The art of serious fun: our luxury family adventures

Rediscovering play through luxury adventure 

Arabia and the Indian Ocean are the unexpected family playground

Perhaps not the first destinations to spring to mind when we mention adrenaline-fuelled luxury family adventures, the pairing of Arabia and the Indian Ocean is somewhat of an underdog when it comes to serious fun.  

Uniting rich heritage with a keen eye for the futuristic, the Arabian Peninsula is home to many firsts, though right now we’re most interested in Dubai, where you wouldn’t be blamed for shrieking gleefully through Aqauaventure Waterpark (the world’s largest) or Jais Flight, the world’s longest zipline. Beyond the bright lights of the city, a trip into the Al Marmoon Desert is the spot for camel treks and falconry displays by day, and stargazing in the dark of night. Hop across to Oman, however, and the adrenaline spikes while speeding over the sands in a dune bashing experience.  

Across the vast blue of the Indian Ocean, most may think the picturesque islands of the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles are purely oases of relaxation, but how wrong they would be. Beaches beckon water sports enthusiasts to the shoreline to scuba dive, windsurf, or make a splash in a speedboat on Vommuli Island, and when you’ve had your fill of snorkelling to spot vibrant marine life in the Seychelles (if that’s even possible), a surfing simulator at Cheval Blanc keeps the waves coming.  

Family Yachting has endless horizons

Holding onto that all-important sense of discovery, the ultimate adult adventure experience might just be the luxury of a private yacht. Glamorous and exclusively yours, choosing where to hop aboard is a harder task. But no matter the destination, it’s the thrills and spills of water sports that reign supreme. 

Think careering through crystal clear waters powered by a SEABOB, making waves where there were none on a jet ski, and swapping water skis and wakeboards for playful inflatables racing over the seas. Add a spot of snorkelling on the shores of sequestered islands for an extra element of exploration, likely shared with wildlife weaving through coral reefs or watching over white sands.  

Endless destinations across the seven seas hold the world as your oyster – though the glistening waters of the Mediterranean beckon from southern Spain to Cyprus more than most, and we’d suggest the likes of the British Virgin Islands and French Polynesia for off-land adrenaline chasing further afield. 

Visits to Japan introduce the art of ancient warriors 

History definitely doesn’t stand still in the Land of the Rising Sun. Bringing the past to life for some immersive family experiences, bypassing the classic Studio Ghibli and Disney days out leaves room for something a little more mature.

The image of a Samurai is an iconic one, best understood by following in their footsteps on a visit to the Samurai district of Nagamachi. It’s in Kyoto, however, that their style of combat can still be taught.

Concealed by the walls of a Temple, sporting the traditional Hakama dress readies guests to try their hand at sword fighting. In this dance of stage combat, learn how to attack and defend, and most importantly how to powerfully draw a sword. Also descended from Samurai practice is Kyūdō, (or Japanese archery to most). A traditional martial art now denoting spiritual and meditative discipline, it’s another active opportunity to enjoy the country’s rich culture.

Serious fun meets educational travel 

You’d be forgiven for seeing ‘serious’ and ‘educational’ and scrolling on by, but there’s nothing uninspiring to be found here. In an itinerary of adrenaline-fuelled activities, moments to catch your breath may take the shape of insightful experiences. Immersive by nature, they’re more than simply a window to another way of life: getting to know the destinations we travel to is incredibly enriching, especially for the far-flung on the bucket list.  

Take a South African safari, for example, where spotting the Big Five is high on the agenda, but wouldn’t be possible without the remarkable conservation efforts already in place. Protecting the black and white rhinoceros in particular, at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, a hands-on half-day conservation safari keeps a keen eye on the population, while over at the Tswalu Foundation, visitors gain behind the scenes knowledge of ongoing environmental research projects in the southern Kalahari Desert.  

Designed for families who want more

Beginning as Africa specialists almost half a century ago, it’s safe to say we’ve become experts in all things luxury family adventures. Our luxury travel designers take the time to truly get to know you, so you can be sure they’ll curate something memorable that teens won’t turn their noses up at, and your grown-up kids will be begging to join in on. ‘Too complex’ isn’t in our vocabulary – detailed itineraries are just what we do.  

Experience takes us a long way, but it’s our connections that set us apart from the rest – insider access to the most exclusive addresses, and contacts brimming with expertise – all ready to be shared with you. Tell us, if you could adventure anywhere, where would it be?