Adventure Travel with Kids

Abercrombie & Kent's Adventure Crew!  Take Tai Chi classes on top of the Great Wall of China, hang out with 500 pound tortoises in the Galapagos, or learn how to throw a boomerang in Australia! >More     Hanging out 100 feet in the air in a wicker basket fueled by fire?  Yeah!  Buddy Bombard Balloon Adventures is a great way to see Europe!  >More     Replace the teacher with an Expedition Leader/Naturalist and the classroom with Alaska or the Sea of Cortes.  Kids in Nature by American Safari Cruises.  >More     Featured Travel Supplier: Butterfield & Robinson has exotic, educational, active adventures around the world for kids from 5 to 18.  Truly Once in a Lifetime trips! >more             Heliskiing and Helihiking with Canadian Mountain Holidays If 100,000 vertical feet (50,000 for the kids) of snow doesn't make you want to strap on your skis and jump out of a helicopter, how does hiking a mountain ridge sound?  CMH offers unique, strenuous trips for families that are ready to feel the burn!   Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort in the Caribbean Telling pirate stories, making treasure maps, dancing to the Caribbean beat - this is how the US Virgin Islands was meant to be!  At least for the kiddies.  Aquatic treasure hunts, identifying new plants and animals, arts and crafts...it's all here.  Turtle Town at Caneel Bay!   Disney Cruise Line OK, so maybe it's not that active.  But talk about fun!  Mickey Mouse pools, visits from Captain Hook, nightly shows for the kids...even activities to keep the adults entertained!

These itineraries are based on Butterfield & Robinson's regular Biking and Walking trips around the world, altered to include fun, enriching activities for both kids and adults. What's more, four different age levels ensure your children meet other kids their own age. Trips range from tramping the glaciers of New Zealand, to biking in the beautiful Dordogne Valley, to adventures in Costa Rica.

