5 great reasons to book a GROUP TREKJoining one of our numerous group trek departures has many benefits.1.Cost This really just has to be number one. It's always going to be cheaper booking a group trip as many of the fixed costs (e.g. guides, transport, trek support) are shared and prices for accommodation can be negotiated downwards. 2. Simplicity and time How many of you, in your busy day-to-day lives, have the time to organise and create a trekking adventure to a far flung corner of the world you have never been to before? Believe us, it isn't easy putting together a trekking adventure. Thankfully we have the knowledge and know how, as well as trusted and reliable contacts throughout the world and years of experience operating successful trekking adventures and we can anticipate the pitfalls. It makes sense to trust the professionals. 3. Trek deeper and further Because costs are shared and therefore lower, this allows us to create more exciting trekking itineraries. This means we can plan to explore wonderful parts of the world off the beaten track and for longer. Some trips would be almost impossible or cost prohibitive if they weren't operated as group treks. 4. Trek with like?-?minded people We're constantly asked "who takes part in your group trips?" The answer is that it's people just like you! A typical group usually comprises of a balanced mix of gender, and often a variety of ages and backgrounds too. Some people may be couples, some small groups of friends and some will be travelling solo, but the simple fact is that everyone has common interest - trekking, adventure and the country they are visiting. It's a great way of making new friends and meeting like minded people. 5. No additional costs for single?/?solo travellers That's right. The prices for our group trips are exactly the same if you are booking just for yourself, two persons or more. There is no additional single supplement charge if you are single or travelling solo (unless you specifically request single accommodation). It's a great way to trek if you're travelling single/solo. Pretty soon you'll be amongst friends.10 Talk to an expert 0845 301 4737

COMING SOON. The Tour du Mont Blanc As we go to press with our newsletter we're just putting the final touches to a new self-guided walking holiday in the Alps, the classic Tour du Mont Blanc, more affectionately known simply as the TMB. Walking through France, Switzerland and Italy the TMB is perhaps the most iconic and famous of all walks in the Alps. This circuit of Mont Blanc affords spectacular views at every point and is quite simply a "must do" for all mountain walking enthusiasts. Crossing renowned alpine passes the route takes you beneath glaciers, through valleys and across summer meadows and of course breathtaking mountain panoramas. Star of the show is western Europe's highest peak, Mont Blanc, which at 4807m is the "Monarch of the Alps". With intelligent, yet limited use of public transport, this world famous circuit can be completed in a one week holiday. We'll be offering daily departures between July 2011 and mid-September 2011 with accommodation, main baggage transfers and most meals included. 8 days Land Only Price £595 Full details of this trip are now available on our website at www.walksworldwide.comThis trip is not featured in our current brochure.Or visit us on the web www.walksworldwide.com 11NEW TRIP MALTA, The Heart of the Mediterranean It goes a little bit like this. Our good friends at the Malta Tourist Board say to us "will you please come to Malta, have a walk around our islands and create a walking holiday. We'll give you a guide, transport, air travel and anything else you need".So our Sarah Harper soon found herself in Malta last December to do some serious work.Here are Sarah's findings of her time on the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino.After digging my car out of the snow in the UK, a couple of hours later I'm stepping off a plane in Malta. I simply had to call my now frozen colleagues to tell them it was 22°C and I was sitting on the terrace of my charming hotel in a t-shirt, sipping a glass of chilled wine and enjoying a view from the medieval citadel of Mdina across the whole of Malta. A walk along spectacular karstic cliffs on the south coast was a dramatic start, before heading inland to discover pretty villages, ornate churches and a patch work of terraced fields. A short ferry ride to Gozo revealed a different island altogether. Life moves at a slower pace here, it's more hilly and greener too. From atop Gozo's highest point I could see across to Sicily and the summit of Etna. Walking across Gozo was a pleasure. Always interesting, I also slowed to the pace of life and, reaching a quaint bay, saw how they extract salt from the Med in saltpans. A boat ride to tiny Comino was next and I walked above the inviting Blue Lagoon to the fort used in the film the "Count of Monte Cristo" for open views and met three of the four people who live on Comino. It's impossible to get lost here and a nice quiet cove was found to enjoy a picnic and I got to dip my feet in the Med. Back on Malta I even discovered "Popeye's Village", and throughout enjoyed great food, great hospitality, far better weather than at home and a place with a mish mash of cultural influences, yet with its own identity. Our new 'Heart of the Med' Maltese islands walking holiday is now available, only at www.walksworldwide.com. Search Malta. Prices start at £330 Land Only.