There was a time when booking yourself a luxury beach holiday meant spending your days by the pool drinking cocktails. But times have changed. These days beach holidays don't feel complete without some sort of adrenaline-fuelled adventure mixed in.
Surf lessons in the morning. Spa session in the afternoon. Fresh seafood dinner as the sun goes down.
Sound good? Trust us, it gets even better.
In this post we're diving into why mixing luxury relaxation with activities like surfing creates the ultimate beach escape. We'll cover:
Let's go!
If we're being totally honest here…
Spending your beach holiday laying by the pool all day gets boring.
Don't get us wrong, relaxing is an important part of any holiday. But adding activities like surfing and kayaking actually makes time spent relaxing more enjoyable.
Achieving your first successful surf at a surf school in Newquay followed by lunch at a beach hut with beer and fish & chips is a whole different kind of satisfaction than lounging by the sea all day.
Spending time each day being active and accomplishing something – no matter how small – truly boosts your holiday experience.
Consider this:
According to industry research firm Grand View Research, the UK adventure tourism market is growing every year by 15.6%. Thats huge! This growth is being driven almost entirely by travellers looking for more from their holidays than just cocktails and sunbeds.
Upscale travellers want more from their beach holidays than just "switching off". They want to feel rejuvenated after their trip home.
Wellness travel has seen a similar spike in demand. 90% of luxury travellers report seeking out wellness programmes when booking holidays.
One big difference between these two travel trends?
Wellness these days doesn't just mean yoga and meditation. Many travellers cite surfing, paddleboarding and other active pursuits as part of their wellness regimen while on vacation.
Not all adventure activities were created equal when planning a luxury beach holiday. Here are our top picks.
This should come as no surprise to you…
Including surfing lessons on your beach holiday itinerary is an absolute must.
Professional instruction these days makes surfing accessible to every skill level. Even if you have two left feet.
Catch that first wave and you'll understand why everyone is talking about surfing these days.
Cornwall has firmly established itself as the destination for this exact experience.
You can now find world class surf breaks coupled with premium accommodation options for every budget. It truly is the best place in the UK for mixing adventure activities with luxury relaxation.
Want more reasons why surfing is tops for upscale beach travellers?
Want to explore sea caves and cliff jump into the ocean?
Coasteering is a unique activity combining swimming, climbing and jumping along rocky coastlines.
It might sound intense, but coasteering can be enjoyed at most fitness levels with the proper guidance.
Few other activities offer raw adventure quite like coasteering. If you book a morning session you'll be reminded of why you wanted relaxation in the first place with an afternoon tea in your favourite café followed by an evening massage at the hotel.
Cornwall has some epic coasteering routes. You might even see CornishWave staff taking groups out while you're visiting Newquay!
Not quite ready to dive into surfing or coasteering full time?
Stand up paddleboarding allows you to get your fill of adventure at your own pace.
Paddling around in calm ocean waters at sunrise is a great way to wake up. Or check out some of the boutique SUP yoga classes popping up across Cornwall.
Again…
You can't beat the beach when thinking about adding adventure to your next luxury vacation.
Heading out into the sea on a kayak allows you to explore hidden beaches and coves that aren't accessible from land.
Kayaking tours often include wildlife watching so keep your eyes peeled for seals, dolphins and all manner of seabirds.
It's a chill activity but you still feel the sense of adventure exploring coastline by sea.
Alright… now that we've peaked your interest.
It's time to talk about balance.
Too much adventure and you'll be wishing for a pool to soak in by the end of your holiday. Too little and you're not giving yourself enough opportunities to feel rejuvenated.
Here's a suggestion for a daily activity schedule when it comes to mixing luxury with adventure on your beach holiday.
Morning: Fill this time slot with your chosen "active adventure". Whether it be surfing, SUPing, kayaking or something else entirely.
Midday: Relax with a delicious lunch at a local spot.
Afternoon: Depending on how exhausted you are from your morning endeavour, relax by the beach, catch up on some reading or enjoy a spa treatment.
Evening: Freshen up and enjoy some fine dining followed by whatever relaxation sounds good to you after a long day in the sun.
This schedule works because it plays off your body's natural energy levels.
You have the most energy in the morning. That's why you should schedule more rigorous or taxing activities then.
As the day wears on your energy dips. So you relax in the afternoon and slow yourself down even more with a spa treatment or meal.
It's all about what your accommodation has to offer.
Pick a boutique hotel close to quality surf schools and adventure activity providers. Proximity is key when it comes to flowing between lazy and active.
Ready to start booking your dream trip?
Before you go all in, there are a few things you should consider when choosing your destinations and scheduling activities.
First off, be honest with yourself about which adventure activities you actually want to do.
Sure, that helicopter surf session sounds amazing. But if you hate heights it's just going to stress you out.
Start with what you actually want to do on your trip and work backwards from there.
Also, consider travel seasons. Though summer is certainly peak time for beach holidays, shoulder seasons will give you way fewer crowds. You'll also have better activity availability and beginners often find gentler conditions to learn new skills.
First things first…
Where are you going to book your dream luxury beach escape?
If you're reading this post you're likely already considering Cornwall.
And for good reason too! Cornwall has the best of everything when it comes to mixing luxury travel with adrenaline-fuelled activities on your beach holiday.
Fresh seafood. Quirky gift shops. Postcard perfect beaches.
Don't sleep on other surf destinations across Europe either. Portugal's Algarve region, Spain's Basque Country and even Morocco's little known Atlantic coast are all surfing hotspots with plenty of luxury accommodations to choose from.
When picking your perfect spot keep these things in mind:
