Innovative travel company Explore has launched a new programme of active short breaks to meet the demand for more excitement on weekends away. So from this autumn, if you're not into shopping, sightseeing or sunbathing, you'll be able to pack more demanding activities into a quick trip, such as riding through Jordan's desert landscapes, staying with the Bedouin and camping under the stars. This five-day itinerary which, of course, takes in a visit to Petra, costs from £1,000pp, with departures from October to December, and February to April. Other highlights include a winter tour of Belarus and the Ukraine and snorkelling with killer whales in Norway.

0870 3334001, explore.co.uk.