The Final Family Holiday Before They Fly The Nest

Moments they’ll remember most

Looking back on early adulthood for many is a trip down a pink-hued memory lane, filled with fond nostalgia from perhaps one too many adventures. Particularly for parents seeking that final family trip before university, there’s the opportunity to be the starting point of this reminiscence in the minds of their own children, by choosing an unforgettable holiday as the credits role on their coming of age.

Take the islands of Indonesia for example, beloved for their stress-free spirituality. Escaping to this sun-soaked archipelago in Southeast Asia may be the ideal antidote to the pressures of exam results and endless lists of homeware essentials. Leaving reality behind in favour of time spent together, let yourselves shriek with the adrenaline of a white-water rafting experience that weaves through the rainforest on the Ayung River; embrace the theatricality of a meal shared in regal splendour at a traditional “Royal Tugudom” feast; and create your own matching Balinese jewellery at designer John Hardy’s workshop. Armed with a souvenir for you each to carry on your next chapter, returning home will bring a fond feeling of shared discovery.

And whether by age, interests or anything in between, we know every family is different. Unphased by any request thanks to our years of expertise creating tailor-made adventure holidays, you’d even be encouraged to extend the invite further. Travel to us is limitless, so including an extra generation or two is easily done. From the youngest passport holders to the most mature; part-time holidaymakers, aunties, uncles and family friends, we’ll make it the most meaningful family holiday for all.

Bucket list destinations for families

For a little bit of inspiration, we’ve explored the wide world of bucket list holidays for families, simply so you don’t have to. Our top picks take you to new horizons, short-haul sunshine spots and bucket-list classics straight from the silver screen.

Kenya is more than just the kingdom of safaris

Keeping with the theme of exploring new horizons, a natural next step for a luxury farewell trip has to be to the sprawling plains of Kenya. There’s nothing quite like seeing the sauntering steps of a giraffe for the first time, getting up close to lions lazing in the sun, or observing the stages of family life mirrored in a tight-knit herd of elephants. And though wildlife takes centre stage here, visits to conservation centres and animal tracking excursions will be interspersed with enriching education and relaxation. You’ll spend a day with members of the Maasai Mara, for instance, understanding their history and culture before foraging for food. A picnic on Pride rock is a must too, as is a thrilling helicopter ride over the Sugata Valley.

Nature rules in northern Ibiza 

Not quite the party holiday teens may take themselves on, this final family trip before university favours slowing the pace at Six Senses Ibiza. Long before the likes of Ocean Beach and Ushuaia solidified its party island reputation, Ibiza was – and still is – a destination for nature. Along the rugged northern coastline, a historic farming culture continues. Planting crops is as down-to-earth as activities can get here, often followed by alfresco dining on farm-to-fork cuisine in a postcard-perfect orange orchard. Spending days in the great outdoors calls for a digital detox, and quality time spent in beachfront bliss and underwater adventure. The highs and lows of water sports see family competition in cliff jumping, kayaking and diving below the surface, topped off with a private cinema under the stars to wind down while the sun sets.

A US road trip to remember 

It may be on many a bucket list, but the open road beckons from the United States for good reason. National parks are the place to be, with specialist guides on hand to capture memorable moments of your family adventure on film, ready to become your personal travel documentary. For years to come, you’ll rewatch the moment you first laid eyes on the Grand Canyon, went off-roading over pink sand dunes, or took a private speedboat to Lake Powell’s Rainbow Bridge. Sunrises and sunsets take on a new level of magnificence over Sedona, and it’s hard to believe the landscapes of Navajo Nation Tribal Park exist in their mars-like enormity – luckily, you’ll have seen them all together in case you don’t quite believe your own eyes.