On specialized family tours, multigenerational families can find a wide range of activities with something for everyone in destinations ranging from Costa Rica to Dubai.
Families on Learning Journeys by Perillo Tours will find a mixed bag of adventure and culture, all while learning more about the destination they are visiting.
One of the Family Journeys, the Arabian Family Adventure, takes travelers through Dubai and Abu Dhabi on a variety of sightseeing tours, visiting the Cultural Foundation in Dubai, in addition to shopping at the Abu Dhabi Marina Mall. Since falconry is a large part of the culture in Dubai, guests will learn about the sport and see a local family’s collection of falcons. Travelers will also explore the desert on a 4WD safari ride to the Bedouin Campsite, where they can go on camel rides, watch a belly dancer performance and enjoy a BBQ buffet dinner.
Land-only rates start at $3,200 pp dbl. Rates include 8-night accommodations at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai; daily breakfast; half-day Traditional Dubai city tour; dhow cruise with dinner; full-day Modern Dubai city tour; full-day tour to Abu Dhabi; falconry lesson; special Cultural Center breakfast; and traditional desert safari with dinner. For more information, visit learningjourneys.com/family-journeys.
Disney is often thought of as a family destination, but the company takes families out of the parks and into a variety of destinations with its Adventures by Disney vacations.
On these tours everything is taken care of, from a meet-and-greet at the airport to hotel transfers, snacks, refreshments and some meals. On the 10-day South Africa tour, which is geared for children 6 and up, travelers will venture to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town via cable car ride for a private hike; search through bush country for rhinos, elephants and leopards in a jeep; see African penguins on the ocean of Simon’s Town; and take a ferry across the Knysna Lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. The adults in the group will also experience a wine tasting at Spier Winery; meanwhile, the children will have the chance to take a lesson in falconry.
Rates start at $7,119 for adults and $6,769 for children. The rates include accommodations, admission fees, meals (nine breakfasts, nine lunches and six dinners), two Adventure Guides, internal transportation, luggage service and more. Accommodations include The Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town; Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa in Knysna; and Spa Suites at Kapama Private Game Reserve, River Lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park. For more information, visit adventuresbydisney.com.
If your clients have children who love animals, Wild Planet Adventures has added kid-friendly activities to its tours in Costa Rica, Galapagos, Peru and Borneo. Think playing with monkeys in the Costa Rican rainforest or snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos.
“After 23 years of feedback from families, we’ve selected our top five summer trips for animal-crazy families based on kid-friendly activities and experiences that appeal to all ages and attention spans,” says Josh Cohen, the company’s director.
On the Costa Rica Ultimate Wildlife Eco-Tour, either 14 or nine days long, travelers will visit eight national parks interacting with animals, meeting biologists and sea kayaking with dolphins. Travelers will also take part in activities like white-water river rafting, cloud forest canopy tours, visiting the volcanoes and hot springs, and going for night hikes to see nocturnal animals.
Rates start at $4,598 pp for the 14-day tour or $2,998 pp for the 9-day tour. For more information, visit wildplanetadventures.com.
