Short break wildlife travel guide

If you have a love of wildlife but a lack of time, our short break wildlife vacations guide can help. An abundance of seriously exciting wildlife lives on our UK doorstep, and you can meet it via a quick flight, on a short trip of four or five days. Read on for more info on short break wildlife vacations, working out whether one is right for you, and then find the best time to go, too.

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Short break wildlife vacations travel guide

Bears on your doorstep and bison in your backyard - Europe has awesome wildlife, ready to be spotted on a short break.

Anyone who’s sat through an episode of Springwatch will have a feel for the wildlife that makes its home in the UK, but if you’ve had your fill of deer and hedgehogs and yearn for something a little different, the good news is, you don’t have to book a safari and fly to Africa. Europe is brimming with wildlife – exciting wildlife – and you can see it on a short break of four or five days. Board a train or plane to Stockholm, Budapest or Warsaw and you’re only a few hours’ drive from moose, wolves, beavers, birdlife and bison. Yes, bison! Our short break wildlife vacations run all year round, too. Spot bears during the super-long days of summer in Eastern Finland or see orcas in December from a boat cruising the fjords of northern Norway. Europe’s wilder side is waiting to reveal itself – all you need is a long weekend.

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Go on a short break wildlife vacation if…

… you’re short of time. Four or five days are enough to see, admire and learn about Europe’s birds and beasties. … you don’t do long haul. A quick flight to Europe will bring you to countries where a host of exciting wildlife lives. Often, it’s just a short drive from airport to wilderness, too. … you want a winter break. Some animals are most active in the colder months – wolves, for example – making wildlife watching a great option for an alternative winter vacation. … you love the great outdoors. Of course, short break wildlife vacations tend to involve being outside most of the time. Immersing yourself in the landscape is as much a part of the trip as spotting the critters. … you don’t want to blow the budget. A short trip to see Europe’s wildlife tends to cost less than a long African safari, but doesn’t scrimp on exciting wildlife experiences.

Don’t go on a short break wildlife vacation if…

… you like lots of down time. Itineraries tend to be pretty packed to make the most of a short break. Wildlife watching often starts early in the morning, too, or takes place through the night, if you’re seeking bears… … you love luxury accommodation. The focus is on the wildlife, not the bath robes and room service. Some trips spend a night in a hide, others camp in the wilderness, howling for wolves, and many involve long hours walking through wild terrain. … you want guaranteed sightings. Wildlife won’t emerge on cue, so don’t be disappointed if you don’t see a wolf or bear. Vacation companies are realistic about the odds of seeing each individual species. They’ll also emphasise tracking skills and enjoying being outdoors, not just ticking animals off a list. … you like to travel alone. Most short break wildlife trips are in small groups, with fixed dates. A sociable personality, as well as a love of animals, is helpful.

Short break wildlife vacations travel advice

Marcus Eldh from our partner Wild Sweden gives the lowdown on spotting wildlife on a short break:

How and where to see wildlife in Sweden tips

“We focus entirely on wildlife tours to see animals like moose, beavers, wolves and bears. We always go quietly – hiking, small boats with electric engine, canoeing, photo hides. We take people to the right place at the right time to spot wildlife in their natural habitat, in a good way with great respect for the animals. Also, you don’t have to travel to the north of Sweden to spot wildlife and nice nature. For example, the best moose area is Bergslagen just two hours from Stockholm, where there is also good numbers of wolves and beavers.”

Advice on tracking wolves in Sweden

“It is not a hard trip since we sleep at a nice guesthouse, and this is central Sweden, not Lapland so the winter conditions are not usually too difficult. But we always advise to bring proper winter clothing and dress in layers. We provide hot drinks in thermoses and sauna in the evenings.”

Sally Guillaume from our partner Undiscovered Mountains, gives this insight into winter weather in the Alps:

Winter temperatures when wolf tracking in the Alps

“The temperatures where we wolf track in the Alps can get as low as -12°C (I’ve only had this cold once) and high as 15°C in January. I would say on average -4°C to 10°C in winter. It really depends on the day. Suffice to say you need to be prepared for the cold, but in layers so you can strip off when it gets warm! Also worth mentioning that the cold is a very dry cold so doesn’t get into your bones in the same way as it does in damp climates. The refuges we stay in are also heated with wood burners and can get quite hot.”

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Short break wildlife vacations advice

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful short break wildlife vacation tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.

Be prepared to 'rough it' a bit when camping and in the bear hides.

– Shelia Jukes

“Go for it and make sure you pack some sun tan lotion and sunglasses.” – Joyce Varley bird watching in Hungary

“Be willing to be sociable and make the most of the opportunities to see the wildlife, even if it means getting up very early. Be respectful of the rules and the rest of the group and follow the clothing rules (as some of our group did not do!)” – Sarah Bascombe on a bison safari in Poland

“This was a fairly ‘full on’ trip. You need good walking boots and wet weather gear. Be prepared to ‘rough it’ a little bit when camping and in the bear hides. Many of the animals you’re looking for are nocturnal so a number of the activities started at about 5.00pm continuing well into the early hours. Remember June is 24 hours daylight in mid Sweden.” – Shelia Jukes on a wolves, moose and beavers vacation in Sweden

“The best thing was hearing the wolves howl but the walk through the woods looking for signs of wolf and moose activity was also magical. Standing in the woods silently, in the dark waiting for the howl is an intense experience. Go determined to enjoy all parts of being in the outdoors with wildlife experts. Hearing or seeing wolves should be an extra bonus if it happens.” – David Green in Sweden

“Travel light with lots of windproof layers! On the trip, it was cold as expected so I had all the warm layers but I was most thankful for the windproof outer trousers and coat. I was a solo traveler and everyone on board was very friendly – just book it and go!” – Claudia Philps on a northern lights and whale watching trip to Norway

“Be open to whatever the experience brings. We had quite stormy weather which added to the dramatic environment. Unfortunately we did not see the Northern Lights but the trip was still very eventful. Don't spend too much time trying to get the perfect photo because you will rarely be facing the right direction and you miss the spontaneity of the situation.” – Lucy Chard on a Northern Lights and whale watching trip to Norway

The best thing was hearing the wolves howl but the walk through the woods looking for signs of wolf and moose activity was also magical.

– David Green

More relevant guides

Written by Joanna Simmons

Short break wildlife travel guide

Short break wildlife vacations travel guide

Go on a short break wildlife vacation if…

Don’t go on a short break wildlife vacation if…

Short break wildlife vacations travel advice