This summer explore active & meaningful family holidays with Rickshaw Travel

This summer take your children on holiday to one of Rickshaw Travel’s family inspired destinations and don’t be surprised if they reluctantly board the return flight. Rickshaw’s dedicated team of travel specialists help families to create individual itineraries using a combination of 2-3 day bite-sized trips. These include accommodation, excursions and local transport that link the trips together in the most authentic way. Rickshaw Travel’s Family Itineraries are aimed at families with children aged eight and upwards. The following are choices of fun and meaningful family trips for you to explore.

A Thai adventure with a beautifully balanced mix of active and relaxing features

A bike trip though the back streets of Bangkok taking in China Town and the lush suburbs will give the whole family a chance to experience the real Bangkok on two wheels, without adding to your carbon footprint. Onwards north by sleeper train to Chiang Mai, where your children will love seeing elephants in their natural habitat at the Elephant Nature Park.

Your children will love Thailand’s famous Khao Sok National Park, harbouring the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world. Experience monkeys swinging from branches as you glide across the Cheow Larn Lake in canoes and marvel at floating bamboo cottages.

Take a ferry ride across the gulf of Thailand to the tropical island of Ko Phangan, where you can relax on the stunning beaches or join your children snorkelling and doing water sports. Island hop onto Ko Samui and take a unique trip on a traditional junk boat, cruising around the northern islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Ma.

The new Thailand family orientated itinerary is 16 days and 15 nights taking in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khao Sok National Park, Ko Phangan and Ko Samui.

Explore the riches of Costa Rica – rainforest, rivers and much more – the land of “Pura Vida” makes for a riveting family destination

Having come onwards from San Jose, families will enjoy the bustling noises and colours of Tortuguero (also know as Central America’s Amazon). Travelling by boat along the waterways will keep your children sufficiently occupied, with countless types of wild animals to spot from numerous species of monkeys to turtles, to tiny red frogs and even a West Indian Manatee.

Travel southwards to Puerto Viejo where the whole family can relax on the long sandy beaches and take part in a Caribbean cooking class at a local home, to learn lots of tasty recipes! If your children (and you) enjoy a thrill, then the zip wire at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve will be a real highlight on the trip, zip lining through the trees, spotting colourful birds as you go!

The new Costa Rica family orientated itinerary is 13 days and 12 nights taking in San Jose, Tortuguero Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna and Monteverde.

Immerse your family in Vietnam’s culture – be taught Vietnam’s mother tongue

Family visitors to Vietnam will experience everything from the bustling capital of Hanoi, soaking in its culture, by learning Vietnamese with a local guide, to kayaking between limestone peaks, to tiny beaches in Bai Tu Long Bay, and then relax whilst being rocked to sleep on a traditional Chinese junk boat . You’ll continue your real Vietnam adventure by farming in Hue along the banks of the Perfume River, and the family will get the opportunity to support a local not-for-profit organisation in Hoi An, The Lifestart Foundation (by taking part in a painting class and learning how to make a traditional miniature lanterns) which helps disadvantaged Vietnamese people become self-sufficient through vocational training. Then it’s onwards to chill out on the serene beaches of Palm Island, whilst the children snorkel, bringing a relaxing end to the active new Vietnam family orientated itinerary which is 14 days and 13 nights taking in Hanoi, Bai Tu Long Bay, Hue and Palm island.

Sri Lanka offers families a cocktail of cultural and ecological experiences this summer

Families can travel comfortably around Sri Lanka by private car with an English speaking driver. In the Central Province guests can climb Sigiriya’s mighty rock fortress before spotting wild elephants on a jeep safari. Then its onwards to the East coast where the clan can relax in Trincomalee on palm fringed sand, and snorkel around the paradise shores of Pigeon Island, marvelling at the colourful underwater world whilst swimming among the coral reefs.

In contrast to the coast Rickshaw Travel’s itinerary takes the family back in land to Kandy, where in a homestay families will learn how to cook a traditional curry, this is brought to life by going to the market to select the ingredients for the dish, not only teaching you about different flavours but allowing you to choose them yourself! The next experience edges you further into the heart of local life, when you stay at an eco lodge in Digana and take walks to local villages, passing by rice paddies.
The new Sri Lanka family trip is 14 days and 13 nights taking in Colombo, Negombo, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Kandy, Digana and Ella.

Colourful Cuba, cars, cigars and a wonderfully warm welcome

Cuba is a great family destination, it’s full of charm and character, throughout your time in Cuba you will stay in casas particulares, family home stays where you and your family will experience living like Cubans. Havana’s streets are host to a rolling classic car museum. You and your family will take a ride in a classic car, automotive fans will marvel at the old Chevrolets, Buicks, Fords and Chryslers. Heading onto Las Terrazas, nature’s playground you and your offspring will have a complete eco village immersion, swimming in lakes, walking under waterfalls, flying through the air on zip lines and staying in a unique resort built around a giant tree.

In El Nicho National Park, the whole family can explore the great outdoors, waterfalls and take a dip in the natural pools before taking a transfer to Trinidad, where a bici-taxi tour through the teaming streets will open your family’s eyes to the locals’ way of life. Rickshaw’s specialist travel team can organise a local workshop in Trinidad for you and your family, should you wish.
The new Cuba family itinerary is 14 days and 13 nights taking in Havana, Las Terrazas, Cienfuegos, El Nicho waterfalls, Trinidad and Varadero. The itinerary is suitable for 12 years old +

Rickshaw Travel has many other destinations that are ideal for families, please look no further then their Family Inspiration Page for top tips of where to plan your family’s holiday. Families can choose from the ready made itineraries carefully crafted by Rickshaw Travel or create their own – one of Rickshaw Travel’s specialist consultants will always be at hand to give advice and answer questions. A minimum of three bite-size trips is required to build a personalised itinerary with Rickshaw Travel. International flights are not included but can be arranged.

To see the full range of trips and itineraries please visit: www.rickshawtravel.co.uk or call Rickshaw Travel’s team of experts on: 01273 934 823.