Where to Travel in October Half Term

Morocco

Morocco is an exceptional October half-term choice, offering exotic, action-packed family adventures with no long flights and no jet lag. Temperatures in the manageable mid-20s make for child-friendly sightseeing among bustling city souks, rolling desert dunes and remote mountain villages.

Why take the family?

Morocco is a particularly good choice for culturally curious families with inquisitive teenagers. Private cookery classes, hot-air balloon flights above the desert, discovering the movie sets of Ouarzazate and exploring medieval oasis towns on all-terrain bikes are just some of the amazing family experiences we’re able to arrange. Of course we’ll always throw in a few surprises too, like organising an unexpected private picnic in a hidden palm grove or planning a night under canvas in a private desert bivouac.

For those who like their travels to have a positive impact on the places they visit, we recommend a foodie-themed treasure hunt through the souks of Marrakech, which unlocks a charitable donation to Dar Taliba, a project empowering and educating young girls in the Atlas Mountains. We’ll arrange for you to visit the project as part of your trip too, so you can see for yourself how your donation is put to use.

Where to stay

Hidden away in Marrakech’s palmeraie, Villa Alkhozama is a study in understated luxury. More intimate than the medina’s riads yet no less indulgent, this two-bedroom retreat blends contemporary design with traditional Moroccan craftsmanship. Service is as discreet as it is attentive. Your personal butler anticipates your every need, whether arranging a rooftop sunset aperitif or a hammam ritual in the villa’s spa. Days unfold at a leisurely pace: breakfast beneath the shade of olive trees, afternoons lounging by the pool and evenings dining on fragrant tagines prepared by the in-house chef.

For the perfect city and desert combo, combine Villa Alkhozama with Dar Faracha, a restored three-bedroom Berber house in a walled orchard on the edge of the Sahara, with serene views of the surrounding oasis and Atlas Mountains beyond. The house has a dreamlike quality, made all the more special by the wonderful welcome and solicitous care you’ll receive. Savour organic garden produce, relax on sunbeds or head out to explore by camel, bike or horseback. Or thrill the family with 4×4 adventures, picnics in secret locations and nights under canvas beneath star-ladened skies.

India

October marks the end of the monsoon in India and is one of the best months for visiting the country. Most national parks and tiger reserves reopen after the rains and temperatures are more manageable for exploring, generally sitting around 22–32°C, depending on the region.

Why take the family?

Few places open children’s minds more than India and the opportunity to combine city life, rich culture, rare wildlife and relaxing beach time in just 10 days makes for an incredibly diverse and rewarding family holiday. We’ll happily tailor a journey to your family’s unique interests but a wonderful option would be to begin in Mumbai exploring Bollywood and the city’s culinary treasures (perhaps including an inspirational visit to one of the amazing NGOs we support), then meeting the real-life cast of Kipling’s Jungle Book on a tiger safari in Central India before finishing on Goa’s sublime beaches.

Where to stay

Bordering Pench National Park, Jamtara Wilderness Camp reimagines the classic safari lodge with understated style and a strong connection to the landscape. With just a handful of luxurious canvas tents overlooking the river, it offers an intimate base for families to explore one of India’s finest tiger reserves. What sets Jamtara apart is the experience beyond the game drives. Guided walks with naturalists, riverside breakfasts, birdwatching and evenings around the campfire create a slower rhythm that celebrates the wilderness in all its forms.

Tucked within a coconut grove beside the backwaters of northern Goa, Coco Shambhala is a secluded collection of beautifully designed private villas that offers a refreshing alternative to Goa’s standard beachfront resorts. Surrounded by tropical gardens and just moments from quiet, unspoiled beaches, it provides a sense of privacy and calm rarely found in Goa. What makes it distinctive is its effortless blend of contemporary luxury and laidback Goan living. Days unfold at your own pace, with private chefs, personalised service, yoga, boating on the backwaters, or simply relaxing by your own pool. Intimate, understated and deeply restorative, it is an ideal place to slow down and reconnect before the journey home.

Japan

With great October weather, amazing autumnal colours and a never-ending list of cultural activities to stimulate young minds, Japan makes for the most rewarding of half-term escapes.

Why take the family to Japan?

