Top 5 - Water Holidays

Flotillas in Greece © Creative Commons / flotilla-greece-symi

Water holidays: Flotillas, Greece

With gorgeous beaches, traditional Greek villages and a deliciously sleepy lifestyle all in store, flotilla sailing is one of the most fun and relaxing ways to cruise the Greek islands - absorbing the rich history and culture with several stops inland along the way.

One of the most popular island groups to sail around are the Cyclades comprised of Mykonos, with its profusion of bars and clubs, and Santorini, renowned for its white-washed houses tumbling down sheer cliffs.

Flotilla holidays are a great water holidays option for active families and groups of friends, as you sail with a fleet of three to 10 flotilla yachts. Pretty island breaks, good snorkelling and walks amid dappled olive groves and pine-clad hillsides await.

Water holidays: Dhows, Zanzibar

Traditional dhow boats ply the waters off Zanzibar and offer a romantic way to explore this stunning Indian Ocean island. Book a dhow trip, and relax under billowing sails as you glide to the Menai Bay conservation area where there's a chance to spot dolphins and whales, and go snorkelling amid dazzling coral reefs.

When you get hungry, the dhow boat will anchor off an uninhabited island where you can feast on freshly grilled fish, seafood and tropical fruit, all washed down with spiced coffee. Spend the afternoon sunbathing or swimming in pristine lagoons, before sailing back to Zanzibar as the sun slips into the ocean.

Water holidays: Yachting, the Caribbean

Glide across shimmering turquoise waters, from one sandy isle to another all fringed with dipping palms; it's truly tough to beat a yachting holiday in the Caribbean.

From the fresh lemon yellow sun rising over the ocean, to the fuzzy warm evening air, bobbing just offshore with a clinking icy rum punch in hand, after a day on the beach, this is a paradise water holiday at its very best.

Whether you choose the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, or St Lucia, enjoy the wonderful Caribbean on a yacht.

Water holidays: Kayaking, Norway

Take to the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean, and spend an exhilarating water holiday kayaking in the territory of majestic polar bears. Norway's Svalbard archipelago lies between Norway and the North Pole; it is an icy landscape of glinting lakes, imposing glaciers and truly impressive wildlife. Several companies offer boat trips which incorporate kayaking excursions, allowing visitors to feel the full force of this awe-inspiring landscape.

Further south, Norway's iconic fjords provide the perfect backdrop to a kayaking holiday. Surrounded by towering mountains laced with hiking trails, it's a dream holiday for adventurers and nature-lovers.

Water holidays: Whale watching, Mexico

Sail around Mexico's Baja Peninsula on a spectacular whale-watching holiday for an unforgettable experience. The area's deep waters are home to the mighty blue whale as well as dolphins, manta rays, seabird colonies and seals. Every year around 24,000 whales make their way to the lagoons and bays along Baja's coastline, so expect to catch numerous sightings of these gentle giants.

Equally as impressive as the wildlife is the scenery: imagine endless coves, unique desert islands, burnt orange cliffs, isolated sandy beaches, all lapped by glittering turquoise waters.