Top ten unusual combination holidays

Our top ten unusual combination holidays have been hand-picked to help responsible travellers make the most of their time away. From winter activities and Northern Lights in Finland to biking and barging in Belgium and kayaking and foraging in Sweden; if you’re looking for something slightly off-kilter, right here is where your quest begins.

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Top ten unusual combination holidays

Now before you start thinking that an unusual holiday combination might be going on safari with your sister-in-law or taking a camping trip with your nan, this top ten has been compiled to point you in the right direction.

These combinations combine classic holiday activities, such as walking, cooking and learning a language, with not so obvious choices, like walking with a donkey or archaeological sightseeing on a bike. Whatever you’re looking to do on holiday, these unusual combinations are guaranteed to get you thinking outside the box and away from the typical tourist trail.

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1. Language lessons & walking, Spain

There’s just something about walking that inspires conversation. Maybe it’s because walkers aren’t facing each other or perhaps being outdoors allows minds to wander as free as feet. A holiday that combines Spanish lessons with walking provides ample excuses to test out new skills, or rekindle old ones. Spanish-speaking guides introduce you to mountain walking trails away from the crowds, and who knows, you might return able to pepper your conversation with native wildflower references.

Best time to go: May/June and September/Oct
Our top selling trip: Spanish course & walking holiday, Picos de Europa, Spain
Read more: Things to see & do in the Picos de Europa and Walking holidays in Spain travel guide

2. Winter activities & Northern Lights, Finland

An eight day holiday allows you to expand explorations through snow-covered wilderness on traditional non-polluting modes of transport such as snowshoes, husky-sleds and cross country skis. You’ll also get to hang out with über cool Finnish activity instructors and hosts. These local guys and gals will get you involved from day one with hot tubs, saunas and glasses of glögi creating a warm and cosy winter’s evening as you anticipate the advent of the Aurora Borealis.

Best time to go: December to April
Our top selling trip: Finland winter activity holiday & Northern Lights
Read more: Winter activity holidays in Finland and Northern Lights in Finland

3. Archaeology & cycling, Jordan and Greece

From the preserved provincial Roman ruins of Jerash in Jordan to Mycenae, Epidaurus and the ancient city of Eva in the Peloponnese, these two cultural heavyweights have long provided archaeologists with untold excuses to explore the ancient world. Now imagine combining an archaeology tour with cycling. Not only would you be doing your limbs and the environment a favour but you’d also be getting much closer to the key sites and local people. Cycling trip to Petra, anyone?

Best time to go to Jordan: March to June and September to December
Best time to go to Greece: March to June and September to October
Our top selling trips: Petra and Wadi Rum by bike, Jordan and Greece cycling holiday, archaeology tour
Read more: Cycling holidays in Jordan travel guide and Archaeology holidays in Greece

4. Cooking & walking, French Riviera and Italian Alps

Walking holidays in France and Italy should always include an impromptu alfresco picnic and there’s no finer food to unveil other than the leftovers from last night’s evening meal. Staying with former chefs, meeting local folk and going to farmers’ markets help you understand the farm to fork philosophy that underpins rural life. Learn, laugh and discover the essential ingredients that go into our extra special cooking combos.

Best time to go to French Riviera: April to November
Best time to go to Italian Alps: May to September
Our top selling trips: French Riviera holiday, walking, culture & cooking option and Italian Alps walking and cooking holiday
Read more: France travel guide and Italy travel guide

5. Biking & barging, Netherlands & Belgium

Experience the Netherlands and Belgium by bike and barge and you'll instantly be transported to a way of life that's as wonderfully old fashioned as windmills and horse-drawn carriages. Biking and barging is a brilliant way to limit your impact on the environment in between visiting the villages and provincial towns aligning the route from Amsterdam to Bruges via Gouda, Antwerp and Ghent. Get off the typical trail in the company of local folk without disturbing the peaceful waterside ambience.

Best time to go: April to June and September/October
Our top selling trip: Amsterdam to Bruges bike and barge holiday
Read more: Amsterdam to Bruges cycling tours

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Unusual combinations or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

6. Northern Lights & whale watching, Norway

Set sail around the fjords of Norway and there’s more than a couple of natural phenomenon to keep you up all night. Watching whales and dolphins, including orca, humpbacks and fins, is almost as exciting as catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Chances of successful sightings are extremely high, and sailing from Sørkjosen in the winter is the best way to stack odds firmly in your favour.

