Christmas gift ideas for all

Christmas shopping could be sorted in just a few clicks – but forget the boring gift vouchers! Offer friends and family an experience they’ll remember forever; a chance to reignite a passion, learn a new skill or develop an existing hobby on a learning holiday with a difference.

Our range of holiday courses has something for everyone – the gourmet chef, creative cat, aspirant Picasso – whatever the budget or timescale. Here are some ideas for the Christmas shopping list (or on your letter to Santa!)

Note: All courses can be purchased with ‘open dates’ for travel anytime in 2012 and vouchers are delivered instantly so can be purchased even on Christmas day if you really are a last minute present buyer!

TREAT YOUR MUM, DAUGHTER, BEST FRIEND:

Wine Tasting and Wellness Holiday – Tuscany, Italy from £192pp
Sip, swill and soak in wine! Take some time out on this unique wine tasting and wellness holiday and explore and sample some of the famous Chianti region’s most delicious wines before relaxing in an imperial wine bath treatment and enjoy a tasty glass of Chianti wine.

Including 2 night’s B&B accommodation, tour of the estate’s vineyard, wine tasting, imperial wine bath accompanied by a glass of Chianti.

Pilates Weekend Break – Pilates Reformer – Costa Blanca, Spain from £367pp
Relax, recharge and revitalise on a short 3 night wellbeing break and come home fitter, healthier and recharged after this Pilates weekend staying in a spacious self-catered villa on Spain’s beautiful Costa Blanca.

Including 3 nights self-catering accommodation (breakfast pack and welcome dinner included), daily Pilates reformer & mat sessions, and massages

Wellbeing Spa and Cookery Holiday – Umbria, Italy from £629pp
Spoil someone with this short break and enjoy ultimate luxury at this 18th Century stunning villa and spa and indulge in pampering and wellness treatments whilst learning to cook delicious mouth-watering dishes in Italy’s picturesque Umbria region.

Including 3 nights’ accommodation in luxury villa, gourmet welcome dinner, breakfast daily, 2 cookery lessons, 1 spa day, all ingredients and equipment for cookery classes.

FOR THE FOODIE OF THE FAMILY:

French Cookery Holiday & meet the producers – Lot-et-Garonne, France from £822pp
Stay in a restored 19th century farmhouse in the beautiful Lot-et-Garonne just one hour drive south from Bordeaux. Visit local producers, shop from French markets and learn to cook delicious French dishes. You could visit cheese makers, wine makers, game farmers, butchers, go mushroom picking, fruit picking and more, learning not just the art of preparing fresh ingredients but the history behind locally grown food and to chat with them about the processes of how your food is made before taking it home to learn to cook with the freshest ingredients.

Including 6 nights’ accommodation in restored farmhouse, 4 French cookery lessons, visits to markets and producers (transport provided), and all meals.

FOR RICK STEIN FANS:

Fish Cooking Course – Andalucia, Spain from £111pp

https://golearnto.com/course/overview/2111/fish+cooking+course

Expand your seafood repertoire where you’ll be working with the freshest fish and shellfish available, learning the secrets of Spain’s fish dishes on this fun, hands-on fish cooking holiday. This course is based in a stunningly restored 150 year old Finca surrounded by olive groves, and the cooking largely takes part in the outdoor kitchen ensuring breath taking views whilst your creative mouth-watering dishes.

Including 3 nights’ accommodation at the Finca with breakfast, welcome dinner with wine on arrival, 2 shellfish and fish cooking lessons, dinner you’ve learnt to cook each night with wine.

FOR SWEET TOOTHS:

Dessert Making and Patisserie Weekend – Gascony, France from £416pp
For those who always save room for desert, this weekend course covers everything from crepe suzette to tarte aux pommes where you’ll learn to make over 14 desserts including the famous croque en bouche French wedding cake – you’ll put the Great British Bake Off Chefs to shame! Set in a beautiful French farmhouse with views over sunflower fields from the terrace and hot tub where you can relax after your day’s cooking.

Including 2 nights’ accommodation, 3 French dessert making lessons, breakfast each morning, lunch on Saturday, dinner each night with unlimited wine.

THE ARTISTIC MUM/DAD/GRAN WILL LOVE:

Painting Break – Languedoc, France from £288pp
Embrace your creative side on this short 3 night painting break that feels a little like a French house party where you’ll have a great holiday full of painting, good food, wine and fun. Be inspired by the architecture, landscapes, river and markets of the French countryside. Stay in pretty French house boasting a lovely garden that leads directly to the river Soulondre in the Languedoc region in Southern France.

Including 3 nights’ accommodation, all meals, 2 days painting tuition, equipment and transport to painting locations.

FOR CREATIVE CRAFTIES:

Mosaics Making Holiday – near Murcia, Spain from £470pp
A unique mosaics making holiday in southern Spain in Murcia near Cartagena staying in a villa with swimming pool, you’ll learn the skills to kick start a fun hobby and bring home excellent holiday souvenirs!

