Sri Lanka by bike from £1190; 11 days exluding flights | World Expeditions

 

Wow, what a way to see Sri Lanka. Travel by bike through tea plantations, national parks and wonderful beaches. Cycle inland through a multitude of Buddhist and Hindu monuments and colonial heritage that characterises the country’s rich cultural history. Continue deep into the rain forest of central Sri Lanka before continuing to the hill town of Kandy with it splendid botanical gardens. On to the rock fortress of Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa – the medieval capital of Sri Lanka – where bikes are swopped for jeeps and take a wildlife safari in Minneriya National Park. The journey ends in Pinnawela with a visit to the elephant orphanage.

This Sri Lanka by bike tour is suitable for families with children aged 10 and over. Next trip departs 14 Janary 2013. Price includes breakfasts and dinners, airport transfers, comfortable hotels, transport by private vehicle, 21 gear bike, support vehicle, bottled water on cycling days and sightseeing and entry fees plus expert local guide.

Travel Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Cycle.

bucket list

Where would you like to go in 2014? Where would you go if you had unlimited time, money and resources? We all dream of visiting certain places (even when we’ve never been there) as we know innately this is where we’d find relaxation, adventure, happiness…which got me thinking about where would we enjoy as a family?

Younger children don’t know about the wonders of the world; they don’t know what new experiences are out there, they can only relate to what they have already experienced – ask them where they would like to go and they will recall their last holiday and that will be their answer. I wanted my children to create a bucket list of places but it was just too difficult – activities they can talk about but not places – so what places would our children say if they knew them?

Here’s my family travel  bucket list by type (and at http://pinterest.com/kidstraveldeals/family-travel-bucketlist/):

ANCIENT WORLD

1. Museum of Ancient Antiquities, Egypt;

2. Pushkar Camel Fair, India;

3. Angkor Wat, Cambodia;

4. Bedouin camp night Sinai desert;

5. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt;

6. Mayan ruins at Tikal, Guatamala.

NATURAL WONDERS

7. Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa;

8. Sky Walk suspension bridges and zip wires Monte Verde Rainforest, Costa Rica;

9. Victoria Falls, Zambia;

10. Table Mountain, Cape Town;

11. Cave hotel Cappadocia, Turkey;

12. Camping under the stars Wadi Rum, Jordan;

13. Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica;

14. Kayaking the gorges of the Ardeche, France.

PARKS & WILDERNESS

15. Outer Hebrides (Western Isles), Scotland;

16. Yosemite National Park, California;

17. Everglades National Park, Florida;

18. Glacier National Park, Montana;

19. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming;

20 Wildlife camping in the Masai Mara, Kenya.

BEACHES & ISLANDS

21. Barafundle Beach, Wales;

22. Any island in the Maldives;

23. Cheswick Sands, Northumberland;

24. Benaulim Beach, Goa;

25. Tsamadou Beach Samos, Greece.

CASTLES, PALACES AND MEDIEVAL VILLAGES

26. Dunnottar Castle, Scotland;

27. Alnwick Castle, England;

28. Alhambra, Spain;

29. Medieval hilltop village of Marvao, Portugal;

30. Carcassonne Castle, France.

WILDLIFE

31. Whale watching Tarifa, Spain;

32. Dolphin spotting Lovina Beach, Bali;

33. Viewing penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Town;

34. Horse riding in Nyika National Park, Malawi;

35. Meeting dolphins at Monkey Mia, Western Australia.

THEME PARKS

36. Legoland Billund Resort, Denmark;

37. Disneyland Paris;

38. Harry Potter Studio Tour, London

39. Universal Orlando;

40.Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen (especially at Christmas);

Save £100 on top 10 family adventure holidays Easter 2013; book between 28 December and 3 January | Explore

SALE: Top 10 Family Easter Offers - Save £100

Explore are offering £100 off 10 of their family adventure holidays departing Easter 2013; book between 28 December 2012 and 3 January 2013 to take advantage of this offer. Holidays start from £596 flight inclusive and you can choose between Italy, Morocco, Saigon to Bangkok, Thailand, South Africa, Egypt, Costa Rica and Namibia.

SALE: Top 10 Family Easter Offers – Save £100.

Save 10% on last minute bookings at family friendly cottages Norfok with indoor swimming pool, tennis courts & games room | Cranmer Country Cottages

 

Cranmer Country Cottages, a collection of 8 luxury self catering family friendly cottages are a perfect base for spending a family winter break. Enjoy a swim in the indoor heated swimming pool before heading outside to a large, safe fenced play area that includes outdoor activity equipment and a timber playhouse.

