Italian Lakes, Slovenian Scenery & Croatian Coast - A European Family Road Trip

Sixteen days through three countries with children in mind, and the itinerary is sharper than most family trips because the activities are genuinely interesting rather than merely child-proof.

Turin starts and ends it, with the Egyptian Museum, which holds the second largest collection of Egyptian antiquities anywhere after Cairo. Milan follows for the Duomo and the Galleria, then two nights at Bardolino on Lake Garda with pedalos and a private boat tour round the Sirmione peninsula past Roman ruins and Maria Callas’s old villa.

Slovenia comes next. Ribnica gets two nights for a boat trip through Krizna Cave, which has a chain of underground lakes and is explored by dinghy rather than walkway. Then Croatia and three nights at Bale in Istria, with Brijuni National Park offshore: the island has Roman villa ruins, genuine dinosaur footprints in the rock, and a population of antelope, zebra and waterbuck descended from animals given to Tito as diplomatic gifts when this was his summer retreat.

Bovec back in Slovenia gets three nights of canyoning and abseiling on the Soca, a river so clear and green it looks artificial, plus a hike up Monte Rombon past two First World War forts. Bolzano closes the trip with three nights, a cable car up to Colle and the South Tyrol museum, where Otzi the Iceman lies in a cold chamber, a Copper Age man found in a glacier in 1991. Original Travel include the hire car, accommodation, the private tours and activities, concierge access, a 24-hour helpline and carbon absorption. Flights and most meals are separate. Prices run from 4,000 to 5,200 pounds per person.