Our favourite no-fly holidays for 2023 will take you to surprising destinations
Flying isn’t for everyone. Some are put off by long queues in the airports, or might be considering the environmental impact of regular flights.
The good news is there are more and more opportunities available for holidays with no flying.
BEST NO-FLY HOLIDAYS
You’ll be surprised how far you can go on a no-fly holiday. Europe has excellent train connections, meaning you can hop on the Eurostar at St Pancras, whizz to Paris in just over a couple of hours, before catching a connecting train to travel through beautiful countryside to the south of France and beyond.
If you want to take a slightly shorter journey and stay in the UK, there are lots of options to choose from. How about a break in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, with its elegant stately homes, picturesque cobbled streets and delightfully manicured gardens? Or maybe you’ll be tempted by a crafty staycation to learn a new skill (or polish up an old one) at a manor house in the Scottish Trossachs?
A no-fly holiday is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint as sustainability becomes more and more important to us, too. In 2020, ABTA surveyed 2,000 people and half of them said sustainability was one of the main things they consider when booking a trip, compared to just one in five in 2011.
Travelling by boat or train rather than flying also means you can take in the scenery at a more relaxed pace, so that the journey becomes a memorable part of the trip, rather than an inconvenience to get out of the way.
The good news is there’s a great variety of no-fly holidays available for anyone who prefers to keep their feet on the ground. We’ve rounded up some of the best of them below.
Join Raymond Blanc on our Taste of France cruise
For a truly special trip to France with no flying involved, join our cruise of the Bordeaux region with special guest Raymond Blanc in October. You can choose to travel to Bordeaux via Eurostar and regional trains, where you’ll be welcomed aboard the luxurious Scenic Diamond for your seven night cruise. You’ll wind your way through the picturesque Médoc wine region, visiting exceptional traditional wineries and charming châteaux and Raymond will join you to host an interactive cooking demonstration of some of his favourite dishes and answer your questions in a Q&A session.
Cruise the fjords of Iceland and meet Carol Kirkwood
Another no-fly trip with an excellent celebrity guest is our cruise to Iceland in September with weather presenter Carol Kirkwood. You’ll set sail from Southampton on the elegant ship Balmoral, specially designed to allow you to get up close to Iceland’s natural wonders. The cruise will take you to some of Iceland’s spectacular and diverse terrains, from geothermal geysers to majestic fjords and towering volcanoes, before making a stop in Reykjavik, where you’ll be joined by Carol Kirkwood for an excursion, talk and Q&A.
Set sail for the elegant cities of northern Spain this summer
Sail from Southampton on a no-fly odyssey to the beautiful beaches and culture-packed cities of northern Spain. Your first stop will be Getxo, a port town in the beautiful Basque Country. You can also visit Bilbao, one of the most stylish cities in northern Spain and home of the world-famous Guggenheim Museum, and La Coruña in Galicia, where you can wander between the medieval old town and the more modern districts. You’ll sail on the beautiful ship Bolette, with two full days at sea allowing you to make use of the fantastic facilities.
Ride the Mont Blanc Express and visit beautiful Lake Annecy
Join us as we glide through the serene French Alps on a no-fly holiday and whizz through splendid vistas to the foot of western Europe’s tallest mountain, Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc Express train carriages have large picture windows that let you absorb all of the jaw dropping views as you travel from Martigny in Switzerland to the French village of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains – with views of Mont Blanc along the way. There’ll also be plenty of time to explore the many quaint French towns in the area and wander along the shores of Lake Annecy, enjoying its serenity and calm waters
Enjoy the spectacular Swiss Alps on the Glacier Express
Another fantastic option for those who want to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the Alps on a no-fly holiday is this five-day rail trip to Switzerland. You’ll stay in a lovely hotel in Interlaken, visit Lucerne and Bern, cruise across peaceful Lake Thun, and ascend Mount Rigi on a traditional cogwheel railway. You’ll also spend a day on the Glacier Express, enjoying a leisurely three-course lunch while you climb slowly and steadily higher up into the mountains, travelling through the mighty Oberalp Pass, with large windows offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes.
Ride the little trains of Corsica, the Mediterranean’s ‘isle of beauty’
Visit the French island affectionately known as ‘l’ile de beauté’, or the ‘Island of Beauty’, to find out how it got its nickname. Our exclusive 10-day, no-fly trip will take you on a rail journey through the most memorable parts of this Mediterranean gem, to historic mountain towns and bustling seaside cities. Throughout your journey you’ll be staying in comfortable three-star hotels where you can relax and unwind after busy days exploring the highlights of each corner of this beautiful island.
Discover Costa Brava’s beaches and walk in the Pyrenees
Enjoy a convenient journey aboard the Eurostar from London to Paris before connecting with the TGV to Perpignan for this seven-night stay on the Costa Brava. Here, you’ll be able to relax on the beach, enjoy some amazing train journeys, and admire the views from beautiful coastal footpaths. You’ll stay in a welcoming hotel in charming Roses, with its golden beaches and lovely historic old town. From there, you’ll enjoy some exceptional walks, including a moderate guided walk from Cala Montjoi to Punta Falconera.
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