The original walking experts Ramblers Walking Holidays, who have been offering small group, expertly led, guided walking holidays for over 70 years, have launched a new season of exhilarating dedicated walking and special interest holidays for Autumn 2018/Spring 2019.
Over 140 inspirational itineraries to destinations around the UK, Europe and Worldwide, the new brochure supplement features a wide selection of holidays, ranging from walking along ancient trails in the Mediterranean and hiking through rural villages away from the tourist trails in the Himalayas, to taking a holiday of a lifetime in New Zealand, with the option to enjoy arguably two of world’s best walking trails.
In addition, the brochure supplement also includes a number of tours uniquely offered from the UK by Ramblers Walking Holidays,including the high altitude Andorra Mountain Trek and new for the season Orange Blossom Coast, which explores a relatively unknown area in northern Valencia. Alongside many popular autumn and spring favourites, such as Exploring the Sorrento Peninsula and Walking from San Telmo, there is also the reintroduction of the popular Turkish holiday The Lycian Way, Coast & Mountains and a selection of ‘Winter Spirit’ holidays which showcase some of the best European destinations for walking and snowshoeing in freshly fallen snow.Kevin O’Regan, Managing Director, commented: “Walking the world has something special to offer no matter what time of year. In our new Autumn 2018/Spring 2019 brochure supplement, we have built on our core programme of holidays, to some of the world’s greatest places and along some the most enticing trails, to offer a seasonal assortment of autumn adventures, crisp winter walks and rejuvenating spring escapes. Ranging from hiking in Spain’s high Alpujarras in autumn and snowshoeing in the Swiss wilderness over the Christmas break, to walking through flower dusted Peloponnese hills in spring, it features over 140 of our best walking holidays. Including a selection of new as well as many much loved favourites to suit all levels of fitness, walking ability and experience. There are plenty of great seasonal options to suit everyone’s tastes, and also budgets, with Ramblers Walking Holidays continuing its aim of offering exceptional value for money holidays.”
To help clients choose the right holiday to suit their preferred walking pace, ability and/or fitness, there is a continuum of walking grades which range from ‘Leisurely’ to ‘Moderate’ and ‘Challenging’. Many holidays feature two leaders and two different grades of walking meaning that clients travelling together with differing walking abilities and preferences have the perfect solution. Styles of holidays are also indicated using a simple icon system, including such categories as ‘Pioneer’ for the more adventurous traveller, to ‘Flora and Walking’ holidays; ‘Birdwatching and Walking’ and ‘Lifestyle, Culture and Natural History’.
Highlights of the new supplement include:
Orange Blossom Coast (Grade 4, moderate) – new for Autumn 2018/Spring 2019
Relatively unknown outside of Spain and uniquely featured by Ramblers Walking Holidays, north Valencia’s Castellon region offers a spectacular mix of trails, through the natural parks and protected areas of the Serra d’Espada, Serra d’Itra and Desert of Palms as well along pristine stretches of Mediterranean coast. Based in Benicassim, a delightful coastal town with impressive Belle Époque architecture, walks with local guides through abundant farmland and small medieval villages into the surrounding hills reveal a region steeped in Moorish history, flora and fauna. With ancient Arab methods of irrigation still evident in the fertile groves of fragrant orange, figs, cherry and almond, it’s easy to appreciate why this region is known as the Pantry of Spain and Orange Blossom Coast, especially when savouring its many local culinary delights.
Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331133; ramblersholidays.co.uk) 7 night Orange Blossom Coast starts from £1,195/person including return flights to Valencia, airport transfers, en suite accommodation, breakfasts, dinners taken in the hotel and at local restaurants, local walks with guides each day and local transport. Departures 12 October & 18 November 2018; 21 March & 18 April 2019.
