Hiking holidays for families

The perfect hiking trip with children begins with careful selection of the route. Of course, the age and hiking experience of the children also play a role. Overwhelming children can quickly lead to frustration and also cause stress for parents. That's why we at Eurohike pay particular attention to the choice of route, the length of the stages and the suitability of the individual hiking trails for children. This means that nothing stands in the way of a carefree holiday with the youngest members of the family!

To make hiking enjoyable, the routes should have elevation differences suitable for children and the number of kilometres should be manageable. Trails along rivers and lakes, the South Tyrolean mountains or a mini transalpine route for the whole family are ideal options for young and old alike. A few metres of elevation gain or a summit cross can certainly provide motivation, but should remain the exception so that children are not overwhelmed.

But it's not just the natural characteristics of the route that are important. When hiking with children, there is another very important factor to consider: safety. We look for hiking trails that are well secured and wide enough for the children to jump around and laugh.

In addition to the route, the distance of the daily stages is also crucial. Longer stages mean more time and greater effort, which is why regular breaks and little adventures along the way are important. Daily stages of between 10 and 15 kilometres are feasible, depending on your fitness level. When selecting the routes, we also consider the possibility of shortening one or two stages by using public transport. All Eurohike hiking tours are categorised according to difficulty level, so you can choose the right tour for your family.

All accommodation for our family hiking tours with luggage transfer is carefully selected. Depending on the hiking tour you choose, you can expect different types of accommodation, from typical alpine huts and guesthouses to comfortable hotels. The selected accommodations already have experience with hiking guests and families and offer cosy rooms with sufficient space and family-friendly staff. An important factor is that the accommodation is located at the stage destination, because a few extra kilometres can quickly mean an extra hour of hiking, which could overwhelm the children. Where possible, we book accommodation for your family with a swimming pool, playground or other additional facilities for families so that your children can really enjoy their stay.

A hiking trip with children becomes the perfect family holiday when there are lots of highlights and adventures along the way in addition to the hiking itself. Nature provides the most important conditions for calming and relaxing the minds of young and old alike. And that's usually quite easy: a small stream becomes a fun water feature, animals can be observed at close range, and a stop at a mountain hut or snack bar provides the perfect moment of enjoyment for all family members. This also gives the children a goal in mind that promises an additional reward. Great swimming opportunities, such as on the Salzkammergut Rivers & Lakes tour for families, make hiking a great adventure for families. Or, at the end of the trip, there may even be a fantastic region with countless opportunities for fun and games, as on our South Tyrol hiking tour for families.

• Note: In your travel documents, under ‘Sights and attractions’, you will find lots of tips for adventures that children can experience along the route.