Any ideas for a cheap(ish) European family summer holiday adventure?

[LabradorsLabradorsLabradors]

I think that our plans for a California road trip are well and truly on hold at the moment, but we are lucky enough to have about £3000 to spend on a summer adventure for a week or ten days. Can anyone recommend a shorthaul (or UK) spot that would be a bit of an adventure for a family with DD14 and DS12? We have always preferred active holidays; walking in the Alps, visiting cities, historic sites, nature reserves etc. rather than resort style holidays. We aren't fussed about luxury accommodation and are happy to consider anywhere in Europe, especially somewhere that we might not have thought of ourselves, or off the beaten track. We can travel by car, train, plane, donkey etc. TIA

We like similar to you and enjoyed Slovenia last summer. Have you made a plan since original post?

We loved the Croatian islands

We did this trip last year. Drive to a French camp site (we stayed in a place called les alicourts) then onto Annecy for a few days, then to Chamonix in the Alps. My teenagers really liked it. Loads of hikes, swimming in lakes, white water rafting etc.

The South Tyrol is lovely.

You’d spend £3,000 on food at the moment!
we did french road trip last year. Sand yachting in Normandy, d-day landing beaches, (aromanches sur baines is a good base).
french chateaux in the Loire,
puy du fou.
dordogne.
amazing trip!

Croatia is cheap and beautiful

Ah! Lovely to have some replied with some great ideas. We’ve sort of made a plan to rent a fire Normandy for a week ( possibly adding Paris onto the end). I did it as a teenager and found the landing beaches fascinating and I love the food about there. But I’m also very tempted by Slovenia which I’ve heard is beautiful.

My hairdresser suggested Croatia. She was telling me about her trip along the Adriatic coast. It sounds amazing!

+1 for Slovenia. Still not fully on the tourist map, but has something for everyone.

Northern Spain - Picos de Europa are stunning or you could go further west to Santiago de Compostela and Fisterra.

I'm not sure how you could do that on just £3k? I'd like to hear about it as that seems a v small amount to spend on a 7-10 day trip in the summer.

If you want an adventure, why don’t you try interrailing?

This. I think £4k minimum £5k mich more likely. Assuming you mean campsite accommodation to be cheap.

What about Bosnia, Sarajevo is a beautiful city. Will be cheaper still than Slovenia, and an adventure.

You can get a cheap flight to Venice, overnight train to Bari, ferry to split then train rest of way. Could fly back out from Venice and stop in Lublijana en route.

My other recommendation (although know its not Europe) is Morocco.
Fez is like going back in time, Sahara desert, sand boarding, Atlas mountains and beaches. Amazing food.

Ferry to Europe.
Get a tent
Camping - you can get to the Alps, Germany, Netherlands - self cater if need be.

That's what we always do. Loads to do.

Ferries - £100 - £200
Camping - £20 - £50 per night
Plus food and petrol (and tolls)

Yes if you're in Galicia (Santiago de Compostela) check out Isla de Cies too - stunning, as beautiful as the Caribbean (but with cold water!). Fragas do eume has a lovely long walk up to a monastery through woodland by a river with bridges to cross. Lugo is a lovely walled town and the hot springs at Ourense are fantastic (some free/some paid for).

Slovenia - the Julian alps are beautiful. Bled though busy is just what you describe

You can fully to Geneva / Milan for about £80 each return in august with Ryan air / easy jet and air bnb - it can totally be done for under 2k if you self cater. We do this every year.

Fly, not fully