IMAGE: ALAMY
SMART TRAVELLER
FAMI LY
A YEAR OF ADVENTURE
Make 2024 one to remember with these epic trips, putting fairytale castles, cultural exchange and slow travel front and centre
Europe on rails With further expansion of the Good Night Train network due in March 2024, families will be able to book a central European rail odyssey all the way to Prague. Start with chocolate-tasting in Belgium’s capital, before museum- hopping in Dresden and Berlin, hiking in the Saxon Switzerland National Park and touring Prague’s castle. £ MORE INFO: Good Night Train Brussels to Prague,
couchette bunks for two adults and two children aged four to 11, from €496 (£432), one way.
europeansleeper.eu
Laid-back India Visit spice plantations, canoe the backwaters and clamber amid the old forts of Cochin on Village Ways’ new Spirit of the South trip. It explores the Karnataka coast and Kerala — an exciting family alternative to Goa — over two adventurous weeks, offering a relaxed and affordable introduction to India. £ MORE INFO:From £1,100 per person for a party of
four, including accommodation, most meals, overnight trains and car transfers, but not flights.
villageways.com
Greek island-hopping Interrail’s new Greek Islands Pass gives families an exciting way to explore Greece, covering four travel days on national ferry lines. Or for a trip with more support, try Olympic Holidays’ nine-night ‘family favourites’ itinerary, which ferry-hops through the Dodecanese islands of Rhodes, Symi and Kos, meandering between shallow coves, ancient temples and friendly hamlets. £ £ MORE INFO: From £1,305 per person based on two
adults and two children travelling, with accommodation, transfers and flights.
interrail.eu olympicholidays.com
30
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL
Ancient treasures in Egypt With Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum expected to open in early 2024 after years of delay, bringing together nearly all 5,000-odd artefacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb, now’s the time for history fans to book a trip to Egypt. Exodus’s nine-day Egyptian Family Adventure includes time in Cairo as well as Nile sailing and Red Sea snorkelling. £ £ MORE INFO: From £1,549 per adult, £1,162 per child
aged nine to 16, including accommodation, some meals, transport and activities, but not flights.
exodus.co.uk
An intro to Latin America Less well known than Mexico but with just as much to offer families, Guatemala is an exciting introduction to Latin America. Stubborn Mule’s new two-week Best of Guatemala family itinerary includes kayaking on Lake Atitlán and a tour of the Mayan ruins at Tikal. Kids also get the chance to cook pizza on top of Pacaya volcano. £ £ £ MORE INFO: From £4,250 per person for a
family of four, including flights, B&B accommodation, domestic travel and activities.
stubbornmuletravel.com
Farmstays & bullet trains in Japan Celebrate the 60th anniversary of Japan’s shinkansen (bullet train) in 2024 with a once-in-a-lifetime family trip. Intrepid’s new eight-day Highlights of Japan Family Holiday combines shinkansen rides with a visit to Tokyo’s Harajuku district, Kyoto’s temples and a night on a tea farm, where curious kids can try tea picking. £ £ £ MORE INFO: From £2,740 per adult, £2,466
per child aged 17 and under, including accommodation, domestic transport, and some meals and activities, but not flights.
intrepidtravel.com RHONDA CARRIER
Above: Houseboats are a unique accommodation option for families travelling through Kerala’s backwaters
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180
