‘Slowly happiness’ in Italy, Finland, Sweden or Iceland
Scotland-based company Slow Adventure advocates a more conscious approach to active holidays. Options include climbing and yoga in the Italian Alps, mountain biking in Sweden and horse riding and hiking in Iceland. During the Finnish Happiness trip, guests stay in log cabins on a lake in Lapland. Activities include canoeing under the midnight sun, hiking, swimming, swamp hunting and daily saunas. On all trips, 5% of the fee goes to local conservation projects, which in Finland could mean helping protect the rare Saimaa ringed seal, conserving forests or supporting a children’s charity.
From £876 for five nights, slow-adventure.com
Swim, snorkel and hike in Croatia, Italy or Sweden
The new, sustainable sport of sea trekking involves moving along a coastline, both in water and on land, without leaving traces: swimming, snorkeling and walking, and sleeping in the open. SeaNomads is one of a number of companies now offering tours: in 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 mattress (under a tarp if it rains).
There are also freediving and cliff jumping sessions. Beginner tours include an additional introductory day and all equipment (wetsuit, fins, snorkel, sleeping bag, mattress, stove, water bag) is provided.
From £392 for a four-night beginner tournext trip June 12-16seanomads.de
Boots or bike – and a raft, France
Another emerging adventure sport, packrafting, involves hiking a portable inflatable one-person boat to cross lakes or navigate rivers. Secret River Expeditions runs two-day trips around the Verdon Gorge, in southeastern France, exploring the lakes just north of the gorge or entering the gorge itself for a more advanced trip involving rapids and abseiling.
Two- or three-day bike rafting adventures are also organized in Annecy and Aix-les-Bains, where you cycle rather than walk and paddle along rivers, canals and lakes (the bikes are transported on the boats). Some trips include bivouacs or camping; others have options to stay in lodges or a hotel. There are also full-day and half-day tasters available (from £73/£43).
From £330 for two days or £407 for three, secretriver-expe.com
On the ropes in Poland
“Air Movement” combines acrobatics, fitness training, pilates and yoga, using a kind of hammock to support the body. Beginners can try it out on a week-long forest retreat in the Beskid Mountains of southern Poland. There are daily skills sessions with silk, hoop, trapeze, rope and bungee, and daily aerial yoga or pilates classes.
In between, guests can hike the forest trails, perhaps to the top of Barania Gora (1,220 metres). 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.
By £1,150 for seven nights, 10% discount for bookings 90 days in advance, next retreat April 2-9flowmove.eu
Paddleboarding through the Norwegian fjords
Stand-up paddleboarding is booming, and SUP-focused holidays now range from mindfulness to fitness. SUP & Soul’s Norwegian retreat combines paddleboarding with connecting with nature in a forest near Ekne, north of Trondheim. SUP sessions take place on fjords and a mountain lake.
Other activities include hiking and swimming; forest yoga and Qigong; and art, music and dance workshops. There is also a ceremony for the summer solstice. Guests stay in tree tents, yurts or cabins.
From £1,450 for six nights, June 17-23supandsoul.co.uk
Spain’s Three Peaks Challenge
Those who have done the British Three Peaks Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) may be tempted by the Spanish equivalent – although Los Tres Picos are considerably higher. The adventurous Ewe takes a four-night journey into the Sierra Nevada, home to the three highest mountains in mainland Spain: Alcazaba (3,371 m), Veleta (3,394 m) and Mulhacén (3,482 m).
The group climbs a mountain every day, treks seven to 10 hours every day and stays in remote huts. It’s a tough challenge with some scrambling, but no climbing experience is necessary – and the views over the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea make all the effort worthwhile.
£725 for four nights, next trip May 27-31adventurousewe.co.uk
Horse riding in Albania
Equus Journeys organizes horse riding tours throughout Europe (and the world), aimed at adventurous riders of intermediate level. Riders move on almost every day, camping or staying in basic accommodations. Trips range from short breaks in Ireland to eight-day treks through Iceland.
During the Ancient Mountain Trails journey in Albania, riders explore hills, valleys and forests, medieval villages, ruined castles and Byzantine monasteries. The trip starts and ends in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Gjirokastër, and the nights are spent in homestays, cooking and eating with local families.
Beginners would be better off with a city center holiday – there are options in Poland, Portugal, Ireland and Italy, some suitable for families.
From £1,061 for seven nights, next trip March 23-30equus-journeys.com
Surfing for newcomers in Portugal
Beginners can learn to surf in a supportive, small-group environment at this weeklong women’s camp in Lagos, Portugal. There are five full days of surf coaching, with one instructor for up to four students, one-on-one video coaching and group theory lessons. The price also includes two surfskate sessions and one surf-inspired yoga class (daily yoga is available for an additional fee, as are massages and a SUP tour).
Guests stay in a surf lodge with swimming pool, hot tub and gardens, in private or shared rooms, safari tents or cabins. Most meals are provided, including a welcome dinner with wine tasting and a barbecue at the end of the week. Also suitable for intermediate surfers.
Seven nights from €844, April 13-20rideonretreats.com
Body art in Lofoten Islands
The ancient art of body painting is experiencing a revival, with a body painting weekend in Hvar, Croatia, on June 8 and 9, and the World Body Painting festival in Klagenfurt, Austria, from September 17 to 21.
A new retreat on Norway’s Lofoten Islands combines body painting, nature and exercise. Participants learn basic body art, plus techniques such as camouflage, abstract, UV and face painting. There are hula hoop lessons, moving meditations, walking, swimming, SUP and a live body painting show evening. Guests stay in beachside huts with use of an outdoor hot tub and sauna, and eat locally grown vegan/vegetarian dishes. No experience with art is necessary (but you should probably 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, which started as a drunken bet between friends and is now the Ötillö Swimrun World Championship.
In April, a training camp in Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava will be 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 pool, a few minutes’ walk from the sea. The camp is aimed at intermediate levels and above, but beginners can find UK workshops at swimrun-advice.com.
£535 for four days, swimrun-adventure-camp-costa-brava-2024