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The list of things to see and do in the Cape is endless and no matter how hard I try to cover as much as possible I can be certain of one thing…..if you have been to the Cape when you read this, I’m sure you will say – but what about……..so please feel free to add your own recommendations at the end.

Cape Town is certainly not short of beaches, the choice is vast and no matter which you choose to visit, you are guaranteed a great day out! If you want to hang out with the cool crowd then head out to Camps Bay or Clifton but be warned……parking along the beach road is a nightmare so be sure to leave early or be prepared to walk!  For families, you might want to avoid the beaches on the Atlantic Seaboard opting for Bolders Bay in Simonstown or  the beaches stretching from Muizenburg through to Kalk Bay. Bolders is famous for its Penguin colony , the little bay is very protected so its perfect for little ones but space is limited and on a good day you will find yourself fighting for a spot. My recommendation – pack a big picnic and head off early to secure a good spot. By contrast, Muizenberg Beach is great for walking, swimming, surfing and sunbathing. Muizenberg offers you a wide sandy beach extending far into the distance. The beach is very popular with families with loads of sunbathing space and activities on offer. You will know you have arrived when you spot the colourful beach huts that make this beach the landmark that it is. A drive out of Cape Town towards the eastern end of False Bay will find you in Gordon’s Bay. The white sandy Bikini Beach is very well protected from the wind and ideal for swimming and the promenade offers a great selection of restaurants where the fresh seafood on offer is hard to resist. If you want to combine the beach with a great eating experience then head out along the west coast to a little town called Yzerfontein. After a drive along a bumpy dirt road you will find yourself pulling up at the StrandKombuis (Beach Kitchen). Prepare yourself for a feast! This place has to be one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets. You can’t get closer than this if you want to eat on the beach and the food is outstanding. Give yourself a couple of hours then walk off your lunch along the endless stretch of beach in front of you. And finally, for the surf lovers, head to Noordhoek. The beach here offers you six kilometers of pristine beach and a variety of surf spots withThe Hoek renowned as one of the best right breaks in South Africa.

After a morning at the beach, what better than to take a meander through the winelands. To be honest – the list of farms to visit is endless so I am going to highlight a few of my all time favourites for you ……. The first on my list is the Fairview Wine Estate in Paarl; viticulturally among the most historic and influential areas of the Cape winelands. You can taste and buy a vast array of different styles: from top-end, exclusive, often one-off bottlings  to everyday easy drinkers. An old maturation cellar has been converted into a casual Mediterranean-styled indoor/outdoor eatery called The Goatshed. Fairview also has a resident herd of 600 goats who like nothing more than watching the world go by from the iconic goat tower.

A number of years ago I  attended a wedding at Haute Cabriere (www.cabriere.co.za) in Franschoek. Watching Achim von Arnim teaching the bride to remove the cork of the champagne bottle using a sabre sword has meant this exquisite farm, nestled high in the Franschoek Hills will always be one of my firm favourites.  From Franshoek head back towards Stellenbosch (which is a day trip on its own) and just on the outskirts you will find the Uitkyk Winery (www.uitkyk.co.za)  (pronounced “Ate Cake” for those of you who are not “Saffa’s”). Uitkyk have produced numerous award winning wines but my favourite has to be the Uitkyk Carlonet. In Stellenbosch itself, Haartenberg is the perfect farm to stop for lunch – not only are the wines here great, but their picnic lunch baskets (and wine!) are available to enjoy anywhere on the vast lawns of the estate. (www.hartenbergestate.com) .  And finally, its worth paying a visit to Cape Towns Groot Constantia Wine Estate, the oldest and most historic of wine farms in South Africa.( www.grootconstantia.co.za).  Tucked in the steep valley on the eastern side of Table Mountain, Groot Constantia stands as a pinion of excellence for the wine industry and is an ideal example for the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the country 

In addition to its gorgeous beaches and the vast array of winefarms – Cape Town is host to a number of MUST SEES!

