Top 10 unusual summer holidays

Sun, sea, sand and… rescuing baby sea turtles? Our top 10 unusual summer holidays take the classic summer break and give it a good shake. Think Croatian islands – but by kayak. Or Andalucia – but with mornings spent canyoning and evenings reading the stars with a local astronomer. Keep scrolling to discover some of our most unusual summer holidays.

Home\Unusual

Top 10 unusual summer holidays

Crowded coasts? Sizzling cities? Not on our summer holidays. We’ve selected the trips that take you somewhere a little different in the sunny season. Whether tracking wildlife in Scandinavia or kayaking in the Adriatic, all these trips come with a creative twist – perhaps camping in wolf territory, learning about the art of painting icons, or taking a dip in toasty geothermal pools. Whatever you choose, a mix of culture and adventure, plus great cuisine and company, is guaranteed.

See all our Unusual Holidays

Give us a call

1. Watch for whales in the volcanic Azores archipelago

The chance of seeing marine mammoths in the wild stands at 99 percent on our summer holidays to the Azores, thanks to milder seas and many mooching whales. Here, you’ll be whale watching amongst remote volcanic islands that sit on the migration route of blue, fin and sei whales, plus there’s a resident population of sperm whales. It’s all steered by marine scientists who collect vital conservation data as they go. Back on dry(ish) land, you can swim in geothermal pools and kayak across caldera lakes in the subtropical sunshine.

Our top trips: Azores whale watching and Azores wheelchair accessible whale watching holiday
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Azores surfing holiday or Azores e-biking holiday
See all our trips: Azores tours
Read more: Top 10 alternative holidays in the Azores

2. Paddle to pelican rafts in Montenegro – and help protect them

Summer is the best time to glimpse Dalmatian pelicans on Lake Skadar – preferably on a paddle through lily pad waters en route to beaches and island monasteries. Even better: our holidays help restore nesting rafts, thanks to our local specialists who donate a portion of profits to community conservation efforts. You’ll be hosted in a family-run villa built from traditional stone that keeps things nice and cool in summer. Plus, summer is a brilliant time to pick ‘n’ mix between waterfall hikes, valley cycling, wine tasting and village-hopping at whatever pace suits you.

Our top trip: Montenegro activity holiday
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Montenegro extreme activity holiday, Trans Montenegro cycle tour or Montenegro bird watching
See all our trips: Montenegro tours
Read more: Montenegro travel guide

3. Stargazing & swimming in the Spanish Lake District

Summer in Spain often means heading for the cities, islands and Costas – but how about the Spanish Lake District? The craggy landscapes of the Altiplano de Grenada create great chances for rafting down white-water rivers, hiking through pine forests, canyoning through ravines and waterfalls, and cooling off in emerald pools. Our activity holiday bases you at a country lodge run by Ilaria and Des, who craft itineraries tailored to you. As for nightlife? Think chirruping crickets, warm evenings on the terrace, rural restaurants – and the chance to go stargazing with a local astronomer in a Starlight Certification-awarded spot.

Our top trip: Altiplano de Granada activity holiday in Spain
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Spanish course and hiking or Spanish Pyrenees walking and wildlife holiday
See all our trips: Spain unusual holidays
Read more: Spain unusual travel guide

4. Volunteering with turtles in the Greek Islands

Endangered loggerhead turtles need your help! Luckily, the best time to help them is in summer in Greece – a pretty dreamy combination. Our volunteering trips work with ARCHELON, Greece’s sea turtle protection society. You can join an itinerary designed for adults or families, but either way you’ll learn how to mark nest sites, head out on beach patrols and night watches, check the health of seagrass meadows, and make sure tiny hatchlings make it safely to the sea.

Our top trips: Greece turtle volunteering and Greece turtle volunteering for families
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Greece cycling and archaeology or Corfu swimming holiday
See all our trips: Greece tours
Read more: Top 10 Greek Islands off the beaten track

5. Howl with wolves & track moose in Sweden

Summer is the best time for viewing Sweden’s big-name wildlife. Moose are making the most of the berries and grasses, wolves venture out in the long, light dusk, and beavers bustle around the summer lakes. We’ll take you out with our wildlife experts, who know exactly where the best hides and wolf valleys are. They also throw in some ingenious ways to enjoy the lakes and forests, from canoeing and camping to foraging and learning to howl like a wolf. Keep an ear out – the wolves might just howl back.

Our top trip: Sweden wildlife holiday
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Sweden women only kayaking or Stockholm Archipelago walking tour
See all our trips: Sweden tours
Read more: Sweden wildlife guide and Sweden kayaking guide

6. Combine yoga & hiking in the Austrian Alps

Every element of our mountain retreat has been thoughtfully tweaked and tweaked again to make sure it’s making the most of – and giving back to – the local environment. There’s a yoga studio with panoramic windows, a hot tub with mountain views, and menus of local seasonal ingredients cooked up into vegetarian and vegan feasts. Hiking is a treat in summer, when edelweiss, glacier buttercups and alpenrose carpet Hohe Tauern National Park. It’s also cooler on these higher trails, making for comfortable wanders that welcome all levels of experience.

Our top trip: Austria yoga and walking holiday
Not quite niche enough? Try this: Danube cycling holiday
See all our trips: Austria tours
Read more: Austria yoga travel guide

7. Learn about conservation in the Carpathians

Our trip has teamed up with Foundation Conservation Carpathia, who are keen to share their latest rewilding and reintroduction efforts. Beavers, wolves and lynx roam these Transylvanian foothills, but bears are the main focus, and there are chances to watch them from a hide and visit a renowned sanctuary. Throughout, you’ll be based in a village guest house in Piatra Craiului National Park. This region is at its best in summer, when glossy meadows are spritzed with flowers, animals are foraging for food, and the long, light evenings offer more time for walks and wildlife watching.

Our top trip: Carpathian Mountains conservation and culture tour
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Romania motorbike tour or Transylvania trail riding holiday
See all our trips: Romania tours
Read more: Romania wildlife guide and Romania travel guide

8. Kayak along the Dalmatian Coast

Fancy seeing Dubrovnik from a different point of view? Ditch the ships and opt for our kayaking holidays instead. Local guides lead you on slower routes along the Dalmatian Coast, exploring the crystal-clear waters of Dubrovnik and the Elaphiti Islands. This is Croatia at its best: summer sunshine and calm seas that promise access to caves and glimpses of dolphins and seals. Each evening, retreat to an island guest house with a restaurant in reach – from which you can contemplate your day with an iced tea or a crisp glass of Plavac Mali.

Our top trip: Croatia sea kayaking holiday
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Croatia coast walking or Croatia luxury cycling and culinary tour
See all our trips: Croatia tours
Read more: Top 10 unusual holidays in Croatia

9. Paint by the sea in Crete

Don’t just marvel at the lovely landscapes in Crete – have a go at painting them too. Based in Kissamos Bay, you’ll be in easy reach of Byzantine ruins, olive groves, sandy beaches and villages overflowing with flowers. You’ll be guided by an artist and local guide team for perspectives on everything from local art traditions to the tastiest rice-stuffed vine leaves in town. Summer is a great time to be painting in Crete too. The light is bright, the seas glitter, the flowers bloom, and the towns are alive with people relaxing in waterside tavernas and beaches.

Our top trip: Crete painting holiday
Not quite niche enough? Try this: Crete yoga, hiking and food holiday
See all our trips: Crete tours
Read more: Greece painting holidays

10. Explore cities, coast & mountains in Albania

Most people stick to the Albanian Riviera in summer – but our holidays also look beyond to the mountain monasteries and forests inland. There are plenty of unusually interesting diversions too, from dropping by artisan villages to sharing a homecooked meal in the cobblestone village of Dhoksat. Our trips are guided by local experts, and so sensibly skip the hottest weeks of summer. Instead, they focus on June and late August, when the temperatures are just right for hiking along mountain paths defrosted of snow and through flower-bedecked national parks.

Our top trip: Albania small group holiday
Not quite niche enough? Try these: Albania cycling tour, or Albania food and wine holiday
Read more: Albania travel guide