by ‘Slow happiness in Italy, Finland, Sweden or Iceland
Scotland-based company Slow Adventure recommends a more cautious approach to activity holidays. Options include climbing and yoga in the Italian Alps, mountain biking in Sweden and horse riding and hiking in Iceland. On the Finland Happiness tour, guests stay in log cabins by a lake in Lapland and activities include midnight sun canoeing, hiking, swimming, swing hunting and daily saunas. On each trip, 5% of the fee goes to local conservation projects, which could help protect the rare Saimaa ringed seal, preserve forests or support a children’s environmental charity involving Finland.
From £876 for five nights, slow-adventure.com
Swim, snorkel and walk in Croatia, Italy or Sweden
The new sustainable sport of seat riding involves moving along a coast in water and on land, leaving no trace – swimming, snorkelling and hiking, and sleeping in the open air. SeaNomads is one of several companies now offering guided tours: on Cres, Croatia; in Kullaberg, Sweden; and in Portofino and Elba, Italy. A typical day starts with yoga and breathing exercises, followed by swimming and hiking, then setting up camp, eating around the fire and sleeping on an air bed (under a tarp if it’s raining).
There are also free diving and cliff jumping sessions. Beginner trips include an extra initial day, and all equipment is provided – wet suit, fins, snorkel, sleeping bag, mattress, stove, water bag.
From £392 for a four-night trip for startersthe next trip 12-16 Junesenomads.de
Boots or bike – and raft, France
Another up-and-coming adventure sport, pacrafting involves trekking with a portable inflatable one-person boat to cross lakes or navigate rivers. Secret River Expeditions runs two-day trips around the Verdon Gorge, south-east France, exploring lakes just north of the Gorge or entering the canyon itself for a more advanced trip with rapids and abseiling.
It also runs two- or three-day cycling adventures in Annecy and Aix-les-Bains, where you cycle rather than walk, and paddle along rivers, canals and lakes (the bikes are carried on the boats). Some trips involve bivouacs or camping; others have the option of staying in a hostel or hotel. Full day or half day tastings are also available (from £73/£43).
From £330 for two days or £407 for three, secretriver-expe.com
On the ropes in Poland
“Aerial movement” combines athletics, fitness training, pilates and yoga, using a type of hammock to support the body. Beginners can try a week-long woodland retreat in the Beskid mountains in southern Poland. There are daily skills sessions using silks, hoops, trapeze, rope and bungee, and daily aerial or pilates classes.
In the meantime, guests can walk on the forest paths, possibly to the summit of Barania Gora (1,220 meters). Participants follow a 16/8 intermittent fasting diet, with brunch at 11am and dinner at 7pm, followed by a 16-hour fast. The newly built retreat center has shared and private rooms.
Oh £1,150 for seven nights, 10% off for bookings 90 days in advance, next door April 2-9flowmove.eu
Paddleboarding the Norwegian fjords
Stand-up paddleboarding is booming, and SUP-focused holidays are now going from mindfulness to wellness. The Norwegian SUP & Soul retreat combines paddleboarding with a nature connection in a forest near Ekne, north of Trondheim. SUP sessions take place on fjords and mountain lakes.
Other activities include hiking and swimming; forest yoga and qigong; and art, music and dance workshops. There is also a summer solstice ceremony. Guests stay in tree tents, tents or cabins.
From £1,450 for six nights, 17-23 Junesupandsoul.co.uk
Challenge through the peaks of Spain
The Spanish who did the British Three Peaks Challenge (Mount Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) might be tempted – although Los Tres Picos is much higher. Ewe Alien runs a four-night tour in the Sierra Nevada, home to the three highest mountains in mainland Spain: Alcazaba (3,371m), Veleta (3,394m) and Mulhacén (3,482m).
The group climbs a mountain a day, hiking for seven to 10 hours each day and staying in remote huts. It’s a tough challenge with some scrambling, but no climbing experience is required – and the views over the mountains to the Mediterranean are well worth the effort.
£725 for four nights, the next trip 27-31 Mayadventure.co.uk
Horse riding in Albania
Equus Journeys runs horse tours throughout Europe (and the world), aimed at adventurous, intermediate riders. Riders move on almost every day, camping or staying in simple accommodation. The trips range from short breaks in Ireland to eight days on foot across Iceland.
On the Old Mountain Routes tour in Albania, riders explore hills, valleys and forests, medieval villages, ruined castles and Byzantine monasteries. The tour starts and ends in the Unesco-listed city of Gjirokastër and nights are spent at homestays, cooking and eating with local families.
A resort-based holiday is best for beginners – there are options in Poland, Portugal, Ireland and Italy, some of which are suitable for families.
From £1,061 for seven nights, next trip March 23-30equus-journeys.com
Surfing for newcomers in Portugal
Beginners can surf in a supportive small group environment at this week-long women-only camp in Lagos, Portugal. There are five full days of surf coaching, with one instructor for a maximum of four students, one-to-one video coaching and group theory lessons. The price also includes two surfboarding sessions and one surf-inspired yoga class (daily yoga is available at an additional cost, along with a massage and a SUP trip).
Guests stay in a surf lodge with pool, whirlpool and gardens, in private or shared rooms, safari tents or cabins. Most meals are provided, including a welcome dinner with wine tasting and a weekend barbecue. Also suitable for intermediate surfers.
Seven nights from £844, 13-20 Aprilrideonretreats.com
Body art on the Lofoten Islands
The ancient art of bodypainting is on the rise, with a weekend of bodypainting in Hvar, Croatia, on June 8 and 9, and the World Bodypainting festival in Klagenfurt, Austria, from September 17-21.
A new retreat on the Lofoten islands in Norway mixes body, nature and movement. Participants learn basic body art, as well as techniques such as camouflage, abstract, UV and face painting. There are hula-hoop classes, movement meditation, hiking, swimming, SUP, and a live body-painting show night. Guests stay in beachside cabins and use an outdoor hot tub and sauna, and eat locally grown vegan/vegetable food. No art experience is necessary (but you probably need to be comfortable with nudity).
From £1,670 for seven nights, August 6-12vilijaart.com
Swimrun Camp, Spain
Swimrun is an endurance sport, usually for teams of two, that combines trail running and open water swimming. The original race, in 2002, was an island-hopping competition on the Stockholm archipelago that began due to drunkenness between friends and is now the Ötillö Swimrun World Championship.
In April, there will be a training camp in Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava led by Sarah Hansson, swimming champion, personal trainer and yoga teacher. Participants run and swim 12-18km a day around national parks, mountains, beaches and villages, with afternoon yoga sessions for recovery, and stay in a four-star hotel with a swimming pool, a few minutes’ walk from the sea. The camp is aimed at intermediate levels and above, but beginners can find workshops in the UK at swimrun-advice.com.
£535 for four days, swimrun-adventure-camp-costa-brava-2024
