical bridge, where you’ll enjoy a private visit with Father Christmas in his red cabin. We’ll even arrange to send the children’s letters and presents in advance. Return back to your cabin with a sleigh-full of believers before their tired heads drop onto pillows and they dream about the day’s experience.

DAY 4: JOURNEY HOME After a whirlwind of silvery snow and wide-eyed wonder in Lapland its time to head home. Set out on your return journey with precious memories, funny snow stories (i.e Dad falling on his bum) and a renewed sense of the magic of Christmas.

MOUNTAIN MISSIONS

Venture into the cool mountains to stay a whopping 6,000ft above sea level in a very family-friendly hotel. From there, you and the children can learn about Omani culture on a village visit, scramble down Snake Canyon on a canyoning trip and peer over the edge of Wadi Ghul, the world’s second deepest canyon.

PLAYFUL PODS

Bustle your brood onto a boat and take to the sea for a dreamy dolphin spotting tour. Rich with marine life, the Gulf of Oman is home to several species of dolphins and whales, so the chances of seeing playful pods of spinner dolphins living up to their name are as sky high as their aquabatics.

OMAN

The otherworldly landscapes of Oman beckon adventurous families with excitable explorers in tow. From majestic mountains to vast, dusty deserts and pristine coastline, there is an endless abundance of natural beauty (and tons of fun) on offer here. Thrill your youngsters with a dolphin watching cruise, a swim in a wild wadi and an unforgettable night spent in the desert. Then enjoy a stay in the dramatic Hajar Mountains, where your miniature mountain goats can run wild.

SPOTLIGHT ON DESERT DREAMING

If imposing bedtimes is a challenge on a normal night, try enforcing some shut-eye while spending an unforgettable night among the dunes of the Wahiba Sands. During the day, enjoy hair-raising dune bashing 4x4 safaris and fun camel rides. Come night, stargaze before nestling into your cosy family tent.

HOPPERS AND HOSPITALITY

During a visit to a home in the Cultural Triangle, meet the locals and sample their delicious cuisine. Little hands can be put to work cooking in a traditional clay pot, before devouring a delicious meal (with kid-friendly spice levels, naturally) including hoppers – Sri Lankan rice pancake ‘bowls’ filled with delicious ingredients.

SRI LANKA

With its culture, colours, creatures and cuisine, this enchanting Indian Ocean island will never disappoint when it comes to captivating little ones. Sri Lanka has no theme parks; the magic here is in exploring the ancient sites of the Cultural Triangle à la Indiana Jones; sparking children’s culinary interest as they cook and taste their first (mild) Sri Lankan curry, or catching a glimpse of a leopard on a jungle adventure. Offshore, there are surf lessons and blue whale spotting boat trips on the south coast.

SPOTLIGHT ON RANGER POWER

Enrol the kids on the Junior Ranger Programme at Leopard Trails’ camps in Yala or Wilpattu National Parks. On guided game drives and walks your aspiring Attenboroughs will learn to identify deer, leopard and elephant tracks, find out which local plants are edible and navigate using the sun and stars.

FORT OF FORTUNES

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle Fort is a must-explore during a Sri Lanka holiday. There’s no better way to keep the nippers engaged and educated than with an immersive treasure hunt, twisting and turning through the labyrinth of colourful cobbled streets. The promise of treasure might even tempt parents to join in.

GRENADA

The so-called ‘Isle of Spice’ is a seriously hot spot for a luxury family holiday. Ocean-loving youngsters will be in their element paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming and snorkelling, while parents enjoy unwinding on the golden sand beaches, and ambling through pastelcoloured villages clinging to the island’s steep slopes. Enjoy a stay in an eco-luxe hideaway on gorgeous Grand Anse Beach and snorkel above the world’s first submerged sculpture park.

AQUATIC ESCAPADES

Grenada’s forget-me-not blue seas have a special allure, and especially for youngsters who prefer to spend more time in the water than out of it. Stay at Mount Cinnamon, a hideaway on Grand Anse Beach, and you and they can spend endless days enjoying the hotel’s watersports facilities, then trade saltwater for freshwater in the lovely pool.

SUBMERGED SCULPTURES

Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park showcases 75 wonderful works created to replace a reef destroyed by a hurricane in the Noughties. The good news is that they are shallow enough to see from the surface so hop aboard a glass bottomed boat or gear up for a snorkelling adventure to see these submerged sculptures and learn about how they support new coral growth. “The kids LOVED their first safari. They woke up this morning back at home and asked me ‘are we going on game drive this morning mummy?” India, mother of three children aged 3, 7 and 9

HOLIDAYS FOR 9-12 YEAR OLDS

Welcome to the age of the ‘tweenager’ – the twilight zone between the innocence of early childhood and the dark ages of the teenage years. No need to panic, though, because handled correctly these can be some of the most memorable (for all the right reasons) of all family travel times. For instance, you can start involving the children in the planning process (in moderation, mind, or you may find yourself going to California every single holiday) and, as you’ll discover over the next few pages there’s very little that doesn’t work brilliantly at this age, so you can veer toward the ever more adventurous.

THE WORLD IS THEIR OYSTER

Follow a few simple ground rules and these could just be the happiest holidays you ever have.

