Helping you plan unforgettable family adventures in Europe

I’m Bea, and I’ve worked in the travel and outdoor industry since 2006. Through Wild Bee Outdoors, I share everything I’ve learnt about planning immersive, independent family travel across Europe — especially active adventures like multi-day cycling tours, hut to hut hikes, and train-based adventures in Europe.

This blog exists to inspire and support families, friends, and small groups who want to travel differently: at your own pace, under your own steam, and with a good smattering of adventure. You’ll find practical advice, honest insights, and tried and tested ideas to help you plan confident, rewarding adventures that don’t need a tour guide or a hire car.

I’ll help you plan your first family hut hike or exploration of the Alps by train and bike, among many other adventures! I will always give you honest travel recommendations and reviews and will tell you if I think something isn’t worth it!

From choosing the right route for your group to where to stay, rent bikes, leave your luggage, and what to do along the way — alpine coasters, outdoor pools, exciting excursions and unforgettable meals — everything here is designed to help you make adventurous travel feel manageable but above all exciting and fun for the whole family, not just the kids!

I’m really happy to help if you have any questions (or would like to work with me). To get in touch, please check out my contact page.

A bit about me

I’ve spent decades exploring Europe’s mountains and valleys — as a child, a student, and now a parent. I know what it takes to make an adventurous trip work for all ages.

I grew up in Austria from age 7 to 11 and returned as a university student. That early exposure sparked a lifelong love of the Alps; skiing and ice skating on the frozen Danube in winter, hiking and swimming in the country’s stunning outdoor pools each summer.

I even remember crawling up a mountain on my knees at about nine years old, furious about “another walk” — proof that anyone can grow to love hiking!

As a young adult, I lived near Salzburg, where I learned to paraglide, explored alpine trails, skied the local mountains, and taught English in a secondary school while perfecting my German.

  • Young girl in colourful ski gear sitting on her ski poles balanced on her ski bindings, smiling at the camera. Other skiers in colorful outfits stand in the background under a clear blue sky in Austria in the 1990s
  • A man in a pink jacket and beige hat stands on a frozen pond wearing ice skates, with two children in colourful winter clothing and hats, also wearing ice skates. One child holds a stick. A wooden bridge and leafless trees are in the background. Posing on the frozen Danube river in Vienna in the 1980s

An insider’s knowledge of the Alps

Speaking fluent German and knowing Austrian systems inside-out means I can offer hard-to-find knowledge to make your Austrian adventure seamless and rewarding, from navigating public transport to hidden alpine gems.

I design hiking and cycling itineraries that are both authentic and accessible, and help you avoid common pitfalls.

I also have a deep connection with France, inspired by my parents who spent two decades walking the full GR5 trail in stages.

I joined them when I could, developing a love of hiking in the French Alps and travelling there by train via Eurostar and TGV trains for an eco-friendly, flight-free journey to the Alps.

  • Two women in hiking attire stand smiling in a rocky mountain landscape. One wears a hat and maroon shirt, the other wears a white shirt and jean shorts. Both have hiking poles and backpacks. A glacier is visible in the background. On the GR5 in the French Alps in the early 2000s.
  • Two people are hiking, standing on rocky terrain near a stream. They are wearing outdoor gear, including jackets and boots. The background features a grassy area and a steep, rocky slope under a cloudy sky. They are hiking on the GR5 in the French Alps in the early 2000s.
  • A dad and his young adult daughter in hiking attire stand outside a building with large solar panels. They lean against a concrete structure, surrounded by stone walls, in a mountainous area. Another person is visible sitting on a nearby platform. They are on the GR5 in the French Alps in the early 2000s.

A car-free approach to travel

For me, the journey is part of the adventure. I’ve spent years exploring the Alps and beyond without a car, relying on trains, buses, and cable cars to access even the most remote trails and cycling routes. I know the best bike-friendly routes, smooth train connections, and tricks for reaching trailheads without needing to drive.

This experience means I can help you plan smooth, stress-free, sustainable itineraries that make the journey part of the adventure – without the hassle of hiring a car or driving through Europe.

Tried and tested trips with kids (and grandparents!)

My husband and I have introduced our children (now 11 and 13) to the joys of adventure travel, from hut to hut hikes to multi-day cycling trips across Austria and the Dolomites.

Although, like I once was, they aren’t too enthused with the idea of “going for a walk”, they have grown to love the thrill of reaching the next hut, spotting marmots, and tucking into hearty alpine meals.

