Walking holidays 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 holiday memories ever.![]()
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.
See our health and safety section for more details on how to walk safely with your family.
Our Walking family Holidays
Mercantour family walking holiday, France
Family walking tour with a donkey in Southern French Alps
From
€575 to €675
7 days
ex flights
Luxury trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains
Stay at the Kasbah du Toubkal and trek in style
From
€957
6 days
ex flights
Lake Como family walking holiday, Italy
Lake Como; a panoramic hike, suited to do with children!
From
€693 to €956
8 days
ex flights
Camino De Santiago walking holiday for families
Ideal Camino route for your Family!
From
€525 to €550
8 days
ex flights
Camino de santiago walking holiday for families with teenagers
Digital Detox for Teenagers!
From
€425 to €445
6 days
ex flights
Nepal family holiday, walking in the Annapurnas
Low altitude trek in the Annapurna foothills
From
£1350 to £1390
12 days
ex flights
Sweden walking holiday, self guided
Self-guided hiking through Stockholm's picturesque countryside
From
SKr10930
8 days
ex flights
Dubrovnik & islands walking holiday, Croatia
Walking holiday in Dubrovnik and islands in Croatia
From
€670 to €840
8 days
ex flights
Nepal family holiday
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Nepal
From
£1400 to £1700
12 days
ex flights
Family walking holidays with a donkey, France
Above the Rhône to discover the unspoilt traditional Ardèche
From
€660 to €730
7 days
ex flights
Family Kilimanjaro trek in Tanzania
A child friendly trek to the beautiful Kilimanjaro
From
£1600 to £1900
10 days
ex flights
Mercantour centre-based walking holiday, French Alps
Multiactivities for family, French Alps, ecolodge and yurt,
From
€599 to €676
7 days
ex flights
Catalonia family walking holiday
Walking holiday based from self catering townhouse Palamos
From
€375 to €795
8 days
ex flights
Canada national parks family holiday
Perfect adventure for families who love the outdoors
From
£1899 to £1999
12 days
ex flights
Family adventure trek in Nepal
Family adventure in the footsteps of the Himalayas
From
US $1470
12 days
ex flights
Family adventure holiday in Peru, Inca & Amazon
Pretty Sherpa villages and spectacular mountains
From
£3399 to £3699
16 days
inc UK flights
Almeria walking holiday in Andalucia, Spain
Walking in the surrounding hills of almond and olive groves
From
€490 to €735
7 days
per accommodation
Walking holiday in Cuba
Cuba off the beaten track: Private guided walking holiday
From
£2425 to £2725
14 days
ex flights
What do family walking
holidays entail?
What’s involved on a family walking holiday very much depends on how old your kids are. Families with younger children should opt for a tailor made walking holiday, which will be designed around the needs of you and your brood. These holidays 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 holiday 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 travellers on your trip. On small group holidays 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 travellers on your trip. On small group holidays 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 holidays 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 holidays, but the mountains and the coast should provide a little respite, with lake and ocean dips to keep you cool. Outside of the summer holidays, 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 holiday
The great thing about a family walking holiday 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 holiday 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 holiday.
Our top Walking family Holiday
Mercantour family walking holiday, France
Family walking tour with a donkey in Southern French Alps
From
€575 to €675
7 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip departs from mid-May to end-September; best time to go is springtime for the flora
This trip departs from mid-May to end-September; best time to go is springtime for the flora
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Walking or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Walking holiday advice for families
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.”
“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.”
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 holidays they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes with centre-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.
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 holiday.
If you’re looking to try a few new walking holiday activities then take a rest right here as we know what complements a walking holiday 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 travellers the chance to shoot for the summit and experience a unique part of the world in a single trip.
Discover walking holiday 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 holiday, as well as walking holiday reviews from our travellers.
From porters’ rights in Nepal to leaving no trace wherever you are, responsible walking holidays start and finish with you, the responsible traveller, so read on and find out how to travel right when on a walking holiday.
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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