Unique holiday types you’ve probably never heard of

We’ve pulled together a selection of some of our more unusual and unique holidays, to give you some inspiration when it comes to planning your next holiday. All you need to do is choose which one you like the sound of most… 

Small-ship cruises

Of course, you’ll have heard of cruise holidays. And you’ll be aware of holidays aboard privately chartered yachts. But small-ship cruises sit happily in between the two, and – we think – combine the best of both worlds.  

Ships are sleek and modern, with enough space for 30-35 guests. It’s enough to create a lovely, sociable atmosphere, with everyone knowing everyone else’s names – usually – by the end of day 2. Meals are taken together, either in the dining room or up on deck if the weather’s good, and there are always opportunities to go ashore and find a great local restaurant to eat at if you fancy.

Being a smaller ship allows the captain to alter course to catch a great sunset or pitstop in a quiet bay for a swim stop, and means you can moor up at some of the more out-the-way ports that the big vessels can’t reach.  

At ports, you’ll disembark with everyone for an excursion, whether it’s a wine tasting at a local vineyard, a guided city tour or a walk across wildflower fields to taste produce at a family-run farm. Our small-ship cruises focus on Croatia’s coast and islands, so you might be in the quiet Kornati Islands one day and vibrant Split the next, or exploring the little-known Kvarner Islands in the north.

Festival holidays

Timing your holiday so you can experience a local event or festival is a brilliant way to immerse yourself in your destination’s culture.  

Madeira, for example, is famed for its glorious botanical gardens and lush landscapes – so why not visit in the spring for the annual flower festival? You’ll see floats decorated with colourful blooms and elaborate floral displays around every corner.

Or perhaps head to Japan in the wintertime – it’s when the Sapporo Snow Festival takes place. House-sized snow sculptures take over a public park on the northern island of Hokkaido, and there are snow-themed activities, decorations and parties taking place. Not a fan of the cold? We also love Japan’s traditional festivals, like the Takayama Festivals, which celebrate spring and autumn harvests, and the Gion Festival, a month-long Shinto celebration of the Yasaka Shrine.  

There are so many more options for these unique holidays – music festivals in New Orleans, Peruvian sun god celebrations in Cuzco, Day of the Dead in Mexico. For more inspiration, our festival holidays page can give you some ideas.

Multi-day rail trips

Overnight trains are nothing new – there are plenty of sleeper services that’ll get you from A to B in locations right across the world. But what we love are the rail journeys that add a hefty dose of luxury to the experience.  

Like Rovos Rail, for example. Based out of South Africa, Rovos restores vintage trains to their former glory (think Edwardian writing desks, rich wood panelling and dressing for dinner and cocktails) and uses them to transport guests on magical journeys across the south of the continent. The four-night Pretoria to Victoria Falls route is a particular highlight, allowing time to alight for national park visits and game drives.

Another option we love is Rocky Mountaineer. Super-comfortable trains follow tracks through the Canadian Rockies, with oversized windows for ogling views of snowy mountains, velvet-green forests and wild rivers. You’ll spend your days reclining in comfy seats, dining on Canadian specialities and listening to local stories told by your onboard host. At night, you’ll disembark to spend the night in a nearby hotel, before hopping back on board for breakfast the next morning.  

It’s slow travel, but with a luxury twist – a fantastic way to holiday.

Hotels with history

Looking for unique accommodation to add to your holiday itinerary? Look to historic hotels – places with a story to tell. They might not be full of mod-cons or have the latest in-room gadgets, but they’re always packed full of charm and character. 

In Portugal, for example, there are pousadas. These hotels are housed in converted historic buildings (like monasteries, palaces and castles) and feature décor that’s authentic to the building’s past – they really are unique places to go on holiday.  

India also has some wonderfully unique hotels, from opulent havelis (converted merchants’ mansions) to former palaces and summer residences of maharajahs. Adding a unique stay like this gives you a glimpse into India’s incredible past, and is a great way to add an extra dash of culture and history to your holiday.

Dahabiya cruises

Dahabiyas are traditional Egyptian sailing boats, used to take wealthy travellers along the Nile in the 19^th century. While modern ships are now the most popular way to cruise the Nile, if you want the full-nostalgia experience, a dahabiya cruise is the perfect choice. 

They’re stylish and comfortable vessels, with polished teak decks, billowing white sails, attentive crew and just a handful of air-conditioned, en-suite cabins. As with small-ship cruises, dahabiyas can access some of the smaller, more off-the-beaten track locations, so you might enjoy things like village visits and beach barbecues on river islands, as well as trips to the big names.  

When you’re not exploring Egypt’s tombs and temples, you can unwind on the canopied deck, snooze on cushioned daybeds or pick your Egyptologist guide’s brains about anything from hieroglyphics to royal rituals.

Rainforest or jungle safaris

If you’ve already ticked off a Big Five safari (or even if you haven’t), and you’re looking for another trip that’s big on nature and wildlife, why not try a rainforest or jungle safari?

You’ll see incredible (and often rare) wildlife and travel through some of the most amazing landscapes. See sun bears, orang-utans and pygmy elephants in the steamy forests of Borneo; seek out sloths, howler monkeys, toucans and tree frogs in Costa Rica; or keep watch for tigers, leopards and sloth bears in the reserves of India.  

For a more off-the-beaten-path experience, how about Madagascar? Yes, the hotels can be simple and the roads bumpy, but you’ll be travelling past baobab forests and vanilla plantations as you go in search of flora and fauna that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

For more travel inspiration and unique holiday destinations, view our full range of holiday types.