)
Picture the scene. You've just woken up to birdsong, had a light breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean, and instead of lounging by the pool, you're heading off with binoculars in hand to spot griffon vultures soaring above dramatic Spanish cliffs. Or perhaps you're rolling up your sleeves in a sun-drenched Greek kitchen, learning to make authentic loukoumades with a MasterChef winner. This is the magic of special interest holidays – where your downtime becomes your passion time.
What is a special interest holiday?
A special interest holiday combines the relaxation of a traditional holiday with the intellectual stimulation and personal fulfilment that comes from pursuing your interests and passions. Whether you're an enthusiast looking to deepen your knowledge or a curious beginner eager to try something new, these holidays are designed to enrich your mind while you unwind.
The numbers speak volumes about this growing trend. According to our research, almost two-thirds of those surveyed expressed an interest in holidays geared around a particular hobby or theme, with SPINs most popular among travellers aged 50-69. Exploring a destination's history and heritage (51%), discovering its arts and culture (35%), and finding out about it on foot through walking tours (32%) are the top three most popular reasons for taking a special interest holiday among people over the age of 50.
What can I expect on a special interest holiday?
While you'll still enjoy comfortable accommodation, delicious meals and incredible destinations, your days will be enhanced with activities, excursions, and experiences directly related to your chosen interest. We work closely with specialist hosts who don't just guide you – they bring subjects to life through their passion and knowledge. Each holiday includes talks, demonstrations and hands-on activities that cater to all levels of experience.
Meet your expert hosts and guides
What truly elevates a special interest holiday is the expertise that accompanies you –enthusiasts, professionals and experts who live and breathe their subject. Saga experts include MasterChef 2019 winner Irini Tzortzoglou, who hosts food and wine experiences in Crete, and Dr Sheona Urquhart, who holds a PhD in astrophysics, and leads astronomy adventures in Tenerife. Meanwhile, at your chosen hotel, you’ll be met by a friendly and welcoming Saga host, who’ll also be able to share their in-depth local knowledge about the destination you’re staying in, from the best cafés nearby to hidden gems and hotspots.
)
MasterChef 2019 winner Irini Tzortzoglou, host of Food and Wine in Crete
Top picks of special interest holidays
From history to archaeology to scenic walking trails and conservation projects, here are some of our top picks of special interest holidays.
Starry, starry nights
Our Astronomy and Geology in Tenerife takes advantage of the island's unique position near the equator and cloudless nights to witness the magnificent colours of the Milky Way – something impossible to see from the UK. Led by Dr. Sheona Urquhart, you'll journey up the 12,000-foot Mount Teide volcano where observations are among Europe's best.
)
Mount Teide at night
Evening sessions combine dinner with stargazing, while day excursions reveal geological formations alongside astronomical insights at the island's Observatory, where astrophysics began in the Canaries in 1964.
In good taste
Food and wine holidays engage all your senses while providing lasting skills. In Crete, MasterChef winner Irini Tzortzoglou guides you through Greek cuisine, from crafting traditional loukoumades to exploring bio-dynamic farms. You'll even create your own Greek salad bowl in a pottery workshop.
Malta's culinary adventure offers the chance to step into a local's kitchen to master pastizzi (Malta's beloved flaky pastries), participate in hands-on workshops at exclusive farm venues, and enjoy guided wine tastings at a 19-hectare estate beneath Mdina's ancient walls.
For the ultimate culinary experience, Food and wine in Tuscany takes you to the heart of gastronomic Italy. Based in UNESCO-listed Montecatini Terme, you'll knead, roll and taste your way through pasta and pizza classes at rustic farmhouses. Journey into the vine-covered Chianti hills for wine tastings at Castello di Albola estate, paired with lunch, then discover regional specialities at the historic Antica Macelleria Falorni butcher's shop. Florence offers hands-on pasta-making with local chefs, while the picturesque Valdinievole countryside provides authentic pizza-making in traditional ovens.
Gardens of paradise
Garden holidays combine horticultural beauty with cultural discovery. Moorish and Modern Gardens of Spain showcases the Costa Tropical's diversity, including Granada's iconic Generalife gardens at the Alhambra palace, with their cascades, pools and fountains that once cooled Moorish sultans. You'll also explore the maze-like Albaicín quarter and architectural gardens such as Carmen de los Mártires.
)
Generalife courtyard, Alhambra
Madeira's Enticing Gardens reveals the Portuguese archipelago's green landscapes from your five-star Funchal base, where you'll explore Presidential Palace Garden with its floral tributes to Brazilian royalty and discover the island's cultural heritage through traditional basket-weaving in Camacha village.
Lace up those boots
From spectacular scenery and cultural immersion, walking holidays transform exercise into educational adventures. In Huelva, you’ll be lead through Spain’s stunning Costa de la Luz, discovering rust-red mining hills and pristine wetlands including UNESCO's Doñana National Park.
)
Santiago Trail
For spiritual significance, walking the Santiago Trail offers the final 75-mile stretch of the famous Camino. This seven-night journey through Galicia takes you from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, where you'll collect stamps for your Pilgrim passport and earn your official certificate alongside fellow pilgrims from around the world.
Wildlife spotting
Birdwatching in Cantabria takes advantage of Spain's 'Green Coast', hosting around 18,000 birds in winter. Visit Monte Candina's cliffs for Europe's largest marine colony of griffon vultures, explore ancient oak forests and take cable car journeys through Picos de Europa National Park searching for soaring eagles.
)
Vultures in Monte Candina
For hands-on conservation, Nature & Conservation in Andalucía offers a two-week volunteering experience at Laguna Primera de Palos. You'll plant native species, conduct bird counts, construct nest boxes from recycled materials and participate in bird ringing – with all data contributing to studies submitted to Spain's equivalent of the RSPB.
Seeking ancient treasure
Archaeology in Greece uses the Hotel Alkyon on the Peloponnese Peninsula as your base for exploring Athens and the Acropolis, where you'll hear stories about philosophers who walked through the Parthenon. Discover Olympia – birthplace of the Olympic Games held for 1,100 years – and explore Epidaurus with its perfectly preserved amphitheatre. Specialist lectures by archaeologist Eugenia Alexiou bring ancient civilisations to life as you visit UNESCO sites such as Delphi – believed by ancient Greeks to be the centre of the universe.
How can I experience this?: Discover Saga's full range of special interest holidays here.
Recent articles
Published
)