Hoping to make your 2025 travel about wellness and relaxation? These blue space-inspired escapes might just inspire your next rejuvenating getaway.
Have you ever felt a sense of peace and calm while swimming in a quiet pool, looking out to sea, or listening to the faraway sound of running water tumbling gently over river rocks?
It turns out this is no coincidence. The world’s oceans, seas, rivers and lakes — or ‘blue spaces’ — are as vital for our emotional wellbeing as they are for sustaining life on Earth. For centuries, people have sought refuge in these spaces, drawn to their therapeutic benefits — think Finnish saunas and contrast therapy, cold-water swimming in Russia and ancient bathing rituals.
In fact, UK research from 2022 shows that many people feel their happiest in these blue spaces, with time spent in or near them reducing stress, anxiety and even the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Combining the rejuvenating benefits of travel with the calming effects of blue spaces, water-based wellness holidays might just be the best way to recharge and refresh. Here, we’ve picked 10 of our favourites.
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1. Freedive off the hilltops of Greece
With a long heritage of freediving dating back to the times of Plato, Homer and Alexander the Great, Greece is the perfect destination for a freediving holiday. Specifically, the Ionian Sea, an expansive bay of the Mediterranean known for its deep waters and numerous islands.
Here, you can book a sailing yacht excursion to hop between islands, exploring isolated reefs, deep vertical walls and vibrant marine life. Experienced divers offer fully coached lessons in freediving techniques, finning and breathing, guiding you every step of the way and providing all the equipment you’ll need to explore waters ranging from 65 to 100ft deep.
Price: From £1,350 per person (excluding flights) for a seven-day trip. responsibletravel.com
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2. Go wild swimming in a Norwegian archipelago
Norway is famous for its stunning landscapes — and the dramatic mountains and peaks surrounding the Fjords of Lofoten are truly breathtaking. Considered one of the world’s most spectacular archipelagos, you’ll find jagged cliffs rising sheer from the sea. While one might expect the water to be freezing, the Gulf Stream ensures that temperatures average between 11 and 15C, making it ideal for a swimming holiday.
On this organised trip you’ll swim twice a day, supported by qualified guides who ensure safety and offer coaching tips to help develop your swimming. With the optional choice to be filmed both above and below water, you can even opt for expert analysis and help improving your stroke and swimming style. Plus, you’ll stay in charming wooden cabins that add to the authentic wild Nordic experience.
Price: From £2,999 per person (excluding flights) for a seven-day trip. responsibletravel.com#
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3. Cruise across European rivers on a barge hotel
For a relaxing experience by the water without necessarily getting in, a European river cruise or hotel barge trip offers a peaceful way to take in scenic land and water views. On a river cruise, you’ll gently float along at around 4mph, passing tranquil landscapes and charming villages. Meals onboard feature regional dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, all enjoyed from the boat’s comfort.
Choose between a more intimate hotel barge or a larger river cruise, both designed to promote a slower, more relaxed pace of travel. Onboard amenities often include a hot tub, and there are opportunities to disembark and explore the surrounding areas by foot or bike.
Price: Staterooms from £4,490 per person based on double occupancy for a six-night cruise. Private Barge Charters from £31,300 for six passengers (rates vary depending on group size). europeanwaterways.com
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4. Set sail across the waters of Corsica and Sardinia
The perfect way to explore Italy’s coast, feel the wind against your face and immerse yourself in stunning landscapes, is on a sailing holiday across Sardinia and Corsica’s waters. Not only will you discover these famously beautiful islands amid the fresh sea breeze, but the trip is designed as an overall wellness experience, offering activities like yoga, breathwork, meditation, paddleboarding and snorkelling.
All meals onboard will be made with fresh produce from local farmers, so you can enjoy delicious food while basking in the sun and surrounding waters. You can also visit the Sardinian Thalasso spa, deepening the wellness benefits of your trip even further.
Price: From £2,116 per person (excluding flights) for an eight-day trip. responsibletravel.com
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5. Dip your toes in a sauna with a view of the Irish Sea
Set along the stunning Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland, Ballygally Castle offers a coastal retreat set in a 17th-century castle which overlooks the Ballygally Bay. Here, ornately decorated interiors complement uninterrupted views of the Irish Sea and hills behind.
Utilising its unique position, the hotel has launched a new aquatic experience, designed to encourage guests to embrace the chill of the Irish shores: Sauna by the Sea. This overnight package enables guests to refresh and revive the mind, body and soul with an icy dip right outside the charming four-star hotel — immediately followed by a warming sauna experience on the beachfront, courtesy of local company, Scenic Sauna.
