Family Travel: Cultural experiences kids will love

We have rounded up our top travel ideas for children - experiences which will let them engage with a foreign culture, leave their comfort zone and, most importantly, have lots of fun!

BEST EXPERIENCES FOR  6 – 8 YEAR OLDS

Get under the skin of Lijiang’s cultural relics with an “eye-spy” treasure hunt game

Led by an experienced local guide, take a stroll down quieter side lanes of Lijiang Old Town for encounters with her Naxi residents. The Naxi ethnic minority are the descendants of Tibetan nomadic tribes and are famed for their traditional music, costumes, shamanistic rituals and animist Dongba faith. After you have explored Lijiang’s antiquated lattice of paths of canals you will be set loose on an “Eye-Spy” treasure hunt game through the Old Town to seek out interesting cultural relics. 
15 days from £6,275 per person >> Click here to view more 

Coastal Cambodian eco adventure

Song Saa Private Island was set up by Australian couple whose vision was born from a desire to create a sustainable sanctuary of uncompromising luxury in their adopted home of Cambodia. Conservation is a major theme at Song Saa Private Island, and children love visiting the resort’s Life Centre to learn about the local environment and the work being done to protect the coral reefs and marine life. Conservation tours are available for adults and kids, which gives them a chance to see how coral is grown, experience the local mangrove forests or visit some of the projects the resort has started in the local village, where they have established waste management systems and sustainable farming projects. 11 days from £5,420 per person per person >> Click here to view more 

BEST EXPERIENCES FOR 8 – 10 YEAR OLDS

Zip line over Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur

Zip lining over the majestic Meherangarh Fort is, we think, one of the highlights of visiting Rajasthan. The backdrop is spectacularly dramatic and movie buffs may be interested to know that scenes from the latest Batman were filmed at this fort. Built in the 17th century by Maharaja Jaswant Singh, the fort is 400 feet high and whizzing across each of the six zipline wire routes provides splendid views of the fort's ruins and emerald green moats beneath you, as well as the stunning ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur in the distance. Perfect for daredevil adrenaline-lovers – little and large – and certainly one of the most spine-tingling ways to see the city.
13 days from £4,550 per person >> Click here to view more 

Attend the Pushkar Camel Fair

The Pushkar Camel Fair is far more than just a place to buy and sell livestock, this annual event is of both cultural and religious significance. It all kicks off with a camel race and the tempo continues at a similar pace for the next fortnight, culminating in a day of religious festivity when pilgrims bathe themselves in the holy Pushkar Lake. You will not have a moment to rest between browsing the pop-up market stalls and joining in with songs and dancing of the local villagers. In more recent years there has even been a friendly match between the local cricket team and willing tourists, for those who really want to get involved in the action!  
14 days from £4,450 per person >> Click here to view more 

BEST EXPERIENCES FOR 10 – 12 YEAR OLDS

Spiritual immersion at India’s safe & luxurious Ultimate Travelling Camp

Experience Ladakh’s soul-stirring scenery and culture from the comfort of your nomadic home, ‘The Ultimate Travelling Camp’ – the first truly mobile luxury camp in India. Enjoy one of the most beautiful spots in the Himalayas and sleep under the luxury of canvas with 5-star service, delicious fusion cuisine and a tailor-made schedule of cultural and sporting activities.
9 days from £3420 per person >> Click here to view more 

Have an out of this world wildlife experience at Leopard Trails in Sri Lanka

This style of classic Mobile Camping takes you back to the original spirit and true essence of ‘safari’, reminiscent of a golden era in an era of elegance, romance and adventure. Providing an authentic Sri Lankan safari experience in spectacular solitude and soothing comfort, only the canvas walls of your tent separate you from the wonders of the wild. With an authentic back to nature experience, this tented safari camp has all the luxurious modern-day amenities, all the while staying true to the romantic ambience of a by-gone British colonial era filled with adventure.
£2,784 per person for a week at Leopard Trails >> Click here to view more 

BEST EXPERIENCES FOR  12 – 14 YEAR OLDS

For the Karate Kid in you: Take Kung Fu lessons at the Shaolin Temple, China

The style of gongfu created by the monks of Shaolin Temple has been immortalised in Hollywood films, but what does it take to actually master this martial art? To find out, visit a Shaolin martial arts school where you'll get a glimpse into the regimented life of the students, aged 5 to 17. They will invite you into their classrooms, teach you a few basic moves and put on an impressive gongfu demonstration. Celebrated in pop culture as a martial arts Mecca, Shaolin Temple is also one of the world's most important Mahayana Buddhist monasteries and the birthplace of Zen (Chan) Buddhism.
15 days from £6,275 per person >> Click here to view more

Taboggan down the iconic Mutianya section of Great Wall of China

Make your way along the iconic Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and take an exhilarating toboggan ride downhill at the end of your hike. Two hours outside Beijing proper, our hike along the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall affords splendid views of the stone structure snaking over precipitous mountain ridges on the horizon. The Great Wall of China is a must see for any visitor to China, but for a fast, fun and daring route to the base of Mutianya, this toboggan ride is a fantastically unique way to do it!
15 days from £6,275 per person >> Click here to view more

BEST EXPERIENCES FOR  14 – 16 YEAR OLDS

If Tarzan Went to Sri Lanka… Mud Huts, Tree Houses & climbing "The Knuckles"
This tour is an Ampersand favourite! As the name suggests this is the perfect trip for adventurous wildlife enthusiasts. To add to the sense of adventure we have arranged stays in mud huts, tree houses and beach huts and the most daring can even sleep in a cave. Start with whale and dolphin watching on the western coast and visit Wilpatu National Park and the ancient cities and temples in the Cultural Triangle. Go walking in the hills known as "The Knuckles" and climb Sri Lanka's most sacred mountain, Adam's Peak. Explore the misty plateau of Horton Plains before descending down to the coastal plains where you can pan for gems in the Menik Ganga, see leopards in Yala National Park and release baby turtles in Tangalle. Continue on to Sinharaja, Sri Lanka's last virgin rainforest, ending your stay with a night in the urban jungle of Colombo.  
21 days from £5,750 per person >> Click here to view more 

Surf's up, dude! Learn to surf at remote Nihi Sumba Island, Indonesia
For Asia's best swells, head to Sumba Island – an exclusive retreat where you can catch the best ­­­­­­­­­­barrels, peelers and freight trains (those are waves, by the way). A Spice Island first mentioned in the 16th century by a travelling companion of Magellan, Sumba is one of Indonesia's most unexplored islands, located a two hour's flight southeast of Bali. Nihiwatu has been featured in several surf movies; famously The Drifter featuring world-renowned pro surfer Rob Machado, and The Green Iguana by Billabong. "God's Left" is the main attraction: these left breaking waves reel for over 300 metres and crest off the resort's outstretched reef, reserved for a maximum of nine surfers at a time. The surf is good at 2 feet all the way up to 10 feet and it is consistent all year round. This is surfing for luxury-lovers (long sun-bleached hair not required) with abundant nature and culture to boot… totally awesome, dude.
10 days from £5,260 per person >> Click here to view more

Meet with Papuan Tribes aboard luxury phinsi sailboat, Silolona
For one of the most memorable cultural trips you can dream of, take a voyage on luxury phinsi vessel, Silolona. Through the special access Silolona affords, you can meet the Stone Age Asmat tribes of Irian Jaya (Papua), attend the Asmat Auction for their art, visit the remote and rich Spice Islands and discover the trade posts and beautiful islands visited during the height of the Spice Trade. Fill your days with snorkelling, swimming, fishing, scuba diving or simply strolling a deserted stretch of beach. Silolona includes five spacious cabin suites, a teak lounge and dining area surrounded by large windows, on deck dining and well-equipped dive facility. It has a dedicated crew of 16, including a 5 star chef and a dive master.
11 days from £10,000 per person >> Click here to view more 

For more information on any of these experiences or for more family holiday ideas, please get in touch:

info@ampersandtravel.com // +44 (0)20 7819 9770