QUEBEC'S WINTER WONDERLAND ADVENTURE

Enjoy a multi-activity holiday packed full with snowshoeing, husky sledding, skiing and snowmobiling amongst Quebec’s beautiful Charlevoix region, covered under a blanket of glittering - virtually guaranteed – snow! It may be cold but the activities will keep you warm! Walks Worldwide’s 9-day, guided Quebec Winter Wonderland tour departs London 17th January 2009.

Quebec is an exceptional land in North America, its distinctive varied geography, history and culture, forging a unique identity. From Montreal, travel north to Jacques Cartier Park near the Saint Lawrence River in time to meet musher-guides and dogs for a 20km exploration deep in to the Canadian winter forest. After a cosy night in a wood cabin, continue the husky sled ride through forest wilderness before exchanging 'dog power' for 'horse power' on a 100km snowmobile expedition. Next, proceed to the Charlevoix region in the heart of the Canadian Shield, one of the Earth’s oldest geological features, formed by an ancient meteor impact. Here, don snowshoes and head out in to some of the region’s 6,000-square-kilometres of dramatic rolling terrain, fjords, headlands and bays. Later, transfer to the Massif de la Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois – Quebec’s highest downhill skiing mountain - from the summit, skiers have the impression of falling in the frozen Saint Laurence River! Finally, explore Quebec City (UNESCO World Heritage Site), atop Cap Diamant (don’t get fooled by the sparkles!), soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a warming mug of chocolat chaud in one of the city’s many brasseries. Return to Montreal for homeward flights next day.

The holiday costs £1,830 p/p including flights, baggage transfers, hotel, log cabin and chalet accommodation, most meals, equipment and expert guiding.

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NEW WALKING TOUR - ARIZONA AND UTAH

Geologists have identified a collection of over 1,000 dinosaur footprints near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on the Arizona–Utah border - dubbing the site 'a dinosaur dance floor'…T-Rex or Mud? Exchange your dancing shoes for boots ‘made for walking’ and head off along the South Rim into a prehistoric land of dramatic red rock, deep canyons, waterfalls, natural arches and archaeological sites during Walks Worldwide’s NEW 14-day, self-guided Canyons of the Southwest. Explore the Grand Canyon, Escalante River and famous ‘Grand Staircase’, Navajo and Havasupai Indian Reservations, Bryce and Zion NPs and stay in ‘The Most Beautiful Place in America’. Tours depart London Fridays and Tuesdays – NOW!

From Las Vegas, transfer to Peach Springs, Arizona – the tribal headquarters of the Hualapai (meaning ‘People of the Tall Pine’) based south of the Colorado River. Spend the next few days exploring a landscape of rock formations, azure creeks and waterfalls. Next, drive into the heart of the Grand Canyon for hikes amongst cacti, pine and fir along the South Rim Trail, keeping watch for California condor soaring high above expansive vistas. Head south to ‘Americas most beautiful’, the town of Sedona, offering an extensive network of trails leading to high elevations, winding creeks and famous ‘slick rock’ - a natural water slide eroded into a creek bed surrounded by massive red-rock walls. Cross into Utah through the rainbow colours of the Painted Desert and Navajo Nation on the Escalante River. From here, hike into the extraordinary chambers of a ‘slot canyon’, winding through sandstone cuts, and visit the remarkable Grand Staircase National Monument - immense sedimentary rock layers of cliffs and terraces, across the rugged Kaiparowits Plateau. Later, discover Bryce Canyon and the breathtaking ‘Hoodoos’ – tall thin rock spires of up to 40-metres high, and towering cliffs of Zion Canyon before returning to Las Vegas for homeward flights.

The holiday costs from £2,995 p/p including flights, hotel, inn and log cabin accommodation, some meals, car hire, boat trips, guided Algonquin trip, route notes and maps.

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WALKING IN SPAIN’S ALPUJARRAS – SAVE 15%

From now until the end of January, Walks Worldwide is offering a special 15% discount on its walking tours in Spain’s stunning Alpujarras region, the last enclave of the Moors before they were eventually banished from the country in the 15th century. Choose from an Alpujarras Circuit offering village to village trekking, or a centre-based Alpujarras Explorer where travellers choose from a menu of day walks. Departures are available daily from either Malaga or Granada.

Alpujarras Circuit: 8-day self-guided walking tour.

Combine lovely day walks exploring the almond orchards, olive groves and traditional white-washed villages high up in the southern Spanish mountains, with a 4-day trek walking from village to village at your own pace. The more ambitious can climb El Chullo (2,612m), one of the region’s highest peaks, or tackle a challenging 11-hour trek to the summit of Mulhacen. Evenings are spent in a handpicked selection of charming family-run hotels and pensions with opportunities to taste locally-grown food and other specialities.
The tour now costs £468 p/p (normally £550 – saving £82) including transfers, accommodation, most meals, maps and route notes. Flights are not included.