The Lycian Way, Coast & Mountains (Grade 5, Moderate) – reintroduced for Autumn 2018/Spring 2019
Following Turkey’s first long distance footpath from the beaches of Ölüdeniz to Adrasan visiting both famous and off the beaten track classical sites along the way, the ‘Lycian Way, Coast & Mountains’ covers the best sections of The Lycian Way. It takes in Fethiye, Kas and Adrasan, along old mule trails to ‘yaylas’ (traditional summer pastures) and through a varied terrain of cedar forests, grassy mountainsides and gorges with expansive mountain and coastal views. Passing through ancient Lycian cities and time worn rural villages, explore the impressive Tomb of Amyntas carved into the Fethiye hillside in 350BC, the remains of the old Lycian city of Pinara with its Necropolis, Greek theatre and Roman Baths and, with a boat trip to Kekova, the remains of a sunken Byzantine city. With wonderful views throughout, such as the high walk above Ölüdeniz, which affords panoramic views over the Butterfly Valley, the holiday also includes plenty of time for refreshing swims at the many beaches and pristine bays along the trail.
Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331133, www.ramblersholidays.co.uk) 14 night The Lycian Way, Coast & Mountains starts from £1,450/person including return flights to Antalya, airport transfers, en suite accommodation, dinners taken in the hotel and 3 in local restaurants, knowledgeable local guide and local transport. Departs 9 October & 5 November 2018; 26 February, 16 April & 7 May 2019.
Himalayan Vistas (Grade 6 Moderate) – new Spring 2019
Away from the popular tourist circuits, experience the enormity of arguably the world’s most spectacular mountain range on a cold crisp morning, savouring the subtle changes in light, as the sun rises across the Himalaya. To a changing panorama of towering peaks, covering less trodden trails from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu, walk and trek through small high country villages, getting a feel for local Nepalese life, staying in traditional teahouses and chatting to locals along the way. From the hill station and famous viewing point of Nagarkot, which boasts a 200-mile panorama of the Himalayan ranges, walk to Dhulikhel with sweeping views of Panckhal valley stretching to Mount Everest on a clear day. West to the village of Gorkha, experience the grandeur of the Annapurna ranges coming into view and trek from the Peace Pagoda, through the hills above Pokhara, with the services of an experienced local trek team to a backdrop of more, literally breath-taking, snow capped views. For the ultimate peak viewing, the trip also includes an optional scenic flight over Everest.
Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331133, www.ramblersholidays.co.uk) 13 night Himalayan Vistas starts from £2,575/person including return flights to Kathmandu, airport transfers, full board accommodation, services of an experienced local trek support team on trekking days, entrance fees to all included highlights and local transport. Departures 15 February 2019, 18 October 2019.
Complete New Zealand or South Island Discovery (Grade 4, moderate)
A holiday of a lifetime, contrasting the North Island’s vibrant City of Sails and bubbling volcanic plateau with the relatively untouched, magnificent coastal and mountain scenery of the South, explore New Zealand in its entirety on Ramblers Walking Holidays 25-night Complete New Zealand adventure, with the added optional highlight of walking two of country’s most spectacular ‘tracks’. Covering an extremely diverse landscape with a plethora of experiences, take in some of New Zealand’s most dramatic sights including Rotorua, a centre for Maori culture and volcanic wonderland of geysers, thermal springs and bubbling mud pools; the South Island’s magnificent Sounds, walking by the Queen Charlotte and cruising on the famous Milford, a spectacular plummeting fiord of hanging valleys and waterfalls; and the country’s highest peak, hiking high alpine trails in Mount Cook National Park. Complementing a packed itinerary which encompasses everything from walking on a glacier to sipping wine in one of the many vineyards, the trip also offers the option to hike The Tongariro Crossing – one of the world’s greatest one day walks and the much sought after Milford Track, a 4 magical day hike through ancient forests and along glacier carved valleys staying in remote wilderness huts. In addition, the itinerary also includes the flexible option, for those who may have already visited the North Island or are time constrained, to join the trip in Christchurch for a shorter 17 night ‘South Island Discovery’.
Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331133; ramblersholidays.co.uk) 25 night Complete New Zealand starts from £6,300/person including return flights to New Zealand, en suite accommodation, breakfasts, 10 dinners, local transport and transfers. Departs 5 February and 31 October 2019. 17 night South Island Discovery from £5,550/person as above but with 7 dinners. Departs 13 February and 8 November 2019.
To request a new brochure, contact Ramblers Walking Holidays or click here for an online version.
