Help me find a special holiday please!

[MrsAvocet]

We haven't had a "proper" holiday since before Covid, just a few long weekends. Besides Covid, I have been quite unwell for other reasons so it's just not been possible.
But I'm sitting here now in plaster after what is (hopefully) my last operation for a while at least, contemplating the fact that this time next year I will hopefully be well and active again. This should also (hopefully) coincide with our youngest leaving for University meaning that at long last DH and I will not be tied to school holidays or need to consider the kids in our holiday plans, so we thought we might head off somewhere for a break as soon as we have dropped DS at University, so Sept/Oct next year.
But the question is...where? The world is our oyster, but I don't know where to start!
So give me some ideas well travelled Mumsnetters. Here's my criteria:
A week, up to10 days at a push.
Budget up to £10k for the 2 of us.
Probably Europe but I'd be open to going further afield if achievable within budget.
We don't like very hot weather so ideally nothing above mid 20s. Don't mind it chilly but we live in one of the wettest parts of the UK so would prefer to avoid rain!
Don't mind type of accomodation really. We have traditionally self catered as DS has multiple food allergies but we could now stay in hotels. But nowhere too posh - I don't want to feel people are looking down on us.
We're a bit antisocial so I'm not sure that a cruise would suit us, or anything else where there are big crowds of people.
We like - history,classical music, wildlife and the outdoors. Not averse to visiting interesting cities though. I have been unable to walk very far for a long time but hopefully post this surgery that will improve but I wont be able to do strenuous hiking etc. I can ride a bike quite well though. DH likes watersports, I'm ambivalent. We like food too - especially trying food of other cultures.
We dislike - very hot weather,traditional beach holidays, any kind of enforced activities. DH in particular gets bored very easily so no sitting by the pool with a book for him.
I guess ideally we'd like something that's not completely mainstream but not too off the beaten track either. We are fairly resilient and self sufficient but I am acutely aware that I am always going to have some physical limitations now. So we don't particularly want a tour guide ushering us everywhere but I wouldn't want to go somewhere without reasonable medical facilities etc.
I have lots of time to research this trip as I am basically housebound for the next month, but really don't know where to start, so throw me some ideas please wise ones!

I would consider Italy by rail. You can get to Turin fairly easily and then have the whole of Italy to explore. Lovely food, nice weather but not too hot in Sept/Oct cities with history e.g. Florence, Rome, Venice etc. plus the lakes - Como is lovely. You could easily plot a route.

The Man in Seat 61 website is fab for train journeys.

The first place that came to mind, especially if you’re not fussed about necessarily being by the sea / a beach, were the Italian lakes - gorgeous scenery, lots to do / see, lots of chances for outdoors activities / cycling.

Thinking about wildlife and nature, the Azores came to mind - amazing landscapes, volcanoes, white beaches, waterfalls, lakes, dolphin and whale watching, lots of hiking trails. I’m not sure on the medical facilities available though.

With that budget, I’d do Cape Town or Vancouver Island

Around Lake Bled in Slovenia could also be an option - history, gorgeous lake, mountains, could do a couple of nights in Ljubljana too.

Madeira also has amazing wildlife and Funchal is a great city.

If you like history and classical music...how about Berlin? Amazing history, loads of stuff to see and do on that front, and am sure lots of classical music too. You could get trains from there for day trips, or stay elsewhere for some of it. Good for cycling and lovely big parks and the river too, so you can be pretty active if you want to. Night trains opening up from later this year, if that appeals from eg Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris I think, so they could be part of it - Man in Seat 61 website will have details. I've been to Berlin several times and it is very easy to organise yourself - plenty of decent, reasonable hotels, good public transport, lots of tourists and people living there from all over the world....

Mauritius would work well or for more wildlife Costa Rica.

