The world's best nature holidays for soaking up stunning scenery and wildlife
At Country Living, we love nature holidays that let us get close to the natural world, visiting places that are all about amazing landscapes and incredible wonders that have made them special for centuries.
We know you adore spending time in nature too, whether browsing a beautiful garden, exploring high peaks on a lakes and mountain getaway, or appreciating the local birds and animals.
So, if you want to see flowers bursting into bloom in spring or soak up the sunshine in a famous beauty spot during summer, we've got the perfect nature holiday for you. Travelling as a family, à deux or even solo (many of these tours and trips are perfect for taking the plunge on a lone adventure), there are plenty of ideas to inspire you to take a nature holiday.
Check out the best ideas to book now: a holiday to Japan during cherry blossom season, a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Alaska and Canada or the Norwegian fjords, and a floral extravaganza in sunny Madeira, for starters. But remember, you don't have to travel thousands of miles from home to experience some of the world's best nature holidays. You can take a sensational cruise around Scotland's beautiful islands or explore the Isles of Scilly with an expert naturalist. There's even incredible stargazing to be had right here in the UK, in Northumberland's world-famous dark skies, which aren't obstructed by light pollution.
Whether you're looking for beautiful lakes to explore or glorious scenery you can enjoy by rail, you'll want to read on for the best nature holidays to take in 2025.
Discover the wildlife of the Isles of Scilly with an expert naturalist
Take a trip to the Isles of Scilly, and you’ll soon see why so many consider these nature-filled islands to be Britain’s most idyllic archipelago. You’ll discover botanic gardens and powder-soft beaches, where Atlantic grey seals can often be spotted and where porpoises and dolphins play off the shores.
On the second-largest island, Tresco, you can visit Tresco Abbey Garden, a true marvel for any keen botanist. The garden was established in the 19th century around the ruins of an old Benedictine Abbey and is now home to a collection of 20,000 plants from all over the world, including Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa.
In April or September 2025, you can join Country Living and Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust Julian Branscombe on a nature-focused tour of these enchanting isles.
Taste Slovenia's incredible flavours and explore its natural parks
Loved for its nature, Slovenia also offers fabulous gastronomy, with a rich culinary heritage influenced by its diverse landscapes. It's also a great destination for eco-friendly travellers and has an incredible seven Michelin Green Star restaurants, showing its dedication to sustainable tourism extends to its food scene.
Foodies in Slovenia will want to head to the tranquil Vipava Valley for some wine tasting, visit the medieval town of Kamnik, the centre of the country's craft beer production, and wander the cobbled streets of Ljubljana searching for excellent local eateries and upmarket restaurants.
Join Country Living's six-day trip in May or October 2025 and you'll do all the above as well as taking a memorable truffle-hunting trip in Slovenian Istria, before tasting these valuable funghi as part of a delicious homestead dinner.
Witness the Northern Lights as you explore Norway's landscapes
Fjords, ice-covered mountains and the jaw-dropping natural phenomena that is the Aurora Borealis – when it comes to nature holidays that pack a punch, Norway is hard to beat. Travelling at the right time of year to the right location will almost guarantee you a sighting of the ethereal Northern Lights dancing in the skies above Norway's dramatic natural landscapes.
Country Living's 12-day cruise in February 2025 takes you above the Arctic Circle to the city of Tromsø and to the remote and beautiful Lofoten Islands. The chances of catching the Northern Lights here are high. You'll be travelling with a team of expedition experts who'll give you the best chance of catching a display, and among them will be the world's first Chief Aurora Chaser, Tom Kerss.
You could also look for Norway's Northern Lights with adventure photographer Doug Allan on Country Living's other 12-day cruise, departing in March 2025.
Glide through stunning scenery in the Swiss Alps
You don’t have to be a hiker or climber to enjoy the scenic drama of the Swiss Alps – in fact, one of the best ways to take in the unforgettable scenery is by rail. The Bernina Express is a bucket-list experience, with routes that travel from Chur to Tirano, passing the chic resort of St Moritz. There's also the Glacier Express, a world-famous railway journey that carves an eight-hour path through the landscape, past sheer mountainsides including the Matterhorn, hugging the edge of glittering glacial lakes, and passing the so-called Grand Canyon of Switzerland, the Rhine Gorge.
Country Living has departures for an unforgettable tour of the Swiss Alps and northern Italy in October 2025. You’ll experience both the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express, while also exploring Lake Maggiore, Zermatt, Klosters and more.
Witness a floral extravaganza in Madeira
The subtropical isle of Madeira has fascinating geology for nature lovers to discover. You may hear it called the 'Pearl of the Atlantic' or even the 'Island of Eternal Spring' - both accurate nicknames for an island punctuated with such beauty, partly thanks to its lush and exotic gardens. Its annual flower festival in the late spring is a sensational time to visit when the islanders create huge carpets of scented flowers in rainbow shades and joyful parades in the streets.
It’s a true celebration of nature, and you can join the festivities on a special Country Living tour in April 2025. You’ll spend seven days getting to know the island, with plenty of tours to some of Madeira’s finest gardens included. You’ll also have grandstand seating at the Flower Festival for a fabulous parade view.
Marvel at Monet's glorious Giverny garden
Many keen gardeners and horticulturalists will have a visit to Monet's garden in Giverny on their travel bucket lists. Arguably one of the world's most famous gardens, due to its appearance in hundreds of the impressionist master's paintings, this tranquil location has been lovingly restored and is bursting with poppies, lupins, delphiniums and peonies.
