9 Epic Family Bonding Trips

Life, it seems, is perpetually trying to interfere with family travel. Your brother can’t leave work; your daughter has lacrosse training; your parent already has three trips planned this year; and you…don’t get me started on you. This makes it all the more important to choose the right destination and itinerary for those rare times when you can get the family together.

Below, find the nine destinations that the Indagare team loves for family bonding experiences, memory-making and quality time together.

New Zealand is a fantasy realm brought to life—with visually spectacular landscapes and adventure experiences worthy of heroic expeditions. (It’s little wonder that the Lord of the Rings franchise was filmed here—and for fans of the series, Hobbiton is a must.)

“New Zealand gave me two of my favorite days of my life, back to back,” says Indagare COO Eliza Harris, who has been to the country seven times (and counting). “I was traveling with my husband and two very outdoorsy and adventurous teenage sons on the New Zealand - South Island, staying at Minaret Station and Matakauri, near Queenstown. On the first day, we did the Fiordland Helicopter Traverse from Minaret Station, a private 50,000-acre property in the wilderness. Our heli swooped over the Southern Alps, stopping at a beach, where we hiked through the rainforest, saw seals, caught crayfish and then flew to a deserted mountain summit. There, we landed beside a lake surrounded by a glacier and drank a toast overlooking a spectacular view, while our guide grilled us crayfish and steak. The next day, we had a much simpler but just as awe-inspiring adventure: we hiked 15 miles of the Routeburn Track, one of the ‘Great Walks of New Zealand.’ At first, we passed through a beautiful, old-growth forest with a glacial river and abundant ferns, then we emerged above the treeline and into alpine majesty, with waterfalls. The physical challenge made it feel like we had really earned the views.”

Far-flung and astoundingly beautiful, Indonesia’s plentiful islands, mythic temples and sparkling waters blend the best of relaxation and adventure—an ideal combination for a lengthier family sojourn. Island-hop by phinisi, a traditional wooden sailing vessel, to get the most out of your experience, both in terms of ground (or rather, sea) covered and moments enjoyed together. Whether you spend your time snorkeling, hiking through jungles or surfing, the number of things to reminisce about over dinner or while lounging in the sun are endless. There is something about water activities that just makes laughing feel effortless—maybe because it’s almost impossible not to let a bit of your inner child out. And who better to share those experiences with than those who’ve known you from the start? (And there are few things more amusing than glancing over to find your parent or sibling looking around in a snorkel mask.)

What makes Italy one of the best family bonding trips out there is its diversity. History buffs, wine fanatics, foodies, art and architecture lovers, fashion fiends, amateur archaeologists, outdoor adventurers—all have their place somewhere in Italy, meaning everyone can have a slice of what they love on the same trip and share it with the rest of the family. The train system throughout the country makes it easy to hop from place to place over the course of one or two weeks, and you can oscillate between action-packed days—like hiking in the Dolomites or touring in Venice or Rome—and slower-paced days—like wining and dining in Tuscany or sunbathing at Lake Garda or on the Amalfi Coast. My family combined Venice, Rome and the Amalfi Coast over two weeks, and it remains one of our favorite vacations to date.

Japan offers the ultimate cultural immersion, and it’s a destination as enriched by its tradition as it is propelled by innovation. This dichotomy, further enhanced by the country’s many different faces—urban metropolises, quiet temples, mystical forests, frosted mountains—makes it an especially memorable trip to share with family.

“I’ve been so lucky to have taken many incredible trips with my mom, but Japan wins them all,” says Indagare editor Trey Ross. “We were busy from the minute we landed in Tokyo—admiring the skyline and cyberpunk street style, crafting a self-guided bar crawl through Golden Gai, doing some serious retail therapy at the vintage shops, discovering hole-in-the-wall izakaya restaurants and braving the lines for a viral carbonara ramen. A highlight was getting a private karaoke room at the same establishment from the film Lost in Translation to belt Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer.’ The rest of the trip was a wonderful mix of history, contemporary art, wellness (an outdoor onsen dip in the rain at Gora Kadan remains one of the most peaceful moments of my life) and pop culture (including to-die-for soufflé pancakes at Panel Cafe in Kyoto). Japan isn’t a place you visit. It’s a place you experience—and getting to share these immersive, quirky, awe-inspiring moments with my mom made it the ultimate bonding trip.”

