So what is a holistic holiday?

With all the frantic travelling and ludicrous expense, as often as not we return from our holidays more stressed than when we left - a problem not alleviated by the present economic crisis. Ever-alert to such developments, the industry has responded; the prominent "ethical travel" company, responsibletravel.com, reports a whopping 121% rise in people going on "holistic and well-being" holidays.

To those who hear the word "holistic" and think of Dirk Gently novels, the concept is perhaps best explained by Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com: "More and more travellers are looking to reconnect with themselves on holiday - they are searching for some kind of sanity in the current economic madness. They want to feel re-energised in mind, body and soul. Yoga and pilates holidays, meditation retreats, spas and holistic holidays can all help with stress relief - reminding us of the more important things in life."

Those seeking such inner calm are spoiled for choice, from doing yoga in Kenya to living in a tipi in Wales. Particularly interesting is the "holistic meditation tour" of Thailand, a retreat run by Buddhist monks from the Thai Wisdom Centre that takes in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, river boating on a rice barge, visiting Khao Yao National Park and the island of Koh Chang. The meditation being taught is a pastime that the actor and practising Buddhist Richard Gere has characteristically called "a more substantial reality than what we normally take to be reality", and which the actress Goldie Hawn claims to have been doing for more than 30 years.

At best, these holidays aim not just to provide an escape from life's unpleasantness, but to improve their participants' general quality of life. However, one does wonder about a holiday intended to relieve the stress of the credit crunch that can cost upward of £1000.