Travel has the power to transform the way families see the world. For children and young adults, discovering new cultures, landscapes, and wildlife builds adaptability, empathy, and a global perspective that lasts a lifetime. Shared adventures spark curiosity, create lasting memories, and deepen connections across generations.

Whether it’s tracking Africa’s Big Five on a safari, snorkeling among fearless Galápagos wildlife, trekking with gorillas in Rwanda, exploring the frozen reaches of the Arctic and Antarctica, indulging in barefoot luxury in the Seychelles, or immersing yourself in Japan’s rich traditions, each journey offers its own magic. At The Legacy Untold, we design trips that bring families together in extraordinary places, balancing adventure, education, and luxury for all ages. Read below to discover our top six family travel picks.

1. Big Five Safari: South Africa, Kenya & Tanzania

A Big Five safari is one of the most memorable ways to experience Africa together. Traveling through iconic reserves such as Kruger National Park in South Africa, Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and Tanzania’s Serengeti, guests can track lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo alongside expert guides who bring the landscape to life through storytelling and deep wildlife knowledge. Most safari lodges welcome children aged six and above.

Private game drives allow travelers to move at their own pace, pausing whenever wildlife appears. Younger travelers can take part in junior ranger programs — learning animal tracking and conservation basics — while grandparents savor the slower rhythm of the bush and the sweeping light of a savannah sunset.

Each region offers its own distinct perspective on safari. South Africa is often the ideal starting point thanks to its accessibility and abundant wildlife. Kenya’s Maasai Mara pairs extraordinary game viewing with rich cultural experiences, including visits with the Samburu, a semi-nomadic pastoralist tribe living in the northern part of the country. In Tanzania, the vast Serengeti as well as the Ngorongoro Crater deliver some of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife spectacles, including the Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest and zebra move across the plains in search of food and water.

When traveling in or out of Kenya, most routes pass through Nairobi. This natural gateway offers a glimpse into the country’s conservation success stories — from breakfast with the resident Rothschild giraffes at the iconic Giraffe Manor to a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant nursery, where orphaned baby elephants are rehabilitated before returning to protected wild habitats.

2. Arctic & Antarctic Expeditions

For those with older children seeking adventure — hiking, biking, and encounters with polar wildlife — destinations in the High Arctic offer a truly extraordinary experience. The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world, and traveling through this landscape provides a powerful perspective on climate change. Walking across sea ice, witnessing polar bears navigating a rapidly changing environment, and observing fragile ecosystems firsthand can be deeply impactful.

Days here are filled with thrilling escapes: quad biking across the tundra, kayaking among thousands of beluga whales, plunging into icy rivers fed by glacial melt, or even cupping your hands to drink directly from pristine Arctic water. In destinations such as Svalbard and the Canadian Arctic, dramatic glaciers and frozen fjords form the backdrop for unforgettable experiences — from snowmobile expeditions to dog sledding through silent snowy valleys.

Expeditions to Antarctica take you into one of the most remote and awe-inspiring wildernesses on Earth. Wildlife is abundant, and whales — from humpbacks to minkes and orcas — can be seen traveling through these nutrient-rich Southern Ocean waters, often breaching or surfacing beside expedition zodiacs during the austral summer (typically November to March). Many voyages include opportunities to contribute to scientific studies or whale tracking programs, helping researchers follow individual animals’ migrations.

3. Japan

Japan offers an immersive family adventure that blends tradition, creativity, and modern fascination. From drawing manga and exploring anime to soba‑noodle‑making classes and ceramics studios, the country is a cultural playground for travelers of all ages.

Afternoons can be spent crafting plastic model food or shaping clay in ceramics classes, and evenings exploring vibrant local food culture. Add in kimono dress‑up, samurai lessons, visits to the famous Pokémon Center, and a gentle walk among Nara’s wild deer, and you have an itinerary that delights both adults and children alike.

Whether it’s cheering at Japanese baseball games, exploring world-class museums, or participating in hands-on cultural experiences, Japan is uniquely suited for multigenerational travel. Each activity fosters curiosity, creativity, and shared memories across generations, making it an unforgettable journey for the whole family.

4. Gorilla Trekking: Rwanda

Few wildlife encounters are as powerful as coming face to face with mountain gorillas in the forests of Rwanda. Gorillas share 98.5% of our DNA, making their movements, expressions, and social dynamics remarkably familiar. Trekking through lush jungle alongside expert trackers, visitors follow signs of gorilla troops hidden deep within the volcanic mountains.

