Unusual combinations travel advice

Walking & donkey holidays

Caroline Peeters from our tailor made family holiday company, Safrantours, explains how this unusual combination gets kids walking in France: “The benefits of walking with a donkey are especially for the children. They love the contact with the donkey and it motivates them to do a walking tour. Kids from four years old, weighing a maximum of 35kg, can even ride on the donkey from time to time. Families walking in the Ardèche also love the forests and the fabulous views over the Rhône Valley and the distant Alps.”

"Don’t pack too much, all essential gear is provided. Take a camera rather an iPhone which didn’t cope at all with the cold weather. The Finns are very keen on living healthy green lives and it was an efficiently run lodge complex. It is a long way from anywhere and the guides were locals. I would recommend it to anyone keen to get away from it all and be outdoors. More snow than you will ever have seen and you won’t get cold - four layers of clothes, four pairs of socks, gloves and hats, and you’ll be toasty warm." - Alison Rayner on a winter activities & Northern Lights holiday in Finland

"My fondest memories were cycling down Mount Nebo to the Dead Sea, marvelling at Petra, waking up early in Wadi Rum and watching the sunrise over the silent desert. And experiencing it all with a lovely group of people and some superb guides. Be prepared to be completely bowled over by a truly astonishing country. And take a travel towel for the desert. Cycling benefited local businesses and made us aware of the local community. Our lovely cycling guide Abdul Aziz encouraged us all and made cycling a great adventure." - Susie Deuchars on a cycling & archaeology holiday in Jordan

"The best part, for me, was cycling through the idyllic cities of Belgium and the Netherlands and experiencing the culture of the local people. The holiday benefited local people by the interactions at local shops and we were able to talk to them and tell them where we were from." - Chantel Kotzé on a bike & barge holiday in Belgium and the Netherlands

"We spent a week learning Spanish in charming Panes with a compatible group of fellow students and friendly local people. We loved waking up to cow bells every morning and the combination of seaside walks along the Camino de Santiago and mountain trails in the Picos de Europa. Beginners, like myself, would benefit from some previous exposure to Spanish as the classes involve learning a great deal of new material. The teachers at the school introduced us to the town and its residents and contributed to our appreciating of its history." - Wendy Stewart on a walking & Spanish language course in the Picos de Europa, Spain

"The yoga sessions with Nicole and Dionne allowed us to learn a great deal. The mountain hiking was also great, particularly the views across valleys, plains and out to the sea. I discovered kindred spirits at the retreat and we shared much laughter every day. Arrive with an open mind, a good sense of humour and not too many casual clothes. We sat down to delicious suppers in our yoga kits. Local suppliers of the hiking and cycling experiences were benefited and did a good job for us. And we were made very much aware of local environmental issues during our hikes." - Shaun Stewart on a yoga & walking holiday in Spain

"Fabrizio and Marla are involved in promoting sustainable mountain tourism and preserving local culture and cuisine. Their cooking classes and the daily meals support local farmers by using produce from local farmers markets. The wine at the table is local Piedmont wine. It felt like staying with friends who were intimate with their local area. With only five bedrooms be prepared to engage socially to develop a relaxed, friendly and fun atmosphere whether it's when walking, cooking or at the meal table.” - Rod Elliott on a cooking & walking holiday in the Italian Alps

"Some of the meals and meal prep, and sitting around the fire together. These were really good moments. Also the amazing setting, on this really nice, peaceful island. Definitely consider how your are getting to the meeting point and have this planned out with plenty of contingency. The hardest part of this trip for me was the travel either side of the actual trip itself. And pack some flip flops, or canoeing shoes, being barefoot around the water was not ideal." - Nick Tillyer on a sea kayaking & food foraging holiday in Sweden