Travelling with adult children is much more complicated than with little ones. Sure, your toddlers can get grumpy, and chasing them around can be tiring, but they would not care much about where you are taking them. Now that your children are grown, deciding where to take them can be tricky. Not only will they have strong opinions on where you will go and what to do, but they might also choose to do things their way.

The key is to take them to places that offer a mix of outdoor adventure, cultural excursions, great shopping, fine dining, and a little nightlife. Here are some luxury adventures for families with adult children.

Water Sports in Barbados

Barbados is a gorgeous island with white sandy beaches and stunning weather, making it an ideal destination for a family holiday in the Caribbean. It more than lives up to its reputation as the Caribbean’s culinary capital. The island also offers numerous options for fun water sports for families with adult children.

Adventurous children may want to try scuba diving in Barbados, where more than 200 wrecks litter its seabed. The Folkestone Underwater Park and the Carlisle Bay Marine Park are two of the best areas for diving in Barbados. But if your children are hesitant to dive yet still want to explore underwater, take the Atlantis Submarine with the entire family and marvel at the incredible reefs without getting wet. Snorkelling is also a great alternative to scuba diving. When snorkelling in Barbados, you will have the chance to swim with sea turtles, such as in Sandy Bay, a great spot to see these cute creatures up close.

While Barbados is home to many luxury resorts that cater to families, those with adult children may want to stay at one of the family holiday rentals in the Caribbean. Some of these luxury Caribbean villas have direct access to the beach, where numerous water sports are available, from windsurfing to kite surfing and more.

Horseback Riding in Mongolia

Adventurous families should consider a trip to the remote country of Mongolia, a landlocked nation in Central Asia sandwiched between China and Russia. Your adventurous adult children will surely delight in riding horses to explore the country’s vast landscapes and discover what it is like to live a nomadic life. The best part is that even novice riders can try this unforgettable horseback riding experience.

Mongolia is renowned for its wild horses, as most Mongolians live a nomadic lifestyle, and horses are their mode of transportation. Discovering Mongolia through horseback riding puts you in the life of its inhabitants, which is a great way to immerse yourselves in the local culture. After your exciting journey, you will sleep in yurts and have the opportunity to interact with local nomads.

Horseback riding in Mongolia also allows you to appreciate the beauty of the country’s unspoilt landscapes, including vast steppes, lush forests, tall mountains, and majestic waterfalls, an experience your children will treasure for the rest of their lives.

Spot Jaguars in Brazil

If your children are wildlife enthusiasts keen on seeing incredible animals in the wild, take them to Brazil, where they will have the opportunity to spot jaguars. Jaguars have a reputation for being incredibly difficult to spot in the wild, so seeing them in the lush forests of Brazil is a rare experience.

Since jaguars are elusive, it is best to book with a tour company for a higher chance of seeing them. Many travel companies offer great tours and holiday itineraries in Pantanal to ensure you see the best of Brazil, including spotting these elusive animals. One of the best places is the Cuiabá River in the Northern Pantanal region. It is the largest wetland in the world and the only area where you can realistically expect to see jaguars. Encounters here are more common than in some other locations.

The best time to spot them along the Cuiabá River is towards the end of the dry season, when floods have receded and jaguars make their way to the riverbanks to hunt. Take a boat ride along the river to maximise your chances of seeing these elusive cats.

Witness Wildlife on the Galapagos Islands

Another destination for wildlife lovers is the Galapagos Islands. Offering a vacation like no other, the Galapagos will deliver a family trip of a lifetime. Unspoilt by humans, the Galapagos is an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Pacific, home to some of the world’s most incredible wildlife species. Your children can enjoy fun encounters with fearless wildlife, many of which you will not find anywhere else on Earth.

The learning opportunities in the Galapagos Islands are incredible, making it a perfect destination for families with curious children. They will learn about marine biology, evolution, oceanography, and climate science. The highlight will be encounters with rare species like blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and more.

The best way to explore the Galapagos with your children is to book a luxury cruise with a packed itinerary of island excursions, such as kayaking, snorkelling, and hiking.

Scuba Diving in Roatan

If your children are fond of diving, head to Roatan for your luxury family vacation. Located off the coast of Honduras, Roatan is home to some of the world’s best diving sites. As the largest of the three Bay Islands of Honduras, Roatan boasts stunning underwater beauty and incredible reefs, making it a haven for diving enthusiasts.

There are numerous diving sites around the island, but for beginners, the Sea Quest, which lies between West End and West Bay, is ideal. The site has a shallow area, perfect for new divers, and a deep section suited for experts. The highlight of diving here is swimming through the Roatan Marine Park’s coral nursery.