Mountain Adventure Holidays
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 custom-made trip for you and your family. You can consider our Scheduled Departures and then ask us for a quote for a private trip, or you can create your own version of the trip which is displayed on line. With this in mind read our main Tailor-made page which will explain how to book 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. 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, 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.
Use the interactive map above to browse your preferred country and destination.
We can create private adventure holiday itineraries guided by fully qualified professional mountain guides, known as International Mountain Leaders. We have extensive experience in the European Alps, in particular in France, Switzerland, and Italy. We also offer trips in Austria, Germany and Slovenia.
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. Our guides and instructors are passionate about the mountains and we believe in sharing this love and respect with the next generation.
Below we have given a list of some of the activities which 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 we know that it's now time to play in the 'white stuff'. In the winter months the mountains offer a range of wonderful experiences that usually involve 'sliding'! Our guides and instructors are passionate about the mountains and we believe in sharing this love and respect with the next generation.
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.
Many of our private trips are based on our Scheduled Departures which are already offered 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 private version.
You will find that the less famous, but equally as beautiful, routes are quieter and accommodation is easier to book, especially if you are considering a last minute getaway. 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. We have found that it is often the more 'mature' members of the family that find the mountains more challenging than the youngsters.
With a private tailor-made trip you can choose your preferred standard of accommodation. Once you have decided where you would like to be based, we can advise you of the options available. Some towns and villages will have more options than others. If based in a large town there is usually a broader range of accommodation available from budget to luxury.
If you are embarking on a point-to-point journey you may find that there is no option or choice of accommodation. 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.
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, what we call a 'twin' means two single beds in one bedroom. With a family group we can sometimes book a family 'suite' which usually means two inter-connecting bedrooms.
Note that it is very rare to have air conditioning in European mountain areas, and most bedrooms do not have this facility. If you have any questions about the accommodation please contact us.
Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue
It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. For all of our trips your insurance must also cover mountain rescue. The exception to this is if the trip is being held in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. 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.
Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance
You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Insurance should be booked as soon as we have confirmed that your trip is going ahead. 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.
All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.
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.
Note that 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.
If you book a hiking or snowshoeing guide they 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.
If you have booked a cross-country ski holiday your ski instructor will be a fully qualified and experience Nordic Ski Instructor. They will be qualified by BASI or hold the equivalent recognised award in their home country.
You can learn more about our guides and instructors on the About Us page.
This is a general statement with regard to luggage. Firstly, luggage on wheels is a good idea is always a good idea as you may have to walk a short distance to access your accommodation.
Point to Point
The majority of our point-to-point trips have luggage support which means your bags can be 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
Note that many hotels do not have elevators. This means you may need to be able 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.
We normally do not include the lunches in your trip cost because of food waste. We find that people are particular about what they eat while exercising. But if you would like us to include them for your trip then we can discuss this with you.
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 the day. Buying snacks and trying local specialities is a great way to inter-act with local people and to practise your language skills.
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 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.
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 often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.
Food
On all of our trips we encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes.
If you are vegetarian catering for your diet is not generally a problem. If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy/intolerance we would ask that you make your needs clear on your booking form so we can discuss your requirements with the accommodation as soon as possible. A diet that is not related to an allergy/intolerance or beliefs cannot be catered for. It is simply not possible for mountain accommodation to deal with many variations in diet while providing meals for groups.
In addition, if you have an allergy/intolerance we would suggest you bring/purchase suitable snacks as a supplement to the picnic lunches. At times finding gluten free bread, for example, can be an issue. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet, gluten or lactose intolerance please contact us.
We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.
Water
The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. 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 ask that you carry a paper copy of your passport with you on your trip. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in any luggage you might have. If your trip is without luggage transfers then keep a paper copy somewhere in your rucksack, separate from your original document.
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country
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.
Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. However, if you feel your guide/instructor has provided an excellent service that went 'above and beyond' then it is at the discretion of each guest whether to tip or not. Guests will often give a tip of between 2 - 5 per cent of the total value of their trip. It is entirely up to you and any gesture will no doubt be appreciated no matter the size.
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.
The Complete Package We can 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.
| From Price | What's your budget? |
| Holiday Type | Tailormade |
| Duration | How long do you have? |
| Minimum Age | Any |
| Countries Visited | Italy, France, Switzerland, Norway |