 The legendary Table Mountain is top of my list and you can either walk to the top or catch a lift in the cable car.Try to make your trip on a clear day – the view from the top is nothing short of stunning! The V&A Waterfront is both a shopping mecca and a culinary delight all in one. Shops stay open till 10pm 7 days a week and the restaurants and cafes are always busy so plan ahead and book to avoid dissapointment. Take a trip around the waterfront harbour in a glass bottom boat or take  a day trip to visit the notorious Robben Island. If its day trips you are after then you might also want to visit Seal Island – a tiny island off the cape coast that is home to largest colony of Cape Fur Seals in the world. Round Trips are usually about 2 hours and the boats leave from Hout Bay Harbour. If you want a day trip thats a bit further afield – head up the coast to Hermanus. Depending on when you visit – you might even be lucky enough to be there for the whale season. And if you consider yourself brave enough then take a day trip to Gansbaai where you can go Shark Cage Diving with the formidable Great White Sharks!

 If shopping is your thing but you prefer a more local flavour then you might want to explore some of Cape Towns markets.  Green Market Square is one of Cape Town’s oldest and most popular markets. The cobbled stone square is home to a wonderful choice of local crafts and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes that surround the square if you wish to rest your feet and take a break from your shopping. The Old Biscuit Mill in Albert Road, Woodstock has become the new stomping ground of Cape Town’s creative set. Here you can purchase a large variety of bread, cheeses, preserves, confectionaries and fresh produce. The Kirstenbosch Craft Market takes place in the grounds of the Cottages, corner Kirstenbosch Drive and Rhodes Avenue, diagonally opposite the main entrance to Kirstenbosch Gardens. Here you will find around 200 stalls selling various hand crafted goods. Once you are done shopping, make sure you spend some time in the Gardens which are renowned the world over.

 If your trip to the Cape extends beyond a week then I highly recommend you hire a car and drive up the Garden Route taking in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay where you can kick back and spend a week taking in the beautiful coastline this area has to offer. 

Some would have thought that being South African myself, this would have been my opening post but its taken me this long to collect my thoughts on a destination that is often billed as ‘a world in one country’. Where to start……and where to end – I could go on and on forever so instead I have decided that todays post will be somewhat of an introduction to a country that has so much to offer. And any visitor who has experienced its delights, from the jumble of Johannesburg  in the North to the sophistication of Cape Town in the South, is bound to agree.

In 1994, with the release of Nelson Mandela from prison a new age dawned in South Africa; an age of democracy was ushered in and South Africa was revealed to the world in all her glory: a rainbow nation with a kaleidoscope of cultures and a host of attractions to enthral and entrance visitors. A decade later and tourists are still flocking to sunny South Africa in their droves. This remarkable country, so rich in cultural diversity and surrounded by ocean on three sides, offers a taste of the African experience with the chance to visit traditional tribal villages, game reserves and sprawling townships. At the same time it also offers all the pleasures of a first world holiday experience, with luxury hotels, sophisticated shopping, exciting theme parks and clean beaches. Have breakfast in a New York style deli; lunch in an African shebeen; cocktails on a sunset cruise; and dine in style in a fine British colonial restaurant. This is all possible in a South African city.

Following this entry and for the benefit of the many of you who will visit South Africa for the 2010 Football World Cup, my next 2 posts will provide you with a bit more detail and my own personal recommendations on what to do if you are visiting one of the host cities. Although there are 9 in total, I will write 2 entries – the first covering the North (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg, Nelspruit & Polokwane) and the 2nd will feature my favourite part of the country; The South (Cape Town, Durban & Port Elizabeth)

If you are visiting South Africa for the 2010 World Cup; flights, car hire, accommodation and excursions are best booked well in advance. Feel free to drop me an email if need any help with your plans: Laurenlowry@leisureandtravel.co.za  and be sure to watch this space for more on what to do when you visit.

