Market Leader in Lakes & Mountains and over 70 years of mountain experience!

Two new countries and seven new destinations are added to the 2009 Inghams Lakes & Mountains programme. Inghams newly designed brochure is packed with useful advice and inspiring features on the best resorts for mountain lovers, keen walkers and culture vultures alike. The new brochure highlights each region�s unique attributes as well as walking and hiking trails, local culture, cuisine, advice from the expert Inghams team and information on how to get the best from a Lakes and Mountains holidays.

What is new for summer �09 Two new countries, Iceland and Albania are added to the 2009 programme as well as seven new destinations in the more traditional Alpine Lake and Mountain areas of Kandersteg, Serfaus, Fiss, Vancouver Island and Santa Margherita. Six new tours and more walking and cycling holiday choices are also on offer; Albania, the last frontier of Eastern Europe is an unspoilt, historic destination full of wild scenery, untouched coastline and very friendly people. Iceland, is home to the marvels of Mother Nature with spectacular landscapes filled with glaciers, spouting geysers, volcanoes and magnificent waterfalls; Kandersteg is a hikers paradise with excellent luxury hotels, close to the Gemmi Pass, a well known historical trail which Sherlock Holmes passed on foot to find Moriarty in the heart of the Bernese Oberland; Santa Margherita, nestled on the Italian