NEWS: LATEST HOLIDAY IDEAS

Specialist operator, Belle France (01580 214010) has introduced a range of independent cycling options on a B&B basis - allowing dining out in a variety of venues - in its three most popular regions.

Lightweight Loire costs £479 per person, twin share, for a gentle cycling break including cycle hire, six nights with breakfast at the Hotel Belle Vue in Amboise, plus route notes and map. Add £200 for return rail travel from London St Pancras and transfers. The route through leafy woods and rolling vineyards allows time to visit the chateaux at Chenonceaux, Chaumont and Amboise along with Clos Lucé, once home to Leonardo da Vinci, and even a little wine tasting at Vouvray.

Other options include:

Inspirational Provence - a twin-centre cycling break staying three nights in St Remy and three in Fontvielle, which costs £499 plus £240 for return train travel/transfers.

and...

Budget Brittany for £649 - a seven-night tour staying at Dinard, Dinan and St Malo with luggage transported between overnight stops. Add £240 for return rail travel from London St Pancras and transfers.

All above prices are valid for arrival on any day from May to October and include cycle hire, accommodation with breakfast, luggage transfers (if staying in more than one hotel) plus detailed route notes and maps. Belle France can also book ferry travel for those that want to self-drive.

Australia's Camel Cup in Alice Springs is on 12 July this year. This annual event is popular with Aussies and visitors alike.

Australia now has the largest wild camel population in the world - around 750,000 descended from those introduced in the 19th century - and today even exports camels back to North Africa and the Gulf.

The Camel Cup, run each year since 1970, is a great spectator sport, since some camels dash the 400 metre course at 40 miles an hour and temperamental ones dumping their riders on the starting line.

Entry on the day is AUSD15 for a full day’s racing plus other attractions such as rickshaw races - with plenty of Fosters and XXXX!

Freedom Australia (0870 742 4000) can book hotels in Alice Springs from £32 per person per night (twin share) and can put together a complete package including flights from Sydney or rail travel on The Ghan with a visit to Uluru (Ayers Rock).

Great Rail Journeys (01904 521 980), who specialise in escorted holidays by rail, have expanded their selection of special interest tours with the introduction of two walking holidays - in the Austrian Tyrol and the Swiss Alps - into its programme.

Based in the Austrian town of Jenbach, the nine-day 'Walking in the Tyrol' holiday includes guided walks in the Tyrolean countryside to suit ability on two days - with possibilities such as walking on the plateaus of the Karwendel mountain range, around Lake Achensee or exploring the Wolfsklamm Gorge.

The trip also includes a steam-hauled rail journey on the Zillertalbahn to Mayrhofen - where there are many independent walking options - and a visit to Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol.

Available on selected dates between October 2008 and June 2009, the cost is from £995 per person, twin-share, inclusive of return First Class rail travel from St Pancras International, coach travel, transfers, eight nights' hotel - including six at the 3-star Hotel Jenbacherhof - some meals, the guided walks and excursions as per the itinerary, plus the services of a Tour Manager throughout.

Alternatively, 'Walking in the Swiss Alps' is an eight-day holiday based in the mountain village of Kandersteg from where there is a choice of walks ranging from gentle strolls through meadows to challenging hikes up mountains.

Two days' walking - accompanied by local mountain guides who will advise which walks are best suited - are included, as well as a scenic railway journey on the GoldenPass Line from Zweisimmen via Montreux to Brig and a train journey through the Lötschberg tunnel to Mörel followed by a cable car ride to the Riederalp plateau – affording spectacular views of the Valais Alps – plus free time in Basel.

Available with selected departure dates between October 2008 and October 2009, prices start from £1050 per person, twin-share, inclusive of return First Class rail from St Pancras International, transfers, eight nights’ hotel – including five at the 3-star Hotel Bernerhof - some meals, mountain guides for the two walking days, Swiss Half Fare card, excursions as per the itinerary and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.

In addition, there are health and leisure facilities at both hotels which are ideal for relaxation after a day’s walking.

Peregrine Adventures (01635 872 300) are offering the ultimate in Polar adventure this summer with - an expedition voyage on a Russian icebreaker to the top of the world, the Geographic North Pole.

There's a choice of two 16 or one 17-day adventures aboard the 50 Years of Victory, the largest, most sophisticated and powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker ever constructed, departing Helsinki for Murmansk by air, 23rd June, 6th and 19th July 08 respectively. (The 19th July departure coincides with the solar eclipse).

The Geographic North Pole is a mathematical point where the imaginary line of the Earth's axis of rotation passes through the Earth’s surface. From the Pole all points on the globe are south. The Pole itself has no length, width or breadth, and because the sea-ice is constantly moving, there can be no plaques or markers to indicate the spot. So on each voyage Peregrine must plant its own marker for the duration of its stay at 90°N. If ice conditions permit, the ship's gangway is lowered and guests descend to the ice surface for the world’s shortest circumnavigation - a stroll around the Pole marker. This is followed by a celebratory glass of champagne and a short speech by the Captain, one of the few people on the planet who has repeatedly visited the North Pole.

The journey northwards to the Pole is stunning, crossing the Barents Sea, in the company of native seabirds and whales, then navigating the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. Watching the vessel crashing through ice metres thick is awe-inspiring - even better when viewed from the air on one of the ship’s own helicopters. Once at the Pole, travellers join a rare and select group – those who can truly say they’ve stood at the top of the world.

Returning south, the focus shifts to Franz Josef Land, one of world’s most recently discovered archipelagos. There are 191 islands in this naturalist's paradise. Polar Bears, Walrus, Arctic Fox, seals and Belugas inhabit the region and vast colonies of seabirds abound in the surrounding waters. The expedition team takes advantage of long daylight hours to offer a programme of shore excursions by helicopter. The voyage concludes in Murmansk where passengers disembark and transfer to the airport for their onward flight to Helsinki.

The voyage costs from £11,804 p/p including full board accommodation aboard the 50 Years of Victory, return air transfers Helsinki to Murmansk, 1-nights pre-voyage hotel accommodation and an expertly guided educational programme of talks, viewing activities and excursions.

French holiday parc operator, Siblu, is offering cookery classes at selected parcs this summer. Each course is led by a local chef in a kitchen classroom nearby.

• Le Lac des Reves: L’Ecole des Gourmets course (Languedoc)
  
  The chefs responsible for the L'Ecole des Gourmets destination cooking course are passionate about south-coast cooking and boast that their sunshine climate is responsible for the greatest fruit and vegetable growing in the world.
  
  Each three hour course tackles a regional dish, with prices from £42 per person and a selection of dates available. Accommodation at siblu’s Le Lac des Rêves holiday parc starts from £456 for two adults and up to three children staying seven-nights, starting 21 May and including Dover-Calais return ferries.
  
  
• Domaine de Kerlann: Food and Nature course (Brittany)
  
  A team of French ‘gastronome’ experts, including a former sailor, head chef and baker have joined forces to create a ‘Food and Nature’ destination cooking course. The three-day programme includes visits to a fish market and auction, tour of a deep sea trawler and several practical sessions tackling the specialities of the region.
  