White Desert

Near Farafra Oasis, the giant white monuments of ancient, compressed seashell have been sculptured by the wind into an array of fascinating shapes.

Black Desert

Next door to the White Desert, black lead pieces of rock cover the ground like a blanket. They rest on golden sand hills creates a vast panorama for the eyes and camera.

Crystal Mountain

Made of Quartzite crystals, this small mountain literally sparkles like a huge diamond.

The Great Sand Sea

A large expanse of the Sahara that literally undulates like the ocean and stretches as far as the eye can see. The sand is as soft and fine as flour.

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I was picked up from my apartment this morning by Aaron from Bansko Adventures for a day driving off road buggies in the mountain. In the 5 years i have been coming to Bansko it was definitely the best day I’ve had. If you want to do any activities in Bansko this one should be top of your list!

We went up into the Rila Mountains through gravel tracks and loggers trails which weaved through the forest and open fields. The Buggies are 250cc rear wheel drive, with full roll cages and big off road tyres, there are two bucket seats with 4 point harnesses.

For a half day tour the price is 75Euros and 25Eros for a passenger. For a full day the price is 150Euros and 50Euros for a passenger, both packages include lunch and a pickup from Bansko.

When we reached the top of the mountain we stopped to take in some of the stunning scenery. We could see the whole of the Valley, including Bansko, Razlog, and Dobrinishte. We carried on through the mountains to some Horse Riding Stables, where we stopped to have lunch and a beer.

If you do decide to go on this supurb tour with Bansko Adventures remember to take a towel with you in your bag, because you can get very dirty!! Aaron knows these mountains like the back of his hand, and he can explain some of the local history as you stop at various points on the mountain. This is an ideal day out for anyone, if you are with Children or just want to take in the scenery you can go a little slower.

Aaron also told me about the skidoo’s that they offer in the winter, I will definately be trying those out later this year!!

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I visited the highly acclaimed Ian Woosnam golf course this weekend. Construction of the course has only just finished, so 18 holes are now available to play. The course absolutely stunning, with the mountains in the background and the beautiful lush green fairways it makes for an unforgettable round of Golf.

As a non member the green fee for playing 18 Holes is 60Euros weekdays, and 90Euros for weekends and holidays. For 9 Holes its 40Euros for weekdays and 60Euros for weekends and holidays. The driving range is 10Euros. Golf carts, trolleys and clubs can all be hired from the renal shop at the course. Lessons can also be arranged, and you can also have a round with a professional golfer.

Forgive my brief description of the course I am not a golfer and have never hit a ball in my life. Below you can see  pictures of the clubhouse, click the thumbnails to view larger pictures. The clubhouse is very nicely finished, there is a bar, restaurant, golf shop, and terraces that overlook the green, some amazing views!!

Views of the course from the clubhouse terrace

 The Driving Range.

I was lucky enough to get taken around the course on a buggy, please click the thumbnails below to see more pictures of the course.

There are around 500 apartments/chalets built around the golf course, there’s a downtown area where construction is finished, the shops, bars and restaurants just need to be fitted out and furnished, I was told that the downtown area would be ready for the 2010 summer golf season. See pictures of the downtown area below.

There is going to be a 5 star spa hotel close to the downtown area, it is under construction now(see below), but I was told that it will be complete for summer 2010.

For more information on the course please go to the official website: http://www.pirin-golf.com/bansko-property-bulgaria-ski-pirin-golf-course.html

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Yesterday I took off into the mountains for a 4 hour bike ride with Bobby from InterSport, who was my guide for the day. We started from just outside the Gondola station at about 10am. InterSport Supplied us with a good quality mountain bike, and helmet. The price for the 4 hour ride, equipment hire and lunch was 75lev (approx £32)

The Weather was very good, clear blue Sky’s and the forecast was for 38 degrees!!

We headed off from Bansko up the mountain road going past the Kempinski Hotel, I really should have put some training in before coming out here, 10 minutes into the ride and I was feeling out of breath, but this soon passed as i got into it.