Alpujarras Explorer: 8-day self-guided, centre-based walking tour.
Guests are based at the restored Casa las Chimeneas guesthouse in the mountain village of Mairena. Walkers can choose from a menu of suggested day walks varying from leisurely meandering village paths to a wide variety of well-marked routes which head up high into the Sierras, including a bracing trail following the famous GR7 long distance track. Friendly English hosts are on hand to make helpful suggestions and discuss various walking options, plus provide a ‘pick-up’ and ‘drop-off’ service. Optional activities include mountain biking along forest trails, a visit to the wine growing town of Laujar, the last stronghold of the Moors, and a full day’s guided horse riding along the ancient Camino Reales. Car hire is also included on this tour, so guests can venture further afield – a visit to the Alhambra Palace in Granada, a 90-minute drive, is highly recommended.
The tour costs £468 p/p (normally £550 – saving £82) including accommodation, most meals, car hire, maps and route notes. Flights are not included.

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WINTER WILDERNESS ADVENTURE - FINLAND

After a summer of grey skies, floods and cabin-fever, why not get back in touch with the great outdoors and join Walks Worldwide on a guided, 8-day Winter in Finland adventure, full of activities including husky-sledding, ice-fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing? Far away from mass tourism, way up north to the 'true Lapland', Finland offers silent forests, unspoilt wilderness and frozen lakes - and of course plenty of fresh air and glistening snow! Book early for Xmas to avoid the inevitable festive airline price increases. The holiday departs London 27th December 2008 and 21st Feb 2009.

On arrival in Helsinki, transfer to the hotel in Kuusamo, in deepest northeast Finland, in time to see possible sightings of the Northern Lights. Next day, don snowsuits, boots and gloves for a husky-sledding lesson followed by a canine-led run into the frozen wilderness! Continue south to the pristine village of Hossa where warm, cosy wooden chalets, each with their own sauna, provide a base for the next 5-nights. The Hossa landscape is superb for skiing and with over 60kms of well-prepared ski tracks, there is no shortage of space to explore and try out the various activities on offer. Go cross country skiing - with no crowded lift queues to contend with, just ‘schuss’ along at your own pace along forest tracks. Later, snowshoe on the frozen shores of Lake Ollori to Hossa Information Centre where an exhibition offers further insight in to the region’s history and wildlife. Take a snowmobile safari to see Finland’s largest pre-historic rock paintings at Julma-Olkky Canyon, dating back 4,000 years, then try ice-fishing for Arctic Char, Perch and Grayling. After a day of adventure amongst the snow, unwind and succumb to the soporific effects of a crackling log fire and local specialities - cloudberry liquor, reindeer meat, hearty soups and freshly caught fish.

The holiday costs £1,650 p/p (December departure) including flights, transfers, full board chalet accommodation, most activities and excursions, specialist clothing and expert guiding.

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NEW TOUR - WALK IN ROMANIA’S LAND OF DRACULA

For those in need of a life-affirming, spooked-up Halloween – or just to escape the onslaught of ‘trick-or-treaters’, delve deep into Transylvania’s land of myth and legend, where wolves, bears, Lynx and vampires (!) still roam amongst some of Europe’s most spectacular wild mountain scenery. Walks Worldwide’s NEW 8-day, guided Transylvania- Walks In The Enchanted Land of Dracula offers a unique opportunity to walk amongst the fabled Carpathian NP and the Bucegi Mountains, visit 'Castle Dracula' and the Fairytale Palace of Peles, trek in the stunning Piatra Craiului NP and enjoy traditional Transylvanian hospitality. Tours depart Bucharest daily – best time to go – 31st October 2008!

From Bram Stoker to Hollywood fantasy, Transylvania conjures up images of impenetrable, hostile mountains, dark, mysterious forests, eerie castles and bloodthirsty vampires. In reality, Transylvania offers the spectacular Carpathian Mountains, swathes of virgin forest host to Bear, Wolf and Lynx, impressive architecture, hospitable people and remains a destination for travellers in search of a relatively undiscovered part of Europe. From Bucharest, transfer by rail to the bohemian, Transylvanian city of Brasov, then by road to the comfortable Pension Elena in Zarnesti, situated on the edge of the stunning Piatra Craiului NP dominated by a 2,000m knife edge ridge rising above the forests below. Visit timeless rural villages where life has changed little over centuries and walk to ‘Dracula’s Castle’ at Bran and the ancient hilltop fortress of Rasnov. Explore Craiului (King’s Rock) ridge and Zarnesti Gorge, an area where much of the film ‘Cold Mountain’ was shot, take a cable car up to the Bucegi plateau for spectacular views across the Carpathians, then search for bear and wolf tracks in the wild Ciucas Mountains. After spectacular guided day walks, return to the pension where hosts Gigi and Elena Popa provide Transylvanian hospitality and home cooking at it’s very best.

The holiday costs from £895 p/p including guesthouse accommodation, most meals, experienced English speaking mountain guide and entrance fees.

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