Mountain Adventure Holidays
Join us for a stress free family holiday. We understand how important it is for everyone in the family to have a break and that includes the parents! We have been creating family adventures since our inception, and have a wealth of experience dealing with family dynamics. We have worked with all ages, ranging from the youngest member of the family to the grandparents.
Any of our Scheduled Departure trips, both winter and summer, can be adapted to become a tailor-made private trip for you and your family. You can either take a look at our Scheduled Departures and then ask us for a quote for a private trip, or you can create your own dream trip. With this in mind please read our main Tailor-made page which will explain the steps involved in creating and booking a private trip.
We have tried and tested suitable providers for all the activities listed and aim to offer you a well planned, fun, family adventure. Please note that height and age restrictions may apply to some of the activities. If you can't decide or are unfamiliar with any of the activities mentioned, please contact us and we will happily go over the options.
You can also take a look at the Itinerary section above for just a few ideas which may help you to make a start. Or if you already know what you want then get in touch with our office.
We can create bespoke adventure itineraries to suit most requests. We have extensive experience in the European Alps, and in particular in France, Switzerland, and Italy. In Scandinavia in winter we also have a breadth and depth of knowledge of running trips in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
We will soon be giving suggested itineraries for your corporate event, but in the meantime please contact us to discuss your requirements.
In the summer months the mountains are a huge play ground for all the family. Lush green meadows full of alpine flowers, woods full of wild animals, rivers and lakes with green-blue waters all surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rocky peaks. We are very lucky to live in such a mountain paradise and it is a pleasure to share it with our family groups.
Our guides and instructors are passionate about the mountains and we believe that sharing this love with the next generation is an important aspect of our jobs. The young people are our future and we want them to appreciate the fragile beauty that is the mountain environment and care for it in the same way we do. But, at the same time it is an environment which offers up a whole lot of fun.
Below we have given a list of some of the activities that your family can enjoy on a private trip to the mountains.
Rock: Via Ferrata, rock climbing.
Flora: Flower spotting in the alpine meadows.
Water: Hydrospeed, canyoning, white water rafting.
Snow and Ice: Ice grottos to visit, and glacier walking.
Animals: Horse riding, animal parks, wildlife spotting.
Transport: Historic railways, cog trains, and cable cars to ride.
Countries: Visit three countries in three days, France, Switzerland, Italy.
Mountain: Hiking, mountain refuges, learn to navigate, visit alpine farms.
Biking: Mountain biking, electric bikes or use the cablecars to avoid the uphills.
When the snow arrives in the mountains and the world changes to one of sparking flakes and icy summits that is the signal that playtime has arrived. In the winter months the mountains offer a range of wonderful experiences that often involve 'sliding'! We love living in this paradise and get a huge pleasure from sharing it with family groups.
Our guides and instructors are passionate about the mountains and we believe that sharing this love with the next generation is an important aspect of our jobs. We would like the young people to appreciate the winter environment and learn how both the people and the animals adapt and survive the winter weather.
Below we have given a list of some of the activities that your family can enjoy on a private trip to the mountains. We will help you make the most of a winter trip to include all the family.
Ice: Try ice skating outdoors, or, for the older family members, go ice climbing.
Animals: Go husky dog sledding, ski joring with a horse or identify animal tracks in the snow.
After dark: If you go into the woods tonight you can enjoy dinner at a rustic chalet by a log fire.
Snow: Learn to cross country ski, go snowshoeing, build snow shelters, go alpine skiing or snowboarding.
Journey: Make a journey of several days on cross country skis, or snowshoe to a mountain hut for the night.
Sledge: Head to a mountain hut and race back down on a sledge, or if skiing rent a ski sledge for the under 5's.
We find that many of our bespoke trips are based on the Scheduled Departures which we already offer on this website. Simply browse the Scheduled Departures and decide which one you would like as a private trip. The itineraries can be adjusted to suit your needs with 'rest' days inserted where appropriate, and the number of trip days either extended or shortened. In this respect we find that the Family Tour du Mont Blanc is the most popular as a bespoke version.
What we would add is that the less famous, but equally as beautiful, routes are quieter in terms of less people on the trail and accommodation is easier to book, especially if you are considering a last minute getaway. Please note that we are happy to discuss all our trips with you, even the hardest itineraries, as many can be adapted to make days easier and shorter to suit a family. And after all a family trip can often mean, Mum, Dad, and various 'grown up' youngsters who can set a pace and keep it going much longer than the parents or even the guide!