The first part of the ride was a tarmaced road, with a gentle slope up into the mountains, through the trees. This then turned into a dirt track road, still going up hill. Bobby our guide was not racing off ahead, he kept the pace very gentle, but I’m sure that if we wanted to go faster he would have done.

As we were riding we just had to stop to take some pictures of the amazing views. We took plenty of water with us, the temperature was increasing, but riding through the shade of the trees definately helped.

We came to the end of the dirt track road, apparantly the road was blocked off due to log smugglers cutting down trees from protected parts of the national park. So then we pushed our bikes through a track between the trees to join up with another track.

 Wow…. We were at the top, we stopped for a drink and to take in the views before starting the downhill section into Dobrinishte. 

The ride back down to Dobrinishte was very fast downhill, riding through streams, through the shade of the forest, and we then came to the tarmaced road.

Bobby took us for lunch (included in the price) at a trout farm up in the mountain, this was a very pretty restaurant with outside seating next to a lake where you could catch your own trout, and have it for lunch! 

Following a very nice well deserved meal, we headed off downhill, and then back to Bansko along the main road from Dobrinishte to Bansko. Again, the views of the mountain with clear blue skys were fantastic.If you like your mountain biking, or simply want to experience a great day in the mountains I can definitely recommend that you come to Bansko, you will not be disappointed! You can take a guide for the day who will take you on the best tracks in he mountains, and tracks that suit your individual abilities.

For More information on the mountain biking and other activities that InterSport offer click here

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After traveling to Noumea, Lifou, Vanuatu and Fiji this year (wasn’t I lucky) I think that I would like to try something closer to home this time. There is so much that Australia has to offer and right in our back yard as well. Camping is a great holiday and there are some absolutely wonderful places to camp, either in established camping grounds or off the beaten track. It is a great deal cheaper than traveling overseas with the benefit of communing with nature and experiencing a relaxing and refreshing break.

There is also the more adventuresome activities: how about V8 driving – awesome, how about kayaking in some of our beautiful waterways. My friend is nagging me to skydive…….really not sure that I am THAT adventuresome yet……hmmmm…..will have to think about that one.

All women know the wonderful benefits of a one day holiday to a day spa – bliss.

So many choices, but so exciting.

Taking a walking holiday in Kenya is rewinding the clock to times of the early safari pioneers who traversed the country on foot. Even when some settled down as farmers, administrators or missionaries, they had itchy feet and were always on the go. The landscape, the scenery, the plants and of course the wildlife that kept them outdoors is still out there, though it has been much overshadowed by today’s fast-paced vehicle safaris. Unknown to many walkers, it is possible to take your Kenyan safari as a walking holiday with all the modern comforts that yester-year travelers did not have.

Walking holidays in Kenya: Crater Lake, Rift Valley.

Successful walking holidays in Kenya require more careful planning than vehicle-confined safaris and with so many safari operators offering walking safaris, it falls on each walker to seriously evaluate all aspects of their tour before booking. Here is a checklist to guide you in planning your walking tour in Kenya:

1) What’s your fitness level? Discuss with your walking holidays operator how many hours per day you will be out in the field. Find out if there are options to do part of the walks. If the information on his web site and his email correspondences are foggy, pick up the phone and drill him on the daily schedule.

2) Where will you walk? There are many places for a fulfilling walking holiday in Kenya and your choice will mainly depend on what you want to see and the number of days you have for your walking safari. A good rule is to give each destination (walking base) a minimum of 2 nights, if possible.  This means that you will not be packing up every morning and you have a familiar base to come to at the end of the day.

Note that in Kenya, walking is prohibited in most national reserves and no matter how much your walking safaris operator may want to give you a “thrill”, be very careful that you do all things within the law and with your personal safety as the top priority.

Walking tours in Kenya: Lake Elementaita, Rift Valley.

