Do you enjoy hiking? There’s really nothing like the great outdoors. Taking your kids on a hiking vacation can be a great amount of fun, but there are some tips and tricks you should keep in mind in order to make it as fun and as stress free a vacation as possible. Read on to find out how to do that.
I know that most parents may think that taking a kid on a hiking trip is complicated, and can’t even imagine going on a walking holiday where hiking is the main activity on the list, but all you need to do in order to make it work is plan it properly.
A holiday like this has everything needed to become one of your best family adventures. You will be able to check out stunning landscapes while giving everyone a break from screens.
The key is to prepare well and turn hiking into a fun, shared exploration. Here are the best ways to make your family walking holiday a success.
Pick the Right Trail for Your Family
The first step for a successful family walking trip is to choose the right country, route, and trails. This can really make or break the whole trip for everyone. If you pick a trail that’s too long or too steep, your kids will hate the experience before you get to the first stage.
For your first trip, I highly recommend that you look for flat trails with a ton of stops, ones that are well-marked and well-maintained, like the Portuguese Way from Tui or the last 100km of the Camino Frances.
Also, you must measure the distance in time, not miles, since a kid takes at least twice as long as we take to walk a mile. On top of that, you should check the elevation gain before you book anything, as it can easily drain your kids’ energy.
Pack Smart and Keep Backpacks Light
I know that packing for a family trip usually feels a lot like moving to another house, but you don’t need to overpack. That’s the trip killer, especially for a walking holiday, where you will be carrying everything on your back most of the time.
The first rule is packing light, the second one is packing the necessary. Prioritize weather changes, health, and energy, so pack a poncho or a raincoat, an emergency kit, and a ton of snacks.
Before the trip, you should invest in high-quality, comfortable walking shoes for everyone and plan the clothing everyone will wear ahead of time while focusing on layering. Sporty and breathable clothing is a must, as well as a lightweight jacket.
If possible, you should give your kids their own tiny backpacks; this makes them feel like real explorers. Just put something very light inside, like a small water bottle or their favorite stuffed animal.
Making Hiking Trips with Kids Easier
While planning is all you need to do in order to make the trip successful, the truth is that even planning can get complicated. Especially for a walking holiday where you need to take so many aspects of the trip into consideration, you have to book hotels, map out routes, and figure out how to carry heavy bags.
But what if all of that is handled by someone else? That’s exactly what Orbis Ways does; it’s a specialized agency that focuses on organizing self-guided walking holidays. They offer more than 200 carefully designed routes across beautiful destinations like England, Italy, and Austria.
But the biggest advantage of a family trip like this is that they handle all your luggage transfers. You just leave your heavy suitcases at the hotel in the morning, and the Orbisways team moves them to your next stop.
All you and your kids need to take with you is a small daypack with water, snacks, and other important items.
Take Plenty of Breaks
Most of us usually just want to reach the destination as fast as possible, but that’s really different when it comes to kids. They care more about cool rocks, bugs, and animals than just finishing the trail. You need to change your mindset and find the sweet spot without pushing them too hard.
Plan to take a rest break at least every hour and let them sit on a log, take off their shoes if they want, and just relax. Those moments are perfect for eating snacks or taking photos.
A good place to take a break will be under a huge tree, in a town square, or by a shallow stream. This extra time built into your schedule is, in fact, beneficial for you. You get to remove a lot of pressure from the whole trip.
Conclusion
Taking your family on a walking holiday is an incredible and rewarding choice. It will push everyone out of their comfort zone and reduce screen time while doing something healthy. While there will be moments of tiredness or a few complaints here and there, you and your kids will get to unplug from the loud, busy world and reconnect with each other in nature.
All you need to do is pick the right trail, pack light, bring great snacks, and get a little help from experts like Orbisways, and you’re ready for a great holiday.
