Walking vacations for families
I wasn’t sure if all this time together just walking and talking was going to make or break us. It not only made us, but also gave us the best family vacation memories ever.
It can sometimes be a hard sell persuading children to go on a walking vacation for families. However, throw in a safari camp, a donkey to carry your bags, a mountain yurt or a swim at the end of each day and they start to warm to the idea. And if you get a guide who knows exactly how to get young people interested in landscape, wildlife and all the natural adventures that await, your vacation is made. There are some tricks, however. Such as having treats as bribes to get to the next peak or swotting up on your quiz questions. Covering the gamut of general knowledge as you walk will have you covering 5km before the children have even realised. Apart from that, walking time is pure family time. Something that is pretty rare these days.
See our health and safety section for more details on how to walk safely with your family.
See our health and safety section for more details on how to walk safely with your family.
Our Walking family Vacations
Lake Como family walking vacation, Italy
Lake Como; a panoramic hike, suited to do with children!
From
€635 to €847
8 days
ex flights
Luxury trekking vacation in the Atlas Mountains
Stay at the Kasbah and trek in style
From
€957
6 days
ex flights
Mercantour family hiking vacation, France
Family walking tour with a donkey in Southern French Alps
From
€560 to €660
7 days
ex flights
Nepal family vacation, walking in the Annapurnas
Low altitude trek in the Annapurna foothills
From
US $1799 to US $1850
12 days
ex flights
Family walking vacations with a donkey, France
Above the Rhône to discover the unspoilt traditional Ardèche
From
€685 to €715
7 days
ex flights
Sweden hiking vacation, self guided
Self-guided hiking through Stockholm's picturesque countryside
From
SKr 10695
8 days
ex flights
Dubrovnik & islands hiking vacation, Croatia
Walking vacation in Dubrovnik and islands in Croatia
From
€670 to €840
8 days
ex flights
Nepal family vacation
A fabulous family vacation including the best of Nepal
From
£1750 to £2100
12 days
ex flights
Canada national parks family vacation
Perfect adventure for families who love the outdoors
From
US $1749
12 days
ex flights
Family adventure vacation in Peru, Inca & Amazon
Pretty Sherpa villages and spectacular mountains
From
US $3049 to US $3279
13 days
ex flights
Mercantour center-based walking vacation, French Alps
Multiactivities for family, French Alps, ecolodge and yurt,
From
€599 to €676
7 days
ex flights
Catalonia family walking vacation
Walking vacation based from self catering townhouse Palamos
From
€375 to €795
8 days
ex flights
Family Kilimanjaro trek in Tanzania
A child friendly trek to the beautiful Kilimanjaro
From
US $2450 to US $2900
10 days
ex flights
Peru family adventure vacation
Peru Family Adventure activity vacation
From
US $2608
8 days
ex flights
Almeria walking vacation in Andalucia, Spain
Walking in the surrounding hills of almond and olive groves
From
£595
7 days
per accommodation
Walking vacation in Cuba
Cuba off the beaten track: Private guided walking vacation
From
£2425 to £2725
14 days
ex flights
What do family walking
vacations entail?
What’s involved on a family walking vacation very much depends on how old your kids are. Families with younger children should opt for a tailor made walking vacation, which will be designed around the needs of you and your brood. These vacations are self-guided and you’ll be provided with notes and itineraries so that how far you walk each day is your decision and you won’t have to worry about keeping up with a group when little legs get tired.
You could either be based in one place, going out to explore the local landscape each day and returning to the same bed at night, or go on a point-to-point break, where you walk (at a gentle pace) from friendly inn to friendly inn. If heading for the French countryside you could even make your family walking vacation that little bit more special by arranging for a friendly donkey to accompany you.
If your kids are eight years plus, things get a bit more exciting, as they can walk further and take part in more adventurous activities along the way, such as walking Machu Picchu in Peru or in the Annapurna foothills in Nepal. Small group walking trips as also possible once the kids are older. These are usually restricted to kids over the age of 12 as they involve longer days and more intense activities, and you’ll have to keep up with the other travelers on your trip. On small group vacations you’ll travel with like minded families, with a maximum of 16 people per trip. Walking is sometimes interspersed with other adventurous activities such as biking and kayaking.
