Walking holidays for families

It can sometimes be a hard sell persuading children to go on a walking holiday 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 holiday 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.

Jonny Bealby, founder of our leading supplier Wild Frontiers, gives his advice on walking holidays for families: “Don’t overstretch yourself on a family walking holiday, 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 holiday expert from our supplier, Headwater: “We would recommend our single centre holidays 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 holiday, such as our Dordogne or Austrian holidays,that combine walking with cycling and canoeing.”