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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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Adventure News Story South America

Tour the World with Wild Frontiers

What’s new? Wild Frontiers, renowned for its pioneering holidays to Afghanistan and Congo has just launched Wild Child, a series of trips aimed at adventure-seeking families. We like the itineraries that involve encountering orangutans and the Iban tribespeople in Borneo (10-day trip from £1,390 per person), riding horseback through the wilderness and camping under the stars in Mongolia (15-day trip from £2,050 per person), and treasure hunting in the Andean jungle with island hopping on Lake Titicaca in Peru (14-day trip from £1,799 per person).

More information: Wild Frontiers, 020 7736 3968.

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Adventure News Story South America

Families go eco in Peru

Refreshingly, it seems that environmental awareness is all the rage among our young travellers and, this year, there are more eco-minded family holidays around than ever before.

One of our favourite eco holidays is the brand new 11-day ‘Family Journey to the Manu Biosphere’ in Peru, run by Crees, a conservation education organisation operating in the Peruvian Amazon. Geared at young explorers aged 6-12, this family-friendly itinerary starts in Cusco and includes five days in the reserve, home to the greatest biodiversity in the world. Highlights include jaguar tracking and night treks.

THE LOWDOWN:

Price: Steppes Travel offers this trip from £2,250 per adult and £1,895 per child with flights and accommodation.

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Adventure News Story South America

Spice Up Your Family Life With a Trip to Spice Island

True Blue Bay is a fun-filled, family-run resort on the Spice Island of Grenada. Owners Russ and Magdalena Fielden offer kids hair braiding, mermaid tails in the pool, use of kayaks, hobie cats and bubble-making sessions with Aquanauts Grenada. They also make a point of listening to their guests and have added a sea-view Sankalpa yoga studio. They are particularly welcoming to single parents, waiving single-occupancy supplements and allowing children to share their parent’s room for free.

Price: Seven nights allinclusive cost from £1,565 per adult and £595 per child, including return flights.

More info: letsgo2.com

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Adventure News Story South America

Peru Holiday With Paddington Bear

BEAR FROM PERU

If your little one is a fan of Paddington Bear, follow in his footsteps with a new Andean Spectacled Bear Package by Inkaterra, a Peruvian eco-lodge company. Families will learn about the life of a bear keeper at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and take a guided excursion to the Incan site of Machu Picchu Citadel. Little explorers will get a special Bear Kit to take home, plus a cinema voucher of up to £15, which you can use to see the new Paddington film in theatres starting 28 November. The experience costs from £655 per person (excluding flights).

Find out more: inkaterra.com

More of what you love…

Dreaming of a trip to South America? Find out why you’re sure to fall in love with beautiful Buenos Aires, and why a trip to Brazil will stay with you forever. To have more Paddington themed fun closer to home, stroll through London and find one of a kind Paddington Bears on the Paddington Trail.

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Adventure Beach News Story South America

Butterfly House Bahia

What’s new? Butterfly House Bahia is a new eco-resort on the Maraú Peninsula of northern Brazil that combines luxury with eco-friendly practices. Featuring eight elegantly appointed villas made from eco-treated Columbian bamboo and salvaged Brazil nut wood, the resort has been designed to blend in with the jungle, ensuring that the natural beauty of the area is maintained. The interior of each villa is reminiscent of a combination of French and Moroccan designs, featuring antique French ceramics and hand-spun Moroccan rugs, adding a chic, luxurious element to the rustic design.

Anna Banana, the resort’s restaurant (named for the owner’s daughter), features dishes made from organic produce from local markets and seafood from local fishermen. From building materials to the compost and recycling system, everything about the Butterfly House, is designed to ensure that the resort has virtually no carbon footprint.

Maraú Peninsula is the perfect location for a long-haul family holiday. Beaches and rainforests litter the peninsula offering the best of eco-systems, and a wide variety of exotic wildlife, from toucans to marmosets, can be seen in the areas surrounding the resort.

ACTIVITIES

Spend your time basking in the natural beauty of the Maraú Peninsula. Guests can catch up on some R&R with a relaxing day by the pool, experience the beauty under the sea at nearby Taipu de Fora beach, which offers some of the best snorkelling in Brazil, or explore the World-Heritage listed rainforests and local indigenous communities. Visit the nearby Tremembé waterfall for a lovely family picnic, or just soak up the sun on the soft sandy beaches.

For guests seeking a bit more action the Butterfly House offers bike hire, so you can explore the over 40km of beaches that make up the Maraú Peninsula, or rent a surfboard or paddle board and hit the waves.

THE LOWDOWN

Getting there: TAP Portugal flies from London to Salvador; from £900 return; TAM Linhas Aéreas; from £865 return.

Travel time: Flights take 12 hours and 57 minutes.

Transfer time: It’s a 30-minute flight from Salvador to Ilhéus domestic airport, and a 1 hour and 30-minute drive from Ilhéus domestic airport to the Butterfly House.

Price: Rates from £150 per villa on a B&B basis.

Book: butterflyhousebahia.com

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Adventure News Story South America

Bean to Bar Cocoa Experience

What’s new? Why not celebrate your love of the cocoa bean by jetting off to gorgeous, family-friendly Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción? The most stylish hotel in Peru’s Amazon rainforest – and one of Latin America’s most conservation-minded properties – has just launched the Bean to Bar Cocoa Experience. Hike through cocoa groves, learning about the cocoa seed and its culinary, ceremonial and medicinal uses, then return to Inkaterra to make your own chocolate bars, biscuits and bread.

Top tip: For the full oompa loompa experience go between January and March, and get involved in the harvesting process.

Price: Doubles from £362 (minimum two-night stay).

More information: inkaterra.com

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Europe North America Rest of the World South America UK

My House is Your House with Kids & Coe

We’d all jump at the chance of staying in an authentic designer family home when travelling with our kids. So much more relaxing than a five-star resort and you get to experience local life.

Zoie Kingsbery Coe spent years managing her husband, DJ Sasha’s word tour schedule and their family travels. And she has used her expertise to create Kid & Coe, a new website of family-friendly design-led properties across the world including London, New York, France, Mexico, Tuscany, Cornwall and San Francisco.

 

THE LOWDOWN

The majority of homes have high chairs, cribs and toys and guests receive an online guide of nearby attractions, playgrounds and child-friendly restaurants created in collaboration with the owners.

Price: From £85 per night. Visit kidandcoe.com to book, or sign up your own home!