Whether you’re envisaging sledding in the snow or seeing elephants for the first time, these four luxury travel experiences will thrill adults and children alike
Lapland Christmas Magic, 50 Degrees North
How would you enjoy spending your next Christmas in Lapland? 2023 Gold List Award winner 50 Degrees North offers an experience to visit a snow-covered village, where streetlights are turned off in the afternoon so that visitors can see the Northern Lights. Located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, the village is deep in Finnish Lapland surrounded by the peaceful old forests of the Pallas-Ylläs Nature Park. The Gold List Award-winning experience, Lapland Christmas Magic, extends over seven days and commences on Christmas Eve.
The experiences boast accommodation in a private log cabin, adorned with its fireplace and sauna. Guests are welcomed to Lapland on day one, with transfers to Äkäslompolo village to build their first snowman. On Christmas Day, the day is jampacked with snow activities and a private family visit to Santa’s cabin. Guests will set the pace for day three, relaxing before the winter activities continue: with the itinerary for days four to six boasting dogsledding through the forest, a visit to the reindeer farm and an ice fishing safari. On day seven, the experience comes to a close and guests will bid adieu to the winter wonderland.
The expedition starts from $16,651 AUD.
Desert to Ocean Family Adventure in the Emirates
Foray into the United Arab Emirates and its traditional customs and culture on a seven-day itinerary from desert to ocean. The adventure starts in Dubai, where guests will be greeted on arrival and transferred to a five-star Westin Resort before dining at the Al Ahmedia Heritage Guest House. On day two, guests will board a traditional wooden Dhow and set sail through the Musandam, passing by Haffa beach and village, highlights are not limited to dolphin sightings and the opportunity to snorkel. Guests set the pace on day three, with visits to iconic landmarks including the Burj Khalifa, or maybe the Aquatic Centre, to watch marine life or swim with sharks. Participants are whisked away to the dunes on day four, with a conservation guide through the Dubai Desert Conservation and an Emirati dinner under the stars.
Bidding Dubai farewell, guests will travel to Abu Dhabi on day five to stay at a beachfront resort, boasting a golf course, nine kilometres of private beach and guided tours to learn about the marine ecosystems. Day six will highlight Abu Dhabi’s signature landmarks including the Sheik Zayed Mosque, a drive Etihad Square, visit the Central Souq or pick up mementos from Ferrari World. As day seven arrives, the journey comes to a close with a beachside breakfast and transfer to the airport.
The expedition starts from $12,980 AUD per person.
Luxury Family Fun Thailand
An 11-day family adventure in Thailand where guests will traverse bustling city streets, jungles and beachside venues. The journey begins in Bangkok for the first two days, with accommodation at the luxury boutique hotel Sukhothai Bangkok. The itinerary boasts visits to the vibrant scene of Chinatown and a longtail boat river cruise along the River of Kings. Day three to five take place at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort, where guests will spend time and walk with elephants. Guests can also spend the night with Thailand’s elephants in their natural habitat while sleeping in a transparent jungle bubble suite.
On day six, guests are transferred to Chiang Mai to soak up the sun at an opulent riverside hotel and visit local night markets, before visiting Thailand’s most sacred temples on day seven. The last few days of the itinerary take place beachside in Phuket, where guests set the pace and can entertain however many, and whatever, activities they please, before saying flying home on Day 11.
The expedition starts from $9,365 AUD per person.
Protect endangered turtles in Greece
High-end tour operators Hands Up Holidays earned an honourable mention at the 2023 Gold List Awards, as they curate sustainable eco-luxury volunteer vacations for families. At the Protect Endangered Turtles in Greece journey, guests will bond over family time while monitoring beaches for new nesting sites, prevent access and assist hatchlings reach the sea by reducing light pollution. Alongside the joy of protecting an endangered species, guests will visit a few of Greece’s most renowned islands.
Arriving in Athens, guests will engage in a Greek mythology-themed tour and a heritage walking tour, before departing to Santorini, where participants will board a five-hour sunset cruise, for snorkelling, a visit to the hot springs and sail past the volcano. Day four will see guests take the ferry to Crete, for a walking tour of Chania town, explore the culture of the area and stay at Metohi Kindelis. The following few days are where the magic happens, with sea turtle conservation volunteering, which is a collaboration with a charity that is a partner to the UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan, and a member of the European Union for the Conservation of the Coasts (EUCC). The trip includes luxury accommodation, private transfers and expert local guides.
The expedition starts from $6,000 USD per person, $3,800 per child under 12.