Including 3 nights accommodation at the villa with swimming pool, all meals and wine with dinner throughout your stay, 2 full days mosaic making workshops, all materials and tools for the course.

Mid Week or Weekend Jewellery Making Course in Rodez, France from £285pp
Ideal for those looking for a new hobby or challenge, this is a wonderful 3 night break set in the beautiful countryside of Aveyron in Southern France where you’ll stay in a beautifully converted farmhouse and learn to make your own jewellery including earrings, bracelets and necklaces using silver, semi-precious beads and pearls.

Including 3 nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, lunch on workshop days, all jewellery making equipment and materials, return transfer from Rodez.

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS PHOTOGRAPHER:

Photography and Walking Holiday at an eco-retreat in Andalucia, Spain from £475pp
Set amidst breath-taking scenery in the picturesque Andalucian mountains we defy you to not be inspired to take snaps of absolutely everything in this wonderfully unique eco-retreat set in a Natural Park in southern Spain; explore the local shepherds paths, marvel at the almond blossom and discover the dramatic alpine deserts.

Including 3 night’s private en suite accommodation at the eco-retreat, all meals throughout and wine with dinner, 2 full days walking and photographing local area with tuition.

Photography and Cooking Holiday- Essaouira, Morocco from £925pp
Enjoy the outstanding photo opportunities, and learn the secrets behind creating delicious Moroccan cooking in the coastal village of Essaouira. Stay in a luxury boutique style Riad and explore the Berber communities, markets, souks and coastal scenes of the area and take your photography skills to the next level.

Including 7 nights’ accommodation in Riad, breakfast and group dinner, 5 days of photography tuition, 2 private one-on-one photography sessions with tutor, 2 cooking lessons and meals learnt to cook, souvenir tagine to bring home.

FOR THE COOL KIDS / SPORTY HUSBAND / BROTHER / BOYFRIEND:

Surf Camp in Portugal with a visit to the surfboard factory – Baleal beach, Portugal from £225pp
Surf on Baleal beach in Portugal (90mins from Lisbon) where you have your own room in a house by the beach or ‘cool’ accommodation which is a shared room in the surf house. Highly professional tuition from your local surf instructors, who you may also find behind the decks as they run the local beach bar as well.  You’ll also visit the surf board factory during your week to find out how surf boards are made.

Including 7 nights’ accommodation, 5 days surfing, tour of surf factory, wetsuit and surf board throughout the week, surf guide and complimentary souvenirs, access to beach BBQ party, 10% discount on surf equipment at surf shop.

Surf holiday on Taghazout beach, Morocco from £380pp
Just 20km from Agadir, Taghazout is a world renowned surf spot in Morocco, and with consistent year round warm water and its laid back vibe, incredible cuisine and some fantastic sunsets it’s an ideal year round break. Set right on the beach you’ll stay in a traditional Moroccan villa with bedrooms, bathrooms, cooking facilities, TV and Wifi and in-house chefs for great meals.

Including accommodation for 7 nights at the surf camp, breakfast daily, lunch on your surf days (5 days), dinner each evening prepared by a local Moroccan Chef, 5 days of surf lessons, 10 hours of supervised surf time (for your own practice), surfboard and wetsuit.

FOR THE HORSE MAD:

Horse Riding Holiday with full 3 day trek – Essaouira, Morocco from £780pp
Gallop through the sea, canter across the dunes, ride through the Argan forests and explore the vast expanse of beach on horseback on this unique horse riding adventure holiday where you’ll stay 3 nights in a luxury boutique Riad in Essaouira followed by 3 nights camping out as you explore Morocco.

Horse Riding Short Break with mountain trek – Lanjaron, Andalucia, Spain from £318pp
Stay 2 nights in the pretty restored Spanish farmhouse near the spa town of Lanjaron and explore the stunning surrounding Alpujarra hillas and Sierra Nevada mountains by horse back.

Including 2 nights’ accommodation, breakfast, dinner and a picnic lunch during your mountain trek, 1 hour horse riding lesson, and full day trek.

Horse Riding and Carriage Driving Weekend or Mid Week Break – Algarve, Portugal from £267pp
Set in a stunning location in the Costa Vincentina National Park just 15 minutes from Lagos, this short break offers a wealth of excellent trekking covering countryside, beaches, lakes and more either on horseback or travel in style and take a carriage driving lesson!

Including 3 night’s accommodation, picnic lunch on 2 days, a welcome dinner on arrival with wine, transfers from/to Lagos train station.

Remember, all presents can be brought with open dates or fixed dates and there are loads more ideas on our website from gladiator courses to horse riding weekends!

If you need help deciding, call our expert team on 0845 625 0445 or email [email protected]

Just pay a deposit to secure the place and the balance can be paid when you know the date of travel – keeping your Christmas cash in your pocket for longer!