France brings the lofty peaks of the Alps, Pyrenees and Mont Blanc to the table; northern Spain, the atmospheric massifs of the Picos de Europa; and Portugal, the stunning beaches and extensive coastline of the gorgeous Alentejo. Your only problem? Choosing where you’re going to walk.

From mountain bike riding through the Catalan Pyrenees, to sea kayaking round Croatia’s illustrious archipelago, and husky sledding through the Narnia-esque landscape of magical Lapland, Europe really is one giant playground for activity vacations, encapsulating every type of environment you could wish for within mere hours of the UK. 

Montenegro is a Balkan bounty of boisterousness where you can try kayaking and wild swimming on freshwater Lake Skadar, or ramp up the adrenalin with a day white water rafting on the thrilling Tara River. The age-old and refreshingly untouristy Peloponnese region of Greece is a sailing and windsurfing utopia; or why not head to Spain and mix it up a bit with a guided star gazing tour, or a lesson in traditional Andalucian cookery.

Through the mountain trails of Montenegro, from cove to cove in Catalonia, around the 16 emerald green lakes of Croatia’s Plitvice, and up and over Tuscany’s rolling hills – two wheels will get you to places that neither four wheels, nor two wearying legs, can and you definitely don’t need to be Tour de France fit to have a tour de force trip.

The very fabric of many European destinations seems woven from a colourful cloth of distinctive history, culture, and pastimes. Take Italy’s island neighbour for example, which boasts over 7,000 sites dating back six millennia, or Rome’s Coliseum, undoubtedly one of the world’s most iconic archaeological symbols, and the Parthenon, which sits high on the incredible Athenian Acropolis and is widely considered the most important surviving emblem of Western civilisation. European cultural tours encompass much more than history too, whether that’s guided wine touring in Croatia, learning the local lingo as you walk in Spain, or splitting your time between painting and cookery lessons in the bucolic Umbrian hills.

However, thanks to a successful rewilding programme Eastern Europe is now prime territory for bison watching and Romania’s mosaic of unspoilt landscape is home to over 33,000 species including Europe’s highest concentration of large carnivores. In Romania, Poland and even in Spain, you’ll find a blend of wolves, rare Eurasian lynx, and over 5,000 bears that prowl their territory watched over by bats, rare eagles and wise old owls.