Three kinds of tour that take children
You’d like the kids to see Rome, or a glacier, without you planning every transfer. The first decision is how much of the trip should be built around them.
Minimum ages and child discounts, side by side
A minimum age tells you who’s allowed. A child rate tells you who the company expected.
As each operator publishes it, October 2026. Specific trips can set higher minimums: Tauck’s Croatia family yacht is 8+, and a gorilla trek permit in Rwanda requires 15.
| Operator | Minimum age | Child discount | Rooming | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventures by Disney | 5 (since mid-2022) | About 5% less for 11 and under (2026, agency) | Ask per trip | Guide tips extra on land, included on river |
| Tauck Bridges | 3+ on many; river 4, safaris 5, Galápagos 6 | Under 11 or 12, by journey | Under-18s share with an adult | All gratuities included |
| Intrepid family trips | 5 or 10; teen trips 10 | 20% off, 17 and under | Children always with a parent; triples or adjoining rooms | Leader tips extra; Premium includes others |
| Nat Geo Family Journeys | 7 (some 12) | Child rates, ages 7–12 | Twin share as on G trips | Leader tips extra |
| G Adventures Family | 6 to 17 | Not published | One adult per two minors | Leader tips extra |
| Trafalgar | 5 | Up to 10% off land, ages 5–17 | Under-18s with an adult | Travel Director and driver tips extra |
| Collette | 5 on most tours; safaris 13 | Child land rates, ages 5–17 | Triples limited, first come | Tour manager and driver tips extra |
| Globus | 5 (Independent 2) | None published | Minors with an adult | Tour Director and driver tips extra |
| Cosmos | 5 | None published | Minors with an adult | Tour Director and driver tips extra |
| Rick Steves | Not stated on pages we read | None published | Ask | Guide and driver tips included |
Adventures by Disney or Tauck Bridges
The two family specialists most parents compare. Head to head on the details that change the bill.
Both brands plan every day around children, and both cost far more than a regular coach tour. The difference is in the small print.
Tauck takes younger children and folds in the tips, which matters with a family of five. Disney sends two guides and, one agency says, often runs a separate supervised experience for the kids.
Pick Disney if your youngest is 6 or older and you want the extra guide. Pick Bridges if someone is under 5, or if you’d rather not carry tip envelopes.
Small-group family trips, and what they include
If the kids would rather raft than ride a coach, these are the family departures. Every traveler on them came with family.
Intrepid family trips
Family trips take children from 5 or 10, depending on the physical rating, up to 17. Teenage family trips start at 10 and run more active days. Groups max out at 16 and average 10.
- Italy Family Holiday: 8 days from $3,315
- Greece Family Holiday: 8 days from $2,875
- New for 2027: Morocco Premium Family Holiday (10 days) and Norway Family Holiday with Teenagers (6 days)
National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures
Two Expedition Leaders, an arrival transfer, daily breakfast, snacks and water. Child rates cover ages 7 to 12.
- Egypt Family Journey: 9 days from $3,599 adult; on sale it showed $2,519 adult and $2,379 child
- New 9-day Peru Family Journey for ages 7 and up
- Some Family Journeys set a minimum of 12
G Adventures Family
Family trips run for ages 6 to 17; G’s standard trips take children from 12, with one adult for every two minors.
- Small groups and local transport
- Leader tips are extra
- Insurance is mandatory on every G trip
Tauck Bridges
Tauck’s family line includes all gratuities and most meals, with hands-on activities such as rafting, horseback riding and museum scavenger hunts.
- Blue Danube Family Riverboat Adventure: 8 days from $5,790
- Croatian Coast Family Voyage: 8 days from $6,790 triple, June to August 2027, on a 34-guest yacht (8+)
- Book eight on a departure and the ninth travels free
Adventures by Disney
Disney’s guided trips run by land and by river, with Junior Adventurers activities for children and some adults-only departures.
- New for 2027: Thailand (10 days), Croatia & Slovenia (8), Sicily & Amalfi Coast (8)
- 2026 examples: Costa Rica 7 days $5,299, Peru 8 days $6,599, Italy 8 days $7,199 (agency)
- River fares include the guides’ tips; land fares don’t
What a family of four pays
Per-person prices hide the family bill. Put the whole party on one line and compare by the day.
Family cost per day
What your whole family pays, by the day
Enter the total for everyone, after any child discount, and the trip length. We started you with two adults and two children on three real trips.
Starting figures, our arithmetic for two adults and two children: Intrepid $3,315 adult with 20% off for the kids; Nat Geo’s sale prices of $2,519 adult and $2,379 child; Adventures by Disney’s 2026 Italy price of $7,199 with children about 5% less (agency figure). Land only, before flights and tips.
The child discount changes less than you’d think. At Disney it’s about 5%; at Intrepid, 20%. The bigger swing is which kind of tour you pick.
Add the tips the fare leaves out. On a family of four, a per-person daily guide tip adds up four times; Tauck Bridges and Rick Steves include theirs, and our tipping guide has the rest.
Which family tour suits your crew
Five taps. The matcher weighs each brand’s published ages, prices and inclusions against your answers.