France			Asia Pacific
	Loire Valley			Thailand
	Trip Highlights: Bike through forests, orchards and sunflower fields and along river banks Kids try ropes courses, kayaking, horseback riding and fencing Cycle past the church where Joan of Arc found the sword she used to defeat the English Explore our private château’s game park, teeming with wild boars and deer (your guide will be more than happy to give you a tour) Enjoy a Chinon appellation wine tasting before a homegrown dinner at the château Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Montbazon/St. Pierre-des-Corps			Trip Highlights Visit an Interpretation Centre on the opium trade in the Golden Triangle Learn such valuable skills as making elephants stop, turn and kneel down Bike through jungle, rubber plantations, and local villages Bike past karst formations and landscapes where The Beach was filmed Kayak through mangroves with a nature guide Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Bangkok/Krabi
Western Europe			France
	Ireland			Dordogne Valley
	Trip Highlights: Bike along Connemara’s stunning coastline, including the Sky Road Tour the ruins of a Cromwellian Fort with our local guide – a friend and archaeologist Sit around the fire as a local storyteller weaves tales of Irish heroes and legends Ride between the moody Maumturk Mountains and Twelve Bens mountain range See how birds of prey are handled and flown at a falconry demonstration at our hotel Receive a private performance from a children’s troupe of traditional soft-shoe 47 dancers Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Galway/Galway or Shannon			Trip Highlights: Tour Font-de Gaume cave for a private lesson in Cro-Magnon art with renowned prehistory expert Christine Desdemaines-Hugon Cycle to Beynac to explore the town’s château, a French stronghold in the Hundred Years’ War We don’t just admire storybook castles from a distance, we sleep in them – at places like Château de la Treyne, a 14thC castle perched on a cliff overlooking the Dordogne River Bike the road to Rocamadour, one of the most famous pilgrimage paths in Christendom Michelin-starred dining The kids go spelunking – exploring the deepest, darkest corners of cool, creepy caves Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Bordeaux/Souillac
				Normandy
				Trip Highlights: Bike to Honfleur, where the Impressionists Monet and Boudin worked in the 1860s Head to Trouville for dinner at a classic French brasserie teeming with lively locals Kids sand-yacht, horseback ride, and visit the Caen Memorial Museum Bike the coast to Sword Beach, Arromanches and the American Cemetery See the famous Bayeux Tapestry while kids take a sailing class Pedal past châteaux, abbeys, quaint villages and more major WWII sites Taste Calvados (the famous regional apple brandy) with a local producer Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Deauville/Lison
Africa
	South Africa
	Trip Highlights: Cycle from Cape Point lighthouse to deserted beaches Spend two days exploring gorgeous Cape Town Go horseback riding or take a walking tour of Paarl Walk and bike through fruit orchards and famed vineyards See the prison where Nelson Mandela took his first steps as a free man Sea-kayak alongside dolphins, penguins and – just maybe – a southern right whale Dine at South Africa’s highest-rated restaurant Observe lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and giraffes with a professional tracker Trip Length: 10 days/9 nights Start/Finish: Cape Town/Port Elizabeth
Asia Pacific			Italy
	Vietnam			Puglia
	Trip Highlights: Cycle past rice paddies, fish farms, ancestral tombs, water buffaloes and hundreds of smiling children on the old Ho Chi Minh trail Indulge at the spa while kids boogie-board on the South China Sea Visit Nguyen dynasty tombs and the UNESCO-protected Forbidden City in Hue Navigate Hanoi’s thousand-year-old Old Quarter and the majestic Temple of Literature with our local guide Enjoy the best accommodations everywhere, including Evason Hideaway in Nha Trang Trip Length: 9 days/8 nights Start/Finish: Ho Chi Minh/Hanoi			Trip Highlights: Bike on small roads through orchards to the sea Tour Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with local guide Alessandro Cycle through olive groves to the Roman ruins of Egnazia Hang out at the hotel’s private beach club Learn how to make the local specialty, orecchiette (baby ears) pasta Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights Start/Finish: Bari/Bari
Italy			Latin America
	Tuscany			Costa Rica
	Trip Highlights: Join a local historian for a short walking tour of Florence Cycle through the glorious Val di Chiana, the largest valley in the Apennines Stop for a cappuccino in the piazza of a medieval village Catch a private falconry demonstration at the Medici fortress Take a walking tour of Cortona with a local artist Learn how to make tagliatelle and grappa from the Lungarella family Pedal to Pienza via gently rolling hills and olive groves Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights Start/Finish: Florence/Florence			Trip Highlights: Go horseback riding on the beach Walk through the jungle in search of monkeys, three-toed sloths, toucans and more Sip mango daiquiris in front of a Pacific sunset View 400-year-old trees shrouded in ferns, bromeliads and cascading orchids Tour mangrove estuaries on a guided boat trip Take a honey-and-milk massage after a long day of dolphin-tracking Trip Length: 8 days/7 nights Start/Finish: San Jose/San Jose
Oceania				Galapagos Islands
	New Zealand			Trip Highlights: Walk over volcanic landscapes to view frigate birds, boobies and land iguanas Learn to step around local residents who won’t raise a flipper to get out of your way Meet sea lions, lava lizards and the awesome waved albatross on Punta Suarez pot whales, dolphins and the world’s most northerly penguin Snorkel with sea lions and turtles Tour the Charles Darwin Research Station Join the Captain on the bridge as we cross the equator Trip Length: 9 days/8 nights Start/Finish: Quito/Quito
	Trip Highlights: Bike past sheep farms and lakes, fruit plains and vineyards Kayak on tranquil glacial lakes and walk through silver beech forests Join our local guide in a sheep-herding demonstration Check out the Southern Cross and the Big Dipper – upside-down Have lunch and taste wines at lakeside Rippon Vineyards In Queenstown, choose from a full menu of high adrenaline adventures including jet-boating, tandem bungee-jumping, and Zorbing Enjoy two nights at Millbrook Resort – where the spa is the ultimate in luxury Trip Length: 9 days/8 nights Start/Finish: Christchurch/Queenstown
Western Europe			Plus Catalonia, Iceland, Dresden, and Ireland itineraries!
	Ireland 12+
	Trip Highlights: Bike along Connemara’s stunning coastline, including the Sky Road Tour the ruins of a Cromwellian Fort with our local guide – a friend and archaeologist Sit around the fire as a local storyteller weaves tales of Irish heroes and legends Ride between the moody Maumturk Mountains and Twelve Bens mountain range See how birds of prey are handled and flown at a falconry demonstration at our hotel Receive a private performance from a children’s troupe of traditional soft-shoe dancers Spend two nights in opulent Ashford Castle – complete with golf course, spa and secret passages Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Galway/Galway or Shannon
			Eastern Europe
				Prague to Vienna
				Trip Highlights: Absorb all you can in a private, expat-guided tour of Ceský Krumlov Cycle the delightfully flat paths along the Danude River, surrounded by vineyards Enjoy private musical performances from each of the three distinct regions we visit Dine at the legendary Landhaus Bacher restaurant Try your hand at medieval sharpshooting with Count Kottulinsky at the remarkable Schlosshotel Obermayerhofen Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Prague/Vienna
Plus Loire Valley and Normandy (already mentioned in 8+ section) and Prague to Vienna itineraries			France
				Provence
				Trip Highlights: Tour St-Rémy and the landscapes of van Gogh with our guide Mathilde Dine at Michelin two-starred Chez Bru in Eygalières Ride through the breathtaking Gorges de la Nesque Taste lavender-infused truffles by chocolatier Joël Durand Sip Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines during an exclusive tasting Opt to ride a “century” up and over fearsome but spectacular Mont Ventoux Trip Length: 7 days/6 nights Start/Finish: Avignon/Avignon
			Italy
				Bologna to Venice
				Trip Highlights: Tour the historic centre of Ravenna – once the capital of both the western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire – with a local historian Glide downhill on one of the most beautiful rides in the B&R world, through the wine country of the Romagna hills into Imola Enjoy a pasta-making demo at a small agriturismo in Ferrara Cycle into Venice for an incredible evening at our hotel, set on the banks of the Grand Canal Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights Start/Finish: Bologna/Venice
			Plus Tuscany (already mentioned in 12+ section)

Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. (239) 513-0333 or (800) 865-8111 Info@BettyMacleanTravel.com
This link has brought you to the Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. website! Scroll to the top to learn more about our travel specialists, our agency, Virtuoso, and more!

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Africa.  Antarctica.  Australia.  British Columbia.  China.  Egypt.  Galapagos.  Italy.  The world is wide open for kids to experience! Abercrombie & Kent has formed the Adventure Crew, active travel for the young and young at heart.  Whether they be explorers, sports nuts, or more eco-minded, each kid is outfitted with a 'crew kit' suited to their personality that includes a backpack, travel journal, compass, and binoculars, A&K suits 'em up and sends 'em out to explore their world.  With freedom to select specific destinations and itineraries, the Adventure Crew offers great flexibility so every family can custom design a trip perfect for them.

Africa A&K travels to many countries in Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Botswana. The most popular areas to visit in Africa are the Serengeti National Park, the Masai Mara, Kruger National Park, the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Did you know that Africa is home to one of the world's highest mountains? Mount Kilimanjaro is a snowcapped volcano that may still be active! Even the most adventurous adults enjoy hiking to its summit. On an A&K trip to Africa, you are truly in store for the adventures of a lifetime!	Antarctica Antarctica is big and beautiful, and although its looks cold in pictures, it is actually not as cold as you would think. While shorts and t-shirts are not a great idea, the weather definitely will not stop you from exploring. You'll go to Pendulum Cove, which is a geothermal spring where you can go swimming! Swimming in Antarctica, who would have thought? For better views and more extreme pictures you can go on a hike, and the best part is…you get to sled down afterwards! You will also find Neptunes Bellows at Deception Island, an active volcano in the Shetland Islands, so be sure to navigate your way through it and have fun!	Australia Australia is a country so big that it is also a continent. There are endless days of adventure and endless places to go. If you are ready for the water, the Great Barrier Reef is ready for you. If you prefer to stay on land, the Outback can keep you busy for days and days with outdoor adventures. In Queensland there is an ancient rainforest and in Sydney…well, you will just have to discover what makes it Australia´s most exciting city! One of the most interesting sights in Australia is the Blue Mountains, which got its name because of the haze that comes off the eucalyptus trees. In Australia there is something for everyone, from wild, hopping kangaroos to the bright lights of the city and everything in between.
British Columbia At Whistler you do not have to go far to find an adventure. It offers the best ski mountains in North America and these beautiful snow-capped mountains do not disappoint. So look no further for a great place to go and explore. Head up the peaks on the lifts and race down on your skis or board. Take a hike through the valley; it is all right there. The town is full of fun places to eat and play, so there is never a shortage of things to explore, indoors or out.	China Would you like to explore a bustling city like Shanghai or Beijing? With A&K, you can do both! These cities are full of surprises like unique architecture, delicious foods, fascinating museums and millions of people! The cities of China may be like the ones you know, just with a twist, so be ready for an experience of a lifetime. The quiet countryside in China is rich in culture and historical landmarks. There are forests and mountains to see, ancient ruins to explore. You can even bicycle ride through Aishan Village. China definitely has the best of both worlds and you can see it all!	Egypt Cairo is the capital city of Egypt and also the largest city in Africa. It is both a busy city with all the wonder of ancient Egypt and also modern and up to date with the rest of the world. The Nile River flows close by and there is also Lake Nasser, which is the largest man-made lake in the world. The lake was created in the 1960s when the world famous High Dam was built. Together with the old Aswan Dam it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt. You can even travel thousands of years back, amongst the ancient pyramids and the Great Sphinx at Giza. If there´s one place you go to in Egypt, it should be Giza…you will never forget it.
Galapagos Beaches are everywhere and the water is all around, so finding a place to explore will not be a problem. You can take a swim out to the reefs or just relax and hang out in the many tidal pools that are scattered throughout the islands. There are so many parts of each island you will discover with your guides. And, do not forget about the Charles Darwin Research Station. Learn how and why the Galapagos Islands played a role in forming the theory of evolution - You may have learned about it in school!	Italy Exploring the different towns, cities and villages throughout this beautiful country is a definite workout but will leave you pumped with energy. Instead of driving or walking through the streets of Venice, take a gondola and float your way around. While in Rome, discover the exciting history that took place in the ancient city. The Colosseum and Roman Forum are full of stories just waiting to be told. And a stop in Florence will amaze you because this incredible city is home to some of the most beautiful artwork in the world. Don´t forget the Amalfi Coast – a scenic oceanside area in Southern Italy. With so much to see – what will be your favorite?

