Why Active Holidays are the New Go-To for Brits
With dark winter nights and gloomy days fast approaching, focusing on summer 2026 can help keep your spirits up.
The prospect of long, sunny days and outdoor adventures, rather than fly and flop, can be something to look forward to.
For holiday inspiration that balances relaxation with exercise and outdoor activities, check out our ideas below.
Activities
For many families, a traditional week of sunloungers and sandcastles no longer cuts it.
Today, providers offer beach holidays that keep the whole family entertained, with child discounts available on activities such as paddleboarding, tennis, kayaking, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and windsurfing.
While the kids are enjoying a group day on the water, you can relax with yoga classes or challenge yourself with a fitness session.
Everyone comes away with stories to share over dinner, and no one is left feeling bored.
You Don’t Have to Leave the Gym Behind
One of the common worries for fitness enthusiasts is that a holiday means disrupting hard-earned results and weekly routines, but an active holiday can complement your usual lifestyle rather than compromise it.
You can swap the treadmill for a cycle through coastal mountain trails, or the rowing machine for kayaking across lakes.
By exercising outside, you won’t feel guilty about missing the gym, and you can soak up vitamin D.
The activities cater to all ages, giving your kids a chance to try their hand at windsurfing or discover a love for mountain biking.
Guilt Free!
Food is one of the greatest travel pleasures, but it often comes with a side of guilt.
On an active holiday, however, every meal feels more deserved.
After a morning surfing in the Mediterranean, you’ll find that local delicacies like moussaka feel more rewarding.
A significant appeal of an active break is the balance of enjoying indulging in food and drink after spending hours moving your body and soaking up the sun outdoors.
A standard gym session after a day in the office, while important for physical and mental health, can struggle to offer the same sense of accomplishment.
Digital Detox
Holidays full of exercise and time spent outside encourage a step back from screens.
When your days are spent swimming and doing yoga on the beach, there’s little temptation to scroll endlessly through social media.
Taking a break from the daily routine of replying to work emails and Teams messages gives you the chance to focus on the moment.
Mindfulness can help you let go of your anxieties by shifting your attention to the sound of your bike cycling through a coastal path, or the sensation of your feet hitting the ground on a hike.
Final Thoughts
Active holidays aren’t about chasing personal bests—they’re about shared memories, wellbeing and variety.
With kid-friendly instruction and adult classes, you can shape each day to your energy levels: sunrise yoga, a coastal cycle, then an afternoon paddle or kayak.
The benefits stack up—better sleep, brighter moods, guilt-free meals and a genuine break from screens—while everyone comes home with new skills and stories.
Start shortlisting ideas for summer 2026 now: pick destinations with beginner-friendly options and child discounts, build in rest days, and choose activities you’ll actually enjoy.
Swap fly-and-flop for feel-good movement, and you’ll return fitter, happier and already planning the next adventure.
With dark winter nights and gloomy days fast approaching, focusing on summer 2026 can help keep your spirits up. The prospect of long, sunny days and outdoor adventures, rather than fly and flop, can be something to look forward to. For holiday inspiration that balances relaxation with exercise and outdoor activities, check out our ideas…