Adventure holidays are becoming an increasingly popular choice amongst families, even amidst the stresses that come with family holidays. One might pause in wonder at the prospect of planning additional chaos into a period intended for relaxation. However, the allure of adventure, and education by stealth, have seen the trend rise. It is said that emergency rooms worldwide have played host to families on such holidays, courtesy of accident-prone offspring. Still, these accidents can’t seem to deter families from seeking adventure.
The rise in adventure holidays among families was found through a study by The Travel Association. From the information gathered from 2000 UK adults over a year from July 2023, families with children over the age of five went on an average of 5.32 trips. The definition of a holiday here was an overnight stay of at least one night. Most of these, as observed from speaking to tour operators, weren’t just overnight stays with friends but actual excursions. This was a significant increase from the previous year’s average of just four trips per family.
The standard vacation involving sun, sand and sea seems to be losing its charm, with one in five families opting for an adventure holiday instead. Travel companies have noticed an increasing demand among those who can afford it to explore the globe through more audacious trips. As schools introduce longer October half-terms, there is a chance to visit sunnier, longer-haul destinations that provide better value. Some might take their family to Kenya for a multi-experience trip involving safaris and beach time. Others might head to Thailand for island hopping and an elephant bush camp. Or even add some surreptitious education in cities like Athens and Istanbul, and finish off with some traditional beach fun.
For some lucky families, the year might comprise a few different adventures. These families often book varied trips from short-haul but experience-rich visits to Marrakesh combined with surfing in Essaouira or exploring the Atlas mountains, to more extended explorations of under-charted locations such as the Baja peninsula in Mexico. A common theme among these families is the use of travel professionals. 38% of bookings are carried out by travel agents or tour operators, providing not just advice on the best and safest locations and times to holiday but also offering reassurance and a safety net.
Despite the current events, our assistant editor is planning to spend her half-term in Jordan. She’s planning to do this wisely, following Foreign Office advice and traveling with an operator knowledgeable with the country, local sentiment, and who prioritizes safety, canceling trips if local partners feel there’s a risk. They hope to sightsee at world-class locations and enjoy the culture, activities, and landscape that Jordan offers. The traveling approach adopted by our associate editor involves including an adventurous aspect into family escapades even if near home, and not just your classic adventures like driving across Namibia or glamping in Greenland. For instance, camping on Dartmoor, hiking in the Alps, or boating.
The essence of a holiday isn’t necessarily in how far you travel, and closer to home adventures, of course, have a smaller emissions footprint and are cost-effective.
So, with the rising trend of choosing the adventurous holidays and the multitude of benefits they provide, it is no wonder travelers are looking for trips that offer both quantity and quality time. Perhaps there is an unspoken thrill that keeps families coming back, yearning for more adventure even amidst holing up in an emergency room.
Are you and your family adventurous travelers? We would love to hear about your sensational adventures. Remember, keep it safe, keep it fun, and enjoy those precious memories. After all, they stay with us much longer than the holiday suntans.
