Walking Morocco’s beaches, with a yoga retreat thrown in for good measure

Guided by a Tuareg tribe, Rachel Dixon joins a nomadic retreat on Morocco's Atlantic coast, walking from beach to beach, practising yoga and sleeping in a camp set up at a different spot each night

On Australia’s hippy surf trail

Surfer beaches and spiritual calm have given way to glamorous crowds in Noosa, on Australia's Queensland coast. But the old vibe can be found a boat hop away, says Susan Greenwood

Running the Thames: a journey from source to sea

Can't get a place in the race of your choice? Don't worry, just run your own. Martin Love and two friends head for the Thames Path to run seven marathons in seven days along the length of Britain's most historic river

Riding with the cowboys on a Mexico ranch

A stay at a ranch 50 miles south of the US border in Mexico offers Vicky Baker an exciting and active holiday, at a lot less than the cost of an American dude ranch

Gruel to be kind: a hardcore detox break in Austria

Harriet Green checks into a detox clinic in Austria. A week later, she's lost only half a pound and been really bored – but she's truly sorry to leave

A yoga retreat in the Scottish Highlands

A routine of yoga, outdoor bathing and siestas at a new Scottish eco-lodge leaves Isabel Choat blissfully relaxed – even with a two-year-old in tow

Test yourself … new cycling, running and swimming challenges

Tough challenges – from an ultra-run along Hadrian's Wall to a quadrathlon in Poland

Tri, and try again – the Lake District’s toughest triathlon

The Ullswater area of the Lake District is Kevin Rushby's favourite place in the world. But will he still love it after tackling the notoriously gruelling Helvellyn Triathlon?

Ireland’s seaweed spa

Spa retreats don't have to cost a fortune. At a century-old seaweed bathhouse in north-west Ireland, Nick Fisher dunks for a day for €25

Snowboarding and spa treatments in Tuscany

An indulgent snowboarding and spa break in Tuscany lets Catherine Nelson and her sister hit the slopes before recovering and 'taking the waters'