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Plan Your Family Holidays

With families ourselves, we know how precious each holiday is. There’s a lot more to consider when you’re planning family holidays: school term dates often dictate when you can travel, especially if your kids go to different schools, and different family members have different needs. With high competition and price hikes on flights and hotels to contend with too, booking ahead is always a smart move. 

As a team, we’ve put together this holiday planner to help. In it, we’ve hand-picked a selection of our favourite trips and indicated which of the school holidays would be the best time to visit, from the half-term break to the longer summer holidays.

Holidays for February Half-term

A week is ideal for a magical winter wonderland adventure in Finland. Your family can enjoy exciting snow-based activities like igloo-building, skiing, dog-sledding and learning winter survival skills - all while marvelling at the wide-open frozen landscapes. In February, you also have a chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis (northern lights). Choose from our Finland Family Snow School or Northern Lights Adventure holidays.

If you fancy something a bit warmer, India is an excellent choice for a family holiday in February. Explore the fascinating ‘Golden Triangle,’ of Delhi, the Taj Mahal, and Jaipur, also known as ‘the Pink City’. Thrilling sensory and cultural experiences await you, from bustling bazaars, ancient temples and magnificent palaces, to majestic Bengal tigers and Asian elephants on our Taj & Tigers holiday.

Family Holidays at Easter

With a two-week holiday in either March or April, the world is your oyster, so why not venture a bit further afield?

Experience the spirited energy, beautiful temples and striking emerald bays of Vietnam, or the extraordinary wildlife and thrilling jungle activities in Costa Rica. Imagine sky trekking over hanging bridges, surrounded by monkeys and brightly coloured birds.

Alternatively, you could embark on an adventure to discover ancient civilisations. Uncover Jordan’s ancient history (Lawrence of Arabia style) by riding camels in the wild desert, visiting the lost city of Petra and floating in the Dead Sea. 

Then there’s the incomparable Egypt, land of Cleopatra and Tutankhamun. Egypt’s mysterious past, with its powerful pharaohs, hieroglyphs and treasure-laden tombs, has fascinated travellers for centuries. Visit iconic monuments like the Valley of Kings, the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza, then cruise along the Nile in a traditional felucca. You can even swim with dolphins in the Red Sea.

Holidays for May Half-term

What could be more exhilarating than the land of Vikings for the May half-term break? On Iceland’s famed 'Golden Circle' tour, your family can witness erupting geysers and thundering waterfalls, bathe in geo-thermal hotsprings, and visit the Blue Lagoon, while hearing Viking stories. Whale watching boat trips also offer the chance to see minke and humpback whales. 

For an adrenaline-fuelled itinerary balanced with relaxing Mediterranean sun, consider Croatia. The glimmering Dalmatian coastline, unique islands and beautiful medieval architecture are simply breathtaking. The city of Dubrovnik, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the main filming location for King’s Landing in the TV series Game of Thrones. River-rafting, canyoning, kayaking and snorkelling in sunken shipwrecks are just a few of the exciting activities Croatia can offer on our active itinerary. Kids of all ages love Croatia, but this is a particularly good choice if you have teenagers.

Schools Summer Holidays

The long summer break grants endless possibilities for travel, but we’ve selected a few of our favourite family holidays.

If your kids are animal-lovers, a self-drive safari in Namibia is an unforgettable trip. Not only will they have the chance of seeing rhino, elephant, giraffe, lion and perhaps even cheetah or leopard, but the enormous burnt-orange sand dunes and canyons will be seared in their memories. 

Borneo’s verdant rainforests and thriving coral reefs deliver a contrasting wildlife experience - with opportunities to visit orangutan sanctuaries, see sun bears, and learn about marine conservation in a natural paradise. Borneo is also a great destination for adventure activities like white-water rafting and ziplining that can be enjoyed on our Active Borneo group tour

Two excellent European options for the summer are Crete and Slovenia

While a family holiday to Crete is perfect for ocean-based activities like stand-up paddleboarding, sea kayaking and snorkelling, picturesque Slovenia impresses with the tranquil lushness of its forested mountains and exciting alpine rock climbing challenges. Slovenia is also one of the few places you can try summer tobogganing!

Holidays in October Half-term

As summer recedes in the UK, we know it’s tempting to top up your vitamin D abroad, and we have several October half-term holiday destinations for you to choose from! You can enjoy an unbeatable mix of sun and sea on the Maltese island of Gozo (daytime temperatures will still be in the mid-20s centigrade), along with plenty of fun activities. Gozo is one of the best places in Europe to learn scuba diving, but non-divers can explore the shipwrecks, caves and bays by snorkelling or kayaking.  

For the October holidays, we also recommend two destinations at opposite ends of the African continent - Morocco (in the north) and South Africa at the southernmost tip. 

Morocco is just a short flight from the UK, but hiking in the spectacular Atlas mountains, haggling for souvenirs in the colourful souks of Marrakech, and riding camels across sand dunes are intriguing visual and cultural pick-me-ups. 

South Africa - one of the world’s finest safari and wildlife destinations - needs little introduction. October is a good month for whale watching, while the gorgeous weather, delicious food and wine, and diverse activities are further reasons to visit! Choose from our Family Adventure & Safari holiday or our Discover South Africa trip.

Holiday Destinations for Christmas & December

Continuing with an African theme, Tanzania’s incredible wildlife and warm white sand beaches are equally inviting in our winter for a dose of Christmas holiday sun. You can also meet the Masai people, one of the most famous tribes in Africa, and learn about their culture. 

Although Tanzania is great to visit from May through to December, the Christmas break is long enough to make the most of the wildlife watching opportunities on our Saadani Safari & Tanga Beach holiday.

On the other side of the globe, Thailand has been a popular Christmas holiday for years, and with good reason. The low rainfall, tropical temperatures and inviting beaches starkly contrast with the wintery weather in Europe. It’s also a relatively cheap destination with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Activities on our Thailand's Golden Circle trip vary from cycling and rafting, to chocolate making and visits to the opulent royal palaces and ornate temples. 

Vietnam and Cambodia are also excellent choices in South-East Asia. On our Discover Cambodia holiday, visiting homestays and floating villages are unique experiences, while watching a sunrise over the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat is nothing short of magic.

If you’re fascinated by ancient civilisations, a family adventure in Mexico to see the mysterious Mayan ruins could be just the holiday you’re looking for. Mexico offers a brilliant combination of culture, Caribbean beaches and adventure. Ziplining into beautiful cenotes (natural limestone swimming caves) is a particularly special way to spend Christmas abroad.

We hope this incredible selection of family holidays has inspired you to make some exciting travel plans. There are a lot more options on our holiday search and even more inspiration in our best family holidays for 2026 blog, allowing you to make the most of the precious holidays you share with your children. Don’t delay, as our most popular trips will fill up fast and you could get a better price by booking early - find out more in our Look Ahead, Book Ahead blog.

If you need any more help, please contact us or call 01962 302 062 to chat with one of our knowledgeable consultants. They can point you in the right direction and help you decide.