08 MAY 2019: National Geographic and G Adventures have officially launched their expanded partnership, National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures. The new program of 12 trips is now on sale globally and feature unique National Geographic-inspired experiences for children and adults to connect as a family when they travel together on departures starting in March 2020.
The trips visit 12 countries on five continents and range from eight to 13 days, with reduced pricing available to children ages 12 and under. Each small-group tour will be led by two specially-trained Chief Experience Officers, who will deliver one-of-a-kind itineraries and activities to best meet children’s and adults’ interests.
Each activity was designed around four guiding National Geographic themes:
photography and storytelling
history and culture
wildlife and conservation exploration.
Among the destination and activity highlights that families can experience together are: wildlife spotting in Alaska’s national parks, where children can earn a junior ranger badge; pasta making and gladiator school in Italy; sumo wrestling lessons and samurai swordplay in Japan; acrobatics demonstrations with circus performers in Cambodia; and ziplining through the lush Costa Rican rainforest canopy.
The expanded partnership between G Adventures and National Geographic follows the success of National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures, launched in 2015. With the growing popularity of these itineraries, G Adventures and National Geographic identified an opportunity to expand their partnership into the ever-growing family travel market.
“National Geographic Expeditions is thrilled to share the itineraries for the launch of this new line of family trips,” said Heather Heverling, National Geographic Senior Vice President of Product Management.
“These trips reflect National Geographic’s mission to ignite the explorer in all of us and provide unique travel experiences that help us feel more connected to the natural world and the many differing cultures in it. This expanded partnership with G Adventures has given us a new opportunity to provide one-of-a-kind, immersive experiences to travellers who want to make meaningful, lifelong memories with members of their family.”
Before developing the new program, National Geographic and G Adventures surveyed family travellers around the world to gain insights into what they most want in a family trip. A vast majority (85 percent) of travellers surveyed said they would prefer activities the whole family can enjoy together versus those that allow for separate adult relaxation time. Guided by this new research, National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures was built as a collection of new itineraries in exciting destinations that allow families to focus on what’s really important—having fun, connecting, learning, and creating lasting memories together.
“What really excites me about this new family travel style is how much learning, bonding, adventure and enjoyment is included, for every member of the family, at such an accessible price,” said G Adventures’ Canadian Marketing Director, Aizaz Sheikh.
“Between National Geographic’s rich storytelling and G Adventures’ local expertise, families will discover that there is no need for compromise. Parents and children will each find something to look forward to —starting from pre-trip materials like family field guides and photography tips to spark a child’s imagination, to unique destination experiences that will impress even the most seasoned adult travellers,” said Sheikh.
Overwhelmingly (81 percent), family travellers who were surveyed said they ‘love to learn’ while traveling; another 73 percent said they especially love the outdoors. Even more significant, was how people identified family—not just the nuclear family, but multigenerational—including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
For more than 90 percent of these multigenerational travellers, ‘creating long-lasting memories’ and ‘bonding with each other’ are the most important outcomes of a family holiday, along with ‘having fun’.