Matcher
Find the family tour that fits your kids
Answer for your youngest traveler. That’s whose age sets the rules.
Where families go first, and who takes them
The best first family tour has short travel days and something to climb, splash in or spot. These are the places family brands run most.
US and Canadian national parks
Short drives, big views and days built around walks and wildlife. Parks Canada charges nothing for youth 17 and under at Banff.
- Yellowstone’s busiest months are June through September, per the Park Service
- Read our US national parks tours and Canadian Rockies tours
- Rocky Mountaineer charges the same seat price at any age
Alaska
Tauck Bridges runs Alaska: Call of the Wild in 2027, June through August, from $7,790 land only (reseller price).
- July is peak and usually the most expensive month, Princess says
- May and September are shoulder months
- Pair it with a cruise: our Alaska cruisetours and Alaska cruises guides
Italy
Intrepid’s Italy Family Holiday runs 8 days from $3,315. Adventures by Disney adds Sicily & Amalfi Coast for 2027, with family departures.
- Trafalgar’s Kids & Teens savings apply to its regular Italy tours, ages 5 to 17
- Summer heat in the south is real; plan rest hours
- Read our Italy tours guide
Greece
Intrepid’s Greece Family Holiday runs 8 days from $2,875. Islands, ferries and beaches give kids a break between ruins.
- Ferry days mean carrying bags; pack light
- G Adventures standard Greek islands trips start at age 12
- Read our Greece tours guide
Peru and Machu Picchu
Tauck Bridges’ Mystical Peru runs 8 days from $5,990 in June and July, with a night at Machu Picchu. National Geographic’s new Peru Family Journey takes children from 7.
- June through August is Peru’s busiest stretch, Intrepid says
- Altitude affects children too; ask your pediatrician
- Read our Peru tours guide
African safaris
Tauck Bridges safaris take children from 5. Collette’s safaris start at 13, and a gorilla-trekking permit in Rwanda requires age 15.
- Game drives can run for hours; think about your youngest’s patience
- Tauck runs Tanzania: A Grand Family Safari
- Read our African safaris guide
England, Scotland and Wales
Castles, trains and a language the kids already speak. Every US traveler, including children, needs a UK ETA, £20 since April 8, 2026.
- Trafalgar’s Kids & Teens savings apply to its Britain tours
- Book the ETA at gov.uk, not a look-alike site
- Read our Britain tours guide
Touring on a school calendar
If your dates are set by the school year, you can’t chase shoulder season. You can still plan around the crowds and the sell-outs.
Family departures cluster in summer. Tauck Bridges’ 2027 Croatia and Alaska trips run June through August, and Mystical Peru in June and July.
They also sell early. A Disney-specialist agency notes that Adventures by Disney’s summer Europe and holiday departures tend to sell out quickly.
Summer isn’t automatically the priciest season on regular tours. Trafalgar’s Easy Pace Italy costs about $4,850 on June 6, 2027 against $5,595 on May 2, and Rick Steves’ Best of Rome charges June the same as April, May, September and October.
Places do get busier. Yellowstone’s busiest months run June through September, July is Alaska’s peak, and June through August is Peru’s busiest stretch.
No operator we read publishes a school-holiday surcharge. Book family departures as soon as the school calendar is out, and check our booking-window guide for deposits and insurance dates.
Per person, sharing, from each operator’s own 2027 departure list (fetched October 26, 2026). These are regular tours, not family products.
Grandparents, cousins and the whole extended family
The grandparents are paying, or the cousins are coming, or both. Group rules and private options matter more than the brochure.
Three generations on one trip is what Tauck Bridges is designed for: its FAQ describes families of parents, children and often grandparents. One guest must be 21 or older to book.
Bring enough people and the price drops. Tauck gives the ninth Bridges traveler a free place when eight book a departure, and Trafalgar takes an extra 5% off for groups of nine or more.
Collette runs private family tours from 10 guests, and Globus Private Touring will run a Globus or Cosmos tour for your party alone.
Intrepid’s family trips need at least one traveler under 18, so grandparents can come along with the grandkids. Check the pace for the oldest traveler too; our slower-pace guide has the walking and luggage rules.
The fine print parents ask about
A family tour is a contract for several people at once. Four rules come up on almost every booking.
Childcare isn’t included anywhere we read. Tauck says so outright, and Intrepid says its leaders aren’t employed to provide childcare.
Rooms follow rules. Tauck puts under-18s in a room with an adult, Intrepid always rooms children with a parent or guardian, and Collette warns triple rooms are limited and go first come, first served.
Documents count per child. Every child needs a passport, and every traveler to the UK, children included, needs an ETA.
Insurance is mandatory on G Adventures, Nat Geo and Intrepid trips. On the others, buy it inside the operator’s window; it’s often 14 days from deposit.
