Peruse our top 10 July holidays – we’ve chosen them for their popularity with our travellers. There’s a huge amount on offer in this busy summer month, whether you want to see orangutans in Borneo or experience serenity in Scotland. Read on to find out more.
We’ve picked out our top 10 July holidays. They cover everything from cruising Southern Europe under sunny skies to enjoying the fresher side of July around Scotland’s islands. Activity-wise, there’s hiking, biking and wildlife watching, though you might prefer to take it easy on a yoga holiday.
1. Sailing in Croatia
Make your way through the waters of the Elaphiti Archipelago on a 10-person catamaran. Water-based action involves paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkelling. There’s enough room on board for bikes, so you can cycle around national parks, ancient villages and vineyards when you hit dry land. July is peak season, so Croatia has crowds – but you should be able to avoid them out on the water.
Make a trip to Scotland’s enchanting west coast even better by getting around on a restored wooden fishing vessel. Days will be spent spotting marine life and birdlife, and going ashore brings ancient and natural heritage. At night you’ll dock in remote, beautiful bays and can contemplate the stars after evenings of fantastic locally sourced food.
Forget lying around on the beach for a week and get stuck into Greece’s wilder mainland landscapes in the Peloponnese. You’ll try a range of activities, from rafting and sea kayaking to hiking and biking, all in beautiful surroundings, both mountainous and coastal. When you’re not ramping up the adrenalin there’s free time to explore some of the country’s most beguiling ancient sites.
The Azores attract huge numbers of wild dolphins and you can experience their underwater world on a small group trip, usually suitable for ages seven and up. You’ll be fully trained and prepped before entering the water and will have at least three chances to swim with them during a week-long trip. On dry land, make some time for discovering the islands’ wild volcanic origins.
Enjoy the wilds of Devon from the safety of a characterful lodge, with gorgeous views over farmland, where butterflies and swallows dart about the grasslands. Days can be spent hiking the country’s many walking trails or exploring the beaches of the Jurassic Coast. At night, unpolluted skies are a marvel for stargazers.
6. Conservation & culture in the Carpathian Mountains
Lace up your walking boots to discover the wilderness, wildlife and history of this stunning corner of Transylvania. Travelling in a small group with an expert local guide, you’ll be based at a traditional, locally-owned lodge, getting around on foot or by horse and cart. Bears, ancient settlements and Dracula’s castle are all on the agenda.
Technically, you can see orangutans all year round. July, however, times with the sunniest and driest months in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the beginning of school holidays. Festival fever hits Borneo in July too. It’s a great time to be on the island, but also a reminder of why it’s best to travel with experts who can secure accommodation well ahead of time.
One of the best adventure travel destinations in Europe, Montenegro has mountains to climb, rivers to raft down and canyons to leap through. Small group multi activity holidays here aren’t for softies – a week here will bring plenty of challenges and you can try out a new adventure sport every day, whether that’s trekking to the peak of Bobatoc Kuk or quad biking through the wilderness.
There can be few better places for a yoga holiday than high up in the East Tyrol mountains, where downward dogs come with a dramatic mountain backdrop. Travelling in a small group, you’ll stay in a stylish mountain house with nutritious plant-based meals included. When you’re not bending and stretching, the mountains are yours to explore and spotting rare wildlife such as ibex is almost a daily occurrence.
A small group holiday mixing expert cooking lessons with gentle walks through some beautiful and non-touristy areas of the mountains is tonic for the soul. It’s a great way to forge new friendships, too. You all stay in the same atmospheric farmhouse and groups tend to be small and convivial, so it’s an excellent choice for solo travellers.