3) What type of wildlife will you see? On most walking holidays in Kenya expect to see plains game such as giraffes, gazelles, zebras, warthogs and a wide variety of colorful birds.

4) What support will you have? For you to enjoy your Kenya walking safari, the burden of the daily chores should be removed from you. It will also greatly help if your luggage, except your day pack is carried by mules, camels or support vehicles.

5) Booking a group or private walking holiday? If joining a group walking tour, make sure that walking is the main theme of the tour and not vehicle game drives. If walking is listed as “optional”, find out if enough time is allocated for it? This could be a red flag that you shouldn’t ignore.

6) What type of accommodation will you have on the Kenya walking tour? In essence you should stay close to the walking sites to avoid wasting a lot of time on road transfers. While you can without doubt still get a great walking experience even on a lodge safari, staying in small tented camps in private game reserves gives a better compliment to your walking holiday in Kenya.

Basic camping is also another option but, however romantic this is described, note you are working on the word “basic” and possibly the price will vindicate this. So if you have not been camping in the last many years, weigh it out if this will be the best way of taking your walking safari in Kenya.

Kenya hiking vacations: Crescent Island, Rift Valley.

7) The safari guide/s on your walking holiday: Your guides on your walking safari will make or break your tour. They should be accomplished naturalists and must enjoy being out in nature. No use in going for a walk with someone who is operating on a morning and afternoon game drive mentality.

Now that you know the basics of a walking holiday in Kenya, hit the keyboard for a walking safari that suits you.

Nothing is flattering when you are referred to as obese, XL or overweight and it is possibly this kind of name bashing that prevent plus size travelers from joining walking holidays.

But plus size travelers raise families, work themselves up the corporate ladder and attend their children’s sports meetings, so where are they if we can’t see them on the walking trail? We need to demystify walking, bring out its beauty, its durability and attraction to travelers of all ages and sizes.

We know the plus size men and women; aren’t they our children, our friends and our workmates?”

Kenya walking holidays in the Aberdare Country Club game sanctuary

Supposing you are plus size, what can you do to get back to walking holidays?

Being plus size does not mean a life on the couch. If as plus size as you are, you can give your house a thorough cleaning or work in your garden, you show all signs of a person who can put a foot forward on the walking trail.

Of course you are not a petite size 10, but you have been around long enough to be comfortable with your plus size frame and you can work with your abilities rather fighting with them.

You possibly can point with near accuracy the period when you accepted that you are plus size and with that you subscribed to taking passive holidays.

Was it after relationship break-up, child number two, an illness or the retrenchment? How did you take your holidays before the “plus size” tag hit in? Sort out these personal issues, then retune your mind and hit the keyboard for serious research on what has been happening in the walking tours section.

Renew your subscription with your local hiking club, join on-line walking forums and strike up conversations with your neighbor about his favorite walks – all these will get your juices up, making it easier to put on your walking boots.

Bring with you a healthy dose of realism that are taking up walking to simply enjoy yourself and not necessarily to be the first one on the hiking trail. Book walking holidays with flexible distances e.g. where you can take a 5km walk instead of the full 10kms and where you may have an off-day for resting in the hotel.

Be careful not to mix-up your renewed interest in walking with loosing weight. Surely you have given the weight issue enough attention and now you must hold a truce with it – this will give you inferiority complex that will take away the fun of hiking.

Prepare yourself by taking short walks round your neighborhood or in the park and gradually increase the the distances of walking. You have to be fit enough to at least keep up with the rear group in your first walking tour.  If in the process you end up dropping a kilo or five take that as a bonus and see, things really aren’t so bad.

What will come as a pleasant surprise is that once your mind set changes and you join other hikers who have crossed the mental size-barriers, you will want to be outdoors savoring each hour and following up on talk of “where next?” Count on it, this kind of talk will make you explore further into your state and in no time the exotic hiking destinations will be on your must-visit list.

