Easter School Holidays: When Long-Haul Family Travel Truly Comes Into Its Own

The Easter school holidays offer families something rare: time.

With two to three weeks available, this is one of the best opportunities of the year for families to experience long-haul travel properly — without rushing, cutting corners or overwhelming children with constant movement.

As a specialist in long-haul family travel, with a focus on safaris and immersive cultural experiences, Easter is often the point in the year when truly memorable journeys become possible.

Below are destinations and travel styles that work particularly well over the Easter holidays, where depth, pacing and experience matter just as much as the destination itself.

Family safaris: best enjoyed with time on your side

Safaris reward patience. Longer stays allow children to settle into the rhythm of the bush, guides to tailor experiences, and families to enjoy wildlife without early starts every day.

Kenya (10–14 nights)

Kenya is one of the most family-friendly safari destinations in Africa, particularly at Easter.

• Excellent wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara and Laikipia

• Family-focused lodges with flexible activities

• Opportunities to combine safari with the Kenyan coast for downtime

• Warm, dry conditions ideal for game viewing

With the right pacing, Kenya offers an exceptional introduction to safari travel for families.

South Africa (14–21 nights)

South Africa works particularly well for families wanting variety and comfort.

• Malaria-free private reserves ideal for younger children

• Short internal flights and good road infrastructure

• Combine safari with Cape Town, the Winelands or the Garden Route

• Excellent guides and family-friendly lodges

Easter allows enough time to balance wildlife, culture and relaxation without feeling rushed.

Immersive cultural journeys in Asia

Asia is best experienced slowly, with time to absorb culture, food and daily life — something Easter holidays make possible.

Japan (14–21 nights)

Japan is outstanding for families with older children at Easter.

• Cherry blossom season adds a unique seasonal highlight

• Clean, safe and incredibly family-friendly

• A blend of tradition and modern culture

• Easy rail travel between cities when paced properly

With time to slow down, Japan becomes fascinating rather than overwhelming.

Vietnam (14–21 nights)

Vietnam offers rich culture, gentle adventure and excellent value for families.

• Street food tours, markets and local crafts

• Scenic areas like Halong Bay and rural central Vietnam

• Welcoming culture and relaxed pace

• Easy to balance sightseeing with downtime

Longer itineraries allow families to experience Vietnam beyond the highlights.

Latin America: culture, nature and adventure combined

Easter is one of the few times of year when Latin America works comfortably for families.

Costa Rica (14–21 nights)

Costa Rica is ideal for families wanting nature and adventure without intense travel days.

• Rainforests, wildlife and outdoor activities

• Zip-lining, guided nature walks and river experiences

• Excellent eco-lodges suited to families

• Safe, friendly and well-organised

  
  

With two to three weeks, families can explore multiple regions without rushing.

Peru (14–21 nights, older children)

For families with older children, Peru offers history, culture and dramatic landscapes.

• Inca heritage and Sacred Valley experiences

• Hands-on cultural encounters

• Carefully paced itineraries to manage altitude

• Deeply educational and rewarding

This is a destination where time makes all the difference.

What Easter is not ideal for

Even with longer holidays, some trips still require careful thought.

• Overly ambitious multi-country itineraries

• Constant hotel changes every night or two

• Trying to “see everything” in one trip

Easter works best when families choose fewer places and experience them more deeply.

Why Easter is such a valuable time to travel

Easter holidays allow families to:

• Travel further with less fatigue

• Build meaningful cultural connections

• Enjoy safaris at a natural pace

• Create shared experiences children remember, not endure

This is when long-haul family travel moves from being a holiday to becoming something truly transformative.

Final thought

Time is the greatest luxury in family travel — and Easter provides it.

My role is to help families use that time wisely, creating journeys that feel enriching, balanced and genuinely memorable.

If you’re considering a safari or immersive cultural journey during the Easter holidays, I’d be delighted to help you plan it properly.

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