Off-grid family holidays: Tim Dowling’s rules for survival

‘So there’s really no wifi? Kids, I’m as gutted as you are …’

15 of the best off-grid places to stay in the UK

The complexities of modern life will recede into the distance with a wifi-free stay at these remote cottages and huts

15 of the best off-grid places to stay in Europe

With no wifi to bother you, nature, starry skies and wilderness take centre stage at these huts, pods, cabins, treehouses and more

Wild weekend: Kayaking around Estonia’s Pakri islands

These almost uninhabited islands near Tallinn are full of wildlife – and also plenty of reminders of Estonia’s cold war history

Too posh to pitch? Easy bikepacking in the Peak District

To our writer’s delight, the tent is already up, the food sorted and route plotted on this new camping and cycling trip in the Peaks

Peru: take the high road to Inca glory

Machu Picchu sees a million visitors a year, but another great pre-Columbian monument remains little-known. We join the first supported trek on the Incas’ Royal Road

Mobile foam: Surf Portugal’s best waves – by B&B truck

The new Truck Surf Hotel is a bunkhouse on wheels that lets surfers catch waves at locations along the southwest coast, as well as taking in great views and food

Nordic walking: a pilgrims’ route from Oslo to Trondheim

This medieval pilgrim trail has a much lower profile than the Camino. And that’s a good thing for those who like to enjoy Norway’s beauty in solitude

Sky-high trekking: taking on California’s High Sierra Trail

This demanding trek amid granite domes and giant trees culminates in a climb up 4,421-metre Mount Whitney but it’s worth every lung-busting step

10 of the best activity holidays in Ireland

With its rugged coast, lakes and hills, Ireland is one big adventure playground – perfect for kayaking, hiking, cycling and road trips

10 of the best new group trips for women

We celebrate International Women’s Day by picking some of the best new women-only adventures from Scotland to Mongolia

Solo travel for women is about freedom, in every sense of the word

Solo travel is on the rise, especially among women, but Rosita Boland has always found it the most adventurous and rewarding way to see the world

Ski touring: Val Thorens without a chairlift

Ski touring used to be a gnarly pursuit for beardy blokes but new itineraries in the French Alps offer a safer – but still arduous – way to enjoy the sport

Mystic river: Canoeing a living entity in New Zealand

The Whanganui is so important in Maori culture it has the legal rights of a person. A canoe trip along its forested valley proves a great way of getting to know it

Thailand’s elephants say goodbye to the circus – and a life of cruelty

Many of the elephants in Thailand live in appalling conditions, but a UK charity has rescued some and returned then to their forest homes, and tourist stays are helping the project to grow