Still on the talking part — expect your fellow walkers to come up with all manner of topics; from D.I.Y car repairs to best restaurants, all on a very informal way. So when athlete John asks for ideas on “how to grow the best orchids” – is this not your specialty? Knock him flat with your breeder’s knowledge, including the exact millimeters of water that each plant needs per day.

Wildlife safari in Masai Mara: Burchell Zebras

Thereafter check how he will moderate his pace to match yours and when he says “I’ll give you update on the next walk” he means well and who knows if this is not the starting point of the Orchid Walkers.

So banish the stigma associated with plus size, get your boots from the attic, smell the morning dew, have a cold wind on your face and did a sandwich ever taste so nice?

No obligation to log in the kilometers, just have fun and later look back with WOW, what a walking tour and what great company can walkers be!

Soak Up The Atmosphere

Cafe Society, Casemates Square.

Casemates Square used to be the old parade ground and was also used in the past for public hangings. Very different from its image today.

Within Zambia there are many various equestrian attractions, I’ve searched, and put together a short list of those I’m sure will be of great interest to you …

Voyagers, Zambia’s premier tour operator, travel agency and car hire company, can also arrange equine fun. For horse trails included in fantastic package deals check out their site. We are pleased to mention you are now able to access Voyagers through our site! http://www.thebestofzambia.com/voyagerstravel.html

Chundukwa Adventure Trails at Chundukwa River lodge offer overnight rides or 2 hour rides in the early morning or late afternoon. Ride into the Teak Forests and wilderness areas, crossing over rivers and camping out along the banks of the Zambezi river is one of the better ways to enjoy the awesome beauty of this area. For more details visit, http://www.thebestofzambia.com/chundukwariverlodge.html through our site.

Just Travel Tours – Kapishya Hot springs once part of Sir Stewart Gore-Browne’s Estate of Shiwa N’gandu (famed by the book, The Africa House).   Now owned by Gore-Browne’s grandson, Mark Harvey, this is a beautiful oasis in the bush overlooking the clear, Mansha River. Guided horse trails are just one of the activities available.
For more details visit,  http://www.thebestofzambia.com/justtravel.html through our site.

Chaminuka Private Game Reserve offers horseback safaris.
The reserve is now the habitat of 72 species of Zambian mammals, reptiles and amphibians and some 300 species of birds many native to the area. 30 luxury suites house their huge private collection of African contemporary paintings and sculpture as well as traditional artefacts. Definitely worth a visit!, I had a fantastic day out with visiting family back in 2007.  Just 45 min’s north of Lusaka. For more info visit www.chaminuka.com

Lilayi Game Ranch, just 45mins south of Lusaka offer Horse Back Safaris, which provides a superb opportunity to view the animals within their game ranch from close proximity.
Lilayi Polo Safari: You are invited to come and enjoy yourself for a week or two’s polo experience during the pleasant winter season from March through to September. For more details visit www.lilayi.com/polo.htm

Victoria Carriage Co, Livingstone offers Carriage rides and horseback trails. They operate Victorian style drawn carriages in and around Sun International’s Falls Resort complex, transporting you back to a bygone era of elegance and style. How fantastic!
For more info visit  www.livingstonesadventure.com

To view the spectacular Sun International Resort visit: www.suninternational.com/Dreams/Zambia/Pages/default.aspx

Jessica Brown, Zambia, Lusaka. 08/03/08

I have happened to love horses for as long as I can remember, this love has passed on to my daughter Savannah, and so the love affair continues, although I still remain a novice! Having relocated to Zambia we saw this as a great opportunity to continue riding, improve our skills, while naturally spending quality time, enjoying the weather, scenery and horses.
So in terms of equestrian fun, adventure what does Zambia have to offer? :-