  The course costs £95 per person, with dates available from April to September. Accommodation at siblu’s Domaine de Kerlann holiday parc starts from £283 for two adults and up to three children staying for seven nights from 21 April and includes Dover-Calais ferry travel. A £55 saving is available on bookings made in April. Parc facilities include an indoor pool, tennis courts, free children’s clubs and evening entertainment.
  
  
• La Pignade: l’Atelier Gourmand course (Charente Maritime)
  
  Restaurant owner Jean-Yves Homo has opened up his kitchen to teach food lovers the secrets of his cooking success. Courses take place on the first and third Saturday of every month, and run from 9am to lunchtime, when pupils get to eat the results of their lesson. The course costs £75 per person.
  
  Accommodation at siblu’s La Pignade holiday parc for a family staying from 1 May for seven nights starts from £262, including a Dover-Calais ferry. A saving of £44 is available on bookings made before 30 April. Parc facilities include a covered pool, tennis courts and free children’s clubs.

With T5 now officially opened, the next building to be completed at Heathrow is the £180 million Sofitel London Heathrow, which is directly connected to Terminal 5 via a link bridge.

When the 605-room hotel opens in June, it will be one of the largest luxury airport hotels, meeting and events venues in Europe. It will have 41 state-of-the-art meeting, event and boardroom spaces, ranging up in size to a maximum capacity of 1700 or 1300 for banquets, award ceremonies and product launches.

Triple-glazed windows will guarantee absolute silence throughout bedrooms, with many rooms offering commanding views of the airport and internal gardens. The spa will have a 24-hour gym, five treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, Jacuzzi and a relaxation zone.

Hertz have launched Simply Wheelz a new, low cost car hire company in Spain, aimed at online bargain hunters journeying to Alicante and Malaga, Spain.

Rates from Simply Wheelz start from £8 per day. Their 'super inclusive' rates include features such as unlimited mileage, damage and theft protection, and an additional driver. Free emergency roadside assistance (24/7) is also included. Optional extras include satellite navigation, child seats and additional personal insurances.

All cars in the Simply Wheelz range are the latest models and meet full European emission standards. All are manual drive with power steering and dual front airbags and most are equipped with air conditioning, Radio CD Player with steering wheel audio controls and iPod/MP3 connectivity. The Opel Corsa also comes with blue tooth connectivity and there is no extra charge for drivers between 23 and 25 years old.

Saga Holidays (0800 056 5880) is offering customers a once in a decade opportunity - to witness the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany.

Set against the backdrop of the spectacular Bavarian mountains, 2,000 villagers of Oberammergau will perform their open-air passion play between May and October in 2010 to over 500,000 visitors.

The spectacle, which is held once every ten years, was first performed in 1634 as a result of a pledge to God by the residents of the village if they were spared from the Bubonic Plague.

More than 370 years later, and the visually spectacular event, which sometimes has over 600 actors on stage at the same time, is as popular as ever. Performances which start in the afternoon and continue into the evening commemorate the last week in the life of Christ, his journey into Jerusalem, his death and resurrection.

Saga took almost 10,000 people to see the passion play in 2000. They expect to take around 15,000 customers to Oberammergau throughout 2010 and are now taking advance bookings for the event, which takes place from 15 May to 3 October.

There are a range of holidays planned from 5, 7 and 9 night stays in Austria, Italy and Switzerland as well as a 14-night fully escorted coach tour, and some selected singles holidays are also available. All passion play holidays include a one or two night stay in Oberammergau and a ticket to the play. Prices start from £999 per person.

The Riding Company is offering over 50s the chance to learn to drive an historic carriage at an elegant 4-star country estate in northern Austria.

The course is designed for people with little or no experience and is run all year round. However, two weeks in April have been set aside specifically for older would-be drivers. The course consists of 5 driving lessons with one or two horses with Marathon carriages, dressage carriages and training carriages, both two wheeler and four wheeler. The novice driving programme includes learning the correct way to harness the horse and putting to, correct use of reins to be able to control and steer the horse in a two wheel carriage, and very importantly, safety and proper procedure in traffic. Theory includes a session on first-aid for horses with the resident Estate vet, comprehensive understanding of harness and its usage, and important points about carriages. No prior riding experience is necessary to learn how to drive a carriage.

The instructor is described as "a charming former driving tournament champion who will share his passion for his fine collection of historic carriages" and who gives some theory lessons over a cocktail in the piano bar!.

The estate is centered around a privately-owned medieval castle with a spa and an award-winning 'hunting lodge' vaulted restaurant. Other activities include horse riding, golf and fishing in the Estate's own lake. Day trips to visit a gala performance of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna can also be arranged and the Historic town of Linz is 30 minutes away.

The over-50s courses are available on 11-18th April and 23-30th April 2008. The standard driving course costs £1068 for 7 nights including 5 day course with 5 practical and 4 theory sessions. Single occupancy price is £1168.

The short driving course is £743 for 5 nights, comprising a 4 day course of 6 driving lessons and 3 theory lessons. (£800 for single room.)

Prices are for half-board accommodation per person, based on two sharing a double room with return airport transfer to Linz and riding program where stated. Price excludes flights and insurance. Holidays can generally be of any duration and start on any day (except where specified). Free use of the M-SPA and the garden pool.

Butlins (0845 070 4740) is preparing to welcome Barney™, at its three coastal resorts in Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness this year.

The *loveable purple dinosaur character will kick off his arrival with his new touring stage show Barney’s Let’s Go Tour this month. The show’s story is all based around an imagination machine helping Barney, his friends, Baby Bop™, BJ™ and Riff™, and the audience search for lost toys.

The all singing and all dancing dinosaur will be encouraging younger guests to care, share and have fun with music, in two live shows every day at the Resorts. Guests can also sing along to Barney’s popular songs and even take part in Barney’s Zoo sing-along.

Barney will be on all family breaks in 2008, but he is not the only colourful character at Butlins this year, youngsters will love Bob the Builder’s build it sessions, Fireman Sam’s fire drill, Pingu’s fitness fun and Angelina Ballerina’s dance classes for young ballet buffs.

A four night break (16th June) at the Minehead resort, for a family of four (2 adults and 2 children aged 2 – 14 years) staying in a Silver apartment, costs £346, including dinner, bed and breakfast.

* (not loved by me, that's for sure! But I'll grudgingly admit my boy loved Barney when he was a toddler. Ed)

A new archeological attraction has opened in Rome.

It was opened to the public just before Christmas, and culture/architecture journalist Ken Asch was there for Travel-Lists...

"In Rome you never know what's under your house until you start digging." Thus quipped the president of the Province of Rome, Enrico Gasbarra, while introducing "the final jewel in the city's archaeological heritage."

The house to which Gasbarra alluded is the 17th century Palazzo Valentini, the provincial government's home. Beneath its foundations and concealed beneath centuries of accumulated debris, requiring 250 lorry loads to remove, lay the jewel in question. It comes to light now as the "Domus Romane" - Roman House - reconstructed from a treasure trove of ancient fragments to a state of visual perfection

The form and features of "Domus Romane" as well as its location next door to the Forum identify the structure as having belonged to a member - magistrate or senator - of the Empire's ruling elite. As such it is an impressive illustration of life at the heart of political power.

The visitor descends from the Valentini onto what effectively is a ceiling, albeit glass and reinforced, beneath which is illuminated a family's home. The mosaics are among the outstanding original features. I was also struck by the richly painted interior walls some of which, partially exposed, reveal a heating system in all its Roman sophistication.

But the real drama is saved for the tour's final moments while overlooking the Atrium, the Domus's sheltered inner courtyard. Bring your brolly. A virtual downpour awaits.

If Rome has a problem it is that there are too many wonderful things to enjoy, layer upon layer of diverse cultures right up to the present day. This is what Rome is all about. Or, as Gasbarra himself said in referring to his current project, "in a city like Rome it is not strange that discoveries are made of this kind."

The undertaking, however, is in a category entirely its own. History, so often tedious, is here brought vividly - in fact, spectacularly - to life, thanks to the most imaginative use of technology. As an exercise in virtual reality, transcending the most sophisticated of such modern amusements, the Domus Romane gives ancient life a fresh and hugely entertaining twist.

Sports event specialist, Airtrack (01895 810 810) has been appointed as an Official Agent for the Singapore Grand Prix and is now able to offer tickets and hospitality for this event.

The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix will take place on 28 September 2008 on a 5km street circuit of public roads around the Marina Bay area. It will be the first held at night in Formula 1 history and is the first street race in Asia.

Also, Airtrack Motorsport is the ONLY Official Agent in the UK providing a full travel service including direct flights with Singapore Airlines and a range of hotels.

Treyn Holidays (01904 73 49 49) is a new tour operator specialising in escorted holidays by rail to Europe.

Their first programme of Classic European Rail Holidays - leaving from the new Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International - features 12 itineraries visiting destinations such as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

For example...

• The 'Historic Vienna, Prague & Berlin' 10-day escorted grand tour visits some of Eastern Europe's captivating capital cities. Available on selected departure dates between May and October 2008, the cost is £795 per person, based on two sharing. This includes return rail travel and transfers, eight nights' 4-star hotel accommodation with breakfast, one night on the overnight sleeper train from Cologne to Vienna, guided tours of Vienna, Prague, Dresden and Berlin and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.
  
  
• The 5-day Little Trains of the Rhine Valley escorted holiday is a relaxing trip amidst the winding rivers, vineyards and fairytale castles of the Rhine Valley. Amongst the highlights of this holiday are a tour through the beautiful Ahr Valley with a chance to sample the region's wines and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride and a scenic excursion through the dramatic Rhine Gorge to the charming wine town of Rüdesheim. Available on selected departure dates between May and October 2008, the cost is from £325 per person, based on two sharing. This includes return rail travel and transfers, four nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast and dinner and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.

Connections (0800 988 5860) has introduced its first programme of tours to Egypt.

The new mini-brochure offers three 7-day tours:

• The 'Pyramids and Temples' tour, includes three nights in the bustling city of Cairo with accommodation in a garden view room at the Mena House Oberoi in Giza and four nights at the Sofitel Old Winter Palace in Luxor
  
  
• The 'Cities of Upper Egypt' tour comprises four nights at the Sofitel Old Winter Palace in Luxor and three nights at the Mövenpick Aswan Resort in Aswan
  
  
• The 'Egyptian Odyssey' tour with two nights at the Sofitel Old Winter Palace in Luxor and five nights on board the 5-star MS RAII.

The highlights of the cruise itinerary include guided visits to the Valley of the Kings and the temples complexes of Luxor and Karnak, as well as the impressive temple at Edfu, an excursion to the High Dam at Aswan and, by boat, to the temple of Philae on Lake Nasser, with time to visit the Crocodile temple at Kom-Ombo on the return journey from Aswan to Luxor. An optional excursion, by air, to Abu Simbel can also be arranged.

The first departure is on 5 May and prices start from £795 per person for the 7 night 'Cities of Upper Egypt' tour, for bookings made before 31 March 2008. Holiday includes bed and breakfast accommodation in Luxor and Aswan, direct return Premium Class flights with Monarch from Gatwick to Luxor, all transfers and Connections VIP Home Departure Service, based on two sharing.

Connections is a specialist independent travel division of Titan Travel.

Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride…Starring You! is the catchy roll-off-the-tongue name for the latest ride which opened last week (17 Jan) at Universal Studios Florida.

The new attraction replaces the old Earthquake ride and combines the best, most dramatic elements of Earthquake with an all-new storyline and a high-tech virtual imagery technology called "Musion" that transforms two-dimensional images into what seem to be live three-dimensional images. Park guests enter "Disaster Studios" and for 15 minutes become part of the production action surrounding a "major motion picture".

A privately owned, 13th century castle estate in Umbria is to be introduced to the UK leisure traveller for exclusive and private rental opportunities in 2008.

Perched high on a hilltop, TodiCastle (0039 347 5707148) and its ancient Tower of Orlando, stand vigil over a classic landscape of olive groves, vineyards and fields of golden sunflowers.

The castle has a luxurious range of facilities including WiFi access, satellite TV, well-equipped kitchen, a lounge with open fireplace and panoramic views and even a private chapel.

Sleeping 10 guests in five suites located in the North Wing, one week rental costs from €4,950 (approximately £350 per person, based on full occupancy). The West Wing sleeps a further three guests and may be rented in conjunction with the North Wing only, from €1,100 per week.

Rental includes exclusive use of the swimming pool, Italian breakfasts, linens, towels and maid service (6 days a week). There is the option of a chef and staff who will prepare and serve the finest Italian cuisine, incorporating locally-sourced truffles, olive oil, spices, cheeses and superb wine, grown and produced nearby or on the estate itself.

Three separate villas located in the 45 acre parkland, each sleeping 8 to 10 persons, are also available for weekly rental, priced from €2,200 (or £200pp, based on full occupancy).

Guests can hire mountain bikes or explore the beautiful countryside on foot, discovering Etruscan and Roman ruins, as well as many Medieval watch towers, with or without a personal guide. Younger guests will love to spend time with TodiCastle’s own ‘menagerie’ of deer, horses, donkeys, ducks, dogs and goats.

The Castle, 70 mins from Rome or 45 mins from Perugia Airport, is the perfect location for family reunions or groups of friends. The Umbria Grill, a super-in-house restaurant can cater for a wide range of events such as parties, family celebrations, live music, performances and dance. Cookery classes are also offered, as well as demonstrations of world-class food preparation. Other amenities available at the TodiCastle Estate include a relaxing massage, baby-sitting, children’s parties, guided tours, car rentals and wine tastings.

TodiCastle, owned by the Santoro family, is a member of the Union of European Historic Houses Association.

Here's your chance to sleep right in the middle of one of the world's most disputed and hated dividing lines... the site of the former Berlin Wall, now a wasteland awaiting regeneration.