Best time to go: October to January
Our top selling trip: Norway Northern Lights and whale watching holiday
Read more: Killer whales in Norway and Northern Lights in Norway

7. Yoga & walking, Austria and Spain

Yoga and walking fit together like apple strudel and vanilla sauce or flamenco and tapas, which is why Austria and Spain are so highly regarded when it comes to stretching in sublime scenery. Getting to know local instructors, guides and hosts in the East Tyrol Mountains or against a Mediterranean backdrop never fails to rejuvenate the senses. Your visit will also provide a sustainable two way partnership with small communities living in remote rural regions.

Best time to go to Spain: March/April and October
Best time to go to Austria: May to September
Our top selling trip: Yoga and walking holiday in Spain and Austria yoga & walking holiday
Read more: Yoga holidays in Spain and Austria walking holidays guide

8. Walking with a donkey, France

Now this is a slightly unusual holiday combination but if you’ve always leaned towards the carrot rather than the stick when it comes to holidays with kids then walking with a donkey might just be the answer to all your ‘how much further?’ needs. Find out more about local French food producers, the countryside, and each other, as you take the reins and stroll between the farmhouses of Ardèche and the Rhône Valley.

Best time to go: April/May and Sept/Oct
Our top selling trip: Family walking holidays with a donkey, France
Read more: France family holidays guide and Walking holidays in France guide

9. Cruising & cycling, Montenegro

Make the most of Montenegro by bike and by boat as you set sail on the Bay of Kotor and cycle to secluded beaches and historic old towns. Cruising around the coastline and cycling to inland locations combines the very best elements of exercise and relaxation. Enjoy loads of time onboard to sunbathe or swim as well as free time on land from where to seek out verdant vineyards, Venetian properties and meet local people in out of the way locations.

Best time to go: May/June and September/October
Our top selling trip: Montenegro cruise and cycling holiday
Read more: Montenegro cycling travel guide and Montenegro multi-activity travel guide

10. Kayaking & foraging, Sweden

Escape into Sweden’s great outdoors as you take to the water by kayak and forage in the forests for seasonal ingredients. As a 6,000 island archipelago, Sweden is an exceptional location for a sea kayaking expedition and spending nights under canvas, wild camping, offers a unique experience for anyone looking to get back to nature. Juniper mayo and buckthorn jams are just the start of things to come on a kayaking and foraging adventure around Sweden’s Saint Anna archipelago.

Best time to go: June and September
Our top selling trip: Kayaking in Sweden, foraging and food
Read more: Kayaking holidays in Sweden

More about Unusual combinations

Unusual combinations travel guide

Our unusual combinations travel guide allows you to undertake different activities that complement each other – walking and yoga, for instance, or cycling and archaeology.

Spanish language & walking in Spain

The Picos de Europa region in northern Spain is an area where walking and talking are part of the landscape, so imagine being able to walk with a native Spanish speaker after a morning of Spanish language lessons.

Yoga & walking holidays

Not only will yoga and walking holidays in Spain and Austria invite you to stretch your legs in sublime scenery but you’ll also be reducing the risk of injury by unwinding tight muscles and increasing flexibility.

Cycling & archaeology holidays

First things first, you can’t cycle on sand but you can, however, make the most of the smooth tarmac roads leading to the archaeological sites of Jordan and Greece.

Cruising & cycling holidays

The combination of cycling and sailing takes you to some sublime settings, Montenegro’s Adriatic coast and the islands of the Greek Cyclades, for instance.

Unusual combinations travel advice

We asked our responsible travellers and specialist tour organisers why they think holidays with unusual combinations work so well.

More relevant guides

Written by Chris Owen

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Pierce Martin] [Language lessons & walking, Spain: Kamila Maciejewska] [Cooking & walking, French Riviera & Italian Alps: Anna Kaminova] [Northern lights & whale watching, Norway: Simon Infanger] [Walking with a donkey, France: Jerome Bon]

Top ten unusual combination holidays