Planning a family vacation sounds fun in theory, but you could easily spend hours narrowing down accommodations, tours, restaurants, and other activities—all while hoping your kids love it as much as you. If you’re the type who prefers a more organized itinerary, save yourself the hassle and book a family tour.
The best family tour companies are a package deal—literally. They design the trip especially for those with kids, handle all the logistics, and offer concierge-style, guided support along the way. The peace of mind you get from having experienced professionals alongside you in a new destination, while still giving your family free time to explore, is priceless.
Heck, even if you’ve been to the destination before, the best tour companies for families can always offer a new perspective. (Raises hand.) My fourth time visiting Barcelona and Spain’s Catalonia region was spent with Adventures by Disney, and they opened me up to new experiences—and friends—that have made for lasting memories.
For those who still want to have control of their itinerary, you can. There is a wide variety, when it comes to the best tour companies for families. Choose from structured or flexible itineraries, for a range of budgets. Start planning, by combing through our list of favorites.
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Editor’s Note: We’ve removed REI Adventures from this list because the tour provider has ceased operations in January 2025.
1. Backroads
Family vacations mean something different to everyone. That’s why Backroads takes a unique approach to its Active Family Vacations, offering three trip categories based on age: Kids and Teens (seven to 17), Families with Teens and 20s (16-plus), and Families with Young Adults 20s and Beyond. This is especially attractive to those with teens and young adults—often the “forgotten” age group—as these tours have designated activities to keep them engaged.
Active families will love the chance to challenge themselves in rugged terrain with a fair share of biking, hiking, ice walking, kayaking, ziplining, and other means of exploring, depending on the itinerary. There’s still plenty of time to rest and recharge in between, and those who want to go at a slower pace, without sacrificing adventure, can always opt for a chartered river cruise over a land tour.
Quick Facts about Backroads Active Family Vacations
- Average guided tour group size: 15 people
- Price category: Moderate
- What’s included: Meals and snacks, any necessary equipment and gear, accommodations, and gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- What’s not included: Airfare, transportation to and from your trip start and end locations, and leader gratuities
- Minimum age: While specific age ranges are targeted in each trip category, younger siblings are still welcome (four is the minimum for Kids and Teens trips, 14 for Families with Teens and 20s, and 17 for Families with Young Adults 20s and Beyond)
- Destinations: More than 185 itineraries spread throughout all seven continents
2. Tauck Bridges
Family-owned Tauck has been offering epic guided vacations for 100 years. In 2003, the company launched its family travel arm called Tauck Bridges, which is designed for all ages (parents with kids, skip-gen trips for kids with grandparents, all three generations traveling together, etc.). The company’s tenure in the industry has given it plenty of time to foster strong relationships with local tour operators and attractions in the destinations it visits, meaning travelers can enjoy exclusive access and experiences.
The distinguishing factor of these family tours is they’re created with an eye toward engaging all generations so that everyone in the family will feel catered to—whether you’re on land or one of its river cruises. Tauck’s trip guides are known for their personal touch and have expertise in local customs, traditions, flora, and fauna. Meals and hotels are always top-notch.
Quick Facts about Family Tours with Tauck Bridges
- Average guided tour group size: 15 to 24, depending on the tour style (Smaller Group or Small Group, respectively)
- Price category: Upscale
- What’s included: Gratuities, sightseeing and admissions, most meals, airport handling, luggage transfer, and taxes
- What’s not included: Airfare and adult beverages
- Minimum age: Four
- Destinations: More than 100 destinations in 70-plus countries across all seven continents
3. Adventures by Disney
Disney and families go together like milk and cookies, so it’s no wonder Adventures by Disney (ABD) is a leading provider of family tours. Adventures by Disney offers a vast collection of family adventures on land as well as via river or expedition cruise. ABD’s guided family tours are led by knowledgeable Disney-trained trip leaders called Adventure Guides, who take care to every detail and ensure a memorable vacation from start to finish.
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You can expect Disney’s trademark magic to shine through with special activities for children, exceptional service, and fun surprises like Mickey Mouse-shaped foods. In lieu of character meet-and-greets, VIP experiences include up-close photos with the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, sailing past polar bears in the Arctic, and horseback riding in the shadows of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. After your first trip, you’ll be eligible to join the company’s Adventurer Insiders program for special savings on trips throughout the year.
