Recently updated on January 21st, 2020 at 07:29 pm
Every family that travels together is unique, and some are more adventurous than others. With this in mind, we’ve come up with some amazing trips for adventurous families, from experiencing life on a ranch in America’s Wild West, to meeting elephants in northern Thailand, and even setting out on an intrepid adventure in the wild Scottish Highlands. This year’s family vacation just got a lot more interesting.
Montana, The United States
With its vast, open landscape, spanning the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains, the western state of Montana is known worldwide as America’s Big Sky Country. Here, travellers can have a taste of authentic cowboy life by staying in a true American West 1898 homestead, where rib-stickin’ food and Wild West adventure are both on the cards. From chuckwagon rides to white-water rafting down the Gallatin river, and saddling up to ride horseback with a local wrangler, the Montana wilderness is infinitely exciting terrain to explore. In West Yellowstone, grizzly bears and wolves, unable to survive in the wild, are cared for at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Centre, enabling visitors to see them up close. Then, from the wildlife centre, it’s just a short hop over to the geysers and mud pools of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
Take an adventurous family trip to Montana on The American West trip with Trafalgar.
Lake Titicaca, Peru
Straddling the border between Bolivia and Peru, Lake Titicaca is one of the largest lakes in all of South America. But it’s the unique islands on the lake that many people come here for, in particular the floating islands of Uros. Made entirely from Reeds, these islands can be visited by boat, where you’ll be met by the indigenous Uros people. After finding out about this fascinating community’s way of life and traditions, visitors can continue on to the much larger Taquile Island, which also lies within the great lake. After trekking across the island, visitors are treated to a feast of local food.
Discover Lake Titicaca’s islands for yourself on the In the Footsteps of the Incas itinerary.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Northern Thailand is a verdant landscape of forested mountainside that’s inhabited by hill tribes and villages that lie amidst paddy fields, as well as being the setting for the region’s capital, the ancient city of Chiang Mai. Lively markets, golden spired temples and Buddhist monasteries are all waiting to be explored, but the surrounding countryside is just as alluring, with handicraft villages to visit, and the nearby Chiang Dao Elephant Camp to explore. Watch the elephants bathe before visiting the nearby hill tribe village of Ban Tong Luang, home to the Long Neck Karen tribe. And from Chiang Mai, cycle along the country roads leading through the surrounding countryside to visit the region’s temples, a pottery workshop and a bakery.
Travel through northern Thailand and stay in Chiang Mai on the Treasures of Thailand trip.
The Highlands of Scotland
With its untamed landscape of dramatic mountains, mysterious lochs and a spectacular coastline, this region is already thrilling to explore. But add to that each setting’s role in some of the world’s most iconic movies, and it’s even more captivating. From the vast wilderness of Cairngorms National Park, where The Dark Knight Rises was filmed, to the restored 13th century Eilean Donan Castle, where parts of James Bond’s The World is Not Enough was set, many sites will be instantly recognisable. After trying to uncover the mystery of the monster at Loch Ness, visit the Valley of the Weeping at Glencoe, where scenes from James Bond’s Skyfall were filmed, along with the Mel Gibson epic, Braveheart.
Step into the scenes of these famous movies by joining the Celtic Filmscapes trip.
Skagafjördur, Iceland
For adventurous families, Iceland is a whirlwind of breathtaking landscapes and exhilarating outdoor pursuits. By travelling through the country’s mountainous terrain, visitors can reach Skagafjördur, which has become famous worldwide for its many Icelandic horses. Here, visitors can meet the owners of a local horse farm and get up close to the friendly creatures, before continuing on a journey to the country’s lava fields, volcanoes, glaciers, and black sand beaches, not to forget the caves of Snaefellsnes.
Experience the Icelandic landscape on the Ultimate Iceland trip with Trafalgar.
Image credits: Cover photo of a ranch in Montana © iStock / EMPPhotography. Montana ranch © iStock / Johnny Greig. Lake Titicaca in Peru © iStock / Yana N. The elephants in Northern Thailand © iStock / Kevin Landwer-Johan. The Highlands of Scotland © iStock / The Dman. Icelandic Horses © iStock / stockcam.