Where to go on a flight free vacation
Far from limiting your horizons, once you start thinking about going flight free you quickly realise how many potential journeys and destinations are available to UK travelers by land. It may take longer to get to your vacation in Spain or Croatia, but rail is definitely the most enjoyable and relaxed way to get there, especially if you factor in city stopovers. Rail vacation experts suggest making your journey part of the vacation, but you could also consider making it the destination itself, with an Interrailing Grand Tour of European culture, or an epic adventure to Uzbekistan or the Arctic by train. If you have the determination to go flight free, then really the only thing holding you back is your imagination.
Our Flight free Vacations
Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples vacations
One of Europe's most dramatic stretches of coastline
From
US $1949 to US $2349
8 days
ex flights
London to Cairo over land & sea tour
Travel flight free to Africa! Adventure from London to Cairo
From
£2400
16 days
ex flights
Camino De Santiago hiking vacation for families
Ideal Camino route for your Family!
From
€525 to €550
8 days
ex flights
Luxury Dubrovnik cruise, Croatia
Cruise from Dubrovnik to see the best of Southern Croatia
From
£2425 to £2675
8 days
ex flights
London to Georgia by train vacation
Overland adventure to the far extent of Europe
From
£3360
19 days
ex flights
Dolomites cycling vacation in Italy
The Dolomites, while avoiding the need to ride up any long climbs
From
US $2379 to US $2399
8 days
ex flights
Sicily self guided cycling vacation in Italy
A wonderful introduction to Sicily's south-east
From
£2179
9 days
inc UK flights
Mont Blanc Circuit classic hiking tour, 8 days
Hearty local cuisine from 3 countries & phenomenal views
From
US $2579 to US $2649
8 days
ex flights
Central Europe rail tour, 15 days
An exciting trip around the continent's fairytale cities
From
£1369
15 days
ex flights
Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn trekking vacation
Classic high level route from Chamonix to Zermatt
From
US $3679
15 days
ex flights
Chaumont to Amboise walking vacation, Loire Valley
Easy paced, gentle walking vacation in Loire
From
£1195 to £1349
8 days
inc UK flights
The Northern Way hiking short break
Walk along the stunning northern coast of Green Spain
From
€275
4 days
ex flights
Romania adventure vacation
An amazing tour exploring medieval Europe and Transylvania
From
£3045
14 days
ex flights
Central Croatia luxury cruise from Split
Explore the glorious coast of Central Croatia in Luxury
From
£1599
8 days
ex flights
Dordogne self catering accommodation
Splendid isolation! Your very own cabin in the woods!
From
€650 to €900
per week (sleeps 2)
Split to Dubrovnik Luxury 4 day cruise
Split to Dubrovnik 4 day highlights luxury cruise
From
£815
4 days
ex flights
Yoga Retreats in Valencia, Spain
Yoga and meditation in the magical countryside of Valencia
From
€495 to €1195
6 days
ex flights
Abruzzo and Molise vacation in Italy
Travel the ancient Tratturo Magno in stunning Italy
From
£2695
8 days
ex flights
London to Sudan by rail and sea
A unique adventure by rail and cargo ship
From
£4950
25 days
ex flights
Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way Guided Rail Tour
A fully guided tour around Ireland's famous touring route
From
£1895
8 days
ex flights
Alternative family winter vacation in Chamonix, France
Easter family ski, yoga & circus vacation
From
£835
7 days
ex flights
Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia vacation
Escape the crowds and explore hidden Europe
From
£1950
16 days
ex flights
Winter walking vacation in the Austrian Tyrol
Winter walking from the northern banks of the biggest lake in Tyrol
From
US $1679 to US $1779
8 days
ex flights
European rail tour, 29 days
Tour Europe's best cities on this 29-day adventure!
From
£2729
4 weeks
inc Eurostar
Italy cycling vacation, Venice & Veneto
Wonderfully easy cycling route exploring the pretty villages
From
£1415 to £1469
9 days
inc UK flights
Chianti walking vacation in Italy
Volterra and the soaring towers of San Gimignano
From
£1695 to £1809
11 days
inc UK flights
Belarus tour, Forgotten Europe
Explore the culture and traditions of Europe's wild east.
From
£2305
10 days
ex flights
Austrian lakes activity vacation
Self-guided walking and cycling routes in Austria
From
£1689
8 days
inc UK flights
Albania
1. Albania
Brimming with UNESCO-protected sites, pristine landscapes and a fascinating culture hidden for years behind the Iron Curtain, Albania is just beginning to emerge onto the tourism scene. Already appealing to adventurous travelers, Albania can be reached without flying in two or three days using high-speed daytime trains, a one-night stay in Milan, and an overnight ferry from Italy.
Arctic
2. Arctic
An epic rail journey for intrepid travelers, the Arctic can be explored year-round on two-week trips encompassing vast swathes of Russia and Scandinavia. Highlights include time in Berlin and Moscow, a two-night odyssey to Murmansk aboard the ‘Arktika’ service, and a cruise along the magnificent Hurtigruten coast. You can get home by train too, via Stockholm, Hamburg and Copenhagen.
