Category: travel companies

10 Walking Holidays

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Looking for an active travel company?  Then check out Headwater, a leading walking, cycling and canoeing operator.

The company offers independent and guided holiday options worldwide.  Some 120  Headwater itineraries are featured in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.

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Here are 10  walking holidays:

1. Valley and Volcanoes Walk, France

2. Contrasts of Chile

3. Highlights of Peru

4. Heart of Portugal Walk

5. Contrast of the Cape, South Africa

6. The Imperial Cities, Morocco

7. Heart of Sardinia Walk

8. Delights of the Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

9. Highlights of Slovenia

10. Costa Rica Wildlife Walk

For more info, visit Headwater.com.

Images courtesy of Headwater.

New Northern Europe Adventures

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Fancy an adventure in northern Europe?  Then check out new tour operator Magnetic North Travel whose destinations include Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Scotland.

Says Laura Greenman, managing director:

“The eruption and its impact demonstrate how close we are all connected as northern Europeans. Magnetic North Travel is all about the drama of landscapes and how humans have adapted, and Iceland is no exception. Ultimately we’re powerless as human beings. But if we combine the recognition of our ‘northerness’ with a new-found respect for nature, we’ll discover a chance to learn something new about ourselves. This is what we’re offering at Magnetic North Travel.”

The company is specializing in northern European trips that “immerse people in human stories and wild landscapes.”  It encourages travel by sea and train to each destinations.

For more info, visit Magnetic North Travel online.

Image courtesy of Magnetic North Travel.

Romancing Canada’s Arctic

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Have you dreamed of adventure in Canada’s Arctic?  Then think about the award-winning Ellesmere Island trek from Whitney & Smith Legendary Expeditions, recently acquired by Explorers’ Corner.

The expeditions, 600 miles from the North Pole, won a 2009 Award of Excellence from Nunavut Tourism and a #1-ranking in Explore magazine’s 2008 “25 Trips You Must Do”.   Highlights include: polar kayaking in survival suits; icebergs;  the heritage of 19th-century explorers and Cleary caribou and Arctic wolves.

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Whitney & Smith co-founder Jane Whitney will work with Explorers’ Corner as director of North American operations.  She brings with her travel expertise on the challenging and exploratory small-group wilderness tours.

Says Explorers’ Corner:

“This merger is very exciting because it allows Explorers’ Corner – with its years of experience running trips in Eastern Greenland, Siberia , Spitzbergen and Antarctica – to expand our offerings in the high Arctic of North America with the absolute best expertise around in the field.  Whitney & Smith shares our small-group nature-focused approach to adventure travel, and we’re excited to gain Jane’s seasoned firsthand perspective on such remote, ecologically rich Arctic Circle destinations as Ellesmere Island.”

For 25 years, Whitney & Smith Legendary Expeditions had offered trip itineraries representing natural history-based wilderness expeditions in the high Arctic, Patagonia and on the Canadian West Coast.  The company focused on environmental education and outdoor skills offered by experienced wildlife biologist guides.

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Adventure travel company Explorers’ Corner was named to the top five in the “River & Sea” category in National Geographic Adventure magazine’s 2009 Best Adventure Travel Companies ranking .  It is a part of the Natural Habitat Adventures family of travel companies, which also includes Natural Habitat Adventures and Asia360.

Images courtesy of Explorer’s Corner/Whitney & Smith Legendary Expeditions.

Adventuring The Dolomites

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If you’re looking for guides in the Dolomites,  then take a look at new company Dolomite Mountains.

The local company specializes in outdoor adventure travel in the D0lomites with its “soaring peaks to elegant spires to sheer rock faces.”

This mountain terrain appeals to all types of adventure travelers, says the company, because of the Italian atmosphere of the Ampezzo region; green pastures of the Dolomiti de Sesto and the peaks of the Val de Fassa and Val di Zoldo regions.

Says Agustina Lagos Marmol, company founder:

“ The Dolomites are some of the most beautiful mountains in the world and the mixture of beauty and service is superb: romantic hotels to charming rifugios on top of the mountains, 2-star Michelin restaurant to the local authentic cuisine and great spa treatments blend together with the Dolomite outdoor activities that could not be better.”

For more info, check out Dolomite Mountains online.

Image courtesy of the Italian Tourist Board.

Eco-Touring Wild Scotland

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© Natural Habitat Adventures/Wilderness Scotland

After a lovely UK city break and staying at London hotels, you might fancy walking on the wild side of Scotland.

You can go eco-touring wild Scotland with eco-tour specialist Natural Habitat Adventures which offers carbon neutral trips worldwide.

The award-winning company has been named the 2009 Best Adventure Travel Company by National Geographic Adventure and 2009 World’s Best Tour Operator by Travel + Leisure.

For May 2010,  Natural Habitat Adventures recommends its tour Scotland’s Wild Highlands & Islands where you’ll see  “nesting seabirds of the remote Outer Hebrides to young wildlife in the boreal forest and heather moors with a journey so new it’s still ‘exploratory’.”

Read all its recommended 2010 Eco-Tours here.

Living Like A Local In France

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Staying in self-catering mountain accommodations can really feel like local living. If you fancy the French Alps, then check out Lagrange Holidays which has launched its 2010 summer program.