The surrounding area is perfect for family cycling, birdwatching and nature spotting. The beach is a 15 minute drive away. A baby sitting service is on offer, together with bespoke catering and home cooked freezer meals and picnic hampers delivered to your door.

All holidays booked within two weeks of arrival receive a 10% discount. Take advantage of this great offer and grab a last minute family escape.

A four night break at Owl Cottage has been reduced from £412.50 to £371.25 arrival 7 January for a 4 night mid week break.

Luxury Holiday Cottages with Indoor Swimming Pool, tennis courts and games room.

Winter family holiday Andorra from £889 (8 days) including flights: enjoy snow-based activities & learn to build an igloo! | Responsible Travel

The Principality of Andorra is a perfect place for a winter family activity holiday. Spend a week in dramatic scenery and sunny skies  enjoying a wide range of included snow-based activities: travel by snowmobile, dog-sled, snowshoe, downhill and cross-country ski are all on offer. For more fun learn how to make an igloo, learn avalanche rescue techniques and loads of opportunity to build snowmen or snowball fights. This trip is perfect for families.

Departs 26 December 2012 and in 2013 17 February, 24 March and 26 Dec. From £889 (8 days) including flights or from £639 – £739 excluding flights. From £845 per child including flights from the UK. From £607 – £702 per child excluding flights. Family friendly accommodation.

Andorra family holiday. Travel like a local.

Family holiday with a difference: National Trust family working holiday: conservation plus fun activities

Fancy a holiday with a difference? The National Trust has designed a family short break holiday that combines conservation tasks with other fun activities for adults and kids such as bushcraft skills, den building and geocaching. Perfect for families with children aged 6-16 and a great way to make new friends and to spend quality time with the family. Accommodation is in a Trust bunkhouse with the exception of Craflwyn which is camping.

Family working holidays are available at the following National Trust Centres:

Stackpole Estate: 2 – 5 April – conservation tasks plus canoeing and kayaking; 28 – 31 May – conservation work on beaches, woods and paths, campfire, mountain biking & kayaking

Brancaster, Norfolk Coast: 6 – 11 April – explore the coast, relax on a longboat, muddy harbour ramble and help keep sands litter free; 27 July to 1 August – conservation work plus sailing, sweep netting along the dunes, photograpy

Craflwn: 28 May to 31 May – conservation tasks plus bushcraft skills and river scrambling

Yorkshire Dales: 23 to 26 August – drystone walling, tree and path maintenance, geocaching

Find a Working Holiday – National Trust.

family travel tips

Here are some of the best family travel tip blog posts:

http://mumsdotravel.com/ – practical ‘dos’ before and when travelling

http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/family-travel-tips/ – great advice by theme from why travel to babyproofing your hotel room

http://www.smithandkids.com/2012/06/travel-kids-smiths-family-friendly-packing-tips/ – hilarious, from a Dad’s perspective and some great ideas!

http://wandermom.com/tips/ – comprehensive advice on all aspects of travel

 

 

Save £185 + per person on Xmas family ski holiday departing 22 December | Tots Too Ski

There are a few remaining spaces on Tots Too Ski Christmas family ski holiday departing 22 December 2012 and are offering more than £185 off per person on the last few remaining places. Tots Too Ski offers luxury family ski holidays and understand what makes the difference as their small team are all parents with young children of their own.

Tots Too Ski chalets are tailored to the needs of families and are in excellent locations in the French and Austrian Alps. Parents can enjoy the slopes whilst the children make the most of the mountains whether that’s on the pistes or being entertained by professional chalet based nannies and carers. Chalet packages include five days of high quality childcare, ski school drop off/pick up service, great food and airport transfers/channel crossings and offer great value for money.

Tots Too Ski – Save in high quality family ski chalets.

Save up to 30% on 2013 breaks with Park Resorts – book by 31 January; breaks from £63 | Park Resorts

Park Resorts boasts 39 UK coastal holiday resorts and have a tempting 2013 break early booking offer – up to 30% off and a deposit of only £30. Offer ends 31 January 2013. Park Resorts have a wide range of accommodation available from fully equipped caravan holiday homes to chalets, apartments, bungalows, hotel rooms and lodges too.

A 4 night break in March is available from just £63.00 – this is for caravan accommodation sleeping 6 staying at Crimdon Dene set on Durham’s Heritage coast. Lots of breaks on offer.

Holidays and Short Breaks in the UK – Search and Book with Park Resorts.