WINTER SUN FROM WALKS WORLDWIDE

With Winter on the horizon, trekking experts Walks Worldwide is offering a wide selection of self-guided and small, guided group tours to sunny destinations across the globe. Escape the cold and the grey with active walking adventures that replenish body and soul, and bring lashings of Vitamin D.

La Gomera’s hidden treasures – New for 2019, enjoy a week-long, self-guided, moderate to demanding walking break exploring La Gomera, the second smallest of the Canary Islands. The undulating landscape remains largely unspoiled with an extensive network of well-marked trails.  Highlights of the trip include the Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage forest which is rich in endemic flora and fauna. Discover the complex ‘string’ of valleys and gorges which cover the island and lay behind the invention of the ‘Gomeran Whistle’, the ancient language of the region. Trek through attractive wildflower-covered landscapes and past huge canyons, with a chance to call in on the island’s local communities. Scale the highest point of the island, El Alto de Garajonay at 1,484m to be rewarded with sensational views.  Fly in and out of Tenerife South Airport, with a return ferry crossing from Los Cristianos to San Sebastián de la Gomera. Accommodation is in a mixture of rural hotels, inns and guesthouses.

PRICE: 8 days from £1,039pp (based on 2 sharing) including 7 nights’ B&B, return flights to Tenerife and ferry crossings to La Gomera, walking notes and luggage transfers. Year-round departures.

Hidden Hilltribes of Vietnam – Always lively, sometimes chaotic, but never dull, Vietnam is ideal for those that enjoy a walking challenge mixed with cultural experiences.  Enjoy a small, guided group adventure trekking through remote paddy fields, verdant jungle and rainforest, staying with colourful hill tribes in the foothills of the highest peak in Indochina, the mighty Fansipan Mountain.  This trip offers much variety from overnighting in a bamboo hut to visiting local schools and learning about traditions and culture, exploring colonial Hanoi and taking a sleeper train from the capital to Lao Cai.  The hilltribe trekking is moderate and includes a mixture of terrain from rain forest through to local village paths, river deltas and mountain peaks.   There is a mix of accommodation including 3 nights in a hotel, 6 nights in a homestay and a night on a sleeper train. It’s possible to extend the trip with an overnight cruise around Halong Bay on board a traditional junk.

DATES & PRICES: 13 days from £1,549pp based on 2 sharing, including return flights to Hanoi, 10 nights’ B&B, 9 lunches and 7 dinners, luggage transfers and services of an experienced guide.  Departs on 17 November 2019, 9 February, 22 March and 22 November 2020.

Walking on the Azores – Discover the Azorean Archipelago – Portugal’s secret paradise – one of the best places to see whales and other cetaceans.  Walk on two of the Islands on this easy, self-guided walking trip in a land hitherto untouched by mass tourism. Get a taste for island living, hiking through vineyards, valleys, waterfalls, lakes and volcanoes.  The self-guided route provides staggering sea views and the chance to spot a whale or two.  The route starts and finishes on Sao Miguel Island where there are volcanic craters and vibrant blue green lakes.  Fly onto Santa Maria Island and climb to the highest peak (587m), discovering the waterfall of the Ribeira de Aveiro, the Goncalo Velho Lighthouse and Lagoa do Fogo, which is only accessible on foot.  DATES AND

PRICES: 8 days from £1,279 pp based on 2 sharing, including return flights (with TAP) to Lisbon, 7 nights’ B&B, walking notes and luggage transfers.  Available until the end of October and throughout the off-season, on request.

Kruger, Zulus & Drakensberg – A 15-day, small, guided group tour exploring on foot the scenic, cultural and wildlife highlights of South Africa.  Take in the Kruger National Park, the cultural heritage of Swaziland, the hills and valleys of Zululand and trek in the awe-inspiring Drakensberg mountains. This walking-focused safari incorporates eight scenic walks in famous locations, following dramatic coastlines over-arched by pristine forests. In Mpumalanga, soak up the mountains and marvel at waterfalls before heading on to the famed Kruger National Park and its iconic wildlife. Learn about the fascinating Zulu culture and walk along mountain stream paths in the 200 kilometre-long Drakensberg Mountains.
The level of walking is mixed, from leisurely to challenging and guests can enjoy as much or as little as suits their fitness levels. Accommodation includes 5 nights in lodges, 2 nights in safari tents and 7 nights in chalets.

DATES & PRICES: 15 days from £2,559pp based on 2 sharing, including 14 nights’ half board and 9 dinners, return flights to Johannesburg, luggage transfers and services of an experienced guide.  Departs on 22 November 2019 and 10 January, 6 March, 8 May, 12 and 26 June, 17 July, 14 August, 11 September,  2 and 30 October 2020.

Walks Worldwide offers quality walking and trekking holidays around the world with group guided walks, independent self-guided walking and tailor-made, private-guided walking. For bookings telephone 01962 302085 or see www.walksworldwide.com