It wouldn’t take anywhere near your budget - in fact you’d have loads left over for another more expensive holiday - but have you thought about Orkney? We went this summer and loved it. There are better, more significant archaeological sites than almost anywhere in Europe, the most beautiful outdoors imaginable and it’s not remotely crowded especially if you go to the outlying islands. Plus from a medical perspective you still have the NHS. The food isn’t that of another culture but is pretty amazing and involves a lot of locally produced food from seafood to mutton. Plenty of wildlife too.

Have a look - it’s way up there with my best ever holidays and even my very picky 15 year old loved it!

Was just coming on to suggest this! It's adventurous but not too challenging, lovely food, Ljubljana is fabulous and Lake bled is gorgeous so you can watch your DH water sporting from a stylish lakeside cafe!!!

Well with that budget i'd second Vancouver Island. Take a seaplane from Vancouver. Such a beautiful place and the wildlife is amazing, we saw whales, bears, eagles, seals... there are some beautiful resorts with amazing restaurants or you could stay where we did - it was honestly mindblowingly stunning there and incredibly private.

https://tofinovr.com/properties/eagle-view-house/

Do you want to stay in one place or move around? My first though was a train holiday in the Tirol and northern Italy, eg with short train journeys and perhaps 2 or 3 nights in each of:

• Innsbruck (gorgeous town and easily accessible mountains)

• Bolzano or Bressanone or similar northern Italy town (more gorgeousness of towns and mountains. Maybe visit Oetzi in his museum, maybe go to the spas. Practice your German and Italian)

• Verona or a village on lake Garda (food / scenery / music / history / etc etc etc)

• Bologna or Venice (more of all the good things)

I'd come with you in a heart beat!

Thanks all. Lots of good ideas for me to explore there. I saw a tv programme about central-ish Spain last night - Salamanca, Avila etc - and now have a tour of various Paradors on my shortlist.
Life is very dull at present as I have to keep my leg elevated for most of the day so can't even leave the house in my wheelchair much, so holiday research is keeping my spirits up and certainly beats day time tv!

Porto for history then a vineyard in the Douro Valley?

@MrsAvocet definitely look at YouTube as there are lots of videos.

I also recommend the “if I won the lottery” holiday planning whilst you confined to the sofa.

How about a European river cruise ? They are very different to sea cruises, very relaxed & informal, you can socialise as much or as little as you want.
There are excursions available every day (cost usually included), but no compulsion to go & often an option for slower walkers.
You are always near medical facilities
We did a cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest that I think might suit you.

I think I would look into something like self guided cycling (with luggage transfers and maybe an ebike!) along the Danube - Vienna to Budapest - with a couple of days in the cities either end.

I know cruises aren't for everyone but in October half term I've got 2 days in Venice then board ship in Trieste. On board for 12 days visiting lots of different countries. Some like Malta, Sicily and Rome I've been to several times but I've not been to Venice, Kotor, Corfu or Dubrovnik. We will go on some excursions but at some ports just get off ship and wander around for part of the day. Then disembark in Rome. We have one day and one night in Rome then come home. It will be the first proper holiday we have taken since before Covid. Last year we just had 4 days in Bruges. Like you I have had mobility issues but they are much better ATM so I want to make the most of it. I like the shows in the evening on board the cruise. Also there is on board spa treatments too. Mostly it will be great having 2 whole weeks with no DC. Our Foster son is off on a cricket tour to Dubai for 8 days and my youngest son will look after him for the remaining days.

Eastern med cruise or any cruise avoid P&O as the standards are very low.

I think France would like all your boxes.

Tick not like your boxes!!

Depending on how much of a dealbreaker rain would be, how about Iceland? Lots of natural and outdoes activities, involving as much or as little walking as you like. Great scenery. Very down to earth.

I would look at Iceland. Such a stunning place.

Each cruise line is different. Whilst I prefer Cunard, I have been on other cruise lines including P & O.

My view is that for the price P & O offer a fair product.

Since seeing it on TV I've fancied Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The funny thing is my son, who lives miles away mentioned that he'd like to go there too.