New to Zambia, The Kafue Horse Safari, from 11th March 2009! A new standard is been set in Zambia, and I’m very excited about this venture. Setting new and higher standards is something I’m always excited about, especially when Zambia is concerned. Now, Steven and Lucy Rufus are well known in Southern Africa amongst the horse safari community.
The Kafue Horse Safari will be set within the Kafue National Park in the South Western sector of Zambia near the wonderful, Lake Itezhi-Tezhi. This venture brings the first International Standard Horse safari company to Zambia!
Steven will be the main guide, as he has extensive knowledge of interaction with the “Big Five” which will be vital as the horses are prepared for the new adventure.
I loved this, and so quote…“They have found a place where buffalo roam free, the lion roar nearby and their eternal enemies, hyena giggle under a starry African night, mixed with the unique smell of the earth leaves you in no doubt that you are in Real Africa.” Check out their website for more info www.zambiahorsesafaris.com
If you have experience with horses and are interested in volunteering at Kafue Horse Safari check out http://www.volunteerabroad.com/listingsp3.cfm/listing/42225

I’m also tickled that I found The Kafue Horse Safari in  www.equineadventures.co.uk/country/zambia and www.farandride.com/country/zambia, in both these renowned sites dedicated to providing quality worldwide equine adventure, specialising in travel for tailor-made horse-riding holidays. Kafue horse Safari is the only Zambian equestrian safari option mentioned! At last ? I’m so happy!

Jessica Brown, Zambia, Lusaka. Posted 08/03/09

Author: Jude Limburn Turner

Adventure holidays have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially where mountain trekking is concerned – routes such as the Inca Trail, Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp have become some of the “do before you die” holiday experiences for the more adventurous traveller. But while plenty of people enjoy going on trekking holidays to great mountain ranges, climbing the most difficult peaks is a far greater challenge. There are countless great mountaineers who have risked life and limb to conquer the highest, toughest and most dangerous mountains in the world, but there are a few that stand out from the crowd as true mountaineering heroes…

George Mallory

One of the heroes of the climbing world, and perhaps the most famous mountaineer of all, Englishman George Mallory became famous for a series of unsuccessful (and ultimately tragic) attempts to summit Mount Everest (8848m) in the 1920’s. In what became a burning obsession, Mallory led three attempts on the summit. On the third attempt, on the 8th June 1924 he, and his climbing partner Andrew Irvine, disappeared somewhere on the slopes of Everest. Fierce debate has raged ever since as to whether or not Mallory and Irvine made it to the summit before they died. His famous quote (“Because it is there”, in response to a journalist asking why he wished to climb Everest) has inspired countless mountain lovers on their trekking holidays and climbing expeditions ever since.

Maurice Herzog

In 1950, French mountaineer Maurice Herzog made history by being the first person to successfully summit a peak over eight thousand metres above sea level – Annapurna I (8091m). He lost his gloves on the way up, and the terrible weather on the descent almost claimed the life of Herzog and his fellow climbers. Frostbite cost him most of his fingers and toes, but he managed to make it down alive. His book of the experience, Annapurna, became a massive best seller and trekking holidays in and around the Annapurna massif are hugely popular today – but only a few elite climbers have repeated Herzog’s feat and made it to the top of Annapurna I.

Sir Edmund Hillary

While a trekking holiday to Everest Base Camp is within the capabilities of most fit hikers, the summit of the world’s highest mountain eluded mountaineers for decades. New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary will forever be famous, alongside his climbing partner Sherpa Tenzing, for being one of the first men to finally make it to the top of the mountain in 1953.

Reinhold Messner

Reinhold Messner’s biography reads like a list of mountaineering records and world firsts. Born in Italy in 1944, he was one of the first two people to make a successful ascent of Mount Everest without bottled oxygen, the first person to make a solo ascent of Everest (also without oxygen), the first climber to successfully summit all fourteen eight-thousanders, and so on. In terms of raw achievement, Messner can be considered to be the world’s greatest mountaineer, living or dead.

