The new year is here, and with it you might find yourself wanting to challenge yourself with a holiday that's a bit different. Getting to one of these 'active holidays' is made easier thanks to details and guidance provided by Manchester Airport.
January is also one of the most popular times of year to book a holiday, with millions making plans for this summer – and if you’re looking to incorporate a health kick into your next sunny getaway, you’ll be spoilt for choice if you’re flying from Manchester. The northern hub boasts direct flights to more than 200 destinations and many of them offer holiday experiences that go far beyond the classic combination of sun, sea and sand.
Here are seven active style holidays for you to get stuck into this year. All can be accessed direct from Manchester Airport.
1. Jordan is one of several active holidays you can go on from Manchester
Jordan is one of several active holidays you can go on from Manchester
2. Climb Mount Etna
Mount Etna is something of an enigma; standing alone amidst the quiet rolling hills of Sicily, off the coast of the Italian mainland, is one of the world’s most active stratovolcanoes. It’s also one of the most visited, thanks in part to the fact it lies less than 25 miles from the popular Mediterranean resort of Catania. Multiple tour operators lead expeditions up the volcano’s slopes, where you can circle the crater (safety permitting!) and see lava flows. Exploring volcanic caves also forms a part of many excursions, and some tours include visits to vineyards at the foot of Etna, which benefit from fertile volcanic soils. The return trip typically takes around 6 hours and requires a moderate level of fitness, but you don’t need to be an expert hiker. Once you’re finished on Etna, Sicily is a fantastic place to explore on foot, with dozens of trails and footpaths through unspoilt countryside. Flights to Catania from Manchester are available with easyJet or Ryanair.
3. Cycle along the Dalmatian Coast
The Dalmatia region boasts some of the most dramatic coastline anywhere in Europe, with a string of islands dotted off more than 1,000 miles of rugged, mountainous shores, sandwiching the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic. Highlights of the region include the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, and Kotor in Montenegro. All three of these cities boast direct flights from Manchester, and all three act as a gateway to their respective sections of this stunning coast. The sweeping views on offer from its cycle paths and mountain passes, as well as regular pitstops at quaint coastal villages and vineyards, make cycling a particularly popular way to explore Dalmatia. Ambitious cyclists might fancy taking on the whole coast from start to finish over the course of a two-week break, flying out to Split and back to Manchester from Tivat airport near Kotor, or vice versa.
4. Trek the Jordan desert
Royal Jordanian Airlines recently announced a brand-new service from Manchester to Amman, launching this March, and many visitors to the Jordanian capital will be indulging their sense of adventure. Highlights of a visit to Jordan include exploring famous sites like the Dead Sea, the ancient city of Petra and the other-worldly desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, which doubled for the Red Planet in 2015 film The Martian. The best way to see many of these attractions is on foot, with walking tours and guided desert treks available, so Jordan is a fantastic option for an adventure holiday that combines sightseeing with getting active. For the avid explorer, the Jordan Trail stretches for more than 400 miles from the country’s far north to its southern coast and takes in all of these sights and more – but it takes more than a month to complete, so is not for the fainthearted!