Croatia
3. Croatia
The easiest way to reach Dubrovnik or Split by train is with a one-night stopover in Zagreb. Without rushing, it would take around two full days from London. But once you’re in Croatia you can let the crew of your small ship cruise take over while you relax on deck with your feet up and a drink in hand.
France
4. France
An easy jaunt over to Paris on the Eurostar is for many of us our first experience of a European rail vacation. But just a little extra effort, and one or two more trains, gets you much further: to chic Biarritz, to idyllic walking vacations in Nouvelles-Aquitaine, to memorable family adventures in the Alps or canoeing in the Dordogne.
Georgia
5. Georgia
One of Europe’s least-known destinations, Georgia is a lovely country to visit by train. Getting there takes you through Transylvania and Romania’s hauntingly beautiful Carpathian Mountains, as well as a memorable jaunt on the Eastern Express through remote parts of eastern Turkey. The final leg to Batumi is by private car, as there’s no train service between Turkey and Georgia.
Portugal
6. Portugal
Whether you want to go walking in Sintra National Park or the Algarve, cycle the Atlantic Coast or dive headlong into Lisbon’s fado culture, there are several ways to reach Portugal by train. Among the best would be taking the Eurostar to Paris, then a high-speed TGV to the Spanish border. There, you can connect with an overnight sleeper to Lisbon.
Spain
7. Spain
If you were in a hurry, you could get to Barcelona by train in one day. But why rush when you could spend a night in Paris along the way? The rail journey to the Catalan capital through France is wonderfully attractive, and once there you can head further on to Valencia, Andalucia and the Balearic Islands if you wish.
Sweden
8. Sweden
The concept of ‘train bragging’ originated in Sweden and we like it. You can get to Stockholm in two days by rail via Hamburg, from where you can try sea kayaking off the Baltic coast, continue south to cycle around the lovely Sörmland province, or track wolves and beavers in Bergslagen Forest.
Our top Flight free Vacation
Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples vacations
One of Europe's most dramatic stretches of coastline
From
US $1949 to US $2349
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2021: 6 Nov, 23 Dec, 30 Dec
2022: 12 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 6 Aug, 20 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 5 Nov, 24 Dec, 31 Dec
2021: 6 Nov, 23 Dec, 30 Dec
2022: 12 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 6 Aug, 20 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 5 Nov, 24 Dec, 31 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Flight free or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Sample itineraries
UK to Valencia by rail
London > Paris > Barcelona > Valencia
Depending on train times, from London you could potentially reach Barcelona via Paris in around 12 hours non-stop, although you might want to break up the journey with a night in the French capital. Then from Barcelona you’re just three hours by train from Valencia, or eight hours by ferry from Menorca.
Depending on train times, from London you could potentially reach Barcelona via Paris in around 12 hours non-stop, although you might want to break up the journey with a night in the French capital. Then from Barcelona you’re just three hours by train from Valencia, or eight hours by ferry from Menorca.
UK to Saint Anna Archipelago by rail
London > Brussels > Cologne > Hamburg > Copenhagen > Stockholm > Norrköping
It takes around two full days to get from London to Stockholm by train at a relaxed pace, with an overnight in Hamburg. From Stockholm it’s less than two hours to the lovely Sörmland province by train, bus or car, and 90 minutes by train to Norrköping, departure point for sea kayaking vacations in the Saint Anna Archipelago.
It takes around two full days to get from London to Stockholm by train at a relaxed pace, with an overnight in Hamburg. From Stockholm it’s less than two hours to the lovely Sörmland province by train, bus or car, and 90 minutes by train to Norrköping, departure point for sea kayaking vacations in the Saint Anna Archipelago.
London to Dubrovnik overland
London > Paris > Munich > Zagreb > Split > Dubrovnik
Getting to Croatia by rail is both uncomplicated and fun. It would take you about 22 hours to reach Zagreb via a sleeper train from Munich. From Zagreb it’s a further six hours to Split, from where you can take a bus or fast catamaran to Dubrovnik, as there is no rail connection between the two cities. After that, you can unwind with small ship cruising around Croatia’s idyllic Dalmatian coast and islands, perhaps combining sailing with walking or kayaking.
Getting to Croatia by rail is both uncomplicated and fun. It would take you about 22 hours to reach Zagreb via a sleeper train from Munich. From Zagreb it’s a further six hours to Split, from where you can take a bus or fast catamaran to Dubrovnik, as there is no rail connection between the two cities. After that, you can unwind with small ship cruising around Croatia’s idyllic Dalmatian coast and islands, perhaps combining sailing with walking or kayaking.
More about Flight free
Flight free vacations are about curbing emissions, not ambitions. Let’s make travel exciting again.
Flight free vacations to Spain are easy, with rail connections from the UK through Paris, or by sea to Northern Spain.
Our flight free vacations to Portugal can get you from the UK to Lisbon in 24 hours by train.
Flight free vacations to Sweden offer plenty of options for stopovers in Europe along the way.
Flight free rail vacations allow you to get your cultural fix by visiting several European cities in a short space of time.
With long-haul flight free vacations, it’s always about the journey rather than the destination.
We’ve put together some tips and advice for flight free vacations from our specialist tour operators.
We explore some of the key issues around responsible travel on flight free vacations.
Our best flight free vacations give travelers the chance to do just that: travel without flying.
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