Child ages for family adventure vacations

Generally, being able to swim or cycle is going to make a family adventure vacation for under eights more enjoyable. However, it is not always a prerequisite for kayaking, for example, where sturdy buoyancy aids keep you afloat. Height is sometimes an issue, however, with 114cm usually around the minimum for activities with safety equipment, in order to ensure it fits. We recommend a tailor made adventure vacation for this age group, so that you can ensure your needs are met.

Ah, the blissful age of eight, when you can start doing all the things your parents never thought they would let you do, like canyoning, coasteering and careering down a canyon. What makes a good instructor excellent, for this age group, is when they can teach you how to gain that sense of freedom and exhilaration through adventure, while still respecting the rules of safety and environmental sensitivity.

Trips aimed at teenagers are usually small group vacations, where families can be matched age wise, they can stretch their adventure skills such as in kayaking or mountain biking more than they could with other age groups, and tour operators understand issues like needing food on tap at all times, and having later starts in the morning. They are often trips of a lifetime too, celebrating that rite of passage into adulthood, such as a South African safaris for families with teenagers, an adventure vacation on the Amazon in Peru, or a family vacation to Burma aimed at teenagers.

One of the most unsold and untold aspects of family adventure vacations is that there is never a maximum age. Long gone are the days when grandparents just want to go on a Saga cruise. Many are fit and feisty, boasting a sense of adventure that often increases with age. Just ask the older members of your family if they are up for kayaking around Croatia’s archipelago, husky sledding in Lapland or horseback riding on a family vacation in Mongolia. You’ll be surprised how many are.

Chloe Knott, from our supplier, Exodus, shares her advice on traveling in France with kids: “France is very suitable for families. There are a lot of different areas and a very diverse terrain, so where to go depends on what style of vacation your family wants. If you want a multi-activity vacation in the Dordogne for instance, it’s best to travel with kids of age five and up because it’s helpful if they can swim and cycle to get the most out of it. There are more coastal areas where you could happily take any age child and Provence is great for families who are happy to spend their time relaxing and looking around the fantastic markets there. The characteristics of the Alpine areas are predominantly steep surrounding valleys and even with the more gentle hills, more effort is required, so I wouldn’t recommend that for younger kids.”