These no-fly holidays are ideal for flight-free travels
As much as we love exploring the world and visiting new places, flying isn't the most eco-friendly way to travel, which is why the best no-fly holidays are worth considering if you're searching for flight-free getaways.
You won't be the only one looking to avoid the airports either. ABTA's recent Travel Trends Report predicted a rise in people travelling by rail and boat, due to a rail revival in Europe and a range of cruises that depart from and return to the UK.
It's no surprise that these alternative means of travel are proving popular. When you travel by rail or boat you can wake up in a new destination every day, and enjoy the captivating landscapes from your window as you go, making for a truly once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
Travelling by rail or sea also ties into the ever-growing trend towards slow travel, which focuses on savouring the journey, rather than just the destination.
Regular flying has a big impact on the environment, and no-fly holidays by train or cruise are ideal for those who want to travel but are conscious of their carbon footprint.
If you want to get away to beautiful locations without having to set foot in an airport, take a look at our selection of no-fly trips to take this year and next.
Take in the scenery of the Swiss Alps on the Glacier Express
Anyone with a love of nature and breathtaking mountain scenery will be in heaven on a trip to the Swiss Alps. This is one of the most scenic parts of Europe, with glistening glacial lakes, snow-capped peaks, and pretty villages with wooden chalets and historic churches
For an unforgettable adventure in the Alps, you can join a magical eight-day holiday in Switzerland and Italy where you'll stay in the pretty Alpine town of Brig, visit elegant Bern, and take a day trip to Italy's heavenly Lake Maggiore. While in Switzerland, you'll enjoy two exceptional train rides, on the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express, as well as visiting the Alpine town of Zermatt to see the iconic Matterhorn.
This trip includes the option to travel by Eurostar instead of flying. Take the Eurostar from London to Zurich via Paris and then a Swiss train through glorious Alpine scenery to Brig.
Explore Monet’s France through paintings and gardens
The north of France is one of the best locations for art and history lovers looking for a no-fly getaway. Easily reachable by a train ride from London, you'll be welcomed by ornate châteaux, impressive cathedrals, pretty gardens and delicious French cuisine.
Join Country Living for a no-fly holiday to France and you'll head to Claude Monet's gardens in Giverny to see the gardens which inspired so much of his work. Carefully restored, these gardens are bursting with poppies, lupins, delphiniums and peonies with wisteria and towering weeping willows framing the iconic waterlily ponds.
As well as visiting France's most famous garden, you'll also head into the Loire Valley to visit Chinon, where Joan of Arc first met the Dauphin, Amboise, with its ornate royal château on the banks of the Rive Loire, and Tours, the mediaeval capital of France.
Cruise the glacial fjords of Norway and discover ancient folklore
Sailing through the tranquil glacial waters of Norway, past landscapes of snow-capped mountains, lush green meadows, and towering cliff faces, is a journey every nature-lover will want to experience at least once.
As well as the dramatic vistas, there's also a whole host of ancient Viking history and intriguing myths and legends of trolls and giants to be discovered on the banks of these icy waters.
Join a special cruise with our sister publication Good Housekeeping over the August Bank Holiday and you'll get to experience the best of Norway for yourself - all without stepping foot in an airport.
You'll sail out of Newcastle on the small ship Balmoral, where you'll have plenty of time in between excursions to make the most of its excellent facilities. Look forward to sailing through Nordfjord, hiking to the Briksdal Glacier with a local geologist, and discovering troll folklore on tours of Trollveggan and Trollstigen.
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Island hop in the untouched Hebrides
If you have an adventurous streak there are plenty of ways to explore the UK on a more active holiday. The Scottish Hebrides are a good choice for those who want to go on a cruise and enjoy fabulous scenery without having to fly.
Country Living's eight-day cruise cruise on a luxury yacht will take you along Scotland's Caledonian Canal, through hidden sea lochs and out to the magical islands of Scotland's western shore. This cruise will take you to several of Scotland's most dramatically beautiful isles, including the Isle of Iona with its ancient religious sites and pristine white-sand beaches.
You'll sail in comfort between the Hebridean isles on Lord of the Glens, a boutique yacht-style ship with an excellent restaurant, panoramic windows and outward-facing cabins. The ship is fitted out with luxurious flourishes, like armchairs from the Orient Express and David Roberts lithographs.
See the works of the Dutch Masters with Andrew Graham-Dixon
A trip to the Netherlands is a perfect no-fly holiday for any lover of European art. In Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum you can see an impressive collection of 8,000 artworks, featuring renowned pieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer, including The Milkmaid and Woman Reading a Letter.
