VILLAGES UNTOUCHED BY TIME IN NORTHERN PORTUGAL

New York, NY (04/14) Go back in time with “Walking the wild hill country”. On Foot Holiday’s self-guided eight-day hike through the hills of Northern Portugal will take you to the most rural villages where you will experience Portugal’s traditional country life. Hike through the charming little hamlets of Soajo, Lindoso, Brufe, Camp Geres and the Roman Road to Emaus, until reaching Pousada Santa Maria do Bouro, a monastery that was converted into a top hotel.

On this tour you will visit Portugal’s national park, Peneda-Gerês, a splendid landscape characterized by lush green valleys and granite hills. Hidden in the park you will find delightful villages where rural communities continue a lifestyle that is centuries old. These small towns are the epitome of remoteness. See typical Portuguese granaries, espigueiros, where farmers keep their maize, to feed to their long-horned cattle; and walk on ancient paved footpaths and along the Via Romana high above the valley.

Every On Foot itinerary puts a strong emphasis on culture and local hospitality.  Throughout your journey, the choice of accommodation will vary, ranging from friendly pensions and traditional Portuguese houses to a luxurious hotel. You will also have the opportunity (for an extra charge) to taste typical dishes at Brufe’s remarkable restaurant, Restaurant Abocanhado, recognized worldwide for its delicious bacalhau, and can have a memorable evening at Emaus, tasting Paulo’s menu tradicional, accompanied by his excellent range of local wines.   

This tour is available from April to October. Rates for eight nights per person sharing are from $984 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, one evening meal, six picnics, detailed itinerary and supporting material, and luggage transfers between hotels.

For more information contact On Foot Holidays at (011)44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk

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Note to editors: On Foot Holidays features predominantly linear, self-guided walking holidays in France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Germany, Slovenia and the UK’s south-west. Each walk has been designed by a ‘Route Adviser’ – a person who lives locally and has painstakingly developed an itinerary through varied countryside, packing in as much culture as possible en route and seeking out the most welcoming small hotels, farmhouses and village rooms. The emphasis is very much on good food and wine after a day’s walking. On Foot Holidays is a member of AITO (the Association of Independent Tour Operators).

WALK YOUR WAY TO HEALTH WITH ON FOOT HOLIDAYS

New York, NY (03/14) - We have good news about the bad news! The bad news is that obesity is expected to overtake tobacco as the leading preventable cause of death in America, where one third of the adults are considered obese. The good news is that one of the best ways to get your heart pumping and body toned is walking.

Self-guided walking tours specialist, On Foot Holidays, offers over 20 different tours that unveil little-known and charming areas of Europe. With routes ranging from easy to hard, it is now possible to get fit while on vacation without having to miss out on any of the culinary specialties of each village.

Each tour is created by a ‘route designer’, a local of the area with a strong interest in its landscape and culture. It usually takes a lot of time to get a handle on a place and get to know its hidden gems; this is why On Foot Holidays arranges your stay in small inns, farms or pensions, which allows you to get closer to the hospitality and the traditions of each region.

Sample Walks:

Slovenia (The Karst- culture and landscape)-  Ideal for the casual walker, this eight-night tour explores the Slovenian Karst, one of Europe’s most diverse landscapes that ranges from sharp edges of limestone caves surrounded by the greenest pine trees to disappearing lakes and rivers. Explore the woodlands and meadows from Ljubljana to Trieste, and indulge in the villages’ wild beauty and culture. After all the walking you will be rewarded; staying at local farmhouses that produce their own wine, hams and honey, makes this tour a great fit for foodies. You will have the opportunity to taste the unique and local Teran wine, famous for its rich and robust character, that pairs perfectly with the local prosciutto (Prsut). Rates per person sharing start at $1,160 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, five evening meals, six picnics, luggage transfers between hotels and detailed “walkers’ pack”. Level: Easy (three to five hours of walking per day).

Sabine Hills (Italy) – This seven-night self-guided walk through  old woods, paths and tracks in the Sabine Hills is more challenging, but you will have lifts available to get over the steep sections. Starting in the historic medieval village of Contigliano, the route will pass through several delightful Italian villages where cuisine will be exceptional, and with all that walking you will not feel guilty about having a taste of everything. In Casperia you will even have the chance to sign up for cooking lessons and learn how to make fresh pasta from scratch. Accommodation is among the highlights of this route– from charming B&Bs and a small palace, to the house of a local artist and an organic working farm, you will experience Sabina at its fullest. The tour ends in the Eternal City, Rome, where you will stay at a wonderful B&B with an excellent location, close to Campo di Fiori and Vatican City. Rates per person sharing start at $1,136 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, four evening meals, two picnics, luggage transfers between hotels and detailed itinerary and supporting material for walkers to follow the routes. Level: Medium (three and a half to six hours of walking per day).

For more information contact On Foot Holidays at (011)44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk

WALK THROUGH THE REMOTE AND CULTURALLY RICH PATHS OF THE ITALIAN ALPS

NEW YORK, NY (01/2014) On Foot Holidays, a specialist in self-guided walking tours that stands out for its unique and carefully designed routes through remote areas of Europe, offers a seven-night journey to the Italian Alps’ dramatic rocky mountain chain, the Dolomites. You can take this tour anytime during July, August or September. Once you choose your set off date, On Foot will create a detailed itinerary and arrange your stay in typical inns and boutique hotels. While walking with your partner, friends or solo, On Foot’s staff will transfer your luggage from town to town so you can enjoy a hands-free excursion.

The Dolomites (from remote South Tyrol to sophisticated Cortina) is of medium- hard difficulty to walk with three to six hours of walking per day. Combining the most attractive areas of this World Natural Heritage site, the tour will take you not only to explore the highly distinctive mountain landscapes, but also to experience the rich Tyrolean culture.

The Dolomites, famous for their dramatic vertical and pale-colored peaks, are among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world. Route designer and ten-year walking expert of the area, On Foot’s Isabelle Basso, ensures the journey is full of unforgettable landscapes and experiences.

Stroll through the dreaming meadows of the South Tyrol, spend a night in an isolated mountain refuge, tour the distinguished Tre Cime Circuit and enjoy the picturesque scenery the Lake at Misurina offers. The tour ends in worldwide known gourmet destination, Cortina, where you’ll be delighted by exceptional dining. Throughout the whole trip you will experience the gastronomic richness of this region; enjoy fresh milk from mountain herds and Italian wine from Veneto. From dumplings to pasta in a week, your palate will be exposed to both German-Alpine and Italian-Alpine cooking.

Rates for seven nights per person sharing are from $1,400 for the early July holidays and include accommodation, breakfast daily, six evening meals, detailed itinerary and supporting material and luggage transfers. 

For more information, and questions regarding customized variations of the trip and low/high season prices, contact On Foot Holidays at +44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk