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.