As part of the urban regeneration project, an enterprising group have built the 2-star SingleRoomHotel which doubles as a box-shaped advertising billboard. The room opened last month and will be available till March 2008.

The 32 sq. m windowless room has an en-suite bathroom and is reached via a ladder from underneath the billboards.

NuBeginnings describes itself as a boutique boot camp offering specially designed weeks for men and women who want to lose weight and increase general wellbeing.

This 'boot camp' however is set in a north Devon country mansion with 10 stylishly designed and decorated en-suite bedrooms, large manicured grounds, massage rooms, a fitness centre and a homely dining room serving up a gourmet super food menu.

The NuBeginnings programme includes hypnotherapy, acupuncture, massage, qigong, yoga, hiking and healthy eating lectures. A total ban on television, radio, caffeine and junk food completes the detox experience.

NuBeginnings is the only retreat to specialise in hypnotherapy, which is a key part of the programme, used to tackle the underlying reasons for ‘destructive’ eating habits. Guests are given the tools to continue their weight loss once they leave the camp with hypnotherapy used extensively during the camp enabling them to understand how and why they have issues with weight loss.

This November sees the release of new fantasy film Beowulf, an adaptation of one of the greatest historic literary works. Based on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem of the same name, the film is set to become extremely popular with fans of the fantasy genre, and the National Trust are keen to direct our attention to the 'real thing' at Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Directed by award winning director Robert Zemeckis, Beowulf is set to be released on Friday 16 November. The all-star cast includes Ray Winstone as Beowulf, Crispin Glover, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins and John Malkovich.

The film is based on a 3,182 line poem called 'Beowulf', the oldest epic tale in the English language. It is thought that the original story was brought to England by the first Anglo-Saxons in the 6th century, and was passed down orally through generations, until it was finally written down around 700AD. The poem, which some believe to have been written in East Anglia, is preserved in a manuscript copied around 1000AD now housed in the British Library.

This new adaptation captures the life of an Anglo-Saxon hero; a brave and mighty warrior named Beowulf. A hero in the age of heroes, Beowulf battles and destroys three evils; Grendel a man-eating monster, Grendel’s fearsome mother, and a powerful dragon. The latter is one of English literature’s original dragons and it partly inspired the depiction of Smaug, the dragon in JRR Tolkien’s 'The Hobbit'.

Both the poem and the film are interwoven with Old English ancestral traditions and describe the culture and beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons. 'Beowulf' describes a ship-funeral with startling similarities to the Sutton Hoo ship-burial, thought to be that of King Raedwald, buried with his treasured possessions and the weaponry of a great warrior. This burial at Sutton Hoo is the richest early medieval burial in Europe and its discovery in 1939 threw new light on the richness of early English culture.

The Anglo-Saxons of Sutton Hoo would have told stories of brave warriors and their adventures as they ate and drank in the King’s hall. One of their favourite stories would have been Beowulf, which would have been one of the greatest adventure stories of the day. Raedwald would probably have heard the story of Beowulf and, as the lyre found at Sutton Hoo suggests, could even have recited some of it himself.

In this and other ways the findings at Sutton Hoo, now a National Trust estate, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, validate the descriptions and references that are made in Beowulf, just as the poem brings to life the bare bones of the archaeology.

Dr Sam Newton, who has regularly appeared on Time Team and BBC Radio 4, will be running Saturday study days at Sutton Hoo. The author of ‘The Origins of Beowulf and the pre-Viking Kingdom of East Anglia,’ Dr Newton is an expert in early medieval studies. On Saturday 10 November, ‘Black Dogs and Haunted Fenlands of Eastern England’ is an exploration of the terrors of the wetlands and how they were exorcised by Beowulf and his saintly successors. Then on Saturday 24 November find out more about ‘Beowulf and the First Dragon of English Literature’. Visit www.wuffings.co.uk for more information, prior booking essential. Sutton Hoo is open on weekends, from 11am to 4pm.

China is the place to be next summer, and not just for the Olympics.

The People's Republic is also on the map because of the next total eclipse of the sun when the western provinces (together with the Altai Region of Siberia in Russia) will be on the path of this spectacular phenomenon, which takes place on 1 August 2008.

A number of specialist eclipse-watching tour operators will be taking enthusiasts to stand in the moon's shadow... and while they are there, to enjoy some of the other spectacular sights in China.

Imaginative Traveller (0845 077 8803), for example, features a special escorted tour that has a ringside seat for the eclipse at Jinyuguan - allowing up to a full two minutes of totality. Other highlights of their tour include Beijing's Temple of the Azure Clouds in the Western Hills and the Ancient Observatory, home to a number of fascinating celestial instruments and a stone tablet with an early explanation of a total eclipse that was believed to have been when a giant toad covered up a golden bird. There is also a trip to the Crescent Moon Lake - and its singing sands - from Dunhuang, Xi'an's terracotta warriors, a walk along a little-visited section of the Great Wall, and time in Shanghai.

The 25 July departure costs £1270, land-only, plus US$265 local payment, including two internal flights and travel by train and private bus, plus 10 nights' accommodation with most meals.

Specialist adventure tour operator, High & Wild (01749 671777), is offering the perfect setting for thrill-seekers to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. Their 15-day Everest Skydive programme is open to licensed skydivers as well providing a truly unique opportunity for people with no previous parachuting experience to jump as tandem passengers... with the world's highest mountain as a backdrop.

Participants will get as close to heaven as possible as they freefall from 29,500 feet taking in Everest (29,035ft) and some of the world's other highest mountains. The landing site is also the highest in the world.

The Everest Skydive has been carefully planned over the past two years and is the brainchild of High & Wild founder Nigel Gifford, OBE, who is himself a skydiver with 1,000 descents to his name. His team includes a world record holder with 5,000 dives and 2,500 tandem under his belt and Everest mountaineers, familiar with the terrain and climate conditions.

The first Everest Skydive trip is scheduled for October 2008 to fit in with the high-altitude weather patterns. The programme begins with a couple of days in Kathmandu for familiarisation and safety briefings before a six-day acclimatisation trek.

The Everest Skydive will be made up of a group of 24 people and costs £12,675 for a licensed skydiver and £16,870 for tandem passengers. Partners and observers can join the trip for £3,750. Prices do not include international flights or personal insurance.

Hands Up Holidays (0800 783 3554) is offering travellers the opportunity to remember the tragic events of Boxing Day 2004 in a special way, by travelling to Thailand on a nine day itinerary and for three of these days helping at an orphanage set up after the tsunami.

The orphanage is in Khao Lak, about an hour north of Phuket, one of the worst affected areas in Thailand. Activities include painting, cleaning and washing, so reducing the burden of the primary care givers, enabling them to focus on tending to the children.

The volunteering element of this itinerary is bookended with a stay in Bangkok, offering plenty of time to explore the city and the nearby "Bridge of the River Kwai", finishing at Thailand's only African-style luxury tented safari camp, Elephant Hills Nature Lodge.

This 9-day trip is suitable for individuals, couples and families alike. Set departure and independent departure dates are available including Dec 22 and Dec 29 though places are quickly selling for these latter two dates. The price is £1,500 including breakfast, a special Christmas/New Year dinner, 5-star accommodation, local guides, carbon offsetting and all volunteer materials. Flights to Thailand are not included.

Hands Up Holidays specialises in trips that blend travel with meaningful volunteering experiences. It has a programme of 150 similarly focused trips to 32 destinations worldwide. Other volunteering activities in Thailand include elephant conservation, teaching English, repair and renovation work in tribal villages.

Perhaps, not so much 'early booking opportunities' as 'early booking needs'...

Swan Hellenic have launched a second edition of their Discovery Cruises brochure, which features a preview section with thirteen new cruises for spring, summer and autumn 2009.

Lord Sterling, Swan Hellenic Chairman, said: "Since announcing in July that we had joined the All Leisure Group and were to recommence cruising with our former 350-berth country style ship Minerva, there has been a remarkable degree of interest from our loyal past passengers. Bookings for the first season to May 2009 have been extremely strong, leading to the early publication of a second edition brochure, featuring new itineraries through to November 2009."

The venerable and hugely popular single-ship cruise line had a near brush with death last year when its parent company, Carnival, announced it was going to stop operating. Thankfully it has now been rescued and begins cruising again on on 23rd May 2008.

Bookings for the first season to May 2009 have been "exceptional", with limited cabin availability remaining on several summer/autumn 2008 cruises. The second edition brochure announces the guest speaker programme for the current published itineraries, whilst also introducing a preview brochure with itineraries for May - November 2009.

Similarly...

Star Clippers have a new year-round programme of cruises in the South Pacific. Their Star Flyer will make its home in French Polynesia, operating out of Tahiti from 30 December 2007. Starting from Papeete, capital of Tahiti each Sunday, it will sail seven, ten and eleven night voyages, taking in the Society Islands and the Tuamotus visiting, amongst others Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine and Raiatea, Taha’a and Rangiroa.

The bad news (unless you are Star Clippers!) is that it is already 40% sold. So if you want to book for 2009, you need to move quickly.

DFDS Seaways (0871 882 0886) has organised an Arctic voyage during the winter months to experience the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights - a natural wonder that has to be seen to be believed, when the skies are filled with ghostly green, yellow, red and violet lights that dart across the horizon..

The cruise break starts from Newcastle sailing overnight to Bergen, where guests will be transferred to the Hurtigruten ship for an exciting, yet relaxing 3 night voyage.

There is an option to extend the trip by staying an extra night in Tromso, allowing guests to try a dog sledging excursion.

The return trip to the UK is by air from Tromso via Oslo to Newcastle airport.

The trip includes 2 nights onboard the Queen of Scandinavia in a 2 berth cabin including 1 night in Bergen port on board the ship. 4 nights voyage with Hurtigruten (Norwegian coastal voyage) on a half board basis, transfers and flight from Tromso to Newcastle via Oslo and a 1 night stay at an Oslo Airport Hotel.

Departure dates are the 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th of November, 11th December, 8th January, 5th and 26th February and 4th March. Prices start from £779 per person for a 7 night trip. An 8 night trup which includes 1 night in Tromso starts from £848 per person.

Imaginative Traveller (0845 077 8803) have a new trip, which, in the context of global warming, more or less guarantees snow for you!

The 'Big Freeze' tour offers an authentic Siberian winter experience, staying with local families, and trying out all the snowy essentials - dog sledding, snow-mobiling and ice-fishing.

Meanwhile a transfer to the Siberian mountain resort of Sobolinaya also means an opportunity for some downhill skiing.

The tour starts in Moscow with a four-night trip to Irkutsk - on the Trans-Mongolian Express - with plenty of time to acclimatise to the extreme cold fuelled by strong Russian tea and vodka shots.

Monthly escorted departures from November to March cost £1440, land-only, plus €365 local payment including all transfers - train, bus and one internal flight - and 10 nights accommodation (four on train, two homestays with all meals provided and four in simple hotels with breakfast).

Daniel Radcliffe's latest film, December Boys, will be drawing attention to South Australia's Kangeroo Island when it opens in the cinemas this weekend.

Filmed entirely on location, this coming-of-age movie showcases the scenery of Kangaroo Island, accessible by a short ferry crossing from the mainland, or by air from Adelaide.

Much of the film was shot at aptly-named Snug Cove, typical of the island’s idyllic beaches which are a haven for wildlife, including rare sea lions, little penguins and, offshore, the majestic southern right whale.

Inland, where 30 per cent of the island is a protected reserve, visitors may see platypus, bandicoots, wallabies, koalas and the kangaroos which give the island its name.

Many operators and specialist agencies to Australia can arrange visits to Kangaroo Island. For example Freedom Australia (0870 742 4000) can arrange a Kangaroo Island Getaway as an add-on to any Adelaide visit at any time of year. Coach and ferry travel to/from the island, one night's motel accommodation (with breakfast) and two days touring the island costs £199 per person based on two sharing. Visits during the two days on the island include the sea lion colony at Seal Bay, the Flinders Chase National Park and Kelly Hill Caves, with plenty of wildlife watching opportunities.

December Boys is the story of four orphans who spend a 1960s summer at a small beach cove, where the oldest (Radcliffe) falls in love for the first time and the younger boys compete for prospective adoptive parents.

Lapland UK, working with the Forestry Commission, is bringing the spirit of a Lapland Christmas daytrip - without the carbon footprint - all the way to the Bedgebury Forest in Goudhurst, Kent for five weeks from 24 November 2007.

"Bringing a high quality Christmas experience to this country has been my dream since visiting Lapland with my wife and our four boys in 2002", said creator Mike Battle. "But what galvanised me into action were the potential environmental benefits. Until Lapland UK the only option for a truly magical Christmas experience for young families was an arduous trip flying to Lapland and back in one day (depositing 2 tonnes of carbon)."

The event recreates a real trip to Lapland. Families 'fly' in a simulator based on Raymond Briggs' The Snowman. When they land they will magically find themselves in an ice and snow-covered forest. The falling snow is an eco-friendly world class special effect snow as used in Hollywood films (Narnia, Harry Potter, and James Bond). Activities include making gingerbread, encountering real reindeer and husky dogs, visiting the Saami village for traditional story telling, etc.

The attraction will take a family about four hours to experience, with timed entry tickets ensuring that everyone enjoys their daytrip without feeling crowded or having to face lengthy queues. Prices start at £90 for a family of four.

Lapland UK's focus is on the environment. The site, will be completely temporary ,erected for only six weeks, leaving no trace in the 2,000 acre Bedgebury Forest. The snow at the site is eco-friendly (bio degradable/ph neutral). Snow falling every 15 minutes is made from an extract of seaweed and will disappear on landing, while the snow on the trees and ground is made of an incredibly realistic paper-based compound. Working in partnership with London Bio Packaging, the company is also creating the first "closed loop" recycling of packaging at an event.