Quick Facts about Family Tours with Adventures by Disney
- Average guided tour group size: 30 people
- Price category: Upscale
- What’s included: Disney-trained Adventure Guides, accommodations, transfers, most meals, and gratuities for housekeeping, drivers, and waitstaff
- What’s not included: Airfare, alcohol unless specifically noted, and gratuities for your Adventure Guides
- Minimum age: Five
- Destinations: More than 40 destinations across the Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America
4. Intrepid Travel
Responsible, experience-rich travel is a mission at Intrepid Travel, which offers family tours designed by parents themselves. Groups are made up of three to five families from all over the world, plus a guide. Many participants have an interest in the preservation of indigenous cultures, climate education, and conservation, so fast friendships with like-minded participants tend to develop quickly.
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Personal connections with locals are an integral part of the Intrepid experience: Kicking a football with Maasai tribesmen in Kenya, learning ancient martial arts with Buddhist monks in South Korea, and sleeping in a traditional Navajo hogan in Arizona’s Monument Valley are just a few examples. Family trips prioritize kid-friendly hotels with swimming pools, while activities might include making the Icelandic version of “Build a Bear”— a snuggly wool monster called a Skrimsli, and learning how to play to Taiko drums in Japan.
Quick Facts about Family Tours with Intrepid
- Average guided tour group size: 10 people
- Price category: Budget
- What’s included: Accommodation, local transport, and some meals.
- What’s not included: Airfare, travel insurance, optional activities, and tips.
- Minimum age: Five to 10, depending on the itinerary
- Destinations: More than 1,000 trips to 100 countries across all seven continents
5. G Adventures
Tour operator G Adventures believes travel can change the world, and its family guided tours aim to open the world to kids by introducing them to diverse people and cultures. The company also offers exclusive tours in partnership with National Geographic, which means adventure-loving families with children age seven and older who are interested in wildlife, photography, and geography can book one of the National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures to places like Rwanda, Turkey, and Nepal.
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G Adventures has a range of small group tours for families to suit most travel styles and ages, including hard-to-please teens and tweens. Most trips blend must-see destination highlights with meaningful cultural exchange. Enthusiastic guides are hand-selected for their desire to work with families.
Quick Facts about Family Tours with G Adventures
- Average guided tour group size: 12 people
- Price category: Moderate
- What’s included: Accommodations and some meals
- What’s not included: Airfare
- Minimum age: Six
- Destinations: More than 750 trips in 100+ countries across all seven continents
6. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
The only dedicated expedition cruise tour company on this list, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is a great fit for families looking to feel safe, supported, and seen on a big adventure. It also offers the widest variety of destinations among expedition cruise lines that cater to those with children.
On itineraries featuring the National Geographic Explorers program (Alaska, Galapagos, Baja California, and Antarctica), certified field educators lead kid activities that range from learning to drive zodiacs, snorkeling, ziplining, and helping with citizen science projects. Each sailing is staffed by a crew of expert naturalists, biologists, and other science and wildlife experts.
Several of the company’s ships have adjoining rooms so families can turn two cabins into a suite that sleeps four comfortably. Many also have a pool or hot tub and a lounge for games and other entertainment. Meals have plenty of options (and ways to keep even picky eaters happy), and the dining room vibe is casual enough to keep dining times easy.
Quick Facts about Family Tours with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
- Average guided tour group size: The number of passengers varies by ship size, but the range is 28 to 148 guests per sailing. Most hold closer to 60 people.
- Price category: Upscale
- What’s included: An expert crew that includes naturalists, scientists, and an expedition leader; comfortable and polished staterooms; transfers; meals; and all activities
- What’s not included: Airfare and gratuities for crew
- Minimum age: Seven
- Destinations: 100-plus itineraries across the Arctic, Antarctica, Alaska, Iceland, Baja California, Central America, the Galapagos Islands, and Amazon
7. Abercrombie & Kent
Group tour operator Abercrombie & Kent pioneered the concept of luxury small-group travel more than 60 years ago, and today the company continues to lead the pack with small group journeys to more than 100 countries and on all seven continents. Highlights include wildlife safaris to Kenya and Tanzania, cultural crusades through Morocco, and icy adventures to Antarctica.
On family tours with Abercrombie & Kent, a Resident Tour Director remains with the group throughout, facilitating a richer understanding of local customs. He or she is assisted by specialized local guides who encourage guests to take a meaningful dive into immersive insider experiences.
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Your tour price includes everything from meals to activities to hotels, which are high-end properties suitable for discerning guests. Mid-journey laundry service, luggage transfers, and Internet are also included. The company’s luxury family itineraries are also strategically timed with school breaks.
