Private family vacations
Whether it’s just your household, or the whole extended clan, you’re celebrating a milestone, or just want quality time together. Dream up the perfect getaway and we’ll make it seamless and spectacular for the whole brood.
What generation gap? Our itineraries are carefully curated to satisfy the curiosity, energy levels, and attention spans of all age groups. You never have to sacrifice your pleasure to keep the younger generation happy, and vice versa. Think: all of the fun, none of the hassle, and memories you’ll talk about for years.
The best local tour guides for families
Everyone’s new best friends. Descendants of Vikings and presidents, artists, changemakers, and year-round residents in the destination you’re visiting—our smart, intuitive, and inspiring local guides understand the interests of kids, teens, and adults. On plenty of occasions, kids and teens go their carefully chaperoned way, and you’ll have generous time for adult-focused activities like wine tastings, longer walks, and gourmet dinners.
Give children the gift of travel
Raise global citizens with diverse experiences worldwide. Meet children at a school in Peru, make music with Moroccan Berber tribes, lunch with the indigenous Embera tribe in Panama, and stargaze with Wyoming cowboys. Learn from eloquent, engaging guides as you hike receding glaciers in Iceland, watch the Northern Lights in Alaska or stand among archaeological wonders from Easter Island to the Great Wall of China.
Kids get a price break: When sharing a room with two full-paying guests, kids and teens ages 11-16 receive a $500 discount*; ages 7-10 receive a $750 discount*; ages 3-6 receive a $1250 discount*, and ages 2 and younger receive a $1750 discount*. When sharing a room with one full-paying guest, kids receive a $250 discount.*
*Kid discounts are not applicable on tour extensions, river cruising, or private tours.
Whether it’s just your household, or the whole extended clan, you’re celebrating a milestone, or just want quality time together. Dream up the perfect getaway and we’ll make it seamless and spectacular for the whole brood.
Suddenly, ancient ruins are for climbing. Bocce ball becomes a blast. Together, you’ll do cool stuff like dune surfing, mountain biking on medieval walls, and getting your hands dirty in crafts sessions with local artisans.
AFAR crowned our Galapagos trip the ‘world’s best wildlife tour’, and it doesn’t stop there—track wild wolves in Yellowstone. See teeny turtles in Tortuguero, great whales in Puget Sound, and sleeping lions on a South Africa safari.
Reserve nowSettle into luxury family hotels, starlit encampments, rainforest lodges and ancient villas, each one chosen for its family-friendliness. Enjoy amazing facilities like on-site elephant and turtle sanctuaries, interactive kitchens, and fires for s’mores and stargazing.
The best family hotelsPicky eaters won’t have to worry about snails or goat brains, but they don’t get the kiddie menu either. We find sustainable local specialties they love as well as chances to try new tastes and meet the makers.
Amazing foodYou’re still on home turf, but it feels worlds away. Whether it's a family road trip to a National Park, or quick domestic to meet Santa and see the Northern Lights in an Alaska wonderland.
U.S. toursSoak up European history, walk the Inca trail and explore Machu Picchu, immerse yourselves in a Galapagos island getaway.
What are the best family vacation destinations in the world?
The Galapagos – snorkel with turtles, watch sea lions up close, meet giant land tortoises
USA – endless opportunity, from desert to glaciers and islands to mountains.
Costa Rica – hatchling turtles, volcanoes, jungle zip lines
Iceland – exciting Viking history, myths and legends of trolls and giants, volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers…
Morocco – ride camels, go glamping in the desert, explore ancient Medinas
What are the best family vacations by age?
Kids and tweens aged 10-15: Galapagos, Alaska, Costa Rica, Belize + Guatemala, Amalfi, South Africa
Teens and young adults aged 15+ years: Peru + Machu Picchu, Bryce, Grand Canyon + Zion, Vietnam, Laos + Cambodia, Iceland, Morocco
Where can I find family vacation ideas?
Read through different family itineraries for destinations all over the world—they’re full of inspiring ideas planned to please every generation. Family travel blogs are filled with all kinds of advice and ideas from planning to packing and different destinations. You’ll also find plenty of stories from parents who’ve taken our trips.
What is the best family vacation in the USA?
Alaska by land. You can watch whales, go husky sledding through the snow, meet Santa Claus in the North Pole.
How do I plan a family vacation?
1) Browse all of our family programs or expand out to our multisport trips to see which will check off your bucket list
2) Download the daily itinerary for any trips that interest you, directly from the tour page on our website or right here
3) Questions? Email us with your wish list and questions, or phone our expert Travel Experience Specialists at 800-200-3887 to chat in person.
4) If you like the trip as is in our itinerary, the pricing and dates are right there for you to select.
5) Reserve your trip of a lifetime with a deposit.
What does a family tour include?
- Family tours with Classic Journeys include:
- Local English-speaking tour guide
- Transfers
- Luxury hotels with invisible check-in
- Meals (with wine for grown-ups)
- Private access events
- Activities
How can I give experiences instead of gifts?
Scientific evidence tells us that people appreciate experiences more than material gifts. So book a family tour that everybody can enjoy together. This is a popular choice with our guests who want to gift a loved one something unforgettable for a birthday, wedding, anniversary or graduation. They tell us time and time again that the enriching experiences and lasting memories form a far better gift than any material goods.
What activities can you enjoy as a family?
- Husky sledding through snowy wilderness in Alaska
- Bike rides through Peru’s countryside
- Horse riding through Bryce Canyon
- Kayaking with orcas in the San Juan Islands
- Zip-lining in the Costa Rica rainforest
- Snorkeling coral reefs in Belize
- Camel rides in Morocco
- Cooking together in Italy
- Watching the Northern Lights in Iceland
- Hot air balloon sunrise in Joshua Tree
These are just a few of the bucket list experiences you can enjoy on a family vacation with Classic Journeys.
Can I book a private family vacation?
Yes! When you book one of our private tours, every aspect of the trip is tailored to your family, and you’ll travel exclusively with your brood. That might mean taking over a historic villa for a big family reunion, a once in a lifetime trip for just you and your child, or anything else—your wish is our command. A private tour is a lot easier to arrange than you think. Get started with the planning of a private family vacation here. Our Travel Experience team is expert at making it all seamless and turnkey for you.
I am a single parent, will a family tour work for me?
Yes, absolutely. Our sociable family tours are perfect for single parents traveling with kids, teens, and even young adults. Your children can enjoy exploring with other people around their age on the tour, and you’ll have the company of other parents. It’s the perfect balance of quality time together with your family and getting to know new-found friends–all in an incredible location.
Can I bring the grandparents on a guided tour?
Yes! Our tours are designed with all generations in mind. So whether you are 8, 18, 48, or 80, you can be sure to find activities that will engage you, people, that will inspire you, and places to explore that will make your bucket list come alive. And our amazing local guides are experts at engaging all generations, interests, and abilities. In fact, that’s one of the reasons that multigenerational families choose to plan their perfect family vacations and family reunions with Classic Journeys.