Somak Holidays (020 8423 3000), a longstanding specialist operator to India and Africa, has announced the launch of a brand new luxury resort, Tented Beach Retreat, Gazi Bay on 1st October 2007. The secluded retreat is owned and managed by the same team behind Cove Luxury Tree House resort, also in Kenya, and is bookable exclusively through Somak Holidays.

The new resort comprises "an intimate collection of 12 Arabian-designed tents dotted along the white sand of Gazi Bay in Mombasa. This exclusive hideaway offers a ‘back to nature’ experience that’s second to none. Guests are close to the beach and surrounded by nature, yet will indulge in utter luxury inside their private tent where an attentive butler caters to their every whim. Each deluxe tent has a four-poster bed, dressing table, bathroom with large shower area, air conditioning, mini-bar and a lounge area leading onto a patio that overlooks the swimming pool. Breakfast is served on the tent patio, lunch is chosen from the snack grill and dinner is on offer at the restaurant. Activities available during the day include bush walks, heritage visits, diving and deep sea fishing, water sports, sunset cruises and rejuvenating treatments at the retreat’s health parlour."

As part of this year’s celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, a major exhibition is about to open in Brussels featuring the life & work of Europe's greatest Renaissance Man and arguably the greatest artist and thinker of all time.

Leonardo - The European Genius opens tomorrow and will run to 15 March 2008 at the Koekelberg Basilica, the world's fifth largest church and the biggest Art Deco building ever constructed. The exhibition is one of the most important and complete exhibitions of Leonardo's work ever organised and is set to be one of the major events in the Belgian capital this year.

It will focus on four main themes: Leonardo the man, Leonardo the artist, Leonardo the engineer, and Leonardo the humanist. It will highlight all aspects of his work including his techniques and will also look at the legacy left by him to the following generations of European artists and scientists.

A number of Leonardo's original works will be on display including the Codex of the Flight of Birds, on loan from the Turin Library, as well as Leonardo's only self-portrait in red chalk and the Tongerlo Copy after Leonardo's Last Supper, painted barely 20 years after Leonardo completed the original, and reputed to be the most accurate copy of the subsequently damaged fresco.

A portrait painted on a wooden panel of Marie Magdalene will also be on show, for the second time ever after it was first revealed to the world as a Leonardo at Ancona's Mole Vanvitelliana museum in October 2005.

The semi-nude portrait of Mary Magdalene holding a veil over her bare breasts had been unseen for fifty years when it was found five years ago in a private Swiss collection. It had previously been attributed to Da Vinci’s pupil Giampetrino.

The exhibition will also feature facsimiles of Da Vinci's notebooks, several of his inventions, films about the artist’s universal genius, and no fewer than 45 working models built to scale, including a 20 metre swing bridge never previously constructed.

Leonardo - The European Genius will also contain around one hundred original drawings and sketches by Raphael, Michelangelo, Canaletto, Albrecht Dürer and Hieronymus Bosch.

Lifestyle Barcelona, a corporate experiences/entertainment company that offers activities, excursions and experiences to both companies and individual travellers too, has launched a new range of secret agent-styled experiences in & around Barcelona.

• Shaken not stirred weekend for petrol heads
  "Test drive amazing sport cars such as the Ferrari 450, Modena, Lamborghini and Aston Martin DB9. Although you’re not guaranteed the dream girl you do get to see and try out how these special these sporting vehicles are, by racing on a Spanish Formula one track. Lifestyle Barcelona is currently the only company to currently offer this package with accommodation to the UK."
  
  
• Secret Agent Experience
  "The secret agent experience enables you to see some very interesting and cultural parts of the city. Each team will be given a dossier with your top secret information (don’t worry this information won’t self destruct within 5 seconds and you will have a local contact to help you while you search for clues.) Once you have successfully made sure your target has been eliminated you can de-brief on the days events with other team members."
  
  
• Diamonds are forever shopping experience!
  "Who said that diamonds were a girl’s best friend? What about make up shoes and clothes? This experience will leave you feeling like the ultimate sexy secret agent; glitzy, pampered and ready for any mission impossible. This experience includes an exclusive consultation with a stylist, and meeting with one of the top designers. You will also be asked on her Majesty’s service to make sure you design a skirt and a piece of jewellery that is completely individual to you. With your new designer skirt and jewellery delivered straight to your hotel door the next day you can be sure that you will be able to melt any secret agents heart."

Spas are popping up all over the place these days, including now, campsites. Eurocamp (0844 406 0552) have opened a brand new Balneo spa retreat in its Parc des Alicourts at Pierrefitte in the Loire Valley, where campers in need of some pampering can relax in the adult only indoor lagoon, surrounded by beaches looking out onto the lake.

The hydrotherapy centre boasts a Jacuzzi, hydrotherapy pool and various other water jet systems. The serenity rooms house Turkish baths perfumed with essential oils, saunas and treatment rooms where professional therapists perform relaxation techniques and massages on holidaymakers. And for those wanting to work up a sweat there's also a fitness centre.

Parc des Alicourts is positioned in a peaceful forest setting, surrounded by glades, ponds and cycle paths where you can watch the wildlife. It also has plenty to keep the kids amused with endless activities including canoeing, horse riding and karting, its own adventure play area, and a pool complex with wave pool and waterslides.

Example price for a family departing 29th August: A four night stay in a Siena mobile home costs £404, (less than £21 per person per night) for a family of five (2 adults, 3 children), including ferry crossings.

Hidden Bars of Melbourne are operating tours of Melbourne's coolest bars - the ones you're simply not going to find, hidden as they are down secret stairwells, laneways and behind velvet curtains.

Local residents Gath Adams and Kym Anderson take groups of party-goers through Melbourne's labyrinth of alleys and laneways to uncover some of the city's most exciting and exclusive bars. Run every Thursday night, the bars on the tour change weekly. The tour lasts four hours and costs AUD $35 (approx £15) per person, which includes two complimentary drinks and tapas.

Arctic Experience have some intriguing bolt-on experiences for visitors to the Icehotel in Swedish lapland.

• For those who have been inspired by the BBC's most recent edition of Top Gear, in which the boys race to the North pole in a 4 x 4 car and dog sled, AE clients can experience both husky sledding (not unusual) and ice driving in a Saab on a specially built ice track. Under the supervision of skilled instructors, clients drive a Saab 9-3 Sport Combi (or similar) beginning with manoeuvring tests on the ice which push the ABS and stabilization systems to the limit. Then drivers head out onto the track with the instructor guiding them around a course that allows them to test the car and their abilities at up to 100km/hr. Finally, out comes the stopwatch to find out who is the day’s rally ace!
  
  
• For those with an interest in the night sky there is a two-centre trip to Lapland combining a stay at the icehotel with a night at the nearby Esrange Space Centre, where guests stay overnight in double rooms with private facilities and hopefully witness the aurora borealis (Northern Lights). If the 'lights' fail to make an appearance, a research scientist at Esrange will give a presentation about the natural phenomena. There's a guided tour of the sprawling Space Centre, which is not normally open to the public, and if lucky a chance to see the launch of an enormous helium-filled balloon on its way deep into the stratosphere.
  
