The Wild West in Nevada
Mustang Monument in Nevada is already pretty remote — a 900 square mile ranch that’s home to wild mustangs. This year, you can get further away from it all on a sleep-out on the historic California Trail in luxed-up pioneer wagons. Cook dinner on the campfire, toast marshmallows and listen to stories and legends told by Native Americans under the stars. Back at Mustang Monument, go riding, visit ghost towns and abandoned gold mines in the Wild West and try calf-roping lessons.
Details Four nights’ full board in a tipi, with flights, car hire and excursions, plus the sleepover, costs from £2,995pp (0843 778 9926, steppestravel.co.uk)
Treasure hunt in the Highlands
Combine a good old-fashioned treasure hunt with an activity trip in the Scottish Highlands that takes in sea kayaking to a deserted island, a bike ride along the canal to Fort William and wildlife spotting. The guided trip lets children learn about the great outdoors while hunting for treasure; they collect clues at each destination and on the last day use geocaching (basic navigational skills) to find the treasure.
Details Six nights’ B&B costs from £835 per adult, £735 per child, including one lunch, activities and guiding (01479 420020, wildernessscotland.com)
Lake stay in Canada
Canadians get away from it all by taking holidays by the lakes, where they hike in pine forests and kayak and swim in the clear lake water. You can do the same by renting their privately owned lakeside homes, in Ontario’s “cottage country”, just a 90-minute to three-hour drive from Toronto.
Details Cosy Cottage, in the Kawartha Lakes, is surrounded by water on three sides, and costs £1,225 a week in peak season for six people in three bedrooms (01225 471893, triptoes.com)
Shepherds’ huts in Wales
You’ll have no neighbours and no wi-fi when you stay at these two remote shepherds’ huts on Abergavenny’s Sugar Loaf mountain — just an axe, a campfire, and a stunning view. When you’re bored of that, head down to the farm to help with lambing, shearing, hay making or go tractor riding. One hut has a double cabin bed with an extra child’s bed as well as the kitchen and living area, while the other houses two bunk beds and the plumbed-in shower room.
Details Three nights for a family of up to five in the two huts costs from £245 (sugarandloaf.com)
Macedonia adventure
On the very edges of Europe, Macedonia is new on the family tourist map and the attractions are more activity based. Go horse riding in the Mavrovo National Park, take a kayak trip in dramatic Matka Canyon and a boat trip to Snake Island to spot rare birds and wildlife. Who needs an iPad?
Details Eight days costs from £895pp and includes all accommodation, meals and activities, but not flights (keadventure.com)
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Slovenia safari tent
Catch your own fish in the stream at this eco resort, then head to the over-stream sauna before bedding down for the night in a safari tent, complete with its own hot tub. Near Lake Bled, the resort offers plenty of water sports as well as summer tobogganing, caving, and everything from picking mushrooms to zip wiring.
Details From €80-€280 (£57-£200) a night per person, with a minimum three-night stay (goglamping.net)