Price: From £255 for two people, including an overnight stay and full Irish breakfast. ballygallycastlehotel.com
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6. Practice yoga and help clean up the beach at a retreat in the Maldives
On this trip, you’ll have the unique opportunity to combine a blue space getaway with a yoga retreat that gives back. On board a luxury yacht in the Maldives, you’ll spend a week exploring its rich ocean waters and iconic white sand beaches in the Northern atolls. Practice yoga at sunrise each day with stunning ocean views, then cruise the warm waters, ready to swim, snorkel and dive.
In addition to your personal wellness journey, you’ll participate in ongoing marine conservation research — an incredible way to contribute to the preservation of the natural space you’re enjoying — while spotting wildlife like reef fish, manta rays and whale sharks.
Price: From £4,419 per person (excluding flights) for an eight-day trip. responsibletravel.com
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7. Thermal springs and hiking holiday in Iceland
Iceland may be one of the first countries that springs to mind when searching for blue spaces to get lost in — and for good reason. On this thermal spring and hiking holiday, you’ll journey through the breathtaking north, discovering moonlike lava fields, mineral-rich geothermal pools, bubbling mudpots and majestic waterfalls.
Swimming is a cherished tradition in Iceland, deeply embedded in the culture. Wander through bustling cities, remote towns and rural landscapes and you’ll find inviting pools, tranquil lagoons and natural hot springs everywhere you go. On some evenings, tailored swimming coaching will be offered in community pools or simply enjoy soaking in geothermal heated warm baths, which are at the heart of the Icelandic community.
Price: From £2,385 per person (excluding flights) for a five-day trip. responsibletravel.com
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8. Surf and swim and meditate in the wilderness of South Africa
For a chance to embrace the slow life, combine your blue space immersion with surf and yoga on a retreat travelling through South Africa’s mountains and forests. On this journey, you’ll explore South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes, but you’ll also indulge in a range of wellness activities such as yoga, surfing, guided hikes and meditation.
Stops on the trip include the seaside town of Muizenberg, Table Mountain National Park, with its pristine beaches and excellent surfing spots, and Cape Point, where you can explore underwater kelp forests teeming with marine life, famously featured in the film My Octopus Teacher. You’ll also enjoy a two-day retreat in the Platbos Forest, where you can unwind with meditation and yoga and swim in the mountain streams.
Price: From £1,190 per person for an eight-day trip. responsibletravel.com
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9. Sail around The Baths of the Virgin Islands
On a cruise through the British Virgin Islands, you’ll discover both natural and historic wonders with a combination of sailing and hiking. On Virgin Gorda, explore The Baths, a unique labyrinth of granite boulders and caverns that lead to a natural swimming pool inside one of the caves.
Hop off and hike along the trails that weave through The Baths, spanning approximately a mile, where you can climb, wade and squeeze through grottoes that lead to hidden beaches. You might even glimpse the stunning interplay of light and water in these unique rock formations, perfect for those postcard-worthy snaps.
Sunsail – BVI – Departure 30 April – 7 days – Sunsail 41.3 3 cabin – £4,323 plus skipper from £230 per day. This price is based on 4 passengers and includes the yacht, including the VISAR Fee, BVI Cruising Permit, BVI Parks permit. Prices exclude fuel, Yacht Damage Waiver, WIFI or any taxes and fees. *Price is correct at time of publication, seasonal offers may be available.
Price: £4,323 plus skipper from £230 per day for four people. sunsail.com
10. Learn sea kayaking from a paralympic champion in Scotland
If you’ve ever dreamt of learning a sport directly from an expert, you won’t want to miss this five-day sea kayaking retreat in Morayshire, Scotland. Led by Paralympic kayaking champion Karen Darke, you’ll kayak to various locations along the Moray Coast, including Hopeman, Burghead and Findhorn Bay, receiving expert coaching and support throughout the journey.
Along the way, you’ll discover peaceful spots for shelter, surrounded by forests and mountains, on a trip designed to connect you to the natural beauty of the Moray Coast — and to yourself. The retreat also includes mindfulness and meditation sessions, as well as forest bathing for a truly restorative experience. Though even in summer, be prepared for all manner of weather — this is Scotland, after all.
Price: From £1,179 per person (excluding flights) for a five-day trip. responsibletravel.com