  
• And for those whose attention is drawn earthward, not skyward, there's a 2-hour guided visit to the LKAB iron ore mine, the largest in the world, consists of a vast underground network of roads (400km!), a café, museum and more, 540m below sea level, hidden underneath Kiruna.

Libya specialists, Simoon Travel, have a new tour featuring the Ghadames Festival - a 3-day Tuareg cultural event held out in the desert.

The A Taste of Libya and Ghadames Festival tour takes place 25th October - 1st November 07 and visits Leptis Magna, Sabratha, the Qasrs of the Gebel Nafusa Mountains, and the Ghadames Festival set within the enormous sand dunes of the Sahara and overlooking the Tasilli mountains of Algeria.

The festival celebrates Tuareg culture with camel and horse racing, music and craftsmanship, singing and dancing, all set within the UNESCO world heritage site of the caravan trading town of Ghadames.

The largest music and entertainment festival in the Baltics, Be2Gether, will take place outside the small Lithuanian village of Norviliskes, by the Belarusian border on the 24—26th of August.

"For many years we were isolated from the world, and even after the fall of the iron curtain the Berlin wall in people's minds still separates Western and Eastern Europe. Be2Gether festival will be a huge blow to that wall", says Andrius Mamontovas, one of Lithuania's best known rock musicians.

Bands like Morcheeba, Bloodhound Gang, Therapy?, The Young Knives and Datarock, will perform at Be2Gether festival by the 16th century castle while touring major European festivals, such as Reading, Roskilde and Glastonbury.

Besides them, well known Lithuanian, Icelandic, Finnish, Belarusian, Latvian and Polish artists will perform in Norviliskes. Among others the festival will include Lithuanian artists Andrius Mamontovas, Skamp, G&G Sindikatas, British/Lithuanian group Joana and the Wolf, Belarusian bands Lyapis Trubetskoy, IQ48, Leaves from Iceland, Poets of the Fall from Finland, Tribes of the City from Latvia, Tanel Padar & the Sun from Estonia, Zion Train from UK and New York Ska Jazz Ensemble from US.

Thousands of people from not only Lithuania, but neighbouring countries as well, are expected to turn up at the festival ground at one of the most Eastern points of the European Union. People from Belarus express huge interest in the festival by their national border.

Information about the tickets and online booking: www.tiketa.lt

The holiday cottage agency, Ecosse Unique (01835 822277), has added the privately-owned Isle of Scalpay to its portfolio, bringing the total number of Scottish islands they feature to ten.

The tranquil island is situated between the Isle of Skye and the Applecross Peninsula, has just four cottages, and is an escapist's paradise with around 200 acres of woodland, lochs and burns and more than 14 miles of shoreline.

Ecosse Unique say it's a perfect getaway for those who enjoy walking, fishing, boating, photography and painting and, for fans of wildlife, the island is home to otters, red deer, grey seals, porpoises and dolphins.

• Eilean Shona
• Rona
• Mull
• Arran
• Skye
• Harris
• Lewis
• Orkney
• Tiree

Pennsylvania has created a set of 'artisan trails' to bring visitors to the doorsteps of talented national, regional and local artists, including an artist who "paints with thread;" funky, independent glass artists; and an artist who has taught Martha Stewart a thing or two about Japanese marbling.

The artisan trails programme features local artist galleries, studios, lectures, workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations for arts and crafts enthusiasts and collectors.

"We've created a special section on visitPA.com to help visitors create an artisan trail roadtrip", says Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism for the Department of Community and Economic Development. "Along with the various studios, art centers and museums, visitors can find lodging facilities, as well as other attractions of interest, and special travel deals."

Different Tracks has announced an exclusive small group wildlife photography tour in Kenya, hosted by Jonathan and Angela Scott - award winning photographers and the presenters of BBC TV's Big Cat Diary.

The 8 night trip in November is available to 8 photographers of all skill levels and features two nights each at Mfuwe Lodge, Kapamba, Bilimungwe, and ends with two final nights back at Mfuwe Lodge. Activities will include a mixture of night and day game drives and walks in the bush camps, the opportunity to walk between Kapamba and Bilimungwe for the transfer, and advice as well as lectures and talks from the Scotts.

Prices start from £2899pp including international & internal flights, accommodation, all meals, transfers, 2 guides and 2 game viewing vehicles, all game activities, park entry fees, government tax.

Adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel (01373 826611) has teamed up with Travel Photographer of the Year 2007 (TPOTY) to launch two specialist photography trips for budding photographers with a desire to capture vibrant cultures and dramatic landscapes in the Far East.

The exclusive trips get off the beaten track in Indochina and Japan with experienced and professional photographers who will provide expert, hands-on tuition.

• Photography course - Cambodia & Vietnam, 14 days
  
  "Imagine the majestic temples of Angkor Wat at dawn, their stunning architectural detail burnt gold in the first light. What better way to learn or improve your photography than amongst the rich cultures and histories of Cambodia and Vietnam? On this enlightening photography course you’ll improve your portrait, landscape and travel photography skills under the guidance of award-winning professional photographers Nick Meers and Chris Coe. In addition to the architectural wonders of the Khmer temples, you’ll have the opportunity to photograph the people, history, food and landscapes of these two intoxicating countries."
  
  The trip runs from 2 - 15 December 2007 and the price is £2,315 per person for twin-share and £2,675 for single occupancy, land-only. The price includes all transfers, photographic tuition, entrance fees during guided sightseeing, accommodation and most meals. An early booking discount of £100 applies if you book before 15 July 2007. For more information and to book go to www.tpoty.com
  
  
• Photography course - The People & Culture of Japan, 18 days
  
  "Temples and geishas; tradition and modernity; city life and iconic landscapes: photograph the many faces of Japan and receive expert tuition along the way! Under the guidance of professional photographers Nick Meers and Chris Coe, you will explore Japan’s variety of photographic possibilities. Encapsulate the essence of 'old Japan' in the untouched quarters of Kyoto, depict the bright lights and buzz of Tokyo, bring the majestic landscape of the Japanese Alps to life and capture the beauty of iconic Mt Fuji."
  
  The will run from 13 - 26 May 2008 and the price is £2,950 per person for twin-share and £3,030 for single occupancy, land-only. The price includes all transfers, photographic tuition, entrance fees during guided sightseeing, accommodation and most meals in Japan. An early booking discount of £100 applies if you book before 30 September 2007. For more information and to book go to www.tpoty.com

Steppes Travel (01285 651 010) has announced a new escorted tour to the Gerewol Festival at Agadez, the largest city in northern Niger.

Camping under star-studded skies, the Beauty Contest In The Desert tour enables people to join the Steppes Travel MD, Justin Wateridge, on an intrepid two week jaunt across the desert, the focal point of which is Gerewol Beauty Contest of the Wodaabe. During this traditional courtship and marriage festival young Wodaabe men vie for the attention of women seeking husbands in a series of dances, tests of skill, and a beauty pageant in which the men try to outshine each other wearing traditional costume, headdress, and elaborate makeup.

