Holidays Without Flying: A Practical Guide For No Fly Holidays from the UK to Europe

There’s never been a better time to opt for a flight-free holiday. Not only can you avoid the stress of a busy airport, you’ll be helping the environment as well. Our guide to flight-free travel from the UK to Europe is a great starting point for your next no-fly adventure.

Travelling by air is often the default for a holiday abroad. But it comes with potential downsides. There's a hassle factor to airports and flying, especially at the height of the holiday season.

Travel flight-free, however, and you could find your holiday is a different prospect altogether. To help you create an airline-free travel plan, here’s our guide to no-fly holidays – including some of the best destinations to explore.

What are no-fly holidays?

Flight-free travel involves moving around the world without setting foot on an aeroplane. Instead you rely on land- and sea-based transport such as trains, ferries, coaches, cruise ships, or cars and motorhomes.

No-fly holidays offer a different way to travel when compared to going by plane. They encourage you to go more slowly, to take in your surroundings and see the journey as a part of the adventure. They present an opportunity to relax and rethink the way you like to travel.

Why choose sustainable travel without flying?

Many people are more conscious than ever before about their personal carbon footprint. That’s why there’s an interest in low-carbon travel, with tourists eager to minimise their environmental impact.

Air travel, while convenient, is one of the least eco-friendly ways to move around the world. The carbon dioxide output of an average short-haul flight is estimated to be between 100 and 150 grams per person per kilometre. By comparison, train or coach travel over a similar distance generates less than 40g of CO2 per person per kilometre.

There are plenty of other reasons why you may choose not to fly. It could be because of a specific health concern or an accessibility issue, or a simple matter of preference. And with aviation fuel costs rising, it could be a matter of cost.

How to travel without flying from the UK

The first stage in a holiday without flying from the UK is often a car journey from home. This could be in your own vehicle, which you can take on a cross-channel ferry or train, or leave in a long-stay car park at a ferry terminal, bus station or train station for the duration of your trip. Alternatively, you could book a cab to start your flight-free travel adventure.

To leave the UK, the initial goal is the coast. It’s easy to find a connection by road or rail that takes you to one of the many places from which you can travel to mainland Europe without flying.

If you relish the call of the sea, a ferry is the perfect way to travel flight-free from the UK to Europe. Head to the south-east of England and you’ll benefit from a short hop across the Channel to France, with voyage times lengthening as you move west along the British coast for routes that arrive further south in France.

The east coast of England is another departure point for a holiday without flying to northern Europe. There are ferry routes from Newcastle and Hull to the Netherlands, from where you can head deeper into the continent.

If you don’t take your car on a ferry, you can travel as a foot passenger. Alternatively, several coach companies offer packages that collect you from a town near your home and take you all the way into Europe via ferry, so you can sit back and enjoy the ride. Some also offer package deals involving European tours, with accommodation taken care of for the duration.

For those who don’t trust their sea legs, the Channel Tunnel is an alternative. Jump on a Eurostar train that can spirit you from London to European destinations including Paris, Brussels, Lille and Amsterdam. Or, if you want a no-fly driving holiday, book a spot for you and your car on Le Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais, then enjoy the convenience of Europe’s brilliant road network.

No-fly holidays to Europe

So, you’re safely on European shores on your no-fly holiday. The next question is where to visit – and there’s no shortage of stunning ways to travel through Europe flight-free.

One of the most unforgettable no-fly travel experiences in Europe is a luxury river cruise. Pick up a boat in any number of European river ports and you’ll gain a fresh perspective on cities such as Cologne, Amsterdam or Budapest. Even better, once safely aboard, you’ll have everything you need to fully embrace the journey, travelling at a steady pace so you can savour the scenery, wildlife and architectural delights along the way.

Think of flight-free travel in Europe your mind might turn to the adventure of the railways. Popular European rail holidays include the Glacier Express in Switzerland, which you can join flight-free from the UK via a Eurostar link. This takes in the Swiss Alps, including resorts like Zermatt and St Moritz, with luxury accommodation as part of the package.

For more of a sea level no-fly holiday experience, interrailing offers a chance to travel around 33 European countries. You can buy a pass that gives you unlimited travel on Europe’s rail network for up to three months.

Other popular options for travel without flying from the UK include sea cruises, with many routes departing from UK ports and visiting places as diverse as Spain, the Netherlands, France and the Norwegian Fjords. Such journeys provide convenience, giving you the opportunity to climb aboard and immediately unwind, knowing every mile of your journey is planned to perfection.

If planning your no-fly holiday is part of the fun, you could pursue your own itinerary in a car or campervan. Seasoned traveller and retired communications director Mark Charlton is a fan of this method. He’s a campervan devotee who relishes the freedom of the open road.

“I love being able to plan my own route and stop whenever I feel like it,” he says. “It’s great to load up the van at home and not worry about dragging cumbersome suitcases through a crowded airport terminal. I’m a big fan of no-fly travel through Europe – and it’s so easy if you have an appropriate vehicle to do it in.” Check out our piece exploring Mark’s adventures here.

Tips for low-carbon and sustainable travel

If your motivation for a no-fly holiday is to travel with a low carbon footprint, there are plenty of sustainable travel tips to embrace. The best advice is to travel light and slow: pack as little as possible and resist the temptation to use the fastest transport method.

As well as being ideal for travel with a low carbon footprint, trains and coaches immerse you in your surroundings so you can take more in. The greenest way to travel by coach or train is via direct routes rather than intercity links, as stopping and starting uses more fuel and increases CO2 emissions. Plan your route with care and you’ll enjoy sustainable travel with minimal fuss.

Last-minute and low-cost ideas for no-fly holidays

A benefit of flight-free travel is it’s often highly affordable, especially if you take advantage of last-minute deals on ferry crossings or coach tours.

Of course, if you really want to save, you don’t even need to leave the UK. Staycations give you the freedom of a no-fly holiday without crossing borders. The same rules apply when it comes to sustainable travel: pack as little as possible and use the most direct route to your chosen destination.

Do you need special travel insurance for no-fly holidays?

Typically, standard travel insurance is sufficient for a no-fly holiday, though it’s worth checking cover for things like rail disruption, ferry crossings, cruises and multi-leg journeys.

If you’re taking your car into Europe, make sure you are covered for driving abroad and have all the gear needed to make a long journey pass in comfort. Remember, too, to take the essentials for any European holiday: passports, Global Health Insurance Card, foreign currency and a credit card.