KEEP UP! There may be younger siblings on the scene now as well, so a word of warning: parents and older siblings must resist the urge to up the adventure ante too high, in the process dragging younger children along on potentially unsuitable trips. Rule one – the holiday needs to be chosen to suit the pace of the youngest child. GUIDING LIGHTS At this age choosing the best guides is key, because they can and should be a source of inspiration. Who knows – if your guide is passionate enough about their chosen subject they could even influence your tween’s future career choice. Needless to say, we only work with the most inspirational guides in our family-friendly destinations.

YOU’RE GROUNDED Value for money is - of course - always a concern, and we also appreciate that parents don’t want their children taking luxury for granted. That’s why we work with a range of hotels - all still familyfriendly - at different price levels in our destinations . LONG HAUL Long haul flights are no big hurdle – in fact they’re more likely to be a cause for excitement. Children at this age are far more flexible and less likely than their parents to stiffen up on a long flight. Besides, they’ll just plug in and tune out for the duration.

CULTURE VULTURES The travel trend du jour is for authenticity. Children are now of an age to understand the nuanced differences in quality of life between home and holiday destinations, so we offer a range of family-friendly activities designed to offer genuine insights into other ways of life.

A RUM DO

The rusty-red dunes, dramatic sandstone cliffs and arches of Wadi Rum make this the crown jewel of Jordan’s deserts. Join a Bedouin guide on a 4x4 safari, climb on board a camel - the so-called ‘ship of the sea’ - to visit ancient rock carvings, and spend the night in a genuine Bedouin camp. A proper adventure.

DEAD ON THE WATER

The seriously salty waters of the Dead Sea offer the entertaining experience of floating with complete buoyancy on the saline surface. While your youngsters float, parents can enjoy pampering spa treatments using the sea’s medicinal mud.

JORDAN

Dramatic deserts, camel rides, Indiana Jones movie sets (aka: Petra)... what’s not to like about a family holiday to Jordan? Stuffed full of ancient history, fascinating culture and spellbinding scenery, Jordan is a small country that earns big brownie points as a destination to delight the whole brood. Thrill youngsters with desert safaris, floating on the Dead Sea and ancient archaeological tours, while parents can enjoy nutrient-rich mud baths. Here are a few of our favourite Jordanian gems.

SPOTLIGHT ON ROSE-RED RUINS

Venture into the wind-blown deserts of southern Jordan and you’ll find the aweinspiring archeological site of Petra. Enjoy a fascinating tour of the rose-red ruins with a local Bedouin guide and challenge your pint-sized explorers to spot the filming locations in 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Clockwise from top left: Rocking it in Wadi Rum; The Treasury in Petra; Hump day in the desert; Family floating in the Dead Sea.

Clockwise from left: Sloths hang out in Costa Rica; Zip-wiring in Arenal; Sisters explore the forest; A baby leatherback turtle makes its way to the sea.

CURIOUS IN COSTA RICA

There is no better place to get away from modern life and really appreciate the great outdoors than Costa Rica. 25% of the country is set aside as national parks, and everywhere you look there are lush volcano-filled forests framed by miles of soft white sand. And then there’s the abundance of weird and wonderful wildlife that calls Costa Rica home. These fantastic beasts are sure to charm the most nervous - and fascinate the most adventurous - tweenagers. Our fantastic team of Americas experts will help plan every last detail of your family holiday here.

Tamarindo Arenal Volcano

Piedras Blancas

FROM PRICE: This 12-night trip to Costa Rica starts from £10,620 for a family of four including flights, transport, accommodation and activities where relevant. WHEN TO GO: December–May DAYS 1-3: ARENAL After a direct flight from London to San Jose, your transfer will take you three hours north to the Arenal Volcano area. The next two days are all about non-stop adventure on and around this perfectly conical volcano. Exploring the lakes, hot springs, forests and foothills surrounding the peak, the kids will love channelling their inner Tarzan (or Jane) on a number of zip lines and hanging bridge walkways. You’ll be able to spot all manner of cool and colourful wildlife too.

DAYS 4-7: PIEDRAS BLANCAS NATIONAL PARK A short flight away from San Jose, your next stop is Piedras Blancas National Park. Hop on a boat (this journey is part of the adventure, so cameras at the ready) and head to your luxury rainforest lodge. Immerse yourselves in a tropical adventure playground; paddle boarding in the sheltered Golfo Duce, kayaking through rainforest waterways, snorkelling over coral reefs and hiking through rich national parks to see (and hear) howler monkeys, tapirs, sloths and more. Welcome to the Costa Rica of your children’s dreams. DAYS 8-11: TAMARINDO Head north along the Pacific Coast, to Tamarindo, and a stunning stretch of soft golden sand. Your days here will be tough - a relentless rota of sunbathing interspersed with your choice of activity; surfing, riding on the beach, kayaking and cycling. Even better, Tamarindo is one of the best places to see rare leatherback sea turtles nesting and hatching (October– February), so you just might get to share a very special moment with these ancient animals.

DAY 12: HOME Sadly it’s home time this morning, so take the transfer back to San Jose in time for a direct flight to London.