We always aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, clean, characterful, family run accommodation. All of our trips are based on two people sharing a bedroom. If you are booking as a single traveller you will share with someone of the same gender. In many cases a single room is available for a supplementary fee, but these can be in short supply and require early booking. If you have any questions about the accommodation please contact us.
When booking a trip during the pandemic we ask that you keep an open mind and be willing to adapt and be flexible.
Any holiday taken during the Covid-19 pandemic may be subject to change and with little or no notice of that change. As the past months have proven no-one can predict the situation from one week to the next, however, we will do our very best to gauge the best response to any new developments. New restrictions or guidelines might affect where we eat out, which accommodation we can stay in, and potentially transport arrangements if the numbers in vehicles are restricted.
Itineraries may not be exactly as advertised due to new regulations or restrictions. We are sure there will be various scenarios which we have not even thought about that might lead to a change or adaptation in the itinerary.
Please read our Covid-19 Cancellation Policy and ensure you have appropriate insurance as per our recommendations. We also ask that you make yourself aware of the entry requirements of any country you are visiting on your trip. We have compiled a Travel Links Advice list to help you source the correct information.
With a tailor-made trip you can choose whatever standard of accommodation you require. If based in a town there is usually a broad range from budget, to luxury, everything from sharing in a dormitory to having a suite in a 4/5* hotel.
Once you have decided on your base for your trip we can easily advise you of the options available. Some towns/villages will have more options than others.
If you are embarking on a point-to-point journey you may find that there is no option or choice of accommodation as we are grateful to have anywhere to stay in the mountains. However, this does not always mean basic accommodation, some mountain locations offer wonderful, characterful and traditional mountain hospitality.
The choice is yours and we will prepare a quote for your trip based on the standard of accommodation chosen. Of course, you may want to choose and book your own accommodation and Tracks and Trails simply provides the guiding element. It is entirely up to you.
When booking a trip we ask you to acquire insurance to cover you for the following:
Mountain Rescue Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, mountain rescue, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page. Most of our trips have a maximum altitude of 3,000 metres. If you are unsure or are joining a bespoke trip, then please ask us for specific details.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Please note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable, unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.
COVID-19 Insurance
As well as medical cover, we recommend that you have appropriate travel insurance so that if you fall ill and test positive for COVID-19 prior to (or during) your trip, you will be financially covered for cancelling your trip. You should also consider booking a policy that covers you if you have to cancel or curtail your holiday because you have to self-isolate. If you choose to cancel, cancellation charges will be payable, but if the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. Please read the clauses below detailing trip cancellation and curtailment.
Travel Insurance covering COVID-19 is now available from a number of suppliers, Campbell Irvine, Trailfinders and Staysure. Please check their websites for the latest information on what is and isn't covered. It is likely that more companies will offer COVID related cover in the future.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions.
If you are joining a trip in the UK helicopter/mountain rescue insurance is not required as this is a free service.
For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you might encounter and accommodation you will be staying in. If you have any questions with regards to what to bring, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Your guide will help choose from the following items according to the weather on the day. Please ask if you require advice.
Equipment
Clothing
Comfort
Documentation
Personal First Aid
Items for a night in a mountain hut - if you have chosen this as part of your itinerary
Additional Items
**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**
Leaders are all first aid trained and will carry their own first aid kit
On many of our trips there will be an element of 'group kit' which will be shared amongst our guests. As mountain people you will be used to team work and working together to the mutual benefit and safety of the group.
The 'group kit' will be minimal and usually just a case of sharing a few lightweight 'survival shelters'. For example on a week-long trip you may carry a small shelter for just one day before passing it on to the next person.
If you are booking a trip in winter there will be a few additional safety items. These will be distributed in such a way that no one is over burdened.
Other group items necessary for safety and comfort will be carried by your guide/instructor.
We go to great lengths to work with first class guides who are passionate about their work. They are all fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation.
Please note your guide has complete discretion to make a daily decision on whether or not to take the advertised route based on the weather and the ability of the members of the group. They have our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment.
Your hiking guide will be a fully qualified and experienced International Mountain Leader. International Mountain Leaders are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, and traditions of the area which you are visiting. For our family trips we ensure that you have a guide who enjoys working with young people and encouraging their interest in the outdoors.
You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page.
This is a general statement with regard to luggage and is not specific to your trip. Please read on.
Point to Point
The majority of our point-to-point trips have luggage support which means your bags are transferred each day to the next accommodation and you only need to wear a small/medium sized 'rucksack' for items you might need during the course of the day.
On some trips which feature a night in a refuge/rifugio/hut your main luggage may not be available that evening due to lack of vehicle access. Your rucksack should be of sufficient capacity to carry a few extra items required for this overnight. Your trip itinerary will indicate on which nights you do not have access to your main luggage. If in any doubt please contact us.