Families can also visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus, where children can partake in VR gorilla trekking – learning about gorilla behavior and conservation in an interactive, kid-friendly way. This makes the experience accessible even to younger family members who are not yet old enough for the actual trek.

We had the privilege of planning a journey to Rwanda for Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford, her husband, and their eight-year-old son Bobby. During their visit to Nyungwe National Park, Bobby eagerly led the way across the canopy walkway — a gently swaying suspension bridge 230 feet above the rainforest floor.

Children as young as six are permitted to cross the 525-foot-long structure, one of the park’s most memorable attractions. Nyungwe spans more than 252,000 acres of rainforest in Rwanda’s southwestern corner and is home to over 310 bird species, waterfalls, hiking trails, and chimpanzee trekking. In September 2023, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Rwanda’s first.

After spending the morning at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund campus learning about conservation efforts that brought gorillas back from the brink, telling Bobby he couldn’t join the trek — since visitors must be at least 15 years old — was no easy task. Fortunately, The Legacy Untold ensures that younger children have a full menu of engaging experiences tailored just for them. Bobby enjoyed archery and drumming lessons at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, and creative games and coloring at Singita Kwitonda Lodge.

For those old enough to trek, the reward is extraordinary. Visitors spend a quiet hour observing a gorilla family — juveniles tumbling through the foliage while protective silverbacks watch over the group — before returning through the forest in reflective silence.

5. Galápagos

For those drawn to the sea as much as the savannah, a marine expedition in the Galápagos Islands offers something unlike anywhere else. The animals here are famously fearless, the landscapes otherworldly, and the variety of activities makes it one of the most versatile nature destinations in the world.

Guests can snorkel or scuba alongside sea lions, marine iguanas, and colorful reef fish; paddle kayaks through glassy coves; and swim alongside graceful sea turtles. Boat excursions — aboard luxury yachts or private charters — bring travelers close to playful dolphins, soaring blue-footed boobies, humpback whales, and penguins in their unlikely equatorial home.

On land, easy hikes lead to dramatic volcanic landscapes, giant tortoise reserves, and tide pools teeming with starfish and rays. Naturalist guides enrich every moment with insights into evolution, conservation, and the islands’ remarkable ecological history.

Evenings aboard the ship or at a beachfront lodge offer a quiet pause — watching the sun sink below the horizon as the day’s encounters settle in. A Galápagos journey not only inspires wonder but makes ocean conservation feel personal and tangible.

6. Seychelles

Picture an Aldabra giant tortoise ambling along a forest path, indifferent to your presence, moving at a snail’s pace of a creature with centuries behind it. That kind of intimate encounter is at the heart of a Seychelles journey. Located more than 1,000 miles off the coast of mainland Africa, the archipelago comprises 115 islands — a world of secluded pristine shores, lush forests, and shimmering coral reefs.

The Seychelles is especially great for young kids — wildlife here poses no danger, and family members of all ages can snorkel in warm, shallow lagoons, trek jungle trails, and spot colorful birds and beach wildlife without worry.

At one of our favorite properties, Frégate Island, conservation is central: the island is home to more than 3,500 free‑roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, bred from a small founding population into one of the largest populations of these iconic creatures anywhere. Guests can visit the tortoise sanctuary to learn about their protection and even take part in adoption and monitoring programs with field teams. The sandy beaches of Frégate also serve as vital nesting habitat for endangered Hawksbill and Green turtles, and during nesting season families may witness hatchling releases — watching tiny turtles make their first journey to the sea is a profound, unforgettable experience for young travelers.

Frégate Island is set to reopen as an ultra‑luxury private retreat in the fall of 2026, following a complete transformation of villas and facilities that deepens its conservation focus and elevates the guest experience.

Every family is different — and the best multi-generational trip is the one designed around yours. Whether you’re drawn to the open plains of East Africa, the frozen reaches of the Arctic, or the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, The Legacy Untold creates journeys that bring generations together in the most extraordinary places on Earth.

For many of our multigenerational families, we go one step further and thoughtfully map out what the next 20 years of travel can look like as interests evolve, children grow, and priorities shift. We also consider how destinations themselves change over time, ensuring each journey feels perfectly suited to the moment while still part of a larger, meaningful travel legacy.

Reach out and start planning your journey at www.thelegacyuntold.com or reach out to [email protected].