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Discover a realm of new skills paired with amazing places. Starting with rock climbing in the UK to creating mosaics in Turkey, these particular experiences offer an ideal combination of education and vacation.

Cliff Scaling in the Peaks

Even complete beginners will rapidly be climbing sheltered Peak District rock faces on this two-day session. Participants will become proficient in securing the rope, safety techniques and a range of methods of ascent, along with descending. With a maximum of a half-dozen students to one instructor, there is a lot of personalized coaching and tailored objectives. This program is appropriate for anyone aged 13 and over, from absolute beginners to those with limited gym climbing background. It is day-only course, but there is a range of recommended, reasonably-priced accommodation close by, including campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts and inns. The venue is a short stroll from the local train station, situated on the Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield.

Cost: £199 for two days. Weekends from March 7th to 8 November, along with midweek sessions most months.

Abstract Painting in Spain

Moclín, a historic hillside village in southern Spain, about a short drive from Granada, is the stimulating setting for this art retreat. Artists of all abilities – even beginners – will discover how to design and produce abstract artworks. Part of the schedule will be spent outdoors, working on structured activities en plein air. These charcoal drawings and watercolour studies will then be worked on in the workspace, with guests creating multiple abstract landscapes in acrylics to be exhibited in the village. Participants has sole use of the hotel, which is set around an open courtyard and has a roof terrace with views over the hills. The fee covers five days of painting tuition; all meals; and an outing to the nearby fortress and additional local sights.

Cost: Starting at €1,950 for seven nights, May 19th to 26th.

Plant-Based Cooking in the Algarve

This Mediterranean cooking retreat, located at a villa by the river in the inland Portuguese region, is draws inspiration from the plant-based cuisine of celebrated cooks. Guests will master the art of selection of small dishes, take part in a falafel-making workshop, refine mid-morning meals such as shakshuka, and make hearty mains including a rich mushroom stew and moussaka. The schedule includes visits to the local market and a local vineyard to sample local vintages, plus free time for walks by the nearby river, to relax on the deck or swim in the infinity pool. The farmhouse, a renovated rural property, has multiple rooms, as well as safari tents in the grounds.

Cost: From 900 euros for five days. Available from 20 March, May 8th, September 11th and 13 November.

Street Dance in Buckinghamshire

This energetic camp is an energizing, welcoming three-day dance intensive for adults in High Wycombe. The daily schedule throughout the camp is a party-style warm-up session, then three 90-minute workshops covering various urban dance forms, then an 60-minute jam to show off those solos. Participants are divided into groups according to skill level, so it is perfect for those who are completely new to street dance, right up to experienced performers or teachers. The camp doesn’t include accommodation but there are a number of hostels and hotels within walking distance, and it is under an hour by train into London.

Cost: £245 for three days; upcoming session 7-9 April.

Sea Shanty Break in St Ives

This coastal town is the excellent location for a maritime music retreat. Guests will learn traditional shanties from a folk singer and vocal coach, and have a go at composing original ones. There will be vocal warmups, breathing exercises, performance tips and a closing performance. The retreat is held in a rural hotel overlooking St Ives Bay. Full board are provided, including a Cornish cream tea on the first day, breakfast options, lunches to go and evening meals. Grog, unfortunately, is not included. Everyone join in: “How to handle the tipsy mariner …?”

Cost: From 429 pounds. Available January 31st to February 3rd and 31 October-3 November.

Creative Writing in Crete

Author and lecturer an experienced instructor runs the regular sessions on this writing retreat. He explores everything from plot, character development, setting and suspense, to sending manuscripts to publishers. A co-host, the well-known writer Kate Mosse, will participate in events at the start and finish of the retreat. The holiday is held at a traditional complex in Vamos at the foot of the Lefka Ori – ten private accommodations are set around a central garden with a pool (companions are welcome to share). On the last night, budding authors mark the occasion with a concert in the garden and a farewell dinner.

Cost: From £893 per person for seven nights (for double occupancy), 11-18 August.

Beginners' Beekeeping in Mid Wales

A leading eco-centre near Machynlleth runs a wide range of courses covering eco-living: from creating habitats to upcycling. This weekend course will help participants get to grips with the fundamentals of apiary management, study the life cycle of bees and learn about their environmental benefits. It is aimed at produce “bee-friendly beekeepers”. The weekend is also a chance to relax in the organization's sustainably managed woodlands, which are habitat for polecats, otters, dormice, bats and rare birds. Bed and breakfast the evening prior is 80 pounds, and full-board accommodation for the weekend is 97 pounds.

Cost: £248. Dates on 30-31 May and September 5th-6th.

Yachting for Beginners in Essex

These new summer sailing weekends are spent on dinghies and keelboats on the Blackwater estuary. They are designed for novice sailors starting out or more experienced mariners who want a skills update. Sailors can improve their helming, build their nautical skills and work towards the recognized certification levels in a fun, welcoming environment. There are non-residential and overnight options, with accommodation in simple dorms in the waterside training centre. The non-residential package includes lunches, while the residential package covers two nights' stay and all meals, from hearty breakfasts to BBQ dinners.

Cost: From 299 pounds. Weekends on July 18th-20th and 4-6 September.

Introduction to Open-Water Swimming in Paphos

The setting for this swimming holiday is a {be