Croatia and her many islands offer some excellent family cycling ideas Family group hiking with donkeys around Mont Blanc |  <i>Kate Baker</i> Happy walkers on the Cinque terre |  <i>Philip Wyndham</i> The Loire Valley is well suited to cycling with children |  <i>Kate Baker</i>
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Active Family Holidays in Europe

Experience the journey of a lifetime with your loved ones.

Having kids doesn’t mean you can’t hike Europe’s stunning mountains or cycle alongside its incredible bodies of water. With over 450 trips and difficulty gradings that range from Introductory to Challenging, there’s definitely a trip out there that will suit you and your family’s needs. Make it a family affair and get off the beaten track to immerse yourself in cultural experiences.

Our family trips are supported, which means you’ll have a safe experience with the flexibility to move at your own pace, hassle-free. Whether you have a small toddler or curious teenagers in your group, we offer unforgettable walking, cycling, and sailing experiences in Europe for the whole family.

Ascending the Valley of the Glaciers to the Col de la Seigne on the French Italian border |  <i>Kate Baker</i> Children in front of the Schreckhorn in the Bernese Oberland |  <i>Ross Baker</i> Family group in Rose Valley Cappadocia |  <i>Kate Baker</i> Family crossing Corsica |  <i>Kate Baker</i> Child walking on the high route, Cinque Terre, Italy |  <i>Kate Baker</i>

5 Reasons to Take an Active Europe Trip with Your Family

1. Enjoy the flexibility of trips that suit the needs of everyone

Every family is different. A UTracks active holiday offers a lot of flexibility so that every family can enjoy their time exploring hidden gems in Europe. Our self-guided trips are perfect if you want to explore all the sights and sounds at your own pace. For those that want to enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded families and soak up the knowledge shared by expert local guides, we recommend choosing a guided active trip. Regardless of whether you opt for a self-guided or guided trip, all your luggage will be transferred from one accommodation to the next.  

On our centre-based trips, you only pack and unpack once, staying in the same accommodation throughout the trip. Experience an even more comfortable way to explore some of Europe’s classic landscapes, such as the Loire Valley Castles, perfect for exploring by bike or the charming Cinque Terre fishing villages in Northern Italy, a place best explored on foot.

2. Explore a brand new playground

Sure, sights like Paris’ famous Eiffel Tower and Rome’s Coliseum are beautiful but venturing off the beaten path and discovering hidden gems can bring more meaningful experiences when you travel. Open up your senses to new experiences with a UTracks active Europe trip. Soak in the diverse landscapes, cultures and cuisines and discover the rich history of each place you visit. Travelling with kids opens up doors you would never know existed when you travel kid free, and exposes everyone to a different type of engagement to the country you are travelling through.

3. It will encourage everyone to experience the real world

Our trips are designed to get travellers active while exploring the unparalleled natural beauty of Europe rather than sit in front of a screen for hours at a time as you travel on a bus, train or in the back of a car. We know its’ easy to switch off from the here and now while browsing on your mobile device as you travel but by cycling or walking you don’t have that option. So why not cycle along the Danube river or around the islands of Croatia instead? There’s a beautiful world out there waiting to be discovered. 

4. You will connect (or re-connect) with each other

Travelling with the family is a wonderful bonding experience that will be hard to forget. Share amazing moments exploring the magnificent Alps or discovering Sweden's Archipelago. These trips are about more than seeing beautiful sights. You’ll share laughs over delicious local cuisine and engage in conversations about the rich history behind places you visited. Who knows, maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover something you never knew about your child or spouse.

5. Your kids will learn how to adapt to different situations

Walking, hiking, cycling, boating – active Europe trips will get your children out of the environment they’re used to at home and encourage them to be physically active amidst the backdrop of diverse landscapes and stunning scenery. The wisdom and insights gained by seeing new parts of the world at a young age is something they’ll keep with them forever. They’ll take that wherever they go in life and approach situations with more confidence – something that every parent wants for their kids.

Still have concerns about going on an active trip with the family? Don't fret - we debunk 7 myths about active family holidays on our blog.

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