If your kids are eight years plus, things get a bit more exciting, as they can walk further and take part in more adventurous activities along the way, such as walking Machu Picchu in Peru or in the Annapurna foothills in Nepal. Small group walking trips as also possible once the kids are older. These are usually restricted to kids over the age of 12 as they involve longer days and more intense activities, and you’ll have to keep up with the other travelers on your trip. On small group vacations you’ll travel with like minded families, with a maximum of 16 people per trip. Walking is sometimes interspersed with other adventurous activities such as biking and kayaking.
When and where to go with kids
Most of our walking vacations for younger children take place in Europe, with the French Alps, the Italian lakes Catalonia’s coast all popular. Temperatures are at their scorching best during the August school vacations, but the mountains and the coast should provide a little respite, with lake and ocean dips to keep you cool. Outside of the summer vacations, May or October half term is a good time to hit southern and central Europe, with mild conditions that are perfect for hiking.
If heading further afield, the August summer break sees excellent conditions on Mount Kilimanjaro, in Canada’s national parks and at Machu Picchu, while Nepal is best avoided due to monsoon rains. If walking in Annapurna or Everest Base Camp, the Easter break around March-April is a good time to visit.
If heading further afield, the August summer break sees excellent conditions on Mount Kilimanjaro, in Canada’s national parks and at Machu Picchu, while Nepal is best avoided due to monsoon rains. If walking in Annapurna or Everest Base Camp, the Easter break around March-April is a good time to visit.
Staying safe on a family
walking vacation
The great thing about a family walking vacation is that it brings out the wild side of both kids and grown-ups. That’s not to say that health and safety rules should be thrown out of the window, though. Responsible vacation companies will always have procedures in place, use reputable, qualified guides and be able to answer all your safety concerns. Read our advice page for more information on keeping you and your family safe on a walking vacation.
Our top Walking family Vacation
Lake Como family walking vacation, Italy
Lake Como; a panoramic hike, suited to do with children!
From
€635 to €847
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made at a time to suit you and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
This trip can be tailor made at a time to suit you and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Walking or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Walking vacation advice for families
Jonny Bealby, founder of our leading supplier Wild Frontiers, gives his advice on walking vacations for families:
“Don’t overstretch yourself on a family walking vacation, especially in remote parts of the world. Some children are great and can walk as far as the parents can, depending on age of course. But in general, it is better from a safety point of view to aim low and achieve, than aim high and not achieve. Because not achieving, in some of these places, can cause you some quite serious problems.”
Melanie McAnaw, walking vacation expert from our supplier, Headwater:
“We would recommend our single center vacations for families. These are great because you’re based in one hotel and can enjoy lots of other activities as well as the great walking routes. Or go for a combination activity vacation, such as our Dordogne or Austrian vacations,that combine walking with cycling and canoeing.”
“We would recommend our single center vacations for families. These are great because you’re based in one hotel and can enjoy lots of other activities as well as the great walking routes. Or go for a combination activity vacation, such as our Dordogne or Austrian vacations,that combine walking with cycling and canoeing.”
More about Walking
If you’re interested in finding out what we rate and what we don’t as part of our walking travel guide then you’ll be pleased to know that you have no further to travel other than right here.
When it comes to types of walking vacations they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes with center-based, walking safaris, self-guided walking tours and winter walking just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to stepping out in your favourite well-worn pair of hikers.
Where to go on a walking vacation will totally depend on time constraints and energy levels however, as our interactive map of highlights ranges from Canada and Patagonia to the Alps, the Atlas Mountains and Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit, you’ll have no excuses when it comes to deciding on where to go on a walking vacation.
If you’re looking to try a few new walking vacation activities then take a rest right here as we know what complements a walking vacation including ideas about cultural engagement, local food, wildlife watching and how to get two for the price of one.
Here are our Top 10 tough walks, our favourite ones to not only dream about, but train for, book and go. Boldly, to where just a few men, and women, have gone before.
Our top 10 mountains to climb are scattered around the globe, offering fit and adventurous travelers the chance to shoot for the summit and experience a unique part of the world in a single trip.
Discover walking vacation advice from the experts by reading up on getting started, packing tips, getting fit and how to travel safely with your kids when on a walking vacation, as well as walking vacation reviews from our travelers.
From porters’ rights in Nepal to leaving no trace wherever you are, responsible walking vacations start and finish with you, the responsible traveler, so read on and find out how to travel right when on a walking vacation.
Find all our walking guides in one place covering everything from the paths of England to the snow capped mountains of the Himalaya or the mystical Inca Trail.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: photobac] [Intro: Visit Lakeland]
[What do family walking vacations entail?: Delpixel]
[Jonny Bealby quote: Amelia Wells]
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