10 of the best family tours for 2025

This year, give your clan the chance to learn new skills, explore different cultures and make memories that will last a lifetime. Our pick of fresh family adventures for 2025 might see your children track gorillas in the Congo, work to repair an Indonesian reef, visit an archaeological dig or learn to fight like a Viking. Add dragons and Dracula to the mix and you have trips for all ages, interests and seasons.

1. Ancient treasures in Egypt

Best for channelling Indiana Jones
Combine a visit to Cairo’s long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum with a scramble around sites including the Sphinx and Great Pyramids at Giza. Part of National Geographic’s Family Journey series in conjunction with G Adventures, the 10-day Discover Egypt tour is guided by a qualified Egyptologist — guests learn about discoveries still being unearthed, then drift down the Nile in a felucca to have dinner in a Nubian family home.

Suitable for: 12+

2. All aboard in Northern England

Best for train fans
Start in Shildon in County Durham, where a new hall at Locomotion houses Europe’s largest covered collection of historic railway vehicles. Next, head to York for engineering-themed experiments and games at the National Railway Museum. Finish up riding the vintage Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire; disembark at Oxenhope to watch a new theatrical staging of The Railway Children, which was partly filmed here.

Suitable for: all ages

3. Full-throttle fjords in Norway

Best for Viking adventurers
Explore some of Europe’s most striking scenery on Families Worldwide’s 13-day Norway Summer Fjords itinerary. Ride the corkscrewing Flåm Railway past flower-filled meadows and rushing waterfalls, then whizz through ancient woodland on a half-mile-long zip-line. At the Viking village of Njardarheimr, try axe-throwing and archery. Then, tour Sognefjord by kayak, looking out for dolphins and seals in the water as well as eagles above.

Suitable for: 8+

4. Beaches & beyond in Indonesia

Best for junior marine biologists
Skirt the wildlife-rich waters of Komodo National Park aboard a traditional pinisi sailing ship on Stubborn Mule’s tailor-made trip. Led by an artist-naturalist couple, the nine-day SeaTrek Family Cruise offers the chance to spot whale sharks, sea turtles and manta rays, plus guidance on how to paint them. Kids can join conservation groups working to restore coral reefs, with downtime spent snorkelling, paddleboarding or lazing on beaches.

Suitable for: 6+

5. Canal-side cycling through France

Best for quiet family time
Avoiding busy roads, this 150-mile trail from Toulouse to the Mediterranean port of Sète follows the Canal du Midi. Exodus’s seven-day, self-guided Canal du Midi Cycling tour cuts through vineyards, villages and sunflower fields. Along the way, stop off at the medieval citadel at Carcassonne. The trip can be done flight-free, via Eurostar to Paris and then by TGV to Toulouse.

Suitable for: 12+

6. Wild adventures in Costa Rica

Best for active teens
This small country in Central America has a big reputation for adventure ecotourism. Adrenaline-pumping activities include whitewater rafting through rainforest, a treetop view of Arenal Volcano and abseiling down cascading waterfalls — all watched by curious monkeys, sloths, toucans and macaws. Natural World Safari’s 13-day Costa Rica Safari covers some of the country’s best wildlife locations, from Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast to the misted cloud forest of Monteverde.

Suitable for: 12+

7. Winter fun in Transylvania

Best for myths and legends
Though Lapland is often the first place people think of for snowy adventures, Untravelled Path’s Winter Transylvania Experience offers a week of similar activities – including husky sledding and an ice hotel — for a fraction of the price. This region at the heart of Romania is also home to Bran Castle, which helped inspire Bram Stoker’s vision of Dracula’s hilltop lair. Explore the cobbled streets of fairytale towns Sibiu and Sighisoara, and a sanctuary for rescued brown bears, before heading to the snowy wilds of the Faragas Mountains.

Suitable for: all ages

8. Gorilla trekking in the Congo

Best for unforgettable wildlife
Few experiences can compare with seeing gorillas in their natural environment. Kamba African Rainforest Experiences’ eight-day Odzala Discovery tour goes deep into the Republic of Congo’s untouched jungle, following expert trackers on the trail of the critically endangered species. Add guided night walks, river cruises and visits to local villages for an unforgettable immersive tour. Back at the tranquil lodges, let it all sink in while listening to the calls of the jungle.

Suitable for: 15+

9. Exploring hidden villages in Majorca

Best for freewheeling by bike
Short daily stages and a relatively flat route make Cycling for Softies’ Authentic Mallorca tour a perfect two-wheeled trip for families. This seven-night, self-guided route runs along quiet country lanes, passing through groves of caper, fig and almond. Start in the island’s south, rolling past flocks of flamingos in coastal lagoons, before heading for the ancient fishing villages of the north. If the going’s too tough, e-bikes boost littler legs up the rare hills, and hotels are selected with families in mind. End each day with a splash in the pool and dinner chosen from a menu designed for the fussiest of eaters.

Suitable for: 10+ 

10. Slow travel in Vietnam

Best for a varied trip 
Fifty years after the country’s namesake war ended, Bamboo Travel’s 16-day Family Adventure tour in Vietnam gives visitors the chance to explore some of its history — as well as its diverse natural environments — at a leisurely pace. Children will be enthralled by the traditional water puppet shows in Hanoi, and the cyclo tour through the winding lanes of the city’s Old Quarter. A visit to former capital Hué shows Vietnam’s grand imperial past, while a cruise through Hạ Long Bay’s emerald islands provides opportunities to snorkel, kayak and swim.

Suitable for: 8+