National Geographic Traveller UK April 2020

SOURCE: DOFE.ORG. IMAGE: GETTY

Teen spi ri t

FAMILY

Looking for travel inspiration for your teenagers?

Broaden their horizons with these inspiring trips

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has pulled
together a list of 25 activities to help build
conidence, independence and resilience
among youngsters — and support positive
mental health and physical wellbeing in the
process. We pick four of our favourite and
suggest an itinerary that its the bill.

Set yourself a physical challenge
Learn survival skills at the Sani
Resort on Greece’s Halkidiki coast,
courtesy of the new Bear Grylls
Survival Academy. Lessons
include camoulage, navigation,
rat-building and foraging.
HOW TO DO IT: The BGSA Teen
Club starts from €40 (£33.50)
per day, per person. saniresort.gr

Spend time in nature
Head to Ecuador’s Mashpi Lodge to
experience 6,200 acres of cloud forest,
soaring through the treetops on the Sky
Bike and Dragonly Canopy Gondola. Led
by Mashpi’s team of local naturalist guides,
teens will learn how to safely navigate
the forest on foot and observe the lodge’s
resident scientists at work in the lab.
HOW TO DO IT: $1,340 (£1,030) per room per
night, including shared transfers from
Quito and all meals and guided activities
and excursions within the reserve. Excludes
international lights. mashpilodge.com

Travel somewhere new

It can be particularly rewarding for young

people when they step out of their comfort

zone, and there’s nowhere better to do

this than the wilds of South Africa. Scott

Dunn’s teen programme ofers an African

adventure with two unforgettable safari

experiences, including a trip to Marakela

National Park, before heading to the Leobo

Private Reserve and concluding in

buzzing Cape Town.

HOW TO DO IT: Prices from

£6,000 a person, departing

June. scottdunn.com

Experience a digital detox

Join Metropolitan Touring’s

island-hopping safari and bring

biology to life with a trip to the

Galápagos Islands. Twin it with a

digital switch-of, and book day trips with

expert guides, traversing the rim of the

active Sierra Negra volcano and spotting

whitetip reef sharks. Head to Santa Cruz

Island for trips on the hotel’s yacht, as well as

snorkelling, suring and kayaking.

HOW TO DO IT: From $3,554 (£2,730)

per person, double occupancy, including

all accommodation, return inter-island

lights, tours, excursions and meals.

Excludes international lights.

metropolitan-touring.com

MARIA PIERI

DID YOU KNOW?

20% of 14-18-year-olds

have never been for

a walk or hike in the

countryside, and 52%

have never volunteered

for their community

READ MORE

Check out the

full list — ranging

from learning about

climate change to public

speaking — at dofe.org/

experience-list

FROM TOP: Group hike to the Manto

de la Novia waterfall in Banos, Ecuador;

exploring the forest near Mashpi

Lodge, Ecuador

SMART TRAVELLER

32 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel