Top 10 activity breaks
HORSES, boats, bikes, paddleboards – every adventure needs a theme.
And you don’t have to trek to the ends of the Earth for inspiration. Here are ten ideas to get you started – from prosecco to Picasso.
1. WINE AND WHEELS
ONE mountain looks very much like another. But not in Italy’s Dolomites.
Soaring peaks of granite jut out from snow, while traditional towns sit far below. There really is nowhere like it on Earth.
See it from the saddle on a gentle cycle tour, with frequent stops for wine. BSpoke Tours have a new “Dolomites, Prosecco and Veneto” adventure for 2016 with luggage transfers. Book before April 30 and you get six bottles of wine.
Ten days’ B&B with cycle tour from £1,395 for select trips from June to September. See or 020 7471 7750.
2. CATCH AND COOK
ON Princess Cruises’ Alaskan voyages, you can catch your own fish and have it cooked for you.
Cook My Catch trips are available during port calls in Juneau and Ketchikan, plus at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.
Princess has even brewed a special beer – Denali Red, inset – for its Alaskan trips.
A 13-day Denali Explorer land and sea tour with seven nights aboard Star Princess is from £1,366, with Cook My Catch from £140. See or call 0843 374 4444.
3. GO BELOW
SCUBA diving is great but can be a faff. The Mini B concept is diving lite, using a simple, self-contained backpack that doesn't need a pro licence. Try it out on Gozo, a favoured haunt for divers. Activities Abroad has a seven-night Gozo Explorer trip, suitable for families, with sea kayaking, climbing, abseiling and Mini B excursions, while for under-tens there is snorkelling too. Accommodation is at the Cornucopia Hotel with breakfast and most meals included. It costs £1,295 with flights. See or call 01670 789 991.
4. ART OF ADVENTURE
SPAIN’S vast Els Ports Natural Park is the setting for Following in the Footsteps of Picasso, a gentle introduction to the artist and to walking holidays.
The walking is mainly on well-trodden trails with views down to the River Ebro flowing out to the Med. Seven nights’ half- board at the Mas del Cigarrer hotel, with wine at dinner, guided walking and a tour of the Picasso Museum in Barcelona is from £1,129 for select May-October departures from Heathrow. See or call 01606 369703.
5. SUP SWEDEN
MESSING about on the river has never been so cool. Gothenburg in Sweden – hip little sister to Stockholm – has a quirky new way to explore. It’s by Stand Up Paddleboard, or SUP.
Hollywood stars love their SUPs and now it’s your turn. From May until September, three-hour tours run from Partille along the Göta river to the city centre.
It costs £43 and for details email [email protected]. Three nights’ B&B at the Clarion Hotel Post is from £489 with Sunvil, departing Gatwick May 10. See or call 020 8758 4722.
6. SET SAIL IN THE SUN
LEARN a new skill on holiday. Multi-activity specialist Mark Warner offers a wealth of options, from tennis and sailing to scuba diving, cycling, kayaking or windsurfing.
San Lucianu on Corsica is an ideal resort for beginner sailors. Take an RYA qualification course from £70 or pick up the basics and go out on your own. You can explore the rest of the island by bike.
Seven nights’ half-board is from £699 this June for Heathrow departures. See or call 0333 3057 085.
7. MOUNTAIN TRAILS
VERY few tourists get to see the mountainous areas of Greece but Karpenissi is an essential experience.
Ramblers Worldwide Holidays can help you explore this town and the surrounding areas which are in the heart of the Greek Alps. This nine-night trip includes daily guided walks into the Karpenisiots Valley. You will be able to see traditional villages and monasteries and even make it as far as the temple of the Oracle at Delphi.
From £975 including flights, B&B and meals. Call 01707 331 133 or see.
8. HORSE AROUND
THIS trip to southern Spain is great for intermediate riders who are comfortable with a few hours in the saddle every day.
You get seven nights in Los Alamos near Tarifa with morning hacks along the sand and even into the water, plus fast gallops in the forest and gentle rides along old drovers’ tracks.
Seven nights self-catering at the Hacienda Jacaranda is from £1,050 with Gibraltar or Malaga transfers. See or call 01299 272 997. Get return flights to Malaga from under £150 via .
9. KAYAKING
SCOTLAND’S Outer Hebrides is about the remotest spot you can find in the British Isles and one of the most beautiful. See it from the water with an island hopping tour by sea kayak.
Wilderness Scotland has a five-night adventure from North Uist, which you get to via ferry from Skye. Then you aim for Harris under your own steam. Don’t fear getting lost – guiding is included! You sleep under canvas.
May, July and August departures are from £825. Head to or call 01479 420 020.
10. CLIMB A MOUNTAIN
THERE are tougher treks – and Kilimanjaro is beautiful – but Mount Toubkal in Morocco makes a terrific introduction to high-altitude trekking.
Any adult in decent shape should get up and down its 4,000m peak in two days. The Kasbah du Toubkal helps. This lovely lodge has packages with guiding, full board and a mule for your bags.
Two nights are from £475 for two people, with Marrakesh transfers (). Return flights to to Marrakesh next month are from around £100 via .