The tour, starting in Algiers, will include oases towns, rock engravings in the beautiful south of Algeria, immense sand dunes, famous ancient camel-caravan routes and the Aïr Mountains. It is scheduled for 17 September to 1 October 2007. Full details here.

Justin Wateridge points out that the tour "is an exploratory trip and by its nature hardy and liable to change, yet at the same time breathtaking and rewarding".

Secret Destinations (0845 612 9000) have introduced a range of 'one price all year' holiday villas in the Canary Islands.

They guarantee that when a customer chooses their villa from this range, they will pay exactly the same price whatever time of the year they travel, with no supplements and absolutely no seasonal price fluctuations - not even during school holidays!

Holidaymakers have a choice of accommodation from coastal villas and apartments to rural fincas and country cottages. Areas currently featured in the range include popular Fuerteventura and Tenerife, along with the quieter islands of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.

The company is planning to increase its range of one price villas to include Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and other areas of mainland Spain and Mallorca.

Aspire (0845 345 9096) is launching a sailing programme based at the Dubai International Marine Club.

Packages will be based around the 5-star Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, which operates its own liveried fleet of Archambault 35 yachts. There are also smaller Hobie Cats, Darts and Laser sailboats available for rental. The hotel is located at the heart of Dubai's 238-berth world-class marina.

Guests will be able to choose from a selection of three learn-to-sail packages aimed at the novice, which combine practical tuition with certified assessment. More experienced sailors will be able to take part in an exhilarating 'Mina Match Racing Cup', depending on levels of competency.

All courses are run by qualified instructors; boats are fully insured and carry standard safety equipment and all participants will be presented with a certificate on completion of the courses.

The watersports centre at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi offers a comprehensive range of activities including waterskiing, windsurfing, wake boarding and kite surfing or you can charter your own yacht or speedboat for a tour of the Jumeirah coastline.

Aspire offers 7 nights in a sea view double room at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Dubai on a bed and breakfast basis between 1 September and 15 October 2007 with a choice of three learn to sail packages - Discover Sailing, Start Sailing or Competent Crewing - inclusive of flights with British Airways and private transfers, from £2,300pp (or from £1,280pp excluding the sailing course).

Msambweni Beach House is a new luxury private property in Msambweni, Kenya, 50 miles South of Mombasa and 20 miles from the border of Tanzania.

The newly-opened property, with its own 700 feet of private beach, is set on a 40-foot high cliff overlooking a 4-mile stretch of unspoilt sandy beach, and is surrounded by 28 acres of natural land. It has its own private boat for nearby fishing and snorkelling excursions. (One of the main attractions is the harmless whale shark passing the coastline of Msambweni in November.) It accommodates 12 people in total in four buildings - Msambweni Main House, Msambweni Luxury Tent and two Msambweni Lamu Villas - and is designed for individuals as well as groups where the entire or part of the property can be reserved.

Msambweni is the latest project for the Vanderhoeven family,following the success of Villa Val Des Roses - a 4-star boutique hotel in Cap d’Antibes, South of France. The focus is based on personal service. All accommodation types include an assistant cook, a housekeeper and a driver. A complimentary daily massage is also available to clients as well as a free mini bar. Everything is covered in the price of a stay including a sumptuous breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, appetizer with drinks while watching the sunset, gastronomic dinner, as well as all drinks (excluding champagne), snacks, private beach picnics and BBQs. Belgium trained private chefs will cook whatever guests desire including freshly caught fish which guests can help catch, vegetables from the garden and homemade bread. Private car transfers to and from Mombasa airport (one hour each way) are included in the price.

Special introductory opening rates are from 458 US dollars per person per day.

How to absolutely 100% cast-iron guarantee your child gets into Eton...

Family-run EAC Activity Camps (0845 113 0022) has introduced Eton to its range of day camps this year so if your son or daughter fancies a good day out at the top toff's school during the summer holidays it can be easily arranged and, more importantly, won't cost a limb.

EAC has been organising residential and day camps for five to 16-year-olds since 1992 covering essential school holiday activities such as sport, action and adventure but above all - fun.

The Eton day camps have programmes available for nine to 16-year-olds covering such delights as dragon boat racing and canoeing - via private access to a stretch of the Thames - drama, parachute games, orienteering, 'It’s a Knockout', and a wide range of sports including tennis, cricket, badminton and basketball.

Meanwhile, as an optional extra a two-hour specialist course can be booked in art - including t-shirt design, making jewellery or creating a mask - or superstardom, for those that want to hone their skills in acting, mime, improv and dancing.

The activities start every weekday - from 16 July to 17 August - at 9am and finish at 5pm but, for busy mums and dads, youngsters can be dropped off anytime from 7.45am and picked up as late as 6.30pm.

The cost for a full Monday to Friday activity week is £154 or around £30 per child per day. Alternatively for those that want just mornings or afternoons the cost is £84 for five consecutive half-days. Finally, if committing to a full week is tricky, flexi arrangements (minimum three full or half days) are also available.

EAC also offers a supervised transport service to Eton College from four pick up points (Reading Station, Victoria Station, Kings College Hampstead or Fulham Road Chelsea) for £100 per child per week.

European Rail (020 7387 0770) have a new 10-day Highlights of Andalucia rail tour taking passengers on a cultural journey to the beautiful cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada - some of the most important historic cities of Spain.

"The tour starts with a high speed Eurostar departure to Paris, from where you will be welcomed aboard a comfortable hotel sleeper train to Madrid. Upon arrival you will board your connection to the first highlight of Andalucia, the magnificent city of Seville. The tour provides for a stay of three nights, allowing plenty of time to visit the abundance of impressive monuments, churches, convents and Moorish palaces that give this city it's charming and historic character. You may wish to take a horse drawn carriage along the orange tree-lined streets then drop in to one of many traditional Spanish restaurants for some Tapas."

"Day 5 begins with a short high-speed train departure to Cordoba, just 42 minutes away. Since the 11th Century when the city was one of the most important in Europe, Cordoba has been renowned as a great historic University City and has been home to many famous artists. Your stay in the city for two days will allow you time to visit its many fascinating sights including the outstanding 'Mesquita' or Great Mosque which boasts more than 850 coloured jasper and marble pillars."

"Moving on, your journey continues to the breathtaking city of Granada. On the four-hour rail journey the train passes through some of Andalucia's most beautiful countryside offering sights that just cannot be experienced from an aircraft window."

"Granada is home to one of the major highlights of the tour: The Alhambra Palace. Built in the 14th Century the stunning architecture is perfectly set amid gardens and fountains, with the majestic Sierra Nevada to one side and views overlooking the fertile plains of Granada to the other. Your stay in Granada will prove to be the perfect end to a perfect tour."

"Your journey home then takes you to Madrid and onwards to Paris from where you join the high-speed Eurostar to London."

Dependent on season and choice of hotels, prices begin at £675 for 3-star hotel accommodation and from £752 for 4-star hotels. All prices include seat reservations and overnight berths in a 2-berth sleeper cabin.