10 mind, body, and soul holidays for 2024

At HF Holidays we’re passionate about promoting positive lifestyle choices that help people take better care of their physical and mental wellbeing. Self-care is super important, and we know that little beats a mood-boosting break that makes us feel healthier and happier. For some, this means heading somewhere calming where rest and relaxation are guaranteed; for others it's about discovering new places or learning something new.  

Whatever your end goal, the overall aim is to press pause, release tensions and stresses, and find something that combines wellness with fun. Here's our round-up of our 10 best soul-soothing holidays, all of which promise a much-needed reset for those wanting to recharge both mind and body.

Ticking boxes for a getaway full of soul-searching and tranquillity, our yoga and walking holidays give you every chance to learn and practice the holistic discipline that improves breathing, balance, flexibility, and self-awareness. Led by expert tutors in small groups, you’ll enjoy daily yoga classes and guided walks in the great outdoors. From beginners to advanced, all fitness and experience levels are welcome, and you can choose from holidays in the Shropshire Hills or Southern Yorkshire Dales.

For an ideal mind-body connection, spend time learning and practicing Pilates – the exercise method created in the 1920s by German physical trainer, Joseph Pilates to improve posture, strength, flexibility, muscle development, and joint motion. Again, all levels are welcome; from beginners to advanced. Led by expert tutors in small groups, you’ll enjoy daily Pilates classes and guided walks in the stunning surrounds of our country houses. Choose from holidays in Exmoor or the rolling South Downs hills. All experience and fitness levels welcome.

With the countryside or coastline an inspiring backdrop, our painting holidays cater for all ability levels; from beginners who love immersing themselves in this creative pastime to more experienced artists hoping to shake up their style. Led by expert tutors in small groups, you’ll get the chance to meet like-minded creatives and have ample time to practice acrylic painting and mixed media techniques in the stunning South Downs. Best of all, if the weather’s kind, we can take the studio outdoors. Choose either a three-night or four-night break.

Whether it’s wreath making, model building, knitting, crochet or even just a jigsaw you’re into, these breaks provide the perfect opportunity to kickstart a new project or complete a current one. Bring your own craft project to one of our characterful country houses and work on it in scenic surroundings. Meet like-minded crafting folk who love making things and swap ideas, share skills, and celebrate each other’s creativity. There are no organised sessions, just free-flowing tea and coffee as well as somewhere to safely store your work overnight. These breaks are available on select weekends throughout the year in the Peak District and Southern Yorkshire Dales.

If you love the idea of learning to cook authentic dishes from start to finish, this holiday is one that feeds the mind and body with a wealth of culinary and walking experiences. You’ll create antipasti, main courses, and desserts using locally sourced ingredients and visit a bakery and cheese farm to see how these regional specialities are made. Further highlights spending a full day in UNESCO-listed Matera to discover its network of alleyways, staircases, and series of Sassi cave dwellings. Find out more here.

Challenge yourself to conquer all three of Yorkshire’s highest peaks - Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough. Break up the working week or change up the routine with this weekend trip where you can recharge your batteries, soak up the serenity, and get a huge sense of achievement at having summited a trio of Yorkshire’s biggest mountains. You’ll be staying at Newfield Hall, our country house located near the village of Malham at the southern base of Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The lofty peak of Ben Nevis has long beckoned walkers and climbers up for a challenge. Its name translates as ‘mountain with its head in the skies’, and conquering Britain’s highest and most iconic mountain at 4,411ft, rewards with serious bragging rights and (on a clear day) staggering views over Glen Nevis and beyond. You’ll be staying at Alltshellach, our stately Scottish country house in North Ballachulish with an enviable setting right on the shores of Loch Leven.

At a whopping 4,807 metres above sea level, Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps and the tallest in Western Europe. This holiday includes circumnavigating the walking route that runs below this lofty, snow-capped peak and making the most of the eye-popping alpine landscapes of France, Switzerland, and Italy. Trek through the spectacular Chamonix Valley and the famous Bovine Route before spending time in Courmayeur – one of Italy’s most popular ski resorts located on Mont Blanc’s southern side. Find out more here.

Little compares with train travel for forcing you to slow down and take time to soak up your surroundings. Travelling to Austria by rail from London St Pancras, you’ll get to discover the Tyrol region on a trip that includes excursions to the Zugspitze to ascend Germany’s highest mountain by cable car, plus a ride on the cogwheel train from Jenbach to the turquoise waters of Lake Achen. Another highlight is staying at Hotel Kristall, an adults-only spa hotel on the Seefeld Plateau complete with a panoramic mountain sauna and rooftop infinity pool. Find out more here.

For a deep dive into nature, our Galápagos and Ecuador Experience takes you on a trek through the waterfall splashed jungles of the Mindo Cloud Forest and a drive down the Pan-American Highway to marvel at the snow-capped peak of Cotopaxi volcano. And on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the magnificently beautiful Galápagos Islands, you’ll discover what inspired Charles Darwin when he spent time here as a young naturalist in 1835. Expect to spot incredible wildlife, including giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, great frigate birds, marine iguana, Galápagos penguin, and much more.