The alternative Big 5 for families

Travel into the lush jungles of India in search of Bengal tiger. Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s biggest and most famous wildlife parks, home to jackal, sloth bear and the crested hawk eagle as well as the majestic Bengal tiger. Visit between September and May, when it’s dry season and the wildlife can be seen grouping by the park’s lakes to bathe and drink. Our family India holiday Taj, Tigers and Palaces trip also takes in the highlights of the golden triangle, from bustling Deli to the Pink city of Jaipur and of course the Taj Mahal.

Watch your children's eyes become wide with wonder when they first set their sights on a monstrous Komodo dragon on our Indonesia's Eastern Islands tour. These prehistoric giant lizards stalk their prey from the shadowy undergrowth of Rinca Island where we hope to spot these deadly creatures in their natural habitat. Keep a lookout for water buffalo, deer and colourful birds including the fluro-pink headdress of the Green Junglefowl and the golden mohican of the rare Yellow-crested Cockatoo. And dive into the crystal-clear sea to explore a vibrant underwater world of coral, exotic fish and turtle. 

The ultimate holiday destination for any wildlife lover is of course the Galapagos Islands. This very special archipelago of volcanic islands off Ecuador is home to an abundance and variety of species not seen anywhere else on earth. Swim with turtles and penguins; watch sealions snoozing on the sand, and see the distinctive blue-footed booby diving for food from great heights. The 16-day Ecuador and the Galapagos family holiday combines Santa Cruz, Isabela and Santa Fe or North Seymour Island with colonial Quito, colourful Otavalo market and the ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’. The trip of a lifetime.