Few places feel as remote and otherworldly as the Galápagos, that famed archipelago 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador that Charles Darwin ensured would reach nearly every science curriculum in the world. It is the kind of infinitely special trip that creates an instant connection between people through the singular experiences you share (you can only really ‘get it’ if you were there, too). It is seeing animals found nowhere else in the world, like the giant tortoise, colorful marine iguana and blue-footed booby. It is searching for orcas, whales and hammerheads, snorkeling with sea lions and turtles and hiking through alien volcanic landscapes. It is ultimate outdoor adventure amid scenes you’ve only witnessed on Planet Earth. To experience the Galápagos at its best, explore the islands by yacht charter; you’ll retreat here with your family each night to sip drinks, play games, watch movies and relive the day’s highlights over a good meal. It’s the kind of trip that you and your family will talk about for years—but you’ll have to visit to truly understand why.

Chile is home to some of the world’s most diverse and striking landscapes: eerie salt flats, flamingo-speckled lagoons, lush mountains inhabited by pumas, icy glaciers, penguin-dotted coastlines, Mars-like deserts…the list goes on. You feel like you’re bending space and time as you traverse across Chile, because how could so many vastly different landscapes be contained in this one narrow country? Chilean Patagonia is perhaps the most well-known, and it’s home to some of our favorite lodges (like Awasi Patagonia, where the stargazing is spectacular and days might mean trekking the rugged landscape or searching for wildlife safari-style). Beyond Patagonia is the Atacama Desert—a dramatic region of canyons, dunes and hot springs—and the lakes district, where water and volcanoes take center stage for fly-fishing, canyoning, heli-excursions and even skiing at certain times of the year. For those seeking yet another world to step into, there is the fascinating island of Rapa Nui (commonly known as Easter Island), sitting 2,300 miles off the coast and home to the iconic Moai statues. In short, Chile presents an unending adventure for the family with enough nature to satisfy everyone.

When I was 24, my family decided to undertake the summitting of Africa’s tallest peak. Consider this: seven days, two tents, two early-20-somethings (a brother and sister, mind you) and one shower tent? A recipe for disaster, some might say. Or, a recipe for the most intense, undeniable bonding experience—a chance to say “we conquered this, together.” Mount Kilimanjaro may not be for the faint of heart, but for the adventurous family with hiking in their blood, it is the ultimate trip for connection, be it through long mornings chatting and sharing snacks on the trail, evening cards in the dining tent or that quiet solidarity found in the most trying moments—whether that’s the one morning you do not want to drag yourself out of bed or the final stretch before the summit.

There is a dreamlike quality to experiencing the treasures of Morocco for the first time. This ancient culture hub is a rare portal for time travel—whether you’re swathed in the colors and spices of the souk, stepping into centuries-old mosques or reclining on cushions for dinner in the desert. Marrakech is an endlessly attractive city for the families that have among them a passion for history, shopping, food and local exchange—not to mention those who appreciate spectacular hotels. And that is just the capital. Outdoor activity fiends will find a few days’ retreat into the Atlas Mountains a refreshing complement to the city as they embark on treks or bike rides through Berber villages and the natural landscape with its blend of red rock, lush greenery and snow-capped peaks. The striking settings and activities throughout the country are plenty to connect over, but for the ultimate bonding experience, you can take to the desert at properties like Dar Ahlam, where the rest of the world fades away and it’s just you, your loved ones and some excellent stargazing.

African safari is something of an Indagare staple—the pinnacle of luxury travel, of culture, of out-of-this-world adventure. And it is, without a doubt, the kind of trip you want to share with the people you love. My first safari was with my family, and there’s such incredible joy in witnessing your first lion, leopard or cheetah with those who’ve known you the longest—a joy that’s doubled by watching them witness it too. There’s healthy family competition to be found as you each try to spot the animal everyone has been looking for (and it’s almost impossible to feel bitter about it not having been you, because you’re so thrilled they spotted it at all). And then, of course, there is that midday downtime, when after a rich morning together you can each find your space around the camp or lodge to relax, savor the nature and recharge.

A few of our favorite safari destinations include Tanzania (at camps like Singita Sabora and Little Chem Chem), Kenya (with its traditional safari feel and rare Super Tuskers) and South Africa (with its easy combination of the bush and Cape Town—and its incredible villa product, for an extra-private experience).