For many of our natural adventurers, the biggest question is not just ‘when is the best time to go to Croatia?’ but ‘when is the quietest time?’. Croatia is considered by many as the movie star of the Balkan countries, but fame and fortune have had their impacts – the main one being overtourism in peak season. On our walking, cycling and boating holidays, however, we take you away from tourism hotspots and into our adventurous top spots. They also allow you to avoid searing summer temperatures, which can go above 35C in Croatia, although it will be a bit cooler out on some of the islands. We b ..read more

The list of walking trails in Germany reads a bit like a menu of fine wines and yet, for some reason, German wines aren’t everyone’s immediate go-to when perusing the shelves for a soothing tonic. However, expert sommeliers and seasoned hikers both know that Germany has some of Europe’s finest full-bodied and earthy experiences tucked away. The likes of the Rheinsteig or the Moselle Trail are vintage classics, without a hefty price tag. The Malerweg has an elegance about it, so much so that it was enjoyed by some of the country’s great painters as inspiration for their masterpieces. And as you ..read more

Sleeper train journeys rock you to sleep, they rock in terms of your carbon footprint and they can rock your world. Especially when you have that experience of leaving London at sunset and waking up in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands at sunrise. Or stepping off a night train in Nice and taking a morning dip at Opéra Plage. Sleeper trains also roll their way across Europe, and with the no-fly movement growing all the time, train companies are dusting off their old rolling stock and waking up to the fact that sleepers are keepers. Here are some of our favourite sleeper train journeys to add ..read more

Keen cyclists among us will often seek out a bike rental scheme when on a city break, wanting to explore on two wheels just as local people do. And also because seeing the world from a saddle is their go-to for getting around. You don’t have to separate your city breaks from your cycling holidays, however, which is why we’ve picked some of our favourite adventures near the city, so that you can do both the metro and vélo thing. With the climate crisis, we also need to monitor our carbon footprint and so, if you are thinking of travelling somewhere for a city break, why not extend your trip and ..read more

You will also be full after enjoying food in the Balkans after a day of hiking or cycling in some of Europe’s most dramatic landscapes. Given the terrain in many of the countries, the food is usually fine mountain fare. More often than not alcohol is on the menu, as are an array of herbal teas to solve aches and ailments. Food and drink does vary by region, of course, whether you’re toasting the end of a trek in Bosnia-Herzegovina with glass of Žilavka wine or tucking into a meze of Montenegrin pršut on a picnic, the local version of prosciutto ham.  Don’t miss out on the home-made kebabs ..read more

We are often asked when the best time to go to Japan is and our view is that this is a personal thing. Unless you want to go skiing or to a specific cultural festival, the best time is when you feel the pull. Because Japan does that to you. Maybe it’s when you’ve read that special Murakami novel. Or it may be when you know that your appetite for Japanese culture has gone way beyond a regular fix of ramen or sushi. If you have a hankering for one of its historic and sacred walking trails, then there are seasonal constraints for some of them. But in general, when you feel that need to go to Japa ..read more

There are some people who love lists, and others who don’t bother. If you’re an important cultural or natural place, however, then you really do want to be on the list. The UNESCO World Heritage List, that is, where positions are sought after like gold dust. Not only do they have to work hard to be given the UNESCO accolade, but they have to keep those laurels in good condition to stay on it. Being de-listed from the UNESCO list often gets more PR than winning it, sadly. From wine regions to nature reserves, ancient city centres to lost city ruins, if you are one for travel lists, here are som ..read more

As part of our series of blogs where we chat with the people who know our favourite places in depth, meet our main mad and guide in Morocco, Mohamed Maachou, who has been our partner on the ground since 2017. Morocco is one of the few places in the world where we offer only privately-guided adventures. And when you meet Mohamed, and his team, you will know why. They are committed to and practise the same principles of responsible tourism as we do; he is very caring towards our customers; and his enthusiasm for Moroccan heritage and, in particular, the Berber culture of his homelands, is infect ..read more

To people who don’t know West Sweden, some of the place names risk sounding like a tour of an IKEA showroom. Think backpack rather than flatpack, however, in this eclectic and exquisite region which stretches from the city of Gothenburg up as far as the border with Norway. In between are the cultural and natural riches of Västra Götaland County, which is a lot more pleasant to navigate than the endless and inescapable corridors of IKEA. It is also a lot more soothing for the soul. We have listed some of its highlights below, but one of the other reasons to visit West Sweden is that it’s just o ..read more

Many families use this lovely long Easter break to plan the even bigger school and college summer break that comes around pretty quickly. What’s everyone in the mood for? Should we travel with another family, or with our extended family? France or further afield? One thing we do know is that more and more families are embracing slow travel in their plans. Travelling by train, and going for longer with more in-depth experiences are in. They want to detox digitally while also travelling ethically. Which is why we have put together a series of combined adventures within Europe, all of which you c ..read more