Quick Facts about Luxury Family Travel Tours with Abercrombie & Kent
- Average guided tour group size: 14 people
- Price category: Upscale
- What’s included: Inter-itinerary flights, accommodations, luggage transfers, meals, mid-journey laundry, activities, expert guides, and and all gratuities (except for the Resident Tour Director)
- What’s not included: Airfare to and from your destination, though a flight concierge is available 24/7 to assist with airline delays
- Minimum age: 10 unless otherwise noted on a specific itinerary
- Destinations: More than 100 countries across all seven continents
8. Road Scholar
Road Scholar trips attract lifelong learners who are keen to plunge beneath the surface rather than just skim it. The company caters to baby boomers and seniors, with programs for skip-gen vacations (grandparents and grandkids traveling together) and multigenerational vacations (grandparents, parents, and grandkids traveling together). These trips present multiple opportunities for adults and kids to learn together.
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All of Road Scholar’s family tours have two group leaders who know how to appeal to varying ages, interests, and attention spans. They take care of logistics while local instructors add expertise on a range of topics. The company also gets bonus points for the bucket-list experiences it offers for families among multiple generations—a la hiking and kayaking through the Azores, exploring everything from volcanos to marine life in Hawaii, and wandering amid real-life fairytales on the Amalfi Coast.
Quick Facts about Family Tours with Road Scholar
- Average guided tour group size: 22
- Price category: Moderate
- What’s included: Accommodations, most meals, hands-on experiences, gratuities throughout the program, and the Road Scholar Assurance Plan
- What’s not included: Travel to and from the program and trip cancellation insurance
- Minimum age: Anywhere from eight to 14, depending on the itinerary
- Destinations: 150 countries and all 50 states in the U.S.
9. Classic Journeys
Who said adventure can’t be pampering? Classic Journeys stands out as an option for families who like to go off grid and intimately connect with the people of the places they visit—yet don’t want to sacrifice traveling in luxury. With an average guest-to-guide ratio of seven-to-one, travelers will feel like they’re part of one big family among their tour group companions, as they sip mint tea with Moroccan locals in the Sahara at sunset, make pizza in a private home on the Amalfi Coast, or visit the homestead of a rice farmer in Vietnam.
To further connect families with the environment, Classic Journeys includes more traditional-style accommodations in its itineraries, such as a starlit encampment, rainforest lodge, and ancient villa. Active, as well as wildlife- and foodie-focused trips, are among the special interest options families can book. Regardless of which itinerary you choose, Classic Journeys’ small tour sizes allow the company to arrange private access to sites while providing more personalized service.
Quick Facts about Classic Journeys
- Average guided tour group size: 10 people
- Price category: Upscale
- What’s included: Accommodations, inter-transportation and transfers, meals (with wine for adults), expert guides, private access experiences, and most gratuities
- What’s not included: Air and land transportation to and from the trip
- Minimum age: None, though kids have to be at least six to 12 to participate in most activities, depending on the itinerary
- Destinations: More than 40 itineraries across Africa, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, North America, and South America
10. Austin Adventures
Tour operator Austin Adventures forged its reputation by specializing in tours to America’s national parks. The company remains an expert in this area, though it has also expanded to cover destinations beyond North America. Its guided group family trips are ideal for anyone who gravitates towards hidden gems and the lesser-known side of national parks. If you book a trip to Yellowstone, for example, of course you’ll watch Old Faithful erupt—but you’ll also hike a semi-secret trail. Activities such as rafting and ziplining up the fun factor for kids.
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Guides are first-aid certified, and with a six-to-one guest-to-guide ratio, there’s plenty of time to chat and get acquainted. The guides on family tours, some of whom are teachers during the school year, know how to plan kid-friendly activities that allow parents time to relax. All but one meal is included, presenting the opportunity to have an evening on your own or perhaps with newfound friends. Austin Adventures offers popular family tours to bucket-list destinations like Banff National Park, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Banff National, Costa Rica, Croatia, Austria, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
Quick Facts about Small Group Family Adventures with Austin Adventures
- Average guided tour group size: 12 people
- Price category: Moderate
- What’s included: Meals and snacks, any necessary equipment and gear, accommodations, and transportation outside of flights
- What’s not included: Airfare to your destination, gratuities for guides, and alcoholic beverages
- Minimum age: Six (Seven in Alaska)
- Destinations: More than 13 unique destinations across North America, Europe, Central America, and New Zealand
Allison Tibaldi also contributed to this story.
