Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Skagen - Esbjerg - Lolland
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Your family adventure to beautiful Denmark begins today. Head to the airport, speed through check-in and indulge in some foodie treats in the airport lounge as you await departure. The flight time is around two hours, so you'll be on Danish soil before you know it.
On arrival, collect your hire car and drive an hour and a half to Skagen, on the northern edge of Jutland. Your home for the next three nights is a classic wooden cottage nestled in the dunes, overlooking a small beach lapped by the North Sea. Everything here evokes the typical charm of Danish seaside houses: wooden furniture, a hearty kitchen and a quaint garden frequented by local deer. Spend your first evening relaxing on the beach and getting into the rhythm of coastal life.
Rise and shine, it's your first full day in Denmark and your agenda is full of family fun. A knowledgeable local will be your guide for the day as you set out to explore the nation's northernmost (and sunniest) city. In the 19th century, a community of artists and poets settled in this picturesque fishing community, keen to capture the ever-changing light that bathes the coast.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the city and learn about its legends before heading to a local museum that celebrates the talent of 'Skagensmalerne', the colony of artists who fell in love with the place. Among them is the couple Anna and Michael Ancher, whose well-preserved house – now a museum – holds regular temporary exhibitions. This evening we've reserved you a table at one of the best restaurants in Skagen to familiarise yourselves with Denmark's culinary delights.
Located about nine miles from Skagen is the Rabjerg Mile dune, the largest moving dune in northern Europe. Bundle your youngsters into the car, head into the dunes and sink your feet into the 140 million cubic feet of sand. The wind slides in a northwesterly direction, sometimes moving it by 60ft per year. From the summit, 130ft above sea, you can enjoy an incredible lunar-like desert panorama.
When you're ready for a dose of history, head to Den Tilsandede Kirke, a church built at the end of the 16th century, which has been gradually sanded down by the dunes. Generations of locals fought against the elements before finally giving in to nature at the end of the 18th century. All that remains today is a white bell tower protruding from the ground. While the history of the church is unusual, its natural backdrop of dunes, forests and ocean makes it well worth the detour.
Load the little ones back into your hire car and drive four hours through rural farmlands to Esbjerg, on the west coast of Jutland where you'll be spending the next three nights in a traditional Scandinavian cottage located right by the beach. Spend the rest of today getting the lay of the land; the house is part of a wider hotel, so if you're not in the mood to cook tonight, head over to the restaurant for a delicious dinner and a trip to the spa.
Esbjerg is the ideal springboard to embark for Fano, a small 12-mile-long island in the heart of the Wadden Sea National Park. The island is reached by car ferry, allowing you to easily visit its fishing village, Sonderho, with its adorable narrow streets and pretty thatched-roof houses. The rest of the island is blessed with beautiful scenery that makes for a pleasant walk or cycle ride: fine sandy beaches, windswept dunes, abundant heather and serene pine forests.
On Fano, we've also arranged a family introduction to sand yachting. Glide smoothly over the sandy beaches of Rindby Strand from the comfort of a small wind-powered vehicle that resembles a sailboat. The views are splendid, between elegant beach villas nestled in the dunes and the ocean stretching into the horizon.
A day of outdoor adventure on Fano will surely leave you with rumbling tummies, so we've made a reservation at an elegant yet family-friendly restaurant specialising in local terroir.
Get ready for a day of family fun at sea as you head to Ribe for a seal-watching safari. The coastline of the Wadden Sea is a preserved habitat filled with dense seagrass beds and mudflats that several animal species feed on. Seals are the stars of the show, however, and can be seen lazing on the sandbanks at the water's edge.
Spend the rest of today exploring Ribe, which claims fame as Denmark's oldest city. The centre is particularly picturesque with its Gothic-style town hall and cathedral. There are a few good museums which are popular among families, including the Viking Museum and the Wadden Sea Centre. After walking along the pretty beaches along the seafront, drive across to the island of Romo to admire the abundance of birds and marine species that have taken up residence here.
Hop back into your hire car and drive four hours through the picturesque scenery of the South Funen countryside to Sollested, on the island of Lolland. Your home for the final three nights of the trip is a historic farming estate surrounded by acres of gardens, forests and countryside. The design is minimalist yet aesthetic, paying homage to traditional rural architecture. Tonight you can choose to cook in your private home using fresh, local ingredients or to head to one of the local restaurants recommended by our team.
Lace up your hiking boots and head out for a day of walking on beautiful Lolland, Denmark's fourth-biggest island. One of our favourite spots for a family hike is the neighbouring South Fionian archipelago. Visit Tasinge Island to marvel at the impressive 17th-century Valdemar Castle, or head to the rural island of Langeland to see old windmills and small hamlets which perfectly represent Denmark's old-world charm. We also recommend stopping at Rudkobing, an old market town with a lively fishing port, cobbled streets and wonderfully preserved merchant houses. For lunch, head back to Sollested for a delicious meal in one of the town's most celebrated restaurants. Take this afternoon to explore the south of the island and the Klise Nor nature reserve, home to lagoons, coastal meadows and dunes. On the Ristinge side, it's not uncommon to see wild Exmoor ponies galloping against a backdrop of beaches, ochre cliffs and pebble coves.
Savour one final day on the wild and wonderful coast of Denmark with a guided horse riding excursion along impressive cliffs. After breakfast this morning, head over to the island of Mon, one of the few hilly regions in Denmark. Saddle up at a traditional farm and gently ride through the scenic landscapes towards the chalk cliffs of Mons Klint, where turquoise waves crash below.
Spend the rest of today discovering Mon at your own pace. Drive along quaint winding roads, through poppy-studded hills and flower gardens, stopping off whenever you fancy. Visit the lovely town of Stege, with its half-timbered houses, or admire the beautiful examples of Nordic Romanesque art in Elmelunde and Keldby. Head back to your farmhouse for the final evening of your family holiday before you head home tomorrow.
Sadly, the time has come to jump back into your hire car and begin the journey home. Drive two hours to the airport in Copenhagen and drop off your vehicle. After whizzing back through security, enjoy some downtime in the airport lounge ahead of your two-hour flight back to the UK. For those with a few extra days to play with, why not round off your trip with a few days in Denmark's cosmopolitan capital?
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
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