The self-catering holiday specialist features accommodation across France’s coasts, countryside and mountains. In the French Alps, travelers who book early for summer can save up to 10% off the cost of their accommodation even during the August school holidays.

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For over 25 years, Lagrange has operated in the United Kingdom.  Its new France Lagrange 2010 program has been designed to offer travelers all styles and budgets, from apartments on the Côte d’Azur to holiday homes in Brittany and the Loire Valley.   The company will book  accommodation alone or accompanied by self-drive or rail packages at an additional cost.

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Les Chalet de Wengen - Les Coches

The 2010 program includes a two-bedroom apartment in the Lagrange Prestige residence in Argentière, located near Chamonix, which is discounted if booked before the end of February.

For more info, check out Lagrange Holidays online.

Images courtesy of Lagrange Holidays.

New Mountain Safaris In Australia

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Heading Bush Outback Adventures is featuring a new three-day Mountain Safari into South Australia and its Flinders Ranges and Outback.

The company specializes in small group tours of the Australian Outback in off-road vehicles, highlighting Wilpena Pound, Rawnsley Park, Aboriginal art sites and wine tasting in the Clare Valley.

Says the company:

“Whatever type of accommodation selected at Rawnsley Park Station, guests will wake up to the call of the kookaburra and enjoy glorious morning views of South Australia’s iconic Wilpena Pound and the surrounding area home to elusive yellow-footed rock wallabies, as well as kangaroos, emus and bold wedge-tailed eagles.”

Eco-accredited Heading Bush Outback Adventures follows established guidelines for responsible travel including supporting Aboriginal communities and Outback businesses and hiring guides who are both professional “bushmen” and accredited tour guides.

Tour highlights will include:
• Camping in the bush and sleeping under the stars.
• Hiking, bushwalking, wildlife spotting and swimming in desert springs.
• Seeing Flinders Ranges including Wilpena Pound.
• Going on camel safari into a mountain camp.
• Meeting local Aboriginal elders to hear about their culture and history.
• Enjoying a cool Aussie beer at a real Outback pub in William Creek..
• Exploring the famous underground opal mining town of Coober Pedy
• Traveling on the famous Oodnadatta track.
• Exploring rarely visited regions including the Painted and Simpson Deserts.
• Bathing in natural hot springs at Dalhousie (winter only).
• Driving 4WD to Australia’s geographical centre at Lambert’s Pole.
• Experiencing Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas), King Canyon and the
Western MacDonnell Ranges.

For more info, check out Heading Bush Outback Adventures online.

Image courtesy of Heading Bush Outback Adventures.

Gourmet Living In Zermatt

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Zermatt specialist Mountain Exposure now has star quality in its luxury chalet dining.

The company has introduced award-winning, Michelin-starred chef Gerry Kirwan at its flagship property The Lodge.  He will be creating gourmet dinners and breakfasts for groups of up to ten clients until season end in late April.

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A typical chalet dinner menu will start with fine canapés and complimentary Champagne.  The chef’s signature dishes include chicken and wild mushroom sausage with celeriac puree and pancetta jus cracked with white truffle oil, or pan-fried seared turbot on crushed baby potatoes with spring onion and a mussel broth topped with wilted spinach.

Says Kirwan:

“We love it here, it is an opportunity to ski in a world-class resort and offer quality food to truly appreciative clients.  Zermatt is renowned for both gourmet and skiing excellence, and we’re delighted to be a part of both.  If a client makes an unusual request, we happily rise to the occasion!  One client asked for my venison with sweet potato rosti three days running; another requested very specialised vegetarian menus, which is no problem for us.”

Donald Scott, aka ‘The Gourmet Ski Guide’, and director of Mountain Exposure, adds: “We are delighted Gerry has joined our team of top chefs in our luxury chalets.  Our ethos is about gourmet living and Gerry’s presence has greatly enhanced this.”

For more info on luxury holidays in Zermatt, visit Mountain Exposure’s site.

Images courtesy of Mountain Exposure

Sky Safari Tanzania

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Dreaming of a luxury safari adventure?   Then you might fancy a new Sky Safari with Elewana Afrika in northern Tanzania.

The group of  four luxury camps and lodges has launched a 7-night Sky Safari package that includes flights, all accommodations, meals, drinks, game drives, bush walks, excursions, private airport transfers and laundry.

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The properties include Arusha Coffee Lodge, Tarangire Treetops Lodge, The Manor at Ngorongoro and Serengeti Migration Camp.

  • Arusha Coffee Lodge offers 18 plantation-style houses featuring large open fireplace, luxury furnishings and a private balcony.
  • Tarangire Treetops offers 20 furnished tree houses with a safari camp experience built around baobab and marula trees with stunning views of the African plains.
  • The Manor at Ngorongoro offers 20 luxury guest cottages and a main building which features fireplace lounges, formal dining room, dining conservatory, bar, private wine cellar, library, home theatre, snooker room, massage room and horse stables.
  • Serengeti Migration Camp offers 20 well-appointed traditional tents which are furnished with natural materials.

For more info, visit the Elewana Afrika site.

Images courtesy of Elewana Afrika.