Inspired by Sir David Attenborough, Pelorus has unveiled Curious Minds, a new collection of Gen Alpha-centric experiences designed to help children explore the natural world, engage with different cultures and develop lifelong interests.

Experiential travel company Pelorus has launched Curious Minds, a new family-focused travel service that places children's interests and personalities at the centre of trip planning.

Inspired by the legacy of English broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, the programme is based on the idea that travel can play a formative role in a child's development. Rather than beginning with a destination, Curious Minds starts by identifying a child's natural interests and designing journeys around them.

The launch comes amid growing concern about children's disconnection from nature, rising levels of eco-anxiety and increasing demand from wealthy families for travel experiences that offer educational value alongside leisure.

Pelorus has developed five traveller profiles to guide itinerary design: the Guardian, the Creator, the Seeker, the Explorer and the Storyteller. Each reflects a different way children engage with the world and is intended to shape the types of experiences they encounter during their travels.

For children identified as Guardians, experiences focus on conservation and environmental research. In Antarctica, families can join scientists as they tag humpback whales with heart-rate monitors, while in the Galápagos they can explore ecosystems known for their biodiversity. In Mozambique, children can assist researchers with marine conservation projects including DNA sampling and predator tracking.

Creators are encouraged to document and interpret the world around them through photography, writing and art. One itinerary retraces the journey of Odysseus across the Mediterranean aboard a private yacht, combining mythology with visits to ancient sites and encounters with local storytellers.

For Seekers, whose interests lie in science, discovery and the unknown, Pelorus offers experiences such as astronomy expeditions in Namibia beneath some of the world's darkest skies. In Indonesia, children can learn monofin swimming techniques while exploring coral reefs. In 2027, families will also be able to witness a solar eclipse from a private boat on the Nile, accompanied by an Egyptologist who explains both the science and historical significance of the event.

Explorer itineraries are built around adventure and remote destinations. In São Tomé and Príncipe, children can follow treasure trails, assist scientists monitoring turtle hatchlings and trek to hidden waterfalls. Other experiences include rainforest expeditions in Costa Rica and yacht voyages around the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

Meanwhile, Storytellers focus on cultural exchange and intergenerational knowledge. In Papua New Guinea, families can travel between islands and meet communities whose traditions have been preserved over centuries. In Kenya, children can take part in Warrior Games, learn traditional skills and engage with community conservation projects.

Jimmy Carroll, co-founder of Pelorus, says: "Travel shaped who I am, but it started long before I ever got on a plane. It started with the stories my grandparents told about the places they'd lived, the things they'd seen. Those stories made me want to see the world for myself, and when I did, it changed everything. The experiences we live become the people we are. Curious Minds exists on that belief: that if we can give children the right experience, in the right place, at the right moment, we don't just give them a memory, we give them a direction."

Geordie Mackay-Lewis, co-founder of Pelorus, says: "I grew up in the deserts of Oman and the UAE, camping in the dunes, diving off old dhows, exploring the wadis of the Jebel Akhdar. My father was ex-special forces with an appetite for places most people never reach, which meant adventure wasn't a holiday for us, it was just life. That upbringing shaped everything that came after. Joining the army, the expeditions I've led, and eventually, Pelorus. Curious Minds exists because I know firsthand what happens to a child who grows up with the world as their classroom. You don't just remember it, it becomes who you are."

The initiative builds on Pelorus Junior, a programme that introduced specialist junior adventure hosts and child-focused itineraries designed to keep younger travellers engaged while parents enjoy separate activities. Together, the two services reflect a broader shift in family travel, with children's interests increasingly influencing destination choices and holiday planning.

With Curious Minds, Pelorus is betting that the most valuable family trips of the future will not simply be measured by where children travel, but by what they learn and who they become along the way.