Travel experts at Flight Centre UK speak to the trend and recommend their selection of cooler breaks.
A European summer might be a firm favourite for many Brits, but it’s no secret that temperatures are rising, costs are soaring, and crowds are bulging.
Those who opt for a cooler destination this summer will undoubtedly benefit from lower temperatures, which means no sheltering from the midday sun, and possibly also lower prices and fewer crowds. The reality becomes even more flexible for solo travellers and the DINKs (dual income, no kids), who aren’t bound to travel in the six to eight weeks of school holidays.
Joe Beevis, general manager of Flight Centre UK, says: “Outside of the traditional fly-and-flop, there are a multitude of summer holiday options to help travellers beat the heat. By getting creative – ask your trusted travel agent to spark inspiration – you might find some respite in the Norwegian fjords, a South African or Australian winter, a tour of Peru or an adventure in the Rocky Mountains, and that’s just scratching the surface!”
See below for cooler climate holiday inspiration from Flight Centre UK.
Cruise the waters of Northern Europe
Depending on the itinerary, river cruising can offer respite from the heat you can expect on a traditional ocean cruise. Take sailings via the Danube or Rhine rivers or the Norwegian fjords for a greener, fresher, more northerly and therefore more invigorating backdrop in comparison to sun-soaked Caribbean or Mediterranean voyages.
Elaine Learmonth, product leader at Flight Centre UK, says: “Our most popular summer river cruising itinerary sails along rivers Rhine and Danube from Amsterdam to Budapest. Seasonal temperatures on the route average in the mid-twenties and rarely surpass 30 degrees, so it’s a welcome escape from Greece, for example, which can see temperatures exceeding 36 and 37.
Flight Centre UK’s Avalon Waterways: Danube Dreams package starts from £2,049pp for travel in July 2025. Northerly points of call such as Munich, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest experience middling temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees, making this itinerary an attractive alternative to a Mediterranean fly-and-flop.
Or, this seven-night Norwegian fjords excursion with Celebrity Cruises departing from Southampton starts from £1,259pp for travel in August 2026. Temperatures in Haugesund, Flam, Geiranger and Bergen sit between 10 and 20 degrees, and second guests can save up to 75% when booking directly through Flight Centre UK.
Summer in the Rocky Mountains of Canada
Being the second largest country in the world, Canada is comprised of numerous biomes which experience varied climates. In the summer, travellers can head to the cooler spots in the Rocky Mountains, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
For travel in June and July 2025, Flight Centre UK’s Summer in the Rockies package begins at £2,325pp and includes direct flights from London, eight nights in 3-4* hotels, eight days’ car hire through the Rocky Mountains, and a Banff Gondola Ride to look out over the resort town from the snow-capped peaks of Sulphur Mountain.
A pristine Peru in July and August
Heading to a country like Peru is an optimal choice for families, offering a great introduction to soft adventure and an amazing place to explore with children of all ages. It’s also a fabulous choice for young couples and retirees.
July and August are Peru’s wintertime however the weather remains moderate – being fairly dry and sunny. It means treks in the Andes mountains are a lot more bearable, and cooler evenings mean saying goodbye to hot, sleepless nights.
Many Peruvian packages include small, escorted group tours hosted by the likes of G Adventures and Intrepid Travel which are useful when trekking up Machu Picchu or for seeing the best sights of Lima. Among others, Flight Centre UK offers a 14-night tour of Peru going through the likes of Lima, Nazca, Arequipa, Cusco and Machu Picchu from £4,345pp for travel in August. August temperatures rarely exceed mid-twenties.
Jump into the southern hemisphere’s winter, warm by British standards
Families who are limited to travel only in the summer holidays may ask their travel agent to find them a holiday in the southern hemisphere where countries are weather-reverse. Australia and New Zealand are the most common choices here, but South Africa too has mild winters that feel like a good British spring day.
Elaine says: “The British school holidays fall right in the middle of Kruger’s dry season and temperatures rarely exceed the mid-twenties, so these are perfect conditions for wildlife viewing. Tag on a few days in Cape Town before or after, where cooler temperature and the low season brings about fewer crowds. And, a strong exchange rate means the British pound stretches further once you’re there.”
The Garden Route & Safari package starting in Cape Town and calling at Stellenbosch, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, and Addo Elephant Park begins at £1,845pp for travel in June and July 2025.
On Australia, Kelly Darke, store manager at Flight Centre UK, adds: “While winter sees cooler weather and showers in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney, perfect conditions arrive in Tropical North Queensland and the Northern Territory. The season in the north of Australia is known as the dry season and while the temperatures remain warm, there’s less humidity, fewer storms and better visibility for snorkelling and diving.
The 12-night Sydney, Rock & Reef package for families begins at £3,265pp for August 2025, and it includes a full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise and snorkel excursion, entry to the Taronga Zoo, and a tour of Uluru, in addition to accommodation in four-star hotels.
Travel off-peak, if you can
Students, retirees, DINKs and solo travellers all have the benefit of flexibility as they aren’t bound by travel only in the school holidays. This can bring about significant savings in addition to a cooler holiday and in fact, many dream summer destinations can be far more temperate in June, or September to October.
Elaine says: “Summer holiday hotspots like Greece, Florida and New York may not be as toasty when travelling out of the peak season. While July and August temperatures may be in the high-to-mid-thirties, shoulder season temperatures are in the much milder mid-twenties range. Florida in particular remains hot but is considerably drier than the summer.”
Daniel Murphy, Head of Aviation at Flight Centre UK, says: “And from a price perspective, even travelling in the 72 hours leading up to or one day immediately after the school holidays can help you find cheaper flights.”
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About Flight Centre:
Flight Centre UK is your centre for travel, powered by long-haul, tailor-made Travel Experts, obsessed with opening up the world for those who want to see it. It’s part of Flight Centre Travel Group – one of the largest independent travel companies in the world – comprised of 3,500 Experts, 450+ stores, 38,475 combined years’ experience, and an immense global buying power, meaning great-value flights, holidays, cruises, tours and stays for can be sourced discerning customers. All Flight Centre UK packages are ATOL protected – meaning customers’ money is safe should anything fail. Flight Centre UK is also a reputable member of ABTA and adheres to their Code of Conduct.
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