Our favourite winter sun holidays for 2024

We know that little is more mood-boosting than a warming winter getaway; not least for the promise of guaranteed sunshine, much-needed vitamin D, and a welcome escape from the British chill. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up our favourite hot-weather heroes for winter 2023-2024.

With more historic sights per square mile than any other country, this sun-soaked Mediterranean gem has plenty to please. Our guided walking holiday is the perfect introduction to Malta’s dramatic coastlines, rural inland paths, Neolithic temples, impressive catacombs, and churches built by the Knights of St John. You’ll also get to spend time in the Maltese capital of Valletta - the fascinating UNESCO-listed city that’s small enough to explore on foot.  

What you’ll love 

• Learning about Malta’s fascinating history   
• Taking in views over Gozo and Comino during coastal walks  
• Exploring the island’s incredible megalithic temples  
• Learning about the island’s WWII history 
• Experiencing the Silent City of Mdina  

Measuring only 35 miles long and 14 miles wide, the Portuguese island of Madeira appeals with year-round warmth and world-famous wine. This holiday introduces you to an intoxicating landscape fuelled by levadas (irrigation channels used as walking trails), waterfalls, hidden valleys, moorlands, and stupendous Atlantic Ocean views.  You’ll also have time to explore Funchal, the charming capital best known for its cathedral, farmers’ market, seafood restaurants, and cable car.  

What you’ll love 

• Taking on Cabo Girao, the highest glass skywalk in Europe  
• Discovering emerald-green mountains and dramatic coastlines 
• Exploring Funchal to learn about the city’s colonial history 
• Following Madeira’s levadas to stunning waterfalls 
• Sampling Madeira's famous fortified wine   

Fondly known as Malta’s little sister, rural and peaceful Gozo is the second-largest of the three islands that make up the Maltese archipelago. Complete with lovely beaches, pretty villages, ancient archaeological sites, and reliably good weather, life here is gloriously slow-paced. This holiday explores the island’s coastal paths, secluded coves, and rocky headlands backed by the glittering Mediterranean Sea. 

What you’ll love 

• Admiring the stunning interiors at Victoria's cathedral 
• Stopping for a coffee at Mgarr-ix-Xini 
• Taking a boat ride through the caves to the open sea 
• Sampling island-grown produce  
• Enjoying a mid-walk swim at San Blas Bay 

Little beats the Akamas Peninsula for lush green landscapes, charming villages, interesting ancient sites, and impressive natural wonders. Coastal walks assure views of the shimmering turquoise sea, tree-covered cliffs, and sandy beaches that are used by both green and loggerhead turtles to lay their eggs during the summer months. Highlights include visiting the ruins of the ancient city of Kourion and the Tombs of the Kings at the UNESCO-listed Paphos Archaeological Park. 

What you’ll love 

• Hiking the wild and beautiful Akamas Peninsula  
• Soaking up views of the UNESCO-listed Troödos Mountains  
• Staying in the chic harborside resort of Paphos  
• Exploring the ruins of the ancient city of Curium 
• Visiting the Tombs of the Kings on your free day 

As one of southern Spain’s most stunningly beautiful regions, Andalucia raises the bar for beaches, fiestas, tapas, history, and nature. Starting in Malaga, our guided holiday is loaded with big-name attractions, including Granada, and Seville. You’ll also spend time exploring Cadiz (believed to be the oldest inhabited city in western Europe), and travel to the Alpujarras - a gorgeous valley full of whitewashed villages and incredible scenery. 

What you’ll love 

• Being amazed by the UNESCO-listed Alhambra 
• Spending a full day in Seville and enjoying a boat ride 
• Visiting the whitewashed villages of the Alpujarras
• Touring the historic centre of Cadiz 
• Marvelling at the Great Mosque of Cordoba

Affectionally known as La Isla Bonita, this lesser-known island lures with gorgeously unspoiled landscapes, enchanting forests, pine groves, verdant hills, star-lit skies, and almost 1,000km of paths for walkers. This holiday is the perfect introduction to the nature-filled Caldera de Taburiente National Park as well as the history-rich capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma.  

What you’ll love 

• Discovering enchanting forests, pine groves, and verdant hills 
• Visiting the architecturally-rich capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma 
• Marvelling at the Caldera de Taburiente rim, often above a ‘sea’ of clouds 
• Admiring lush green vegetation and incredible volcanic geology 
• Enjoying the extensive gardens at the comfortable Parador de la Palma 

As the biggest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, has no shortage of otherworldly volcanic landscapes, pine-scented forests, and wide-open spaces. This guided walking holiday takes in world-famous volcanic scenery dominated by Mount Teide as well as discovering the laurel forests of the Anaga Peninsula, the ash-covered landscape of the Arenas Negras volcanoes, and the UNESCO-listed town of San Cristobal de La Laguna. 

What you’ll love 

• Riding a cable car to the summit of Mt Teide – Spain's highest peak  
• Discovering the lush green laurel forests of the Anaga Peninsula 
• Marvelling at volcanic landscape dominated by El Teide 
• Wildlife-watching at Anaga Biosphere Reserve 
• Staying in the UNESCO-listed town of La Laguna