Active Family Holidays

For those who like their family time to come with a dose of adrenaline, big or small, and who prefer paddleboards to pool floats, or ski slopes to sun loungers, an active holiday can tick all the right boxes.

But it's still a holiday, so it's essential to remain mindful that it's not all about wearing everyone out - balance, as with everything in life, is key. The best active family holidays are really all about those shared moments and memories, the feeling of teamwork, and the chance to watch one another shine – improve your skills or even come away with a new hobby or passion.

We've shared some tips for making sure your active family holiday stays on the right side of the fine line between adventure and exhaustion – that it's a trip that's both inspiring and energising.

Book with a trusted travel advisor

A family travel expert will help you to identify the right kind of active for your brood, because it's a rare family that wants to do a triathlon together. We'll talk to you about the kind of sports you and your kids truly love, whether it's skiing, surfing, hiking, cycling or something else, or what you've always felt a hankering to try out.

Our active family holidays can include expert tuition by certified instructor. We'll book you into the best ski schools, surf academies or sailing sessions with professionals with heaps of experience with both adults and kinds, whether you want to learn as a family, individually, or with other parents and kids.

We also know the best activity resorts and centres when it comes to providing kit, so you don't have to lug everything with you. And any accommodation we recommend is also experienced in keeping hungry families well-nourished with nutritious food, whether it be hearty picnics for days out abseiling and river-rafting or mid- or apres-ski treats.

A family travel designer will not only personalise your trip according to your interests, passions, fitness levels, and so on – they will save you time dialling through the seemingly endless choices, only a small fraction of which will be spot on for you. And we all know that time as a parent is hard-won and precious.

Ask about the age suitability of activities

We will advise on the age ranges in place for specific activities and whether a particular resort or tour operator can cater to different ages within the same family – it all depends on the kind of trip you want, and whether you're set on doing things together or enjoying parallel activities. You may have young kids who need specialist tuition or teens who can learn or progress with you, or a mix of the two. We know from our own experience that there's no once-size-fits-all – and it's our raison d'être to find what fits you.

Check how much physical activity is required

You'll need to consider how physically demanding a given holiday or activity is – about fitness levels required and about the pace too (whether younger or less fit people can join in at their own pace, for example). How is the itinerary (if there is one) managed for different family members? Other questions might include whether you can opt out of certain activities if they're not keen on the idea, and how much downtime there is – the balance between scheduled activities and free time in which to chill out, refuel, recover, swap stories and simply be. Factor in lazy lunches and rest days, or ask about holiday where you'll be doing something sporty in the morning before spending the afternoon poolside.

Find out about the level of child supervision provided

Depending on the type of resort or organised activity holiday you ask us to source for you, you may want childcare at some point of your trip, or scheduled activities for your children. On some holidays, parents may need to be participating in or overseeing activities with their kids. It all depends on what fits for the kind of holiday you want.

Enquire about safety measures in place

We only offer resorts and holidays where appropriate safety procedures are carried out and where instructors and tour leaders are full qualified and highly experienced, especially with families.

Verify what's included in your holiday price

We'll work with your budget to find the right family activity holiday for you, whether it's at a watersports-focused resort or an organised trip combining an array of activities. The latter will include accommodation – we can advise about the level of comfort and type of amenities, such as swimming pools, you can expect. We'll also be clear about any additional costs to be taken into consideration.

Many resorts are all-inclusive, or you may choose to book on a B&B or half-board basis. Organised family activity holidays often include all or at least some meals. We will advise on the kind of food to expect.  

Ask if there will be other families and kids of a similar age

Part of the joy of organised family activity holidays, unless they are private, is the chance to share your adventure with like-minded parents and kids and maybe even come away with new friends for life. For group tours, we can let you know about the typical group size and, if you need us to, we'll enquire about whether there'll be other children of a similar age to yours on the trip to gauge if it's a good fit for your family.

And if you're single-parent family or an LGBTQ+ family, we'll find out if the resort or holiday will be a good fit for you, or if not then source you a trip that is.