There are few things more powerful than watching children meet the world with open eyes. In wild places families don’t just take holidays. They share moments that shape how young people understand nature, stewardship and their place within it.
Family adventure travel sits at the heart of what Journeys With Purpose stands for: creating pathways for connection, learning and impact. Each journey opens doors to extraordinary ecosystems and the experts, guides and communities who protect them. And for children, curious, imaginative and deeply impressionable, these encounters can ignite a lifelong relationship with the natural world. Our very own founder, Duncan Grossart, warmly recalls how a family trip to Kenya during his youth sparked his lifelong dedication to the natural world. Below, we spotlight four destinations where adventure, education and conservation come alive for families.
The Galápagos: A Living Classroom of Evolution
There is nowhere else on Earth quite like the Galápagos. Here, sea lions nap on volcanic rock and the world’s only tropical penguins dart through turquoise shallows. Wildlife is not something you watch from afar, it is something you share space with. Often within a metre – this proximity to wildlife is what makes adventures here so magical.
For children, this closeness feels almost otherworldly. Snorkelling alongside green sea turtles, spotting marine iguanas basking in the sun or watching giant tortoises lumber across the highlands offers a learning experience no textbook can replicate. Days become full of questions and discoveries: Why do finches look different on each island? How did volcanic islands become a cradle of evolution?
Families can visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where scientists and conservationists explain the archipelago’s ongoing restoration work. Some itineraries even involve hands-on microplastic clean-ups, where children help remove tiny plastics from beaches and repurpose them into jewellery, providing a simple, creative reminder that they can contribute to protecting the places they love.
As Katya, our Impact Journey Specialist, reflects:
“As a parent there’s nothing more incredible than watching the awe on your child’s face when they walk alongside wildlife in its natural habitat. It is so important for younger generations to experience a place where people live harmoniously with nature – and to learn that even at a young age they can play a vital part in protecting these special places”
The Galápagos is particularly special for younger travellers. When children experience wonder early, it becomes a foundation for how they see the world.
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Africa: Conservation Adventures That Inspire Young Explorers
A journey to Africa is more than a family holiday, it’s an intergenerational encounter with the natural world. On a family safari in Africa, children wake to the distant call of lions, learn to read animal tracks from expert guides, and begin to understand the delicate balance that makes life on the savanna possible.
Across Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe, our partners at Great Plains Conservation offer exceptional family-focused experiences that align seamlessly with Journeys With Purpose’s mission. Their Young Explorers Program is designed to connect children to the landscape through hands-on learning: bush craft skills, wildlife tracking, traditional cooking classes, nature walks with specialist guides and stories around the fire. Each child receives a complimentary Young Explorer backpack, turning every day into an adventure.
And critically, these sustainable safari experiences generate impact.
Every Young Explorer directly supports a local child’s conservation education through the Great Plains Foundation, helping empower the next generation of custodians.
For younger children, many lodges also offer mini-ranger programs. These are playful, engaging activities that introduce conservation concepts through games, nature observation and basic ecology.
These journeys do more than entertain; they deepen connection. Children see firsthand how communities, wildlife and landscapes are intertwined. Parents witness moments of awe that stay with them long after returning home.
Speak to Lottie, our Africa specialist to find out more!
Finland: Arctic Adventures Under the Northern Lights
Far above the Arctic Circle, Finnish Lapland offers a winter wonderland that feels pulled from a storybook. This is a place where silence has weight, snow glows blue at dusk and the aurora borealis dances across the sky in luminous waves.
Families can spend days husky sledding through ancient forests, meeting Sámi reindeer herders, learning about Arctic survival skills or trying their hand at ice fishing. Evenings are reserved for warm fires, shared meals and the anticipation of seeing the northern lights appear above the treetops.
What makes Finland exceptional for families is its effortless blend of exploration and ease. Everything is expertly planned. Parents can simply enjoy the magic, knowing the experiences are safe, curated and deeply connected to Sámi culture and Arctic ecology.
For children, this is a journey into another world; one shaped by snow, light and the wisdom of the Indigenous people who have stewarded these lands for centuries.
Australia: Wild Landscapes and Wonder for All Ages
Australia is a natural playground for families, filled with wildlife encounters, vibrant landscapes and cultural stories that stretch back millennia. Families can explore the country’s most inspiring child-friendly destinations – from the wilds of Kangaroo Island to the tropical Daintree Rainforest.
Activities may include:
- spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild
- snorkelling above the Great Barrier Reef
- learning Aboriginal bushcraft traditions
- discovering endemic species in remote national parks
- stargazing under outback skies
At JWP, we specialise in creating seamless transformational travel experiences that balance comfort, adventure and meaningful learning, ensuring that families not only see Australia’s extraordinary environments, but understand the conservation work protecting them.
Travelling With Purpose: Why These Journeys Matter
At Journeys With Purpose, we believe family travel is a powerful catalyst. When parents and children witness conservation in action (guided by rangers, researchers, Indigenous leaders and community custodians) they gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world and the people protecting it.
These journeys:
- spark curiosity
- build empathy
- celebrate cultural knowledge
- inspire future stewards of the planet
- and support frontline conservation organisations
Most importantly, they create shared memories rooted in meaning.
Adventure travel offers families an extraordinary gift: time together in places where nature takes centre stage. Whether it’s walking among penguins in the Galápagos, learning bush skills in Botswana, chasing the aurora in Finland, or discovering marsupials in the Australian wild, these experiences shape how children see themselves, and their role in the world.
Inspire wonder. Encourage curiosity. Travel with purpose.
And let the outdoors become your family’s greatest teacher.
Interested in Family Adventure?
Journeys With Purpose offers private, conservation-minded family journeys around the world, with tailor-made itineraries built around your passions. We also plan hosted journeys – get in touch with our expert travel specialists today on +44 20 8044 9538 or at connect@journeyswithpurpose.org.
