Balearic Islands Holidays

Get off the beaten track with a 4x4 adventure that takes you to some of Ibiza’s less-visited spots in the west, north and east. Heading along backcountry roads and tracks, you’ll hear stories about the island’s history, flora and fauna and discover hidden valleys, pine forests and breathtaking stretches of coastline. It’s not all about nature, however, as your route will also take you through quiet hamlets of whitewashed sugar-cube houses flanked by palm trees that are just waiting to be photographed. There’ll be time for a swim at Benirrás beach, which is known for its crystal-clear waters and Sunday evening ‘drumming down the sunset’ ritual, and a visit to a hippy market where you can shop for artisanal products.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 10.30am to 4.30pm
• Departs Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
A baguette on the beach is included, but you may want to bring additional snacks.

For an evening out with a difference, hop aboard a sleek catamaran and set sail for Formentera. Your ultimate destination is dreamy Espalmador, an uninhabited speck of land just off the north tip of the island, which is blessed with dazzling white beaches washed by limpid blue waters. It’s a perfect place for a late afternoon swim when there’s hardly anyone else around. From here, the boat will cruise to the bay of Ses Illetes, set within Formentera Natural Park and a superb location for watching the sun go down in a blaze of colour. With chillout music playing softly in the background and a fabulous dinner of freshly made barbecue favourites – just the thing for sea-air-sharpened appetites – it’ll feel more like a wonderfully exclusive club than a boat trip.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 4.30pm to 10pm
• Departs Monday to Saturday/ • Operates year-round/ • Group experience/

Good to know The catamaran holds up to 140 passengers.

Described by a 20th-century artist as the White Island, a name that’s stuck, Ibiza may be small but it’s not short on attractions. Spend an enchanting day discovering a range of sites of cultural interest, beautiful beaches, pretty villages and stunning scenery on a guided bus tour. On Wednesdays, there’ll also be a stop at the Es Cana/Punta Arabí hippy market, which has hundreds of stalls for you to browse, set under pine trees and along the winding streets of the small resort. Saturday tours include a visit to the equally famous hippy market of Las Dalias, which has been part of Ibiza’s bohemian scene since 1954.

• Duration: Full day
• Time: 9am to 5pm
• Departs Wednesdays & Saturdays/ • Operates year-round/ • Group experience

Good to know Lunch is not included.

Spend a fascinating day soaking up the sleepy charm of Formentera, the smallest of the Balearic Islands, where it almost feels as if time has stood still. A speedy ferry will whisk you across from Ibiza in 25 minutes, leaving you plenty of time for an in-depth guided tour of some of the island’s must-see spots. These include San Francisco, the charming village capital, with its white-painted houses, fortress-like church and independent shops, which is a delightful place to wander. Then there’s La Mola, perched on a towering cliff on the east coast, which Jules Verne described as ‘the lighthouse at the end of the world’ and from where there are spectacular sea views. And no trip to Formentera would be complete without a visit to one of its beautiful beaches for a swim, plus a spot of lunch in a typically laid-back eatery.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 8am to 6pm
• Departs Thursdays and Sundays/ • Operates year-round/ • Group experience

Good to know Lunch is not included.

Enjoy the magical experience of a hot-air balloon ride over Mallorca at either sunrise or sunset, when the air is cooler and the wind gentler and more predictable. After watching the preparations, you’ll get into the basket and, with a roar of the burners, will slowly climb into the sky for your one-hour adventure. It’s a memorable way to see the island that combines a feeling of peace and freedom with birds-eye views of the landscape in all directions; on a clear day, you may be able to see as far as Cabrera and Menorca. To add to the sense of occasion, you’ll be drifting along with a glass of cava in hand, so you can sip it while enjoying the changing colours of the sky.

• Duration: hald day or evening
• Time: 7am to midday or 8pm to midnight
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Suitable for children over the age of four.

If you’re looking to mark a special anniversary or maybe even pop the question, a private hot-air balloon ride over Mallorca could be a perfect choice. You’ll take to the sky at either sunrise or sunset, when the air is cooler and the wind gentler and more predictable, which only adds to the magic. After watching the preparations, you’ll get into the basket and, with a roar of the burners, will head off on your one-hour adventure. It’s a memorable way to see the island that combines a feeling of peace and freedom with birds-eye views of the landscape in all directions; on a clear day, you may be able to see as far as Cabrera and Menorca. To add to the sense of occasion, you’ll be drifting along with a glass of cava in hand, so you can sip it while enjoying the changing colours of the sky.

• Duration: hald day or evening
• Time: 7am to midday or 8pm to midnight
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Suitable for children over the age of four.

Tailor-make your own dream tour of Mallorca by hiring a car or minibus complete with driver and guide. It’s a supremely relaxing way to explore, with no worries about how to get anywhere or where to park when you get there, leaving you with nothing to do but decide how to spend your time. Perhaps you want to head for a remote beach that hardly anyone knows about, a countryside restaurant with a reputation for authentic Mallorcan cuisine or picturesque villages known for their art or their lemon groves. Whatever you choose, this is your chance to dive deep into the island’s culture, see its major sites or get off the beaten track with a local to guide you to those hidden gems. It’s a superb option for anyone travelling with children or couples who want a unique adventure.

• Duration: half day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know Food, drinks and entrance fees are not included.

Tailor-make your own dream tour of Mallorca by hiring a car or minibus complete with driver and guide. It’s a supremely relaxing way to explore, with no worries about how to get anywhere or where to park when you get there, leaving you with nothing to do but decide how to spend your time. Perhaps you want to head for a remote beach that hardly anyone knows about, a countryside restaurant with a reputation for authentic Mallorcan cuisine or picturesque villages known for their art or their lemon groves. Whatever you choose, this is your chance to dive deep into the island’s culture, see its major sites or get off the beaten track with a local to guide you to those hidden gems. It’s a superb option for anyone travelling with children or couples who want a unique adventure.

• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Food, drinks and entrance fees are not included.