Before a family departure
Who fits where with kids along
Good fit if
- Your youngest is under 5: Tauck Bridges (3+ on many trips) or a private tour
- Your kids are 6 to 12 and you want everything planned: Adventures by Disney or Tauck Bridges
- You want active days at a lower price: Intrepid, G Adventures or Nat Geo Family Journeys
- Your teens love history: a Trafalgar or Collette tour with a child rate
Look elsewhere if
- Your youngest is under the trip’s own minimum, even if the brand’s is lower
- You need childcare so the adults can have an evening out
- You’re booking Contiki or O.A.T. with children; neither is built for them
- You need four beds in one room and nobody has confirmed it
Our take
Start with your youngest child’s age. It rules out more tours than budget does.
Disney and Tauck Bridges cost the most and plan the most, with Tauck taking younger kids and including the tips. Intrepid and Nat Geo Family Journeys give you a small group of families at a fraction of the price.
Take the quiz, then send us your dates. We’ll check which family departures still have room for your party and how the rooms will work.
Where to go from here: family brands and destinations
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Tell us the kids’ ages, your dates and who else is coming. We’ll match the departures that take your youngest, check the rooming and price the whole family.
What parents and grandparents ask us
What are the best guided tours for families with kids?
Adventures by Disney and Tauck Bridges design every trip around families, with activities for children and gratuities handled differently. Intrepid, G Adventures and National Geographic Family Journeys run small-group family trips at lower prices. Trafalgar, Globus, Cosmos and Collette accept children from 5 on regular tours, which suits older kids who enjoy history.
Is Adventures by Disney or Tauck Bridges better?
It depends on your kids’ ages and how much you want included. Tauck Bridges welcomes children from 3 on many itineraries, though it recommends 8, and includes all gratuities and most meals. Adventures by Disney’s minimum age is 5, it recommends 6 and up, sends two Adventure Guides on every land trip, and leaves the guides’ tips to you on land.
What is the minimum age on Trafalgar, Globus, Cosmos and Collette tours?
Five at all four. Trafalgar doesn’t accept under-5s, Globus and Cosmos set 5 (Globus Independent trips allow 2), and Collette takes children 5 and up on most tours, 13 and up on safaris.
Do tour companies give child discounts?
Some do. Intrepid takes 20% off family trips for travelers 17 and under, Trafalgar takes up to 10% off the land portion for ages 5 to 17, Collette has child land rates for ages 5 to 17, and National Geographic Family Journeys have child rates for ages 7 to 12. Globus, Cosmos and Rick Steves publish no child rate.
Where should we take the kids on a first family tour?
Places where the days are short and active work best: the US and Canadian national parks (Banff admission is free for youth 17 and under), Alaska, Costa Rica, Italy and Greece. Tauck Bridges, Adventures by Disney, Intrepid and National Geographic all run family trips to several of these.
When should families book a land tour around school holidays?
Early. Family departures cluster in June, July and August; Tauck Bridges’ 2027 Croatia and Alaska trips run June through August. A Disney-specialist agency notes that summer Europe and holiday departures tend to sell out quickly. Summer isn’t always the priciest month on regular tours: Trafalgar’s Easy Pace Italy costs less on June 6, 2027 than on May 2.
Can grandparents take grandchildren on a tour?
Yes, on most family products. Tauck Bridges trips are designed for parents, children and often grandparents, with one guest 21 or older. Intrepid family trips need at least one traveler under 18, and children always room with a parent or guardian. Collette runs private family tours from 10 guests.
Is childcare provided on family tours?
No. Tauck says childcare isn’t provided and children must be accompanied on activities, and Intrepid says its leaders aren’t employed to provide childcare. Adventures by Disney often runs separate supervised experiences for kids on some days, according to a Disney-specialist agency.
Sources · 27 links · checked October 2026
- Laughing Place: Adventures by Disney raises minimum age (June 30, 2022)
- MouseSavers: Adventures by Disney (updated Sept 24, 2026)
- Dreams Unlimited Travel: Adventures by Disney FAQ (inclusions, deposits)
- MagicGuides: How much does Adventures by Disney cost (2026 prices)
- Disney Parks Blog: New Adventures by Disney trips for 2027
- Happily Ever After Travel: Adventures by Disney 2027 offer
- Tauck: Traveling with Tauck Bridges (FAQ)
- Tauck: FAQ (child discounts, group offers)
- Tauck: Blue Danube Family Riverboat Adventure
- Luxury Travel Advisor: Tauck Bridges Croatia family cruise (2027)
- Tauck: Mystical Peru (Tauck Bridges)
- Frosch reseller: Tauck Bridges Alaska Call of the Wild (2027)
- Trafalgar: Deals (Kids & Teens)
- Trafalgar: US booking conditions (Dec 16, 2022)
- Globus: Travel terms and conditions (revised Sept 8, 2026)
- Cosmos: Terms and conditions
- Collette: Multigenerational travel
- Intrepid Travel: Family trip FAQs
- Intrepid Travel: 80+ new trips for 2027
- G Adventures: FAQ (family trips, ages)
- G Adventures: National Geographic Family Journeys
- G Adventures: Egypt Family Journey
- Travel Market Report: Nat Geo Expeditions with G Adventures, 30 new journeys (Sept 2026)
- Parks Canada: Banff fees
- Princess Lodges: When to go to Alaska
- NPS: Yellowstone seasons
- Trafalgar: Easy Pace Italy (2027 dates)