Our first family cycle tour followed the Salzach River — 25km a day on mostly traffic-free paths, with stops for swimming, hiking assisted by cable cars, ice cream and a dramatic gorge.

  • Three hikers, including two children and one adult, walk along a gravel path bordered by wildflowers, heading towards a dramatic mountain range under a sunny sky. The adult carries a large backpack, while the children wear colorful outfits with smaller backpacks. In the distance, lush green fields and jagged Dolomite peaks rise against fluffy white clouds.
  • A family of three is dining at a cozy wooden rifigio, huette, or mountain hut in the Italian Dolomites. The table is set with breakfast items like croissants, jam, and coffee. The room is warmly lit with wooden decor and a counter in the background. Everyone is smiling at the camera. They wear colourful hiking clothes and sit at a table with a red tablecloth.
  • A family of three stands on a rocky hiking trail with the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks towering behind them under a bright blue sky. The two children, dressed in colorful striped leggings and backpacks, smile alongside an adult wearing a wide-brimmed hat and hiking gear. The lush alpine meadow in the foreground contrasts with the rugged gray rock formations in the background.

The infrastructure is amazing, with bike rental shops at the start, end and along the route where you can drop off your bike, or bike-friendly taxis, and an array of accommodation from B&Bs to working farms.

It’s a great way to experience the Austrian mountains without actually having to ride up them!

More recently, we cycled from the Dolomites in Italy to Villach in Austria, where we also enjoyed hut to hut hikes along the way; even bringing along my 75-year-old parents.

I wrote an article about this adventure for Cycling UK, which you can read here. These family adventures have shown us how accessible and rewarding outdoor travel in Europe can be, and I’m excited to help others experience it for themselves.

  • A child and an adult on bikes smile as they ride along a paved path bordered by vibrant green fields. Behind them, a picturesque village sits at the foot of a densely forested mountain range under a clear sky.
  • Two cyclists, a child and an adult, ride along a narrow dirt path surrounded by lush green fields and tall trees. Rolling hills and a forested mountain range rise in the background under a blue sky with streaky clouds.

Adventures by train

These adventures have been bookended by some unforgettable journeys by rail. We’ve taken the Nightjet, Eurostar, TGV and more — sleeping our way across borders and waking up in the Alps. Journeys have included:

These trips have reinforced my love for train travel – proving that reaching the Alps (and beyond) without a car isn’t just possible, but part of the adventure!

Grown-up adventures in the Alps

As much as I love travelling with the kids, there’s something really special about heading into the mountains with friends for a few days. I organise annual long weekends with friends, taking two- or three-night hut to hut hikes in the mountains.

It’s a simple, active escape that fits into a long weekend with minimal time off work. We fly out on a budget airline, lace up our boots, and spend our days walking between huts, soaking up mountain views and sharing stories over dinner. With no WiFi and no distractions, it’s a great way to properly switch off and reconnect; with nature, and with each other.

There’s something about the rhythm of a mountain hike that resets the mind in a way few other holidays can. We always come home a bit achy, a bit windswept, and completely refreshed.

  • Two smiling hikers in rain jackets and backpacks standing in front of a rustic stone building with a wooden sign reading 'Refuge du Mont-T.' Both are wearing bright, water-resistant gear, with droplets of rain visible on their hoods
  • A group of six hikers on a hut to hut hike in Austria poses on a rocky mountain trail near a yellow trail sign. They are dressed in colorful outdoor gear, with some wearing jackets and hiking boots, sitting and standing together, smiling at the camera. The background features misty, cloud-covered peaks, patches of grass, and rugged terrain.
  • A group of four women smiling and sitting at an outdoor wooden picnic table at a scenic alpine restaurant. The backdrop features a rustic wooden cabin, vibrant green grass, and rugged snow-capped mountains under a bright blue sky. Empty glass bottles and table decor, including a small potted plant, add to the cozy atmosphere.
  • Two hikers smiling under a clear blue sky next to a wooden sign that reads 'Col de la Lauze, 2540 m.' They are dressed in striped shirts and caps, with a grassy mountain peak in the background and trail signs marking various hiking routes

I work part-time for a wonderful small all-women adventure travel company, Gutsy Girls. I spend the rest of my time keeping my children alive, working on this blog or adventuring with my family and friends!

If you have found this website useful for planning your multi-day cycling and hut to hut hiking adventures, you can show your support by buying me a coffee. Thanks so much!

I’m really happy to help if you have any questions (or would like to work with me). To get in touch, please check out my contact page.