Top 10 special interest vacations
Joining a regular club or a one off workshop at home is a great way to link up with likeminded people and develop your skills and knowledge. Now, imagine being able to devote a whole week, or more, to enjoying an activity in the company of an expert. Where a special interest vacation takes place is another important aspect, such as having the chance to learn a language in the country of origin or take photographs in a stunning natural setting. Accommodation may include classrooms, exercise studios or spacious kitchens. Tutors, guides and instructors will all be experts in their field and able to accommodate different skill sets as they work towards encouraging further enjoyment and broadening understanding. Check out our top ten to see if your special interest is on the list or find something new to tempt you into traveling.
1. Immersive language vacations
Learning a new language is not just helpful when it comes to understanding menus or public transport timetables. It keeps your synapses firing, helps make new friends and opens a window onto different cultures. When it comes to quick advancement, nothing beats studying in a location where you can put what you've learned to the test. Learning Spanish in Spain allows you to unleash your newly acquired skills immediately, whether wandering this beautiful city between classes, or on optional organised group activities from flamenco nights to tapas tasting sessions, and tours of sites like the Alhambra.
2. Yoga breaks
It’s all well and good getting a weekly dose of yoga at your local studio, but stepping straight back into your daily routine means that the benefits of the session don’t last long. Our yoga vacations, however, continues to boost your positivity levels for long after you get back, and they can also really help you improve your technique. This Yoga retreat in France, for example, aids rejuvenation against a backdrop of green hills and Mediterranean skies. Find your flow through daily yoga classes, enjoy a massage or a meditation session, or take a hike in the divine surrounding countryside.3. Seeing the Northern Lights
The Aurora Borealis are one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles. The wilderness of Finnish Lapland is among the best places to witness them, thanks to the lack of light pollution and clear skies. This Northern Lights vacation heads to Finland’s national parks to increase chances of success. Husky sledding, snow shoeing and cross country skiing let you make the most of the landscapes by day, whilst remote log cabins and obligatory saunas keep you warm while watching the sky at night.4. Archaeology tours
Our archaeology trips, led by expert tour leaders and where appropriate meeting up with local guides at some sites, are a brilliant way to explore all things ancient and gain unique insights into life long ago. Greece, particularly the Peloponnese region, is of course a favorite, and other destinations including Cyprus and Syria are fascinating. Eastern Turkey holds a number of hugely significant sites, from the underground cities of Cappadocia to the iconic head statues of Mount Nemrut and the Neolithic settlement of Gobekli Tepe.
5. Photography trips
Your first photography vacation is rarely your last. One reason people catch the bug is that they’re spending a week in the company of people who share the same passion, and are full of tips on other amazing destinations to consider. Bonding comes very easily when you have that instant connection. Another reason is how satisfying it is to see your skills develop under the guidance of an expert tutor, and in supportive feedback sessions where groups compare their day’s work. This photography vacation in Bulgaria is a great example of how our trips can help you gain a unique perspective.6. Cooking & food trips
Food and cooking are deeply interwoven into Italian culture. Whether that be a pasta sauce that takes most of the day to reach perfection, to grabbing a slice of something cheap but delicious on the way to see the Coliseum. Our cooking vacation in Umbria is an ideal way to explore one of Italy’s most delectable regional cuisines. Like many of our cooking and food trips you’ll benefit from hand-on lessons provided by skilled local chefs, as well as excursions such as to village markets or nearby vineyards. Bellissima!7. Pilgrimage walking
People embark on a pilgrimage walk for a variety of reasons. There is undoubtedly a spiritual element for many, and perhaps a need for solitude, but for others it’s the love of a long distance challenge that might take several vacations over years to complete. And for still others, it’s the chance to spend a week or so in the open air, perhaps reconnecting with friends and family on the way. Some of our most popular pilgrimages are on the legendary Camino de Santiago, with a number of different routes and sections available.8. Art retreats
From watercolour painting vacations in France to mosaic-making in Turkey, some of our most sought-after special interest vacations are those that allow you to indulge your artistic talents. Naturally, they tend to be set in particularly scenic places, whether that be the coast or the mountains, and they will be led by accomplished tutors who can help you bring your abilities to new levels. Expect to return home utterly inspired.
9. Unusual combinations
Why confine yourself to one interest, when you can have a vacation that meets two, or even more? You can combine Spanish lessons with walking in dramatic Picos de Europa National Park – in fact, you can combine walking with lots of things, from yoga to cooking to painting. Elsewhere, there is the option to partner whale watching with seeing the Northern Lights, perhaps, or sailing and cycling in the Med.10. Witnessing a solar eclipse
Even though the whole thing might only last a few minutes, there’s something incredibly moving, and completely unforgettable, about witnessing a solar eclipse. No wonder, then, that some people will travel halfway around the world for either a full or partial eclipse. And no wonder, then, that they also want to make a vacation of it, given the distance they’ll be journeying. The 2027 solar eclipse in Tunisia promises to be very special – the longest (totality is five minutes) to be visible from land this century.More Special interest articles
Why abandon your hobbies on vacation? We've got rewarding trips for dancers, singers, painters, linguists and more.