Contact an agent today to learn more about these extraordinary trips!
Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. (239) 513-0333 or (800) 865-8111 Info@BettyMacleanTravel.com
This link has brought you to the Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. website! Scroll to the top to learn more about our travel specialists, our agency, Virtuoso, and more!

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Show the kids you're not the only thing full of hot air!  Majestically float over Tuscany, Salzburg, Istanbul, Bern, Prague, the Loire Valley or the Swiss Alps in high style.  These are 5-10 day excursions where half of each day is spent either in the air (averaging an hour to two hours) or performing the exciting (really!) process of inflating and deflating the balloons.  The rest of your time is spent exploring chateaux', castles, palaces - whatever the local region has to offer.  These are for older kids/teenagers - although Buddy Bombard has accommodated children as young as 6, they highly recommend their trip for kids 12 and up.

The following is a sample itinerary, a 7 day trip through Tuscany:
Day 1- We will meet you at the Westin Excelsior Hotel in Florence at 3:00 p.m. for luxury coach transfer to Siena. On arrival we will check in for our six night stay at 5-star Grand Hotel Continental, a lovingly restored 17th century palace just steps from the Piazza Del Campo. Our 6:00 p.m. welcome party features an informative video explaining the highly entertaining and complex Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval pageant and horse race which is an unforgettable part of our trip. Festive dinner of fine Tuscan cuisine.

Day 2 - After breakfast our early morning balloon adventure will take us across ancient rooftops, waving to the Sienese who lean from their windows to greet us with a cheerful “Buon Giorno!” From our balloons this well-preserved medieval town is visually sensational and these city crossings are spectacular! Mid-morning our guide of 16 years will bring the story of Siena into focus as she guides us through this remarkable town of 14th century private palaces and the great cathedral, one of Europe’s most beautiful. Today we are the private luncheon guests of our good friend, Marissa Cardini, in her elegant, art-filled penthouse overlooking the town’s medieval rooftops. Her daughter, Fiama, thoroughly enjoys flying with us and is a treasured source of insights into the enjoyable complexities of Palio. Free time in the town for exploring or shopping, meeting this evening for a lively dinner party.

Day 3 - Early morning balloon adventure across another part of Siena with our champagne landing shared by curious and delighted locals. Today’s enjoyable private luncheon is hosted by our very good friend, the Countess Sandra Bianchi Bandinelli, in her lovely, 16th century Villa di Geggiano. On a hill surrounded by vineyards and lush gardens, the home has a rich past, which Andrea, the personable son of the Countess who is also a frequent guest in our balloons, will share with us. He delights in showing us the family estate and it is he who makes the excellent wine we will enjoy at their elegant table. Mid-afternoon we’ll return to our hotel with free time for personal pursuits. Meet this evening for delectable Tuscan cuisine.