On a Country Living trip to France on various departure dates until September 2025, you'll visit Giverny and its inspirational gardens. You'll see the famous green bridge crossing the waterlily ponds, which inspired some of the impressionist's most famous paintings, including Les Nymphéas – the Water Lilies. This seven-day tour will also introduce you to the wider Loire Valley region, with its magnificent architecture, splendid gardens and, of course, heavenly food and wine.
Glide through the jaw-dropping landscapes of Antarctica
For a truly once-in-a-lifetime nature holiday, the 'White Continent' of Antarctica awaits. Here, you can get up close and personal with truly breathtaking nature, like landscapes of icebergs, fjords, glaciers and towering mountains. You're likely to spot breaching whales in the icy waters and emperor penguins on the shores as you traverse these incredible natural landscapes.
Due to its remote location and dramatic weather, it's only really possible to visit Antarctica on an expedition cruise in the company of experts. Join Country Living's adventure cruise of Antarctica in March or November 2025 and you'll travel on a ship designed specifically for exploring polar waters with a team of Antarctica experts, who'll make sure your visits to this otherworldly terrain are as memorable and hassle-free as possible.
See Japan’s enchanting cherry blossoms
Japan is high on many people’s wish lists for a nature-themed holiday. There are the sacred, snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawago, the gorgeous gardens of Kyoto and the marvellous, sprawling parks of Osaka and Tokyo. Time a trip to Japan well, and you could witness one of nature’s most colourful spectacles in its full glory.
Spring marks the arrival of cherry blossom season when the pastel-pink sakura (cherry blossom) blooms around the country, and festivals take place as locals and visitors celebrate this beautiful natural event. Visit Japan with Country Living in March until April 2025 on an unforgettable tour, and you’ll visit mesmerising historic buildings and natural landscapes, all while the country is decorated with spectacular cherry blossoms.
Marvel at Northumberland’s starry skies
You might think you have to travel far to get the best views of the night's sky, but it turns out some of the most incredible can be found right here in the UK. Northumberland has some of the best stargazing in the world thanks to exceptionally low levels of light pollution, so much so that's it home to an International Dark Sky Park. Throughout this county's wild, heather-clad moors, rolling hills and ancient meadows, there are countless intriguing castles and historic sights. But for some of the most memorable views of all, you must merely look up.
To see it for yourself, join Country Living's three-day Northumberland tour in March 2025, when you'll be joined by expert astronomer, Richard Darn. You'll visit two observatories and learn all about the sights from Richard, who is part of the team that gained International Dark Sky Reserve status for the Northumberland Dark Sky Park.
Explore the glorious gardens of the Italian lakes
There are so many reasons to love the northern Italian lakes, which have drawn travellers for centuries, especially the hotspots of Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and the Gulf of Borromeo. But any horticulturalist's highlight will be the glorious gardens that can be found in this part of the world. From the opulent villas that line the shores of the grand lakes to the unforgettable walled gardens and flower-filled terraces of the Borremean Islands, there are seemingly endless gardens to explore in this divine part of the world.
The best way to do exactly that is to join Country Living's eight-day tour of the gardens of northern Italy in March to April 2025. You'll be joined on part of the trip by gardening expert Christine Walkden, who will give an exclusive talk and join you for a day of exploring Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Pescatori.
Ride Canada's Rocky Mountaineer and cruise Alaska
The unbelievable natural beauty of Alaska and British Columbia mean both locations are often high up on people's bucket list. Little wonder; from the mighty landscapes of Banff to Lake Louise set against the backdrop of the Victoria Glacier, there's so much to see in Canada. To get to the heart of it all, you'll want to board the historic Rocky Mountaineer, a train journey that weaves through the wilderness before arriving into Vancouver. From there, you can cruise Alaska's Inside Passage, a network of waterways that wind through the fjords and forests of America's largest state.
Experience all this – and more – on Country Living's 16-day Canada and Alaska tour in May 2025. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure includes an unforgettable train journey on the Rocky Mountaineer, followed by a seven-night cruise from Vancouver through the sheltered waters of Alaska's Inside Passage.
See the magic of Corfu through the eyes of the Durrells
The enchantingly pretty Greek island of Corfu has long been a hit with travellers. But British comedy-drama television series The Durrells has made it even more tempting as an option, having showcased some of the most beautiful parts of the island while telling the tale of the family who moved there in 1935. From pristine beaches and glowing turquoise waters to flower-covered coves and cliffs, there's no end of natural beauty on the island to explore, as well as reliving the magic of the programme by visiting some familiar spots.
The Country Living Durrells-themed Corfu holiday in May 2025 will allow you to get the most out of a trip here. You'll be joined by Lee Durrell herself, the naturalist and writer who will give an exclusive talk about her family's love affair with the island – as well as her late husband Gerald's role in conservation. You'll also get to visit filming locations including the White House in Kalami and the Lake of the Lillies.
Cruise along the mighty Danube
Winding its way through 10 culture-filled countries, as well as picture-perfect scenery, the Danube river is easily one of the prettiest in the world – and the most charming to sail down on a river cruise. It flows from the Black Forest mountains of Germany to the Black Sea, passing Germany, Austria and Slovakia, among others. One of the highlights of any journey along the Danube is a stop in Salzburg, where the classic musical The Sound of Music was filmed.
For a journey filled with Alpine charm, cultural cities and all the romantic nostalgia of a musical, take Country Living's six-day Danube cruise in July 2025. Taking in Vienna, Krems and the Wachau Valley before culminating in a stop in Salzburg (where you can retrace Julie Andrews' steps) this is a magical cruise for anyone.
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