Smithsonian Family Adventures

Experiencing the world through travel can teach your kids more about life and what it means to be a part of this earth than any textbook ever could.  To that end, Thomson Family Adventures has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to offer some truly exceptional travel experiences for your family.  These Smithsonian Family Adventures make experiential learning a central focus, and broaden your family’s horizons in some astounding ways. You’ll see how people really live in the cities, farms, mountains, and rain forests of China, Costa Rica, Turkey, Peru and Tanzania. In addition to the “must-see” sites and some extraordinary wildlife viewing, we’ll take you well beyond the cookie-cutter tourist destinations and deep into the real landscapes and cultures that give each country its character and true identity. Join us on our Smithsonian Family Adventures for a genuinely unforgettable family experience.

China
A Smithsonian Family Adventure

Trip Difficulty

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 10+

  • Encounter panda families up close at a breeding center
  • Actively help restore the Great Wall of China
  • Spend three nights at the elegant and authentic Linden Centre
Trip Details
Teaser pic
Costa Rica
A Smithsonian Family Adventure

Trip Difficulty

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 6+

  • Meet a professional volcanologist
  • Tour the Ad Astra Rocket facility
  • Whitewater raft on the Sarapiquí River
Trip Details
Teaser pic
Peru
A Smithsonian Family Adventure

Trip Difficulty

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 10+

  • Explore the Andes and see the ruins of long-lost civilizations, including Machu Picchu
  • Cruise out on Lake Titicaca and meet the inhabitants of its floating reed islands
  • Try your hand at country-style Peruvian cooking
Trip Details
Teaser pic
Tanzania
A Smithsonian Family Adventure in Photography

Trip Difficulty

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8+

  • Learn about the lifestyle of the Maasai people
  • Witness the most spectacular concentration of wildlife on earth
  • Work with an accomplished professional photographer to capture East Africa’s natural beauty
Trip Details
Teaser pic
Turkey
A Smithsonian Family Adventure

Trip Difficulty

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8+

  • Explore the wonders of Istanbul and an ancient underground city
  • Swim in ancient baths renowned for their healing powers
  • Sail along the Turquoise Coast
Trip Details
Teaser pic