Day 4 - Our early morning balloon adventure will take off from just outside the 13th century ramparts of the amazingly well preserved, fortified, medieval town of San Gimignano. We’ll have a spectacular aerial view of this walled architectural jewel and its surrounding vineyard-covered hills, which still appears almost exactly as it did 700 years ago. We will land and enjoy a truly memorable walking tour with our local guide along the narrow streets lined with medieval houses. Today we are the private luncheon guests of our very good friends, the extremely charming Princess Irina Guicciardini-Strozzi and her husband, Prince Girolamo at their ancestral summer home, Villa Cusona. It was chosen to be the villa used in the filming of The Winds of War. The estate dates from 994 and is well known for its magnificent Vernaccia wine. The Strozzi family played an important role in the story of the Italian Renaissance. One of the most imposing palaces of that period is their Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, now the city’s convention center. The family flies frequently in our balloons, and Princess Irina joins us every January in Gstaad, Switzerland, to fly on our Winter Festival programs. After an exceptional afternoon with this most congenial family, including an enjoyable tour of their impressive estate, we will return to Siena for personal time before our elegant dinner party.

Day 5 - Early morning balloon adventure through the golden Tuscan landscapes. Today’s private luncheon is hosted by our good friends, the Baron and Baroness Bettino and Constanza Ricasoli at their massive, ancestral home, Castlello di Brolio. Built on a prominent hilltop in Chianti, the large and impressive fortress-castle has belonged to their family since the 11th century. Our host today is the 21st Baron Ricasoli. Arriving at the end of the 10th century as warrior knights, the Ricasoli’s conquered a vast section of southern Chianti and erected 11 powerful castles to protect their new land. When peace came to the region some 300 years ago, they turned to raising grapes. Today, Brolio is one of Italy’s most prestigious wine estates and produces some of its best wines. The creation of Chianti Classico and Classico Reserva, which lifted Chianti to a level of greatness, was the work of the Baron’s great grandfather at Brolio. Luncheon will be served in the ancient Knight’s Hall with its two story high ceiling. This was the armory in which the knights kept their battle armor, some of which remains there today. It was also the “War Room” when Florence, using this castle, successfully laid siege to and conquered Siena in 1555. The Ricasoli family has greatly enjoyed their frequent flights in our balloons, and has been extremely helpful in creating some of the elegance our guests enjoy while with us in Siena. Your visit with them will be a memorable one.
Tonight we’ll be the dinner guests of about 1,200 of our “Newest Best Friends”, a participating “contrada” or neighborhood, running in tomorrow’s Palio race. The extremely colorful affair, an almost tribal ritual, will be held outdoors in each participating contrada’s piazza with much spontaneous singing by the younger members, sometimes standing on the tables. The night will be alive with all of these “pep rallies”, attended by most members of each neighborhood to show support for their jockey.

Day 6 - Morning visit to Monte dei Paschi Bank, a medieval treasure located in the Palazzo Salembini. Relax for lunch at Il Pozzo, a fine restaurant in the former medieval military fortress, Monterriggioni. On returning to Siena we’ll be entertained by impressive flag twirling and drum corp demonstrations performed by all 17contrada, then be escorted to our privileged, well-placed, reserved seats for the parade and Palio race. Once seated, a truly magnificent medieval procession begins with a brilliant cavalry charge by 24 members of the mounted police of Rome, in full dress uniform with swords drawn. They are followed by 22 members from each of the17 contrada, some mounted, in full spectacular, authentic medieval dress.
The 10 horses running for the Palio enter the track, having just been blessed in church, and the excitement in the crowd of 35,000 spectators builds to a fevered pitch. After much jostling, maneuvering, threatening and last minute negotiations at the starting line, the race starts. The horses are ridden bareback 3 times around the square, with the nearly hysterical Sienese intensely tracking every move. The first horse to cross the finish line, with or without a rider, is pronounced the winner amidst wild expressions of joy and many tears. Extra-hyper Sienese pour onto the track from every direction; everyone extremely emotional, winners and losers crying. After we catch our breath, we make our way to a superb dinner awaiting us at Mugalone’s.

Day 7 - Farewell to Siena, with a return transfer to the Westin Excelsior Hotel in Florence.