The 10 best Olympics-inspired holidays
Fancy yourself as the next Helen Glover or Sir Ben Ainslie? Or perhaps you’re eager to shed a few of those last lockdown pounds? Your next holiday doesn’t need to be sedentary, and in an Olympic year with a host of new sports, there’s never been a better time to take on a new challenge.
So, search out those Speedos, relace your trainers and stock up on the factor 50. We’ve come up with a selection of the best active breaks to green and amber-list destinations.
Surf’s up in Portugal
Paddle, ride, rest, repeat. Surfing is one of the new additions at this summer’s Olympics and this socially distant, lung-busting exercise is nailed-on to see a post-Games boom. With its clean, consistent waves and mild year-round temperatures, the Algarve remains Europe’s epicentre. Tiny Whale Surflodge is just outside Lagos and their week-long retreats combine expert-led surf excursions with video analysis and pool-based lessons.
Prices this summer and autumn start at ￡802 per person (0051 9136 65446; tinywhalesurflodge.com)
Make a splash in St Lucia
If the thought of open water swimming in Britain gives you the shivers, then how about a 10-day warm weather masterclass with Olympians Keri-Anne Payne, Jazz Carlin and David Carry in the balmy Caribbean Sea? Two SwimFit holidays are scheduled for November and participants can enhance their technique, speed and efficiency, before attending talks on nutrition, race tactics and recovery.
Prices start from ￡233 per person per night on an all-inclusive basis (0203 096 1605; thebodyholiday.com)
Saddle up in Spain
Olympic dressage might be a tad specialist for the average horse whisperer, but how about a canter along the beaches of Andalusia while enjoying far-reaching views all the way to Morocco and the Atlas Mountains? These four or seven-day horsey holidays weave through cork forests and around brilliant white towns, before calling in at local tavernas for lunch, and then overnighting in rural villas.
Tours start from ￡660 per person. Maximum bodyweight limits apply (01299 272997; inthesaddle.com)
Cling on in Italy
Sport climbing makes its debut at the Olympics this summer with a fast-paced scramble up a bouldering wall for gold. But for something a bit more aesthetically pleasing, although by no means a doddle, how about taking on seven 13,000-foot-high Italian summits in just a week? KE Adventure Travel still has spaces on its late-August tour, which includes ascents of Pyramid Vincent and Zumsteinspitze. Nights are spent in simple but comfortable mountain refuges, including the Margherita Hut, the highest in the Alps.
Prices start from ￡1,769 per person (01768 773966; keadventure.com)
Serve and volley in Mexico
You cannot be serious! Holidays to Latin America are back on the cards and the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, at Cancun’s TRS Coral Hotel, is open for business. Tennis lovers will spend a week on the resort’s eight floodlit clay courts alongside a team of professional coaches. There are several one-on-one programmes to choose from, including a focus on singles and doubles. Participants will be assessed at the start of their holiday, before then receiving an evaluation report at the end.
British Airways Holidays offers seven nights at the five-star TRS Coral Hotel from ￡1,149 per person, including flights from London in September (0800 727 800; ba.com/cancun)
Make tracks in the Scottish Highlands
If overseas travel still seems like too much of a faff, then head for the Highlands, where the nights are long, and the air is cool. Nature Travels have seen such a high demand for their week-long running holidays that they’ve added more departures to the end of August. But be warned, daily mileages range from 13 to 23, with some trails climbing to 2,750 feet. You’ll be led by an experienced mountain guide and overnight in shared dormitories, in remote youth hostels. Your luggage will be transferred each day and breakfast and lunch is included.
￡1,100 per person (01929 503080; naturetravels.co.uk)
Bob about in Greece
Canoeing and kayaking holidays are running as normal over in the Greek islands and Sea Kayaking Kefalonia have tours available until the end of September. Their nine-day village-hopping itinerary covers 57 nautical miles and follows the Ionian Sea coastline of Ithaca. Guests will have access to snorkelling equipment and will sleep in a series of comfortable apartments. For something a little more adventurous, there’s a 110-mile circumnavigation of Kefalonia, which includes wild camping on isolated beaches and visits to sea caves.
Prices start from ￡1,155 per person (0030 6932 904360; seakayakingkefalonia-greece)
Bike and boat in Croatia
Traverse Southern Dalmatia, one of the most sparsely populated regions of the Adriatic, on two wheels. You’ll follow the coast and duck in and out of steamy fishing villages, then hopscotch across the islands of Hvar and Kor?ula. Daily mileages range from 12 to 27, so nothing too taxing, leaving plenty of time and energy for lazy afternoons and refreshing dips in the sea. Overnight accommodation is aboard a luxury yacht that meets you in a new place each evening. Guests can either fly in with their own bikes or hire them on arrival.
Saddle Skedaddle still has availability on its various eight-day October tours. Prices start from ￡1,080 (0191 265 1110; skedaddle.com)
Bag a brace in Bedfordshire
Just an hour’s drive from London, the 1,065-acre Luton Hoo Estate has its very own clay pigeon shooting school, where guests can join resident instructor, Pete Lee, who has more than 25 years’ teaching experience under his cartridge belt. Experienced guns can take on the Olympic-style skeet, a 25-shot challenge that fires clays at different angles. The hotel also has a spa and a private lake for swimming.
A one-on-one lesson, including 75 shots and clays costs ￡144, while an overnight stay, including shooting, dinner, bed and breakfast costs ￡225 per person (01582 734437; lutonhoo.co.uk)