Intrepid captures untouched demographic

Mother and kids visiting Paris. They are watiching beautiful Paris view from the top of Montmartre. One of the boys is pointing at something.

Think you can’t go to exotic locations like India or Egypt with kids? Think again.

And forget the outdated two adults and two children family packages – because Intrepid is changing the game for good.

This week, Intrepid Travel announced six new tours for single parents and their children – and is the first travel company to offer this kind of tour.

The adventure travel company says it is long overdue for the travel industry to cater for solo parent families – who make up more than 15 per cent of all Aussie families.

Dyan McKie, Brand Manager of Family Adventures, Intrepid Travel, is a single mum herself.

“You only need to look at family holiday packages widely advertised by the travel industry to see they cater for two parents and two children,” she said.

“In many ways this assumption is archaic and doesn’t reflect today’s families. The travel industry caters for so many niche groups but solo parents have been ignored for too long.

“Our existing family trips have been increasingly popular with solo parents as it allows children to bond and form their own friendships – meaning the parents enjoy some much deserved rest and relaxation.”

Sixteen per cent of Intrepid family bookings were single parents and their children last year, and the company continues to experience increased enquiries and requests from solo parents.

To cater to this demand and include tours for all types of families, Intrepid has designed new trips in Costa Rica, Thailand, Northern India, Egypt, Vietnam and Morocco.

These destinations were intentionally chosen to make it easier for solo parents as they could otherwise feel intimidated to travel to these destinations alone with their children. Because how many family trips to Fiji or the Gold Coast can you possibly do?

The 15-day Costa Rica itinerary includes a range of adventurous activities like white water rafting, horse riding, hiking through jungles to waterfalls and zooming through the treetops on a zipline. Families will also glide through the waterways of Tortuguero National Park to seek out monkeys and turtles by foot and boat.

The 10-day Northern India Holiday for solo parent families lets you taste sizzling curries in Delhi, stroll through the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur and take in the famous landmark of the Taj Mahal.

Solo parents who don’t want to be restricted to the likes of large cruise ships or yet another theme park extravaganza can explore Egypt on a nine-day itinerary that includes cruising the Nile in a Felucca, camel riding and having dinner with a Nubian family.

For single parents who have always wanted to explore Morocco, they can now do so with an eight-day itinerary tailor-made for them and their kids – from deserts to pristine beaches to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.

Closer to home in Asia, single parents can relax on the 12-day Thailand itinerary whilst the kids are entertained with colourful markets in Bangkok to an Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. In Vietnam, families can enjoy a cyclo tour of Hanoi, sleep under the stars whilst cruising the natural wonder of Halong Bay and get tailor made outfits in Hoi An.

Plus, Intrepid has also launched its new 2018 family itineraries including an eight-day Bali Family Holiday (designed specifically for teenagers), a Tanzania Family Safari and an eight-day trip in Mexico, which takes families to sunny beaches, forests, lost ruins and colonial townships.

And suddenly, we’re wishing we were single parents. If only to do each and every one of these trips.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

intrepid single parent families solo parent travel