Centre Based
For our centre based trips, in other words where you are staying in the same accommodation all week, you are welcome to bring whatever luggage you require. However, do refer to the note below with regard to 'size' and the lack of elevators in some hotels.
Size of Luggage
Please note that many hotels do not have elevators. This means you may need to carry your luggage to your bedroom.
On our point-to-point trips where your luggage is moved along the route by taxi we ask that you keep the weight to a maximum of 15kgs (33lbs), and ONE bag per person. Many of the taxi companies who move your bags impose a 15kg (33lbs) limit and restrict the number because they have to unload and reload the vehicle each day. If you take more than one bag you may be asked to pay a supplement.
Luggage on wheels is a good idea, and as stated you need to be able to carry your luggage to your bedroom which may involve climbing several flights of stairs.
We do not include lunches in your trip fee for various reasons. We have found our guests have particular tastes and requirements for 'trail' or 'hill' food and it is better you purchase your own snacks. Buying supplies and trying local specialities is a great way to inter-act with the local people and to practise your language skills.
Lunches on our trips are 'picnic' style lunches, in other words you take a packed lunch with sufficient snacks, food and fluid to sustain you throughout your day of activity. If there is the possibility of lunch being taken at a restaurant/farm/cafe beside the trail, your guide/instructor will advise you of this.
Each evening you can choose to order a picnic or a sandwich from the hotel, or your guide/instructor will advise you of other options such as a local shop or market and whether you need to purchase items in the evening or if the shop/market is open early enough the next morning not to delay your start. In all cases we would always ask you to settle any 'bill' for lunch or drinks in the evening before you depart, and not on the morning of your last day when there may be a queue.
On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip.
We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day.
The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required.
It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card.
On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
On our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes that reflect the culture of the country and for this reason many of our accommodation options will be family run with a reputation for the traditional food of the region.
If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy or intolerance to a certain food type which will make you ill the accommodation will cater for this as best they can, eg gluten free, nut free, lactose free.
If you are vegetarian then this is not a problem as the hotels/refuges are used to being asked for vegetarian meals. Our accommodation will try to cater for those with vegan diets but in remote refuges in the mountains this is more difficult. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet please contact us. Gluten-free diets will be possible with regard to the evening meals, but we would advise that you bring along some gluten-free snacks for your breakfasts and lunches.
If you have a 'special' diet which is NOT because of an allergy or intolerance, and is not 'veggie' then we apologise, but we cannot cater for this. The accommodation on the popular routes will be catering for many people each evening, in some cases up to 70/80 meals per night, 7 days a week, and realistically they cannot produce many different meal options unless the food will result in illness.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel is having a problem with a remote mountain water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water. At all times you are welcome to ask your guide/instructor if the water can be drunk. We would ask, for environmental reasons, that you avoid using single-use plastic bottles, and bring a water bottle that can be used repeatedly.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU, such as Norway. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/
Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera.
Our family trips can be run in either summer or winter and can either focus on one particular activity such as a walking trip, or a cross country ski trip, or be made up of a variety of experiences.
In winter these could include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, husky dog sledding, ice climbing, glacier walking, and sleigh rides. In summer you can experience hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, canyoning, via ferrata, and rock climbing.
Not all of these activities are possible at all locations. Please contact us to discuss what is possible.
Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.
For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.
If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number.
We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.
You can read our full policy here.
Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means that the price of our trips can change overnight. We have, however, undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. In this respect we urge you to book early to ensure that you receive the price advertised on our website. The website price may increase due to currency fluctuations, but we guarantee that the price advertised on the date of your booking will be maintained in your individual case.
The date range given below indicates the months when the activity can be undertaken. The prices indicated are for a half day or full day of walking. We can accept payment in Euros by prior arrangement.
The Complete Package We can also quote you an all inclusive price which can include accommodation, luggage transfers if a point to point journey, the guides fees and expenses and all logistics. We can also add on other summer activities such as white water rafting, high ropes course, rock climbing, canyoning, etc.
Maximum Numbers To ensure that you make the most of your hiking experience we take a maximum of 10 people per guide. We can, of course, accommodate larger groups but for reasons of safety and enjoyment this would require an additional guide or guides depending on the group size.
| Dates | Half Day | Full Day | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sat 01 Jan - Sat 06 Oct Code: TMF |
Half Day: £175 | Full Day: £265 | Enquire Now |
| From Price | What's your budget? |
| Holiday Type | Tailormade |
| Duration | How long do you have? |
| Minimum Age | Any |
| Countries Visited | Italy, France, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Sweden |