Family trips FAQs

Yes, there’s a 10% discount for all children aged 17 and under. 

Our family trips have a minimum age of 5 or 10 years old depending on the itinerary's physical rating, and a maximum age of 17. The minimum age is displayed in the trip page overview.

If you have tweens or teens and would rather be in a group of families with older children or do a more active itinerary, check out our teen family trips with a minimum age of 10. 

Children aged 18 are considered adults and can't join a family trip unless they’re travelling with younger siblings. If your children are 18 or older, our regular Intrepid trips are a great way to enjoy the small group travel experience.

Inclusions and extras vary from trip to trip, but at a minimum, all accommodation, transport and some meals will be included. Some activities are included, but you can also participate in optional activities for an additional fee.

Some trips might also recommend contributing to a group kitty, which is a pool of funds your leader will use to tip local guides, drivers and hotel staff, or buy groceries to prepare a group meal. 

Check the Essential Trip Information for more details about inclusions and extras. 

Like all Intrepid trips, you’ll have a blend of included activities and free time. You’ll often have planned activities in the morning, followed by free time in the afternoon.

Alternatively, if we have two full days of activities, we follow it with a free day so you and the kids can relax.

Yes, all travellers need a valid passport to join our trips (unless you've booked a trip in your home country). We recommend that your passport has at least six months of validity as this is an entry requirement for many countries. 

Depending on your nationality and chosen travel destination, you may also require a visa. Contact your local embassy for more information about visa requirements. 

If children are joining you on a trip without their parents or guardians, you should obtain a letter of consent to travel before you leave home. This letter proves the children have permission to travel with you.

Preparing this letter is easy – it can even be handwritten – provided it includes relevant information such as confirmation that you're permitted to travel with the child, the child's date of birth and their travel plans.

The letter should be signed by the child’s parents or guardians and witnessed by a notary public, Justice of the Peace, or a similar public officer. While you may never be required to show this letter, it’s important to have one just in case.

Our teenage trips have a minimum age of 10 and offer more active and challenging itineraries designed for older children. If you also have younger children, we'll look at allowing them on these trips on a case-by-case basis, depending on the trip activities and their ages. 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your options. 

Our trips are guaranteed to depart once they have one fully paid customer, unless the minimum group size listed in the Essential Trip Information and/or Special Conditions state otherwise.

We never want to cancel a trip, but sometimes unforeseen things happen that are out of our control. We closely monitor all our destinations, and if your trip is changed or cancelled due to a Force Majeure Event or for operational reasons, we'll aim to notify you at least one month before your scheduled departure date. If you booked with a travel agent, they will notify you of any changes. Visit our Trip Cancellations page for more information.

Most Intrepid trips have an intimate group of 12 to 16 travellers, though they usually average 10 people. Small groups allow us to use public transport, visit local communities and remain flexible with itineraries.

Occasionally, groups may be slightly bigger depending on the trip and vehicle availability.

Group sizes are displayed in the trip overview.

Our family trips are just that – for the whole family. That means you don’t have to leave aunties, uncles and grandparents at home. As long as there’s at least one child under the age of 18 travelling with you, you’re a family in our eyes.

The families on our trips tend to be a like-minded bunch, hailing from all over the world.  

After meeting the other families, it usually doesn’t take long for the kids to make new friends. The small group size also means there’s enough freedom for the adults to get to know each other while the children have fun.

Due to data protection, we are unable to disclose any other family’s details. We can, however, disclose some basic details such as the ages of the other children booked on your trip. 

Yes, our leaders are all experienced and have the relevant checks and permits to work with children where required. They're friendly, organised and have a great rapport with the kids. They undergo extra rigorous training to ensure they can work well with the dynamic of the younger group members. 

Although we employ special leaders with experience looking after children, they're not employed to provide childcare. Leaders are present to handle all logistics and ensure your trip runs smoothly, but parents or carers must be responsible for children at all times.

Rooming arrangements vary depending on the accommodation. 

Hotels 

Families of two will get a twin room.  

Families of three will generally be given a triple room. The bedding may consist of single, double or rollaway beds. 

Families of four or more will likely be given two rooms next to each other or on the same floor. Where possible, we’ll put you in a quadruple or interconnecting room. 

Camping 

All tents are twin share. Families of three will be given two tents – if travelling with young children, you’ll also be given an additional mattress or camp bed so that you can stay together. 

Overnight trains 

Some trips include overnight travel on trains. Depending on the country, sleeper trains may have two, four or six-berth compartments with bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks.  

Check the Essential Trip Information for more details about accommodation on your trip or contact us if you have any questions.

We take great care in choosing accommodation, avoiding big chain hotels in favour of locally run establishments offering a unique experience. The standard of accommodation varies depending on whether you choose a Basix, Original or Comfort family trip (the style is displayed in the trip page overview).

Basix family trips include a mix of full or part-camping and two or three-star hotels. Some campsites offer creature comforts, while others, like our bush camps in the Okavango Delta, have limited facilities – but it's all part of the fun (not to mention the amazing night skies and wildlife experiences on your doorstep).

