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Tourdust Launches Family Trips

What’s new? The brainchild of Anna and Ben Colclough, who have three children of their own, Tourdust has made a name for itself creating off-the-beaten-track adventures for couples and young groups. But now, we’re pleased to hear, it’s turning its attention to families.

 

Destinations: Intrepid travellers can choose from destinations such as Morocco, Turkey, Croatia, Peru, Kenya and Sweden, and rely on Tourdust to arrange flights, accommodation with character and thoughtfully designed interaries – best of all, prices start from £500 per person.

 

Family Sea Kayaking Holiday: An eight-day holiday in Dubrovnik will have the team exploring the Elaphite Islands by kayak with a mix of paddling, snorkelling and playing on the beach and a guide to show you what’s what. You’ll be based on the island of Lopud, surrounded by stunning coastline in charming apartments, owned by local families, all within walking distance of the sea.

Price: £642 per person (based on a family of four), which includes return flights from London, seven nights’ accommodation, seven breakfasts, three dinners in nearby tavernas, a guide, all of the activities on the tour, all transfers by local boat, return transfers to and from Dubrovnik airport and all applicable taxes.

 

Marrakech Trek and Surf HolidayIn just under four hours you can be trekking in the Atlas mountains (accompanied by mules for any tired legs). Recoup in a beautiful riad in Marrakech before heading to the Atlantic coast for a few days surfing.

Price: £654 per person (based on a family of four), including flights, transfers, seven nights’ accommodation, trekking guide, surfing lessons and a selection of meals. 

 

Safari and Maasai Family Adventure: If you’d prefer to go further a field, there’s an eight-day adventure to Kenya, combining safaris and game drives with camping in a Maasai village, – where children will learn to light a fire and shoot arrows– cycling in Hells Gate National Park and a boat trip on Lake Naivasha.

Price: £1,843 per person (based on a family of four) including international flights, all accommodation, meals and transfers, as well as an English-speaking guide, plus the park fees and all camping equipment.

 

More information: For bookings, contact Tourdust on 020 3291 2907.

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The northern Lights in Lapland’s Aurora Zone

According to NASA, the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights in a decade is going to occur this January and February.

So if you’re looking for a family adventure with a difference, why not whisk them deep into Lapland’s Aurora Zone to join the new Polar Bear Family Activity Holiday in Ranua this February?

This four-night trip offers the perfect blend of Northern Lights spotting and outdoor adventure. Based in comfortable apartments next to a wildlife park filled with polar bears, artic foxes, lynx and moose, to which you’ll have unlimited access, you’ll also visit a husky farm. You’ll set out, wrapped in reindeer skins, on a husky sledding adventure, donning snow shoes and head torches and going Northern Lights spotting in the forest – you’ll even get the chance to help feed polar bears in the park.

 

THE LOWDOWN

Departing on February 19, the trip costs from £1,395 per adult and £1,195 per child (aged five-12), including flights, transfers, accommodation and all activities.

Visit activitiesabroad.com

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The Den at Soneva Fushi

What’s new: You’d be forgiven for thinking that the architect of the new kids’ club at Soneva Fushi, Maldives, was a child. Because you’d be right. Sonu and Eva Shivdasani, the duo behind Soneva hotels, collaborated with their pint-sized guests when designing The Den, which opens at the end of the year. The result is a dreamy playhouse, which would make Swiss Family Robinson feel very at home. Blending into the landscape, the domed building complements the rest of the hotel’s barefoot luxury vibe.

Whole rooms will be dedicated to fancy dress, Lego and music. A cinema and DJ corner with mocktail bar will have even the sulkiest of teenagers forgetting their angst at being on a family holiday. Outside, a slide leads to a 130-metre swimming pool, a zip wire will wizz kids through the jungle fauna, while underground tunnels link the whole caboodle back to the hotel’s landscaped gardens, and reality. 

 

THE LOWDOWN: 

Travel time: Flights to Male take 11 hours and 30 minutes. Soneva Fushi will meet you at the airport and arrange seaplane transfers to the hotel, which take 30 minutes. 

Getting there: British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Male; from £644 return. 

Price: A two bedroom Crusoe Villa with private pool for four people costs from £1,006 a night. 

To book: Visit soneva.com

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Stay in an Igloo in Lapland

Why go? For a totally different adventure this winter, pack your woolies and head to Finnish Lapland for a holiday under the Northern Lights and for an even more spellbinding experience spend a night or two in an igloo.

Accommodation: Built new every year in the classic Inuit way, the structures are surprisingly cosy for an ice block standing in the Arctic wilderness – kitted out with home comforts and reindeer hides for warmth. The domes are set in the grounds of the Davvi Arctic Lodge in the woodland of Karesuando and cost an extra £120 a night to use. 

Activities: On the itinerary is husky sledding, forest trekking, as well as trips to the Sami Museum – to learn about their culture –, the snow castle carved from ice and a reindeer camp. 

Price: A seven-night Northern Lights break to Finnish Lapland costs from £999 per person with Transun (01865 265 200), including flights from London Gatwick departing on 5 January 2014. Three and four night itineraries are also available. Specially chartered flights depart from regional airports such as Newcastle, East Midlands and Bristol, throughout January, February and March 2014.

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Sri Lanka: All-Inclusive Luxury for Families

TREAT YOURSELVES 

Situated in Kogalla, on the south coast of Sri Lanka, South Point Villa is a fully serviced three-bedroom villa, offering babysitting and nannies, and a dreamy pool that overlooks the beach. Friendly local staff will cater to your every need and all food is bought and cooked for guests at cost price. There’s plenty to keep kids entertained, including quad bikes, which are available for hire on the surrounding estate. 

OCEAN VIEWS

Just steps away from a sandy beach, the villa offers you sweeping views of the ocean from your garden. The villa sleeps six adults and four children comfortably – perfect for a family holiday or even a joint-family getaway.

Price: Seven nights cost from £6,776 for a family of four, including flights and transfers with Experience Travel Group.

Find out more: southpointvilla.com

More of what you love…

Dreaming of a holiday villa? Check out the 10 best family villas or explore the beautiful Periyali Villas in Greece.

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Norse Code: A/W Fashion From Iceland

This autumn cool kids will be wearing leather jackets and plaid shirts and skirts dressed up with cute woollen accessories.

SHOP THE SHOOT

Picture 1

Díönu wears leather jacket, £520, Bonpoint; polo-neck sweater and plaid skirt, from a selection, Dolce & Gabbana; socks, stylist’s own; and loafers, £180, Marni

Picture 2

Left: Anítu wears plaid dress, £50, and sweater, £45, both Soft Gallery; hat, £45, Stella McCartney; socks and shoes, stylist’s own

Right: Anítu wears cashmere sweater, £68, and skirt, £79, both Caramel Baby & Child; hat, from a selection, Dolce & Gabbana; socks, £7.50, Falke; and shoes, £120, Bonpoint. Díönu wears dress with white collar, £185, Bonpoint; socks, stylist’s own; and loafers, £180, Marni

Picture 3

Anítu wears plaid woollen T-shirt, £121, Bonpoint; pleated skirt, £108, Armani; knitted jacket, £150, and hat, £42, both Stella McCartney; socks, £7.50; Falke; and patent shoes, from a selection, Dolce & Gabbana. Sæmund wears plaid shirt, £49; jeans, £102, Bonpoint; and gilet, £60, Mini Rodini

 

SUBSCRIBE TO FAMILY TRAVELLER

 

THE LOWDOWN

Shot on location in Iceland. You can explore Iceland’s volcanic highlights on a seven-night self-drive holiday with Discover the World from £867 per person for a family of four, including return flights with Icelandair from London, Manchester or Glasgow, accommodation (including two nights at Hotel Ranga), breakfast and car hire. 

Photographer: Mark Shearwood

Styling: Rachel Caulfield

Models: Anítu, Díönu and Sæmund

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New Kids’ Club at JA Ocean View

What’s new? JA Resorts & Hotels has recently introduced several new kids clubs across its properties in Dubai, the most recent being the CoolZone at JA Ocean View Hotel.

Aimed at children between the ages of five and 12, the club is run by the Worldwide Kids Company, a UK based childcare training company with years of experience in luxury hotels. 

Activities: Entertainment extends beyond the usual swimming, arts and crafts and games, and there are also adventures around the hotel’s organic bio-garden where kids learn about growing their own food, and have cooking lessons with the chef. 

Price: A Sea View Junior Suite for two adults and two children (under 16) costs from £244 per night. 

To book: Visit jaresortshotels.com

 

Check out JA Ocean View’s sister hotel JA Palm Tree Court

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New Adventures for the Whole Family

G Adventures has a new line-up of holidays for active families who like a challenge, including cycling around the pagodas of Burma, seeing the world’s highest sand dunes in Namibia and learning how to rope cattle at a cowboy ranch in the western USA.

Price: An Amalfi family adventure, including a cooking class, a visit to the ruins of Pompeii, and hiking in the hills of Tre Calli, costs from £949 per adult and £849 per child.

More info: gadventures.co.uk

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Movie Maker

What’s new? Be honest, how often do you actually do anything with the photos or video footage you take on holiday? Since tour operator Original Travel has gone all family-friendly, teaming up with children’s entertainers Sharky & George, it offers all sorts of weird and wonderful add-ons.

Our favourite is The Art of Original Travel, a service in which you can send the company all your snapshots, iPhone clips and video footage when you return from your holiday, and it’ll turn the best bits into a groovy short film. Alternatively, you can bling it up a notch and have one of its digital gurus actually accompany you on your trip to turn your adventures into an award-worthy movie. 

More information: originaltravel.co.uk

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Mother’s Day Treat at Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Indulge mum to an exotic retreat in Dubai for this year’s Mother’s Day at Jumeirah’s Beach Hotel, with a luxurious package for the much-needed break any busy mum deserves!

Dad can take the kids to enjoy the unlimited access to the hotel’s Wild Wadi Waterpark, rock climbing, windsurfing, kayaking and more, whilst mum is pampered with a complimentary massage. The whole family is invited to take advantage of gratis breakfasts daily as well as dinner each night at the beachfront restaurant Beachcombers.

A host of culinary experiences are also available for the occasion including afternoon tea in Palm Court, an opportunity to partake in a cooking master class at the Venetian-inspired restaurant Carnevale, or a delicious brunch served in a scene offering panoramic vistas of the Arabian Gulf.

THE LOWDOWN

Travel time: A flight from London to Dubai takes 7 hours.

How to get there: British Airways and Emirates fly directly to Dubai, but if you want to extend your trip via Turkey, Pegasus flies to Dubai with a stopover in Istanbul. Take advantage and visit Turkey’s cultured capital city.

Book: Visit jumeirah.com and call +971 4 406 8500