Joe Simpson

Joe Simpson has become a modern day mountaineering hero due to a near death experience in 1985 in the Peruvian Andes. While attempting to climb the west face of Siula Grande (6344m), a route that had never been successfully attempted, he first broke his leg, then fell down a crevasse after his partner was forced to cut the rope connecting them. Astonishingly, despite suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and the severe pain of his broken leg, after three and a half days he managed to crawl back to their base camp to be rescued. His book of the experience, Touching the Void, has become one of the contemporary classics of mountaineering literature, and was recently made into an award winning documentary.

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Be ready to get impressed on your travel France as the country has everything that one could expect from a holiday. Amongst the five top most tourist destinations in the world, facts about France let you see why it is so. It has the fashion capital Paris as its capital city, beautiful nature, beaches, the mountain scenery, and monuments all make it a great tourist destination. Moreover, the experience of visiting the country can vary as to the place you select for your holiday. Holidays on a beach, in the countryside, the big cities to the beautiful villages, all have something on offer for its visitors. There is plenty to explore and discover, loads of activities to get involved in and certainly life long memories to take back home. A great destination, France provides number of holiday ideas a few are mentioned here.

• Adventure Holidays

Take on an adventure holiday to see the real France. For those who love adventure travel, adventure holidays can be a fantastic option. Get a taste of the place, meet the local people when you head on an adventure holiday. On offer are all kinds of different activities that one can pick from like from the extreme sports to the more ordinary. These holidays come in complete package holidays, and tailor made for adult only adventures or for a family holiday that can cater for all ages of children. It’s the horse riding that catches your fancy, mountain biking or is it the hiking, you can find all this and much more for your holiday.

• Cycling holidays

With cycling being a national pastime in France, the organized cycling holidays are becoming very popular. These holidays provide with an opportunity for the visitors to cycle their way into the country and explore the region while having a go at the sport. This year round activity is a very popular among all ages and weather has a big role to play. In addition there are quite and beautiful countryside, with number of roads available for cycling. The well-maintained roads provide excellent cycling areas for cycling. Tour de France, the greatest cycling event in the world takes here in the country. For not the regular cyclists there are organized cycling trips, which combine cycling with accommodation, visits to the areas along the route.

• Skiing holidays

If you are on travel France for a skiing holiday then you will find the country has some of the best ski areas and ski resorts. France is a very popular destination among the tourists and if you skiing is your cup of tea, then Alps provide with excellent ski areas. With many ski classes made available for the tourists who are beginners, everyone can enjoy. Tourists can choose from a wide range of ski accommodation from ski resorts, private ski chalets, chalet apartments to hotels. The ski accommodation meets the needs of all skiers.

• Golfing holidays

France can turn out to be an excellent choice for a golfing holiday for both the professional and amateur golfers, as the country has a variety of golf courses. Playing golf amidst snow-capped mountains or Mediterranean views, it is a wonderful experience. France is a fantastic destination for golf holidays all the year round and plenty of sunshine adds on to the charm of the place. There is a lot of choice as the France map is dotted all over with golf courses. With the specially designed golf holidays, wherein one stays in a luxury villa, a private golf course and this blend of comfort and quality with golf is a quite experience.

• Holiday on a River Cruise

With the varied landscape that France has, a river cruise holiday is a perfect way to enjoy the countryside, the history and the culture as one travels from one place to another. It is the right idea for a relaxing and a different kind of holiday. A river cruise lets you experience, what you can never otherwise see, with every region having its own specialty and beauty.

• Camping holidays

Travel France for a great camping holiday, which is a great holiday idea for fun and adventure. In the recent years, camping has caught on with the tourists and with thousands of campsites available, it is all the much easier to embark on a camping holiday. One will get easily spoiled for choices, with so many to choose from, right from hiring your own tent, caravans, or even a mobile home, is a great way of touring the country. The campsites are well maintained and organized, offering all the facilities for relaxing and entertaining holidays.

Wherever you travel a France map would be a handy tool and should be your accompanist all through your holiday.

by: Nancy Eben