20WINTER 2008/ 09 www. travelmood. com EGYPT: For families who prefer to be active but who also want diversity on holiday, consider choosing a short- haul multi- activity trip. On Egypt's Sinai Peninsulathere are jeep trips into the desert, visits to St Catherine's monastery for sunrise, night- time excursions to Mt Sinai and a camel trek into the desert for overnight camping with the Bedouins. Head to the Red Sea for snorkelling, optional wind surfing and quad biking. slew of cultural big- hitters including Cairo's Pyramids and Egyptian Museum plus Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple. How about a few days' trekking in the Himalaya? In the Everest Valleyyou'll be rewarded with stunning views of the peaks of Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and, of course, Everest. The Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar and the celebrated Thyangboche monastery are among the highlights. Alternatively, trek with your teens along one of the most famous trekking routes in the world, the ancient Inca Trail, to the spectacular mountain citadel of Machu Picchu. This active itinerary also takes in mountain biking in the Sacred Valley and includes time for shopping in the lively Pisac Market. Optional white- water rafting and horse-riding activities are available. ACTIVITY AND ADRENALINE MOUNTAIN HIGH K ids today need more stimulation than Jeremy Clarkson on a test- drive for Maserati. Both parents and teenagers deserve a holiday to remember, but boredom is a particular scourge for parents trying to find a family escape that ticks all the boxes for their teenagers. We think we may have found the answer, with an exciting range of adventure and activity holidays designed specifically for families with children of mixed ages. Because our trips are run in small groups ( between three and five families) we can guarantee that teens will have their peers for company, affording peace of mind before you leave. From multi- activity trips closer to home, to trekking through some of the world's most stunning scenery, here's a selection of holidays to capture the most inquiring of young minds. Demand for family orientated adventure holidays has been growing steadily, but recently there has been an emergence of trips specifically geared towards families with teenagers. Here's your one- way ticket out of teenage holiday hell Smells liketeen adventures LONG- HAUL Experience the majesty of the South American pampas on an Argentine ranch adventure. Soak up the Latin culture in Buenos Aires, with its attractive boulevards, café culture and tango bars and explore the colourful port area of La Boca, historical San Telmo and glamorous Recoleta before heading off to sample life as a gaucho on a traditional estancia( horse- riding ability is recommended). Have a go at branding or tagging the cattle, try a local mate tea and take a polo lesson. Finally, take a canoe safari in the Ibera wetlands before being whisked by 4WD to the Brazilian border, to marvel at the mighty Iguacu Falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides. SHORT HAUL Closer to home explore the dramatic rock formations of Egypt's White Desert on a 4WD adventure, campingunder the desert stars. A camel trek, snorkelling in the Red Sea and an optional hot- air balloon ride should keep the more active family members busy, and the holiday includes a
Our product team scours the planet to source the most inspirational small group tours worldwide. But the beauty of these trips isn't just the destinations and range of activities on offer. Nor is it the fact your teens will be occupied throughout. It's the knowledge that you're buying an unforgettable family holiday without any hidden hassles. Your group is allocated its own group leader, with all accommodation and transfer arrangements taken care of. Parents can just relax and enjoy the trip – and so can their teens. Vicky Gallear, The Adventure Company
DISCOVER THE WORLD Desert quad biking Giza, Egypt

n spirit ARGENTINA BOOK IT NOW A 14- day Argentine Ranch Adventure costs from £ 2,299 including domestic flights, accommodation, most activities and meals. MOROCCO An eight- day Active Morocco trip designed specifically for families with teenagers costs from £ 949 per person including accommodation, breakfasts and two dinners and activities including camel trekking and cycling in the Draa Valley. PERU A 15- day Teens on the Trail tripto Peru costs from £ 2,199 including accommodation, trekking permits, camping equipment, some meals and porters on the Inca Trail. BORNEO A 12- day Canopy Climbing Adventurein Borneo costs from £ 2,199 including internal flights, accommodation, park entrance fees and activities. SLOVENIA An eight- day Active Slovenia adventurecosts from £ 1,019 per person including accommodation, all breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners and most activities, including a canoe expedition. Optional activities cost extra. TURKEY An eight- day Active Cappadociatrip to Turkey costs from £ 979 per person including accommodation and most meals and activities. NEPAL A 13- day Everest Teen Trekcosts from £ 1,269 including accommodation ( hotels and tea-houses) and most activities and meals. MOROCCO: Climb into Morocco's alluring Atlas Mountains, hike through the spectacular Todra Gorge, ride camels into the Merzouga Sand Sea and go mountain biking in the Draa Valley stopping off at traditional villages and kasbahs en route. TURKEY: Explore the geographically spectacular Cappadocia regionon foot, by mountain bike and on horseback. Swim in sparkling rivers, relax in natural hot springs or drift over the landscape in a hot- air balloon ( optional). Alternatively, opt for a coastal break and kayak over the sunken ruins of ancient cities, head off on a traditional Turkish gulet for an overnight cruise and snorkel in the clear blue waters of the Med. FINLAND: Escape the crowds of the Mediterranean in the stunning wilderness of Finland's Koli National Park, located in forested hills on the western shore of lake Pielinen. Abseil down a sheer rock face, explore on quad bikes, paddle through the wilderness by canoe and go white- water rafting down the Ruunaa River. On a free day there's the chance to go kayaking, horse riding or paint balling. Mountain biking and walking caps off an action-packed wilderness week. SLOVENIA: What active teen wouldn't be tempted by overnight canoe expeditions and mountain and riverside camping? Slovenia's Lake Bohinj, set in the Julian Alps, is the perfect base for a week of high- octane mountain adventures. Activities are tailored to the abilities of the entire group and include orienteering, hiking and a two- day canoeing expedition. Optional activities include archery, a chance to tackle the high ropes on a dedicated course, rock climbing and, for the really brave, canyoning. You're guaranteed an orang- utan sightingat Sepilok's world- renowned rehabilitation centre, but you've a chance of spotting them in the wild, too, along with proboscis monkeys, gibbons, crocodiles and even pygmy elephants, on a river safari. But the highlight is a canopy climbing adventure. For an experience straight out of David Attenborough's Planet Earth, overnight in a tree- top hammock and watch dawn break over the misty rainforest. Optional activities include white- water rafting, snorkelling and climbing Mount Kinabalu. AND FOR SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE White- water rafting, Slovenia EUROPEAN GETAWAYS www. travelmood. comWINTER 2008/ 09 21 For more information and ideas for family holidays in 2009 contact us All the prices quoted are per person and include international flights and the services of a group leader. travelmoodadventures. com 0800 2989 811