Engage & Empower

The trick with taking children on walking holidays is to engage and empower them. The engaging is simple – there are so many distractions on a walking trail particularly when there are other children and incredible scenery. Empowering them by letting them take the lead, help with the navigation (on a self guided hike) and being custodian of the trail sweets is something that works with most children.

 

"My daughter from a young age always preferred to be picked up rather than to walk, take her time and smell the roses. It was therefore with some trepidation that we set out on a 7km walk along the Cinque Terre when she was four. To our surprise, we found in her an amazing ability to walk endlessly, spurred on by the promise of a gelato and the chance to be in front of her older brother. Since then she has tackled volcanoes in Sicily, gorge walks in the Julian Alps, a series of coastal walks in Turkey and a hiking holiday in the Austrian lakes district. She particularly loved leading Jepato, a chestnut grass munching donkey, on our family walking holiday around Mont Blanc," remembers Kate.

 

  

Take it Slowly

If this is your first step into walking with kids, take it slowly. Start with a centre based walk that isn’t as committing as the inn to inn style ones and do some test walks closer to home (although we believe the walk to the local shops doesn’t count!).

 

 

Join Other Families

Joining other families offers the kids extra playmates, while at the same time giving parents the opportunity to get even more tips on how to keep children interested in walking holidays. Guided trips are the best way to meet like-minded families exploring Europe.   

 

 

Everyone has a better time when they're dressed for the occasion. This goes for children as well; on a hike, make sure they're kitted out in comfortable boots or shoes and have breathable layers of clothing on. Remember to pack a jacket for the rest stops when the body cools down. And lastly, be sure to break in the shoes well before embarking on the journey.

 

 

While exotic European food can be a drawcard for parents, a French pâté may not have the same effect on children. Be sure to pack snacks of their favourite foods. You'll be able to find similar brands in Europe from local supermarkets. Snacks are also great for fueling hungry bellies and for rewards at the top of a hill.

 

 

UTracks has a number of dedicated guided family walking holidays in Europe, including a walk around Mont Blanc and the Sweden Summer Family Adventure for kids from age 7. There are also numerous self guided programs suitable for children and a range of European cycle holidays. 

 

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