For kids of all ages, Japan is the ultimate candy store. From the thrill of donning ninja and samurai regalia to hanging out with sumo wrestlers and slurping up ramen that you’ve just learned to make, we’ll craft endlessly fun moments to make your family go “Wow!” If you love shared adventures, why not climb a waterfall or paddle a mountain river? If all you want to do is indulge your inner nerd, then we’ll take you to Tokyo’s Akihabara district with its cosplay crowds, megaplexes and idol stores. And we’ll interweave it all with bullet trains, high-end hotels and the best guides and hosts in the business.

Where to stay

One of Tokyo’s iconic luxury hotels, the Mandarin Oriental offers an enticing blend of sleek modernity and timeless Japanese elegance. Set high above the streets of Tokyo’s historic merchant district, the hotel offers fabulous views of the city and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. Rooms and suites come with floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe them in natural light, while the dining is nothing short of extraordinary, with 12 world-class restaurants and bars, including the Michelin-starred Sushi Shin by Miyakawa. There is also an award-winning spa, infinity pool and a fitness centre.

Housed within a restored 17th-century kominka farmhouse overlooking the Kiso Valley in Japan’s Central Alps, Zenagi is an exclusive-use private lodge with an in-house chef, sommelier and host. Perfect for families or groups of friends wanting to experience authentic rural Japan, it offers curated experiences that immerse you in the region’s traditions and natural beauty. Hike the Nakasendo Trail, with its ancient post towns and moss-covered shrines; kayak crystal-clear rivers with an Olympic champion; head out on mountain bikes; or learn traditional crafts from local artisans, from washi paper making to pottery and wood carving.

The Galápagos

While the Galápagos are great to visit at most times of the year, October is an especially good month as temperatures are not too high and the sea is generally calm and nutrient rich, attracting abundant marine life. Sea lions are highly active, with pups visible on many beaches; marine iguanas congregate in large numbers; blue-footed boobies are busy raising chicks; and snorkelling trips offer chances to spot sea turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, whale sharks and large pods of dolphins.

Why take the family?

The Galápagos Islands offer one of the planet’s most extraordinary family wildlife adventures by serving as a vast and interactive outdoor classroom where the native wildlife is entirely fearless of humans. Here, you and your children can swim alongside playful sea lion pups and walk inches from giant tortoises. This unique lack of natural fear allows young travellers to look blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas directly in the eye from a safe and respectful distance, bringing school biology lessons to life through first-hand encounters with evolution, geology and global conservation.

The daily routine is naturally active and engaging, keeping children entertained through constant movement. Spend your days snorkelling crystal-clear waters, kayaking along pristine coastlines, exploring mysterious volcanic lava tunnels and paddleboarding through quiet mangroves. If travelling with older children, an expedition cruise allows you to wake up in a completely new and remote location each morning and experience the maximum variety of wildlife. For younger children, a land-based experience based at a luxury eco-lodge or private villa is ideal, offering a highly flexible schedule with plenty of downtime for fun by the pool and a wide choice of activities.

Where to stay

Owned and run by husband-and-wife biologists and super-hosts Reyna and Roberto Oleas, Montemar Eco Luxury Villas is a highly prized private launchpad for conservation-driven adventures by land, sea and air around the Galápagos . Reyna and Roberto personally curate custom daily excursions for your family, arranging everything from private island-hopping day boats to guided hikes, ensuring the pace matches your children’s physical stamina. Add to this superb food, great camaraderie and giant tortoises lumbering across the estate, and broad grins are guaranteed to be sported on all your faces.

One of the Galápagos Islands’ most experienced expedition cruise operators, Ecoventura hits the perfect sweet spot between the personalised service of a private superyacht and the structured activities of a larger cruise. Its three identical, 20-guest yachts, Origin, Theory, and Evolve, offer interconnecting cabins with panoramic windows, a rare 1-to-10 guide-to-guest ratio and designated family departures in which the crew adapts evening briefings for younger minds, serves child-friendly gourmet menus and groups kids with peers their own age. Families also gain access to youth-sized wetsuits, glass-bottom boats and glass-bottomed kayaks, ensuring even non-swimmers can safely spot sea lion pups at play.

How to plan your Half Term escape

Our team of experts are on hand to help. Get in touch to start tailoring your own dream family holiday.