Young and old walking together

Pilgrimage with children

Going on pilgrimage as a family can be delightful and strengthen the family bond. Here are a few important tips for long-distance hiking with children.

Here's to the spirit of adventure: Going on pilgrimage with children can be a very special experience for the whole family; a voyage of discovery in the midst of nature that fosters self-confidence and allows team spirit to grow. If you involve your children in the planning process, you create anticipation and a feeling of identification. The basic requirement is that your children generally like hiking and enjoy being outdoors.

Facts and tips for kids

As parents, make sure that stage lengths are appropriate. A general guideline: It's OK as long as it's fun. And what’s fun can be quite individual. An unofficial rule of thumb is to hike one kilometre per day per year of life.

Ideally, everybody is equipped with high-quality hiking boots that support the ankles and have a non-slip sole. The Via Sacra is less demanding than the Vienna Pilgrimage Trail (which is closer to nature) and it offers more places to eat as well as more attractions. For beginners, it is a good option to only walk parts of the trail.

With a little help from your friends: Children motivate each other, and walking becomes easier when it is done in the company of peers. Therefore, it is best to hike together with siblings or other families. A child's backpack should weigh no more than a maximum of ten percent of the child's body weight and fit snugly on the back.

Becoming adventurers

It's easier when children are allowed to become explorers along the way: Let them take the lead and find the right paths, collect treasures such as snail shells, cones and more, create diversions, observe animals, climb over tree trunks, cross streams, set interesting goals and stop at exciting locations. Those who like a little extra thrill can embark on a treasure hunt using geocaching.

Attractive stops along the way