Top 10 August holidays

How did we create this list of our top 10 August holidays? Simple – we looked at where our travellers like to go. From wildlife watching to small ship cruising to family-friendly activity holidays where everything is organised for you by people who are experts at bringing the fun, it may be peak season in parts of the world, but that means peak excitement as far as we’re concerned.

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Top 10 destinations for travel in August

August is the month for family fun, with most kids off school. Our top 10 August holidays for the most part avoid the busiest places, and when they do visit popular family destinations such as Greece or Croatia, they tend to skip the hotspots. Small ship cruising and sailing holidays are idyllic in August, with endless opportunities to swim and snorkel at every anchorage. August is also a great time for getting up close to wildlife, whether you’re on safari in Tanzania, volunteering with turtles in Costa Rica or swimming with dolphins in the Azores.

See all our Best places to go in August Holidays

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1. Cruise in comfort in Southern Croatia

A small ship cruise is as chic as it is packed with culture and stunning scenery – and it’s the most idyllic way to explore the islands of Southern Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast. With just 40 passengers on-board, you can anchor in cosy harbours and coves that larger vessels can’t reach. Popular activities include tastings at island vineyards, tours of Dubrovnik and popping ashore for a walk, swim or cycle.

Our top selling trip: Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
See all our trips: Croatia small ship cruise holidays
Read more: Croatia travel guide and small ship cruising travel guide

2. See Scotland by train

For a convenient, relaxed and scenic way to see the Scottish Highlands, go by train. A week-long tour on the West Highland Line from Edinburgh to Glasgow is full of Caledonian charm, and because it’s a tailor made trip, you can add in a stopover anywhere on the route. After reaching the coast following a ride on the Jacobite steam train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, you can add on a few days on the Hebridean island of Skye.

Our top selling trip: Scotland railway holiday
See all our trips: Scotland rail holidays
Read more: Scotland travel guide and railway holidays travel guide

3. Get active in Andalucia

This holiday in Andalucia features activities and accommodation as friendly to the environment as it is to families. You can stay at an off-grid hotel in rural Altiplano de Granada with a resident family of chickens and a terrace made for al fresco dining and stargazing. Spend your days wild swimming, paddle boarding, rafting, kayaking and canyoning with other families, or do as you please – tailor made itineraries let you relax however you like.

Our top selling trip: Altiplano de Granada activity holiday
See all our trips: Spain multi activity holidays
Read more: Andalucia travel guide and multi activity holidays travel guide

4. Set sail along the Croatian coast

A small group trip, sailing aboard a stylish catamaran around Croatia’s Elaphiti Islands is especially popular with families with teens. They can sunbathe on deck or help with the crew, and while at anchor there’s a myriad of activities to enjoy in these beautiful islands. Paddle boarding, cycling, hiking, snorkelling and sea kayaking keep everyone entertained, and you might even see dolphins off the prow.

Our top selling trip: Sailing in Croatia
See all our trips: Croatia sailing holidays
Read more: Croatia travel guide and sailing holidays travel guide

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5. Whale watching in the Azores

The Azores is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic archipelago famed for the number of cetacean species that are either resident in its waters, or pass through to feed on plankton and giant squid. In August, boat trips out in search of fin, humpback, and sperm whales should meet with calm seas and sunny weather. Excursions are led by marine scientists and skilled boat pilots who know to keep their distance from the whales.

Our top selling trip: Whale watching in the Azores
See all our trips: Azores holidays
Read more: Azores travel guide and Whale watching travel guide

6. A Greek classic

Go on an epic adventure in the Peloponnese, a relatively untouristy region of Greece that’s great for multi activity holidays. Get your kicks white water rafting, sea kayaking and windsurfing, with trips suitable for kids as young as seven. And if you’re all tuckered out from fun in the sun, you can have a more relaxed day: wine tasting, a cookery lesson, or visiting one of many ancient archaeological sites nearby.

Our top selling trip: Multi activity holiday in Greece
See all our trips: Greece multi activity holidays
Read more: Greece travel guide and multi activity holidays travel guide

7. Baltic beauties

Soak up Baltic culture with a 12-day overland trip through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, taking in capitals, coast and Cold War history. Small group trips are a sociable and convenient way to discover a cluster of European countries that remains little-visited. Local guides provide expert commentary across UNESCO sites and national parks.

Our top selling trip: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania holiday
See all our trips: Baltics holidays
Read more: Baltics travel guide

8. Bear necessities in Romania

Small group walking holidays in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains immerse you in folklore, wilderness and wildlife. A visit to a bear sanctuary is bound to be an uplifting highlight of your trip, but you can expect to feel enthralled throughout. Roam Saxon villages, deep forests and tranquil mountain forests with a local guide who will show you that there’s much more to Romania than nonsense about vampires.

Our top selling trip: Carpathians Mountains holiday
See all our trips: Romania holidays
Read more: Romania travel guide and Carpathian Mountains travel guide

9. Turtle-y terrific Costa Rica

Perfect for families who like to help out on their holidays, especially those with kids passionate about conservation, this Costa Rica holiday finds you at a project on the Nicoya Peninsula. Between July and December, hundreds of sea turtles nest on the beach and they need a little human help. You’ll patrol by night, monitor nests, protect hatchlings and record observations when not surfing or relaxing in hammocks.

Our top selling trip: Family volunteering with turtles in Costa Rica
See all our trips: Costa Rica holidays
Read more: Costa Rica travel guide and Costa Rica volunteering holidays travel guide

10. Animal magic in Tanzania

Combine a few days on safari in Selous, Africa’s largest game reserve, with beach time in Zanzibar. Selous is twice the size of the Serengeti, home to elephants, leopards, hippos, crocodiles, zebras and lions, among many other fantastic creatures. After leaving your luxury lodge or camp, you’ll fly on to Zanzibar, where you can relax on its exquisite beaches, and snorkel or dive to coral reefs.

Our top selling trip: Luxury Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday
See all our trips: Tanzania and Zanzibar holidays
Read more: Tanzania and Zanzibar travel guide