FAMILIES

Paddling and pirates along the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

This privately guided six-night trip begins in the coastal town of Greenway in County Mayo. After cycling along The Great Western Greenway (Ireland’s longest off-road cycling trail), climbing Croagh Mountain or horseback riding along St Patrick’s Way, you’ll paddle over to Clare Island, once home to the pirate queen Grace O’malley, to search for buried treasure. Then it’s on to Connemara for zip-wiring, bushcraft and seaweed foraging. From €1,850 per adult, €1,520 per child, excluding flights (wildernessireland.com)

Finnish summer family adventure

After seven months of ice and snow, the arrival of spring and summer in Finland’s Arctic tundra is a pretty big deal. This trip, which celebrates the fact, is based in Oulanka and includes wilderness training and brown bear watching in the Oulanka National Park, canoeing on Lake Juuma and rafting to the Russian border on River Oulanka. Oh, and daily saunas.

There are five summer departures, the first over May half term. From £1,299pp, minimum age eight (exodus.co.uk)

Rainforests and reefs in Belize

This seven-night trip offers enough excitement to keep the whole brood happy. You’ll explore ancient Mayan ruins and caves in the hills around San Ignacio, before heading to the coast. You’ll then transfer by speedboat to a remote camp on a coral atoll for kayaking, snorkeling and paddle boarding, or just scampering on the beach.

First departure is 19 February, the last is 31 December. From £2,739 per adult, £2,259 per child sharing ( familiesworldwide.co.uk)

Off-the-beaten-track safari, Malawi

The Liwonde National Park in Malawi is an excellent place to see elephants, monkeys and crocodiles. It also provides the perfect setting in which to educate children on environmental issues. This nine-day tour includes three days on safari, mountain hikes, community visits and days on the beach at Lake Malawi and Mumbo Island. From £2,480pp, based on two sharing, excluding international flights (travellocal.com)

Twin-centre Gozo and Sicily

Activities Abroad has just launched a twincentre break in Gozo and Sicily (it is, after all, just a 50-minute flight between the two). Highlights in Sicily include trekking up volcanic Mount Etna, cycling and snorkeling, while in Gozo, you can learn to scuba dive, sea kayak and join a climbing class.

From £2,045 per adult, £1,525 per child (activitiesabroad.com)