10 world wonders that are perfect for families
From India to the United States, these are the best family tours.
| THIS ARTICLE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Intrepid Travel |
Nothing takes the stress out of travelling with children quite like Intrepid Travel’s range of family tours.
Drop and flop holidays will always have their place, but those keen on family travel needn’t discount the excitement and adventure of visiting the world’s most wondrous sites. Whether you’re after a natural wonder of the world or a bustling ancient site, Intrepid Travel family tours, find an extensive range of options to make the experience one to remember for all the right reasons.
Need a little inspiration? Here are 10 world wonders to get the mind racing.
Get adventurous and help girls finish high school on a tour through Morocco.
1. Galapagos Islands
Who could pass up an opportunity to treat the kids to a destination that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection? This volcanic archipelago made up of 13 major islands located off the coast of Ecuador is home to a world of species endemic to the islands: blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas among them.
Intrepid Travel’s eight-day Galapagos Family Holiday takes care of logistics, the expedition cruising between the islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal and into wildlife-dotted coves and bays. Keen to spend your days snorkelling with sea lions and hiking alongside giant tortoises? This tour has it all, plus you’ll even get a chance to meet local families and stay in family-run hotels.
Spot sea lions with the kids in the Galapagos Islands.
2. Sigiriya Lion Rock, Sri Lanka
Home to not one, but eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, this compact island nation in South Asia is a destination which offers something for every member of the family: beaches, wildlife safari drives, ancient forts and lively cities.
Intrepid Travel’s 12-day Sri Lanka Family Holiday takes the sting out of the how-do-I-see-it-all anguish, not only taking in the iconic sites of Dambulla Cave Temples, Sigiriya Lion Rock and an open-top safari through Udawalawe National Park, but incorporating authentic local experiences. Expect a tour through a working tea plantation, a village cycle trip, dinner with a local family and downtime relaxing on the sands of Mirissa.
See UNESCO World Heritage site, Sigiriya Lion Rock.
3. The Colosseum, Italy
Nothing inspires wonder in little ones quite like the moment they hear that the Colosseum, Rome’s iconic amphitheatre, was built in 80AD, making everyone’s favourite Italian structure close to 2,000 years old. Unfortunately, tickets can be harder to purchase than to a Taylor Swift concert.
Fortunately, it’s a key site of Intrepid Travel’s eight-day Venice to Rome Northern Italy Family Holiday which covers the three essential P’s: pizza, Pisa and (eating gelato in) piazzas. Essentially serving as the region’s ‘best of’, this is a trip where the canals of Venice are explored in intimate detail, the all-important Leaning Tower of Pisa photo captured, Rome’s top sites investigated, and the delights of Cinque Terre hiked and swum. You can even try your hand at Venetian mask- and pesto-making.
Discover the history of The Colosseum, then get gelatto.
4. The Taj Mahal, India
How to explain the wonder of love? One look at the Taj Mahal, the white marble mausoleum built by emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife should do it. Gleaming bright on the banks of the Yamuna River, Agra, it’s certainly a bucket list destination for every member of the family, but – like the rest of the country – buzzes with crowds.
How best to see the Taj Mahal, and indeed Northern India in general, with minimum stress? Intrepid Travel’s 10-day Northern India Family Holiday. It takes in the Pink City of Jaipur, tours Ranthambore National Park (home to the Bengal tiger), and the palaces of Alsisar, treating guests to a stay in a 17th-entry palace, a sleeper train journey and hands-on activities such as hand block printing.
Share the love at Taj Mahal.
5. Sahara Desert, Morocco
It’s a rare person who hasn’t marvelled at the tumble of dunes of the Sahara. Stretching from the Red Sea in the east and the Mediterranean in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the west, it’s the largest (hot) desert in the world. Camel treks, sandboarding and camping under the stars are just three activities kids will go crazy for, but things are rarely as simple as just turning up with a battered bodyboard.
Intrepid Travel’s 10-Day Morocco Family Holiday Comfort is the perfect tour for adventurous families, taking the wonder of the Sahara (including those aforementioned activities), and blending them with a wealth of experiences across Morocco. The tour includes an exploration of Casablanca, Fes, the Atlas Mountains and Marrakech, plus every booking supports Intrepid Foundation’s partner, Education For All, which assists girls in the High Atlas Mountains through high school.
Get adventurous in the Sahara Desert.
6. Pyramids, Egypt
The mysteries are wrapped up in wonder, namely: how on earth were the pyramids even built in the first place? These burial plots and monuments to the Pharaohs have captured the imagination of children forever, and while Egypt is a warm and welcoming place for kids, the crowds around the pyramids can be overwhelming.
Happily, Intrepid Travel’s eight-day Egypt Family Holiday takes the stress out of the likes of visiting The Great Pyramid of Giza the only Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence), the tour showcasing the must-see highlights of Egypt (the pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and the new Egyptian Museum), with the relaxed. Cruise the Nile in a felucca, enjoy a traditional meal with a local family and alternate busy mornings with lazy afternoon swims in the hotel pool. It’s all about balance.
Marvel at the burial plots and monuments of Pharaohs.
7. Yellowstone and Grand Teton, U.S.A.
Two minutes in Yellowstone – the world’s first National Park – gives kids a clear understanding of why such places need to be protected. Its 2.2 million acres teem with wildlife and geothermal areas that contain half the world’s active geysers. Home to endless hiking and cycling trails, plus scenic swim spots, there’s no better place for an outdoorsy family holiday.
Intrepid Travel’s six-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Family Holiday goes one better, not only offering the best of Yellowstone, but Grand Teton National Park, where activities include cruising along the river corridor for local furry residents, learning skills from a wolf tracker and floating on a raft along Snake River. What’s more, the trip begins with an action-packed cowboy shootout (don’t worry, it’s just a lively re-enactment).
Hike with bison through Yellowstone National Park.
8. Chichen Itza, Mexico
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World and one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, it’s easy to imagine a time when Chichen Itza was a bustling city with a diverse population. Now, kids young and older will love running around the remnants of ancient Mayan structures and taking fun photos – but they may struggle with the sheer number of visitors and vendors milling about the grounds.
Make the visit easier with Intrepid Travel’s seven-day Mexico Family Holiday, a tour which takes in the highlights of the structures, and pairs the experience with a wealth of fun, family-friendly Mexican experiences. Tortilla-making with a Mayan family, checking out the flamingos of Celestun Bird Sanctuary and rolling around the beaches of Playa de Carmen are just the tip of the iceberg.
Explore one of the New Wonders of the World.
9. Okavango delta, Botswana
Home to a significant population of elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards and over 500 species of birds, it’s no surprise that the Okavango Delta is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and for kids, a holiday memory that will last a lifetime.
Travelling Africa can involve many logistics, but Intrepid Travel takes care of everything with their 10-day Botswana Family Safari with Teenagers, taking travellers around bucket-list locations. Explore the ins and outs of Botswana’s vast ecosystem, but save room on the memory cards for the wilderness highlights, too, of South Africa and Zimbabwe. The tour incorporates all the must-do activities from visiting majestic Victoria Falls and Khama Rhino Sanctuary to canoeing along the elephant-filled Okavango Delta.
See majestic elephant in Okavango Delta.
10. Machu Picchu, Peru
Could this 15th-century Inca Citadel be one of the most child-friendly destinations around? With its wide trails and clear signposts, it could almost be the case. Yet while the Lost City of the Incas serves to capture imaginations (there are plenty of mysteries here so be sure to get the kids to do their research before their visit), with its 2430 metre elevation, it’s not the easiest spot for little legs to visit.
Book Intrepid Travel’s nine-day Peru Family Holiday and you’ll not only have the visit easily organised for you, but be given a thorough history of the site, courtesy of your experienced guide. Lessons on why the Andean mountains were so sacred for the Incas over, expect a tour with adventure at every turn, from exploring Amazon jungle trails in the company of monkeys and otters, and meeting the artisans (and alpacas) of the Sacred Valley to making your own local instruments and learning how to play them.
Let your kids discover the mysteries of Machu Picchu.
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