The Mauritshuis in The Hague is another real gem, where you can see Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft, Carel Fabritius's The Goldfinch and some of Rembrandt's famous works.
On Country Living's exclusive art-themed Netherlands tour you'll enjoy a private viewing with celebrated art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon in the Vermeer Room at the Mauritshuis. You'll then explore the rest of the museum with an expert guide. The trip also includes a visit to the Rijksmuseum and the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam, based at the artist's former home.
Relax in the peaceful Dorset countryside
One of the easiest ways to take a no-fly holiday is to book an escape in the UK. Avoiding flying certainly doesn't limit you to a staycation, but with so many lovely destinations close to home, a short staycation is sometimes all you need.
And when it comes to English country breaks, Summer Lodge in Dorset has it all. This magnificent Georgian manor house is in the sleepy Dorset village of Evershot, which you can explore by hopping on one of the hotel's bicycles.
The hotel and its grounds are the perfect place to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. There's a swimming pool and spa, and mindfulness classes are available, allowing you to take a well-deserved moment for yourself.
Our two-night offer includes a 55-minute treatment and use of the pool and spa facilities, as well as breakfast both mornings, dinner both evenings and a bottle of house wine on the first night.
Discover the wonderful wildlife and glorious gardens of the Isles of Scilly
With their subtropical microclimate and white-sand beaches, the Isles of Scilly are the perfect location for a dreamy island holiday without a long and tiring flight.
This idyllic archipelago can be easily reached by ferry from Cornwall, with the journey from Penzance to St Mary's lasting around two hours and 45 minutes. Once you step foot on the islands, you'll understand why they're considered by many to be one of the UK's most heavenly corners.
On Country Living's trip to the Isles of Scilly, you'll visit the sub-tropical Tresco Abbey Garden, described as "Kew without the glass", the rugged coastlines of Bryher, and the quaint harbours of St Martin's.
A highlight of the trip will be meeting the head of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Julian Branscombe, who will give a talk to explain the trust's work and give you an insight into the Isles' native wildlife, which includes porpoises, dolphins, seals, and many species of birds.
Escape to the New Forest for a country break
A much-loved corner of England for a peaceful country break is the New Forest. Known for its ancient woodlands, wetlands, and adorable free-roaming ponies, the New Forest has many cosy hotels where you can pass a couple of days enjoying the serenity of the area.
One of these is the Montagu Arms in Beaulieu, with its fine dining restaurant, pub, and timeless English garden. Spend two supremely comfy nights here with Country Living's offer, which includes dinner allowances at both Monty's Inn and The Terrace restaurant. You can also make use of the swimming pool, jacuzzi and gym at the sleek SenSpa at sister hotel, Careys Manor.
As part of our offer, you will be able to choose between tickets to the delightful Exbury Gardens, where you can see the beautiful Rothschild collections of rhododendrons and azaleas, or the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, with its extensive collection of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia.
Sail on a stylish ship to Guernsey, the Isles of Scilly and Normandy
Another cruise which departs directly from British shores is this voyage around some of the UK's prettiest islands and onwards to the north of France. Your first stop will be the Isles of Scilly, which enjoys its own subtropical microclimate, perfect for wandering along the seafront of the lovely island of St Mary's and exploring the shops and eateries of Hugh Town.
The next stop will be at the picturesque St Peter Port in Guernsey, where you'll have a chance to discover the wartime history of the Channel Islands, the only part of the British Isles under German control during World War II.
The final port of call is Honfleur in Normandy, where you can sample local delicacies like camembert and Calvados, a rich local brandy made from apples and pears. This pretty port town has been a magnet for artists for centuries, and is where a young Claude Monet first started painting landscapes.
Visit captivating Carcassonne and the Dordogne
Another wonderful region of France that's easily reachable for a no-fly holiday is the Dordogne, a land of medieval villages, sprawling palace gardens and historic walled cities that'll have you feeling like you've stepped into the pages of a fairytale.
Perhaps the most picture-perfect of all of Dordogne's medieval villages is the delightful Sarlat, where handsome buildings made from luminous local golden stone line a labyrinth of cobbled streets.
Join Country Living on an eight-day Dordogne adventure - travelling by Eurostar and local rail - and you'll see Sarlat along with other enchanting towns, learning about the fascinating history of the region as you go.
Highlights include a traditional flat-bottomed boat through the sleepy Dordogne valley, a visit to the incredible stone-age cave paintings of Lascaux and a stroll around the typically formal gardens of Marqueyssac. You'll also venture out of the Dordogne to the nearby walled city of Carcassonne, with its cone-topped turrets and cream-coloured battlements.
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See our full collection of no-fly holidays here
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