Original family trips include various accommodations including three-star hotels, overnight trains and local lodgings such as homestays. Homestays offer a unique opportunity to connect with locals and immerse yourself in the culture.

Comfort family trips generally include four-star hotels with upgraded rooms for added comfort, and a night or two at a special feature stay such as a traditional desert camp in the Sahara.

Can I upgrade my room on a family trip?

We have an allocation of rooms at the hotels we use, and all families will be placed in the same standard of room. You're welcome to request an upgrade, but this will need to be arranged directly with the hotel when you arrive for an additional cost. 

We know staying connected and enjoying pool time are important for many families, so we try to use hotels with these features where possible. You can see the hotels we use in the itinerary and other important accommodation details in the Essential Trip Information. 

Depending on how far off the beaten track the itinerary wanders, there may not be hotels with pools nearby, but we’ll try to find you a freshwater lake or secluded beach where you can cool off. 

The physical rating is shown on the trip page. We design our trips to be immersive, experiential and inclusive. All activities are age-appropriate and can generally be enjoyed by anyone with an average fitness level. 

For families that enjoy a more active adventure, some of our teenage trips have a higher physical rating and include activities like hiking, biking, kayaking or whitewater rafting. The distances for these activities are displayed on the itinerary. 

All our trips involve some degree of walking, occasionally over uneven walkways and stairs, so contact us if you have any mobility concerns or check the trip page for more information.   

While we encourage everyone to get involved, it may be possible to opt out of some activities and stay at the hotel or do some independent exploring instead.

Adults are responsible for their children at all times, so you’ll need to supervise them if they want to opt out.

Yes, our family experts, many of whom are parents, have crafted the itineraries to keep everyone happy. The included activities are designed to entertain both kids and adults, and we try to keep travelling time to a minimum.  

There’s also plenty of free time to spend together as a family or explore independently. Plus, the kids usually love hanging out with each other, allowing you to have some downtime and enjoy a glass of vino with the other adults.

If you have an allergy, please advise us when booking and we’ll try our best to accommodate this. It may be difficult in some restaurants to determine if dishes are 100% allergen-free, so we encourage you to take the same precautions as you would when eating out in your home country. Your leader can also provide recommendations and assistance. 

The Intrepid way of travel means trying to do everything the local way, including eating at local restaurants where menu options may be limited. We understand some kids may find this challenging, so we recommend bringing some of their favourite snacks as a backup. If possible, we also recommend trying a few local dishes before leaving home to help them develop familiarity.

We often find that kids are more willing to try new foods on our family trips thanks to exposure to new flavours and dishes, and encouragement from other kids in the group.

While some meals will be included, we don’t include all meals on our trips, so you’ll have some flexibility to eat where you like, particularly in big towns and cities.

There’s usually a vegetarian option available, but it depends on the destination as some cuisines offer a wider range of vegetarian/plant-based options than others.  

Please advise us of any dietary requirements when booking so we can try our best to accommodate you. 

Health and safety is our number one concern. All our vehicles are fitted with seatbelts, and we run regular inspections to ensure they adhere to strict safety requirements.  

We use child car seats in accordance with local laws and regulations. However, due to the vehicles we use, car seats are generally not required. Please reach out if you have any questions. 

Health and safety is our number one concern. When it comes to participating in organised activities, we use and regularly audit trusted local operators who are well aware of the necessary safety equipment and procedures, including supplying correctly fitting life jackets and helmets. 

Our leaders are well-trained in all aspects of health and safety and provide briefings before all activities.

Yes, all families must have comprehensive travel insurance to cover them in the event of illness or medical emergency, preferably a policy that includes repatriation. Please provide us with your insurance details before departure. 

It’s best to arrange travel insurance before you depart your country of origin. If you’d like assistance arranging insurance cover, please get in touch.

In most countries we visit, there are private, Western-style hospitals or medical centres. If you have any medical issues, your leader can contact our local operational office to find you the best and closest medical assistance.

If you become unwell on the trip, we also recommended contacting your travel insurance provider who'll offer assistance and advice on policy coverage. They also usually have a recommended medical centre or hospital with English-speaking medical staff.

If a family member is travelling with prescription medicine, it’s recommended that they bring extra in case they lose or damage it. We also recommend carrying a doctor’s letter of prescription and advising the leader on day one of any medical conditions.

If you’re travelling with any medicine that needs to be refrigerated, you must let us know when booking.

Like any other trip, we also recommend bringing a supply of Band-Aids and disinfectant, some paracetamol, motion sickness tablets (if necessary) and hydrolytes (or something similar) for any little bumps or bruises along the way.

Please get in touch with your local doctor or specialist travel vaccination centre at least 60 days before departure. They can tell you what specific vaccinations you need for your trip.

Your leader will advise you on the safety of drinking local tap water. For destinations where it’s unsafe, we recommend that you pack water purification tablets rather than buying bottled water (it’s better for the environment). We also recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to refill at hotels and restaurants. 

All of the hotels we use will have Western-style flushing toilets. In some rural areas, the toilet facilities may be of a more rudimentary standard than your family enjoys at home. In these circumstances we recommend carrying hand sanitation products. Remember – it’s all part of the experience.