Holidays for wellbeing: five steps, and a hosted trip

Holidays for wellbeing do not have to be built around a spa. The NHS says "evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing": connect with other people, be physically active, learn new skills, give to others, and pay attention to the present moment. A hosted group holiday can give you the chance to take all five in a week, and this page goes through them one at a time with a real Spice Escapes holiday for each, starting with Ancient Athens4 nights · from £579.

It is not medical advice. The NHS does not mention holidays or recommend ours, and a holiday is one way to practise these steps, not a treatment for anything. The NHS page on the five steps to mental wellbeing has the full detail.

Connect with other people, and let a Spice host start it

The NHS puts it simply: "Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing."

10 Mar 2027 – 14 Mar 2027 · 4 nightsAncient AthensPlaces availablefrom £5797 already goingSee this holiday →

A hosted holiday starts that step for you. On Ancient Athens, after the transfer from the airport to the hotel, you walk to a local restaurant on the first evening to get to know the rest of the group, with Jackie Whyte as the Spice host. A Spice host travels with the group, helps everyone get to know each other and is there if you need anything, which is the part of connecting that is hardest to arrange alone. The days after are open, so company is something you can dip into rather than something scheduled for you.

Be active, in the way you enjoy

The NHS says: "Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness."

1 May 2027 – 8 May 2027 · 7 nightsCroatian ChilloutPlaces availablefrom £86921 already goingSee this holiday →

Croatian Chillout is as active as you choose. The page suggests the beaches and the coastal walk, a full day on a small boat round the Lošinj archipelago with swimming, snorkelling and a chance of dolphins, a walk or cycle of about 3km to Mali Lošinj and its Apoxyomenos museum, a hike through pine forest to a hilltop with views over the Adriatic, and a paddleboard or kayak to rent at Čikat Bay for a more active afternoon. Half board at Hotel Punta means breakfast and dinner are taken care of, and Jackie Whyte is the Spice host.

Learn something new: the NHS even says painting

Among the NHS's suggestions is to "try new hobbies that challenge you, such as writing a blog, taking up a new sport or learning to paint". It says learning new skills can also improve wellbeing by "boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem".

25 Apr 2027 – 2 May 2027 · 7 nightsSpanish Drawing and Painting Break with TuitionPlaces availablefrom £9295 already goingSee this holiday →

The Spanish Drawing and Painting Break with Tuition is that suggestion made into a week. The page describes it as perfect for beginners, improvers or talented artists, with tuition from Dale Scott and a sketch pad and canvas provided, and a beginner's artist set can be ordered for you to collect on arrival. All mediums can be used, and Dale teaches different techniques featuring various compositions. The stay is in a twelve-bedroom house in Northern Spain rather than a hotel, with seven evening meals and light lunches, and local wine, beer and spirits in the house that you help yourself to.

Give something back

The NHS says "research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing", including by giving you "a feeling of purpose and self-worth". Its own examples are small ones, such as saying thank you to someone or asking a friend how they are and really listening to the answer.

27 Nov 2027 – 9 Dec 2027 · 12 nightsMaldives Wildlife Cruise & Beach ChilloutPlaces availablefrom £4,1998 already going · 2 places leftSee this holiday →

The Maldives Wildlife Cruise & Beach Chillout is a trip-sized version. On an uninhabited island the group spends time on a beach clean-up, and while snorkelling with turtles you help a researcher from the Olive Ridley Project gather information such as size, behaviour and markings, which the page says contributes to their ongoing research. Another day you snorkel at the Villimale coral nursery, one of the key projects of the local organisation Save the Beach, and one evening you hear about the work of Maldives Whale Shark Research. Jonathan Banks is the Spice host.

Notice the present moment, with room to do it

The NHS says: "Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you."

6 Jun 2027 – 13 Jun 2027 · 7 nightsRead, Relax & Restore: A Week in Spain's Green North13 places availablefrom £969See this holiday →

Read, Relax & Restore is built around quiet, and its page says so: the priority is to give you space and time to relax and restore. You can choose solitude or shared time with others during the daytime, whether that is to read or to chat, and there is plenty of space at the house, indoors and out. If the weather is good the group can take books to a beach, local walks can be arranged, and there are bikes at the house and self-guided walking routes. Jackie Whyte is the Spice host.

What a holiday does not do

A week away is not a substitute for the support you have the rest of the year. If you are struggling, the NHS suggests talking about your feelings to a friend, family member, healthcare professional or counsellor, and the Samaritans are free to call on 116 123, day or night. For the wider picture of company and holidays, see our article on whether a holiday can help with loneliness.

Where to read more

New to booking a group holiday? Our guide for first-time solo travellers covers the rest, solo holidays for the over 50s shows what is on sale, and single supplements explains the cost of a room of your own. For somewhere to begin, try holidays in Croatia or the chillout and relaxation holidays.

Questions people ask

What are the five steps to wellbeing?

The NHS lists connecting with other people, being physically active, learning new skills, giving to others and paying attention to the present moment. It says evidence suggests they can improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Can a holiday help with wellbeing?

A holiday can give you the chance to take each of the five steps, with company and a Spice host to help. It is not a treatment, and the NHS does not mention holidays.

Do I have to take part in everything?

No. Time is left open on the itineraries, and the holiday page shows what is planned and what is optional. The Spice host is there when you want company or help.

Which holiday is best for which step?

There is no single best one, because most holidays offer several of the steps at once. The five on this page are examples, and the holiday page for the one you are looking at says what is planned.

What if I am struggling?

The NHS suggests talking about your feelings to a friend, family member, healthcare professional or counsellor. The Samaritans are free to call on 116 123, day or night.

See the dates and book Surprising Seville online

4 Mar 2027 – 8 Mar 2027 · 4 nightsSurprising SevillePlaces availablefrom £5496 already goingSee the dates and book online for Surprising Seville

For a question before you book, ask Jackie Whyte, the Spice host, through our contact page, or ask Rosie, the chat on every holiday page.