The very best winter sunshine breaks from Manchester Airport – escape the cold snap from just £40pp return

Winter is well and truly here, and as the first real cold snap of the year brings snow, frost and sub-zero temperatures, the thought of being on a beach soaking up the sun with a cocktail in hand probably seems farfetched - but it’s not out of reach thanks to Manchester Airport’s unrivalled connections.

The UK’s global gateway in the North has direct connections to more than 200 destinations – more than any airport outside London – and that includes a range of places where the weather right now is a stark contrast to the snow and ice you can see through your window.

If you’re eager to leave the wintry weather behind for a week or two, you’ll find some fantastic deals available at this time of year in hotspots ranging from Morocco and the Canary Islands to the US and the Caribbean.

Here we pick out some of the top deals available on direct flights from Manchester Airport for a sunshine break this winter – and we take a look at what awaits you when you get there.

Agadir

Flights available with Ryanair from £40pp return

The Moroccan resort town of Agadir is an emerging winter sun favourite, with no fewer than four airlines offering a direct flight from Manchester. Its golden sandy beaches are the perfect place to top up your tan and temperatures here average around 22C even in December. Other things to keep you occupied include the Museum of Arts (which explores the surrounding region’s Berber heritage) and the Souk El Had market.

Tangier

Flights available with Ryanair from £40pp return

Another Moroccan winter sun hotspot is Tangier – a new destination for Manchester Airport this winter. Achakkar beach is a popular spot for a swim or camel ride and offers amazing sunset views over the Atlantic. The city itself is one of the oldest in the country and taking a stroll through the Kasbah is like a trip back in time. Haggle for souvenirs in the local bazaars and then sample some local seafood.

Fuerteventura

Flights available with easyJet from £45pp return

Spain’s Canary Islands are off the coast of North Africa and enjoy balmy temperatures into the mid-20s even at the height of winter. Fuerteventura is a great candidate for a family holiday – it’s a popular place for water sports, with whale and dolphin watching tours also available, and its beaches are some of the best in the Canaries, while the sandstone caves in Betancuria Rural Park make for an otherworldly place to explore.

Tenerife

Flights available with easyJet from £42pp return

Another of the Canary Islands and a regular feature in the most-visited destinations from Manchester Airport, Tenerife is a winner with holidaymakers and it’s clear to see why. Whether you’re travelling with family, partying with friends or seeking out some peace and quiet, there’s something for everyone here. In the south, Playa de las Americas is a bustling beachfront resort and centre of the island’s nightlife scene, with the nearby Siam Water Park a huge hit with families. The north of the island is more rural and rugged, with breathtaking scenery – and Mount Teide is a designated dark sky spot with very little light pollution, making it one of the best places in the world for stargazing.

Lanzarote

Flights available with Ryanair from £54pp return

Lanzarote is one of the smaller islands in the Canaries archipelago and offers a laid-back atmosphere, but there’s still plenty to do. Playa de Papagayo is widely regarded as Lanzarote’s best beach, but away from the seafront you’ll find the breathtaking Timanfaya National Park with its striking volcanic landscapes, the Rancho Texas Lanzarote Park – a theme park with a Western tough – and a botanical garden dedicated solely to cacti, the Jardin di Cactus.

Madeira

Flights available with Ryanair from £70pp return

To the north of the Canary Islands lies Madeira, a Portuguese outpost in the North Atlantic where temperatures remain steadily in the low twenties during winter and dramatic mountainous landscapes cloaked in forests provide the perfect backdrop to your getaway. The volcanic activity on the island has created a string of marvellous black sand beaches, and football fans will want to take a visit to the CR7 museum in the island’s capital Funchal, home to one of Madeira’s most famous sons, former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hurghada

Flights available with easyJet from £159pp return

A little further afield, but with guaranteed beach weather throughout the winter, the Red Sea resort of Hurghada is one of the finest spots on the planet for snorkelling and scuba diving thanks to the colourful reefs lining its shores. There’s plenty to keep you entertained too like the Mini Egypt Park, a sort of model village showcasing the most famous ancient Egyptian sites in miniature form, and the Hurghada Grand Aquarium, one of Africa’s largest, with rare specimens like tiger sharks and eagle rays on display.

Luxor

Flights available with TUI from £204pp return

If you want to see the Sphinx, Pyramids and Valley of the Kings, Luxor is a popular starting point for Nile cruises that take in all of these wonders and more. TUI launches its first-ever flight from Manchester to Luxor this month and there are some great deals to be had – meaning a trip to these iconic sites is now well within reach for budding Egyptologists. But it’s not all about Ancient Egypt – a Nile cruise is a great way to experience this country in the modern day, too, with wildlife spotting tours available on the world’s longest river.

Barbados

Flights available with Virgin Atlantic from £390pp return

Across the Atlantic, the pristine coasts of Barbados boast some of the very best beaches on the planet. Winter is dry season, so you don’t need to worry about tropical storms – but temperatures will still regularly hit 30C, so this is the best time of year to go. Once you’re done soaking up the rays, take a distillery tour on the island where rum was born – or sample the local seafood at Oistins Fish Fry, an outdoor food market selling the catch of the day.

Orlando

Flights available with Aer Lingus from £449pp return

Florida is a popular spot to retire to for Americans, due to its reliably balmy winter temperatures, and Orlando is the centre of its tourism industry – with no fewer than four theme parks, it’s a fantastic place to unwind with the family in the sunshine this winter, and the water rides are a great way to cool off – but bring a change of clothes! The Orlando Science Center is a world-class interactive museum and its exhibits include fossil T-Rex and Triceratops skeletons.