I'll never forget the first time I can recall being on a plane. That lifting sensation in your stomach, as the wheels separate themselves from the tarmac. Not to mention the thrill of looking out of the window and watching the ground seemingly shrink as you jet off to a whole new world.
My first adventure travel holiday was in North Africa, Morocco, specifically. A week of exploring what the beautiful country had to offer. I remember having my first taste of a traditional Moroccan dish, tagine, made with love and care by a local family, who were our hosts for lunch, which broke up a long walk. It was delicious. So nice, in fact, that my Dad bought a tagine pot and learned to make it himself. In the home of the family, our group was served Moroccan tea, accompanied by biscuits, which I gratefully accepted, so hungry after being in the heat.
Later on in our holiday, we found ourselves in Essaouira, a vibrant, buzzing and seasoned city, surrounded by walls. I don’t remember much, as it was a long time ago, but I won’t ever forget my first surfing experience, on the coast of that magical place. It was just me, my board, and the instructor, my dad off somewhere else thinking he was David Hasselhoff. It was one of those memories that will never fail to make me smile, and that buzz you feel when, after several thousand attempts, you finally manage to stand up and travel the wave for more than half a second before faceplanting into the board. This is buried deep in my memory, never to be forgotten.
In short, Morocco is a beautiful country, which never failed to impress, enchant or entertain, and my only regret is that I couldn’t stay any longer.
A few years on now, more grown up, I returned to Africa, this time visiting Egypt, spending ten days in Hurghada, an Eastern City, on the coast of the Red Sea. It was here that I experienced scuba diving for the very first time. That excitement, of going on my qualifying dive after two hard days of training, taking that first plunge off the boat, the surface of the water acting as a portal, transporting me to another world, this one rather wetter than the one I was used to. Well, I live in England, maybe just as wet!
You cannot understand the feeling of descending beneath the waves, swimming alongside the fish, as if you've become part of the shoal, until you've done it yourself. Not to mention how the first turtle you see is somehow more elegant and beautiful than any others you'll see for the rest of your life. It was in the Red Sea that I developed my love for scuba diving, a love that I never want to lose. The Red Sea is a beautiful place, and, although I was disappointed that it didn’t part for me when I stepped in it for the first time, it'll always hold a special place in my heart.
We also took our family holiday in Egypt as a chance to step back in time into ancient history, on a day visit to the Valley of the Kings, the burial site of Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs. We were allowed to enter the tombs, and marvel at the stunning artwork on the walls, and see first-hand where some of history’s most decorated Kings were laid to rest. We thought that going down into the tombs, which were dug out of the side of the valley’s rock, would be lovely and cool down there, some respite from the heat outside. How very wrong we were. You could roast your Christmas turkey down there! If anything, I reckon it was hotter down there than it was in the glare of the afternoon sun. However, that doesn’t even make a dent in the enjoyment of the day. We returned to our hotel, knowing that we'd seen one of the most famous sites in the whole country.
Stepping into 2024 now, and another adventure travel family holiday was in the calendar. A 10-day trip to Montenegro would be one of the highlights of the summer. Located in the Balkans, it boasted a breathtaking landscape, mountains and valleys as far as the eye could see. But one of the main highlights was meeting the people. I'd never been made to feel so welcome before I set foot in Montenegro.
The locals truly enjoy having people try their food and explore the wonderful country they call home. I’ll tell you now, they’re not stingy with the food portions, either. In every restaurant, we were so well-fed with delicious, home-made food, each portion probably big enough to feed a small Pacific island.
I remember the breathtaking views that we saw atop one of the mountains in Prokletije National Park, our reward for completing the ascent. You could see for kilometres, taking in views of mountains, lakes, valleys and forests, all blended together to form the Montenegrin landscape. I mustn’t fail to mention the picturesque scenery in Durmitor National Park, a seemingly endless labyrinth of valleys that we were driven through by our guide, stopping periodically for photos.
I also recall taking on Tara River Canyon’s biggest zipline, a 1,000m+ journey across the river, the wind rushing past my face, and posing for a photograph as I approached the landing bay. Montenegro was an adventure. One I'll never forget, and also a place I wish to return to later down the line.
Overall, for me, family holidays are about trying new things and sharing new experiences with the people closest to you, whether that’s re-enacting Baywatch on the coast of Essaouira, or swimming like a fish through the Red Sea, they never fail to impress, and I want to do so much more. One of my main wishes is to explore more of Africa, exploring its endless deserts and savannahs, seeing more of what Mother Nature has to offer. Something like Families Worldwide's Kenya Family Adventure & Safari or the Tanzania Tribal Adventure holiday. I want to experience all that Africa has to offer, and I want to experience it all with my family.
If you're interested in any of the family holidays Noah has described above, contact our team today. Alternatively, find out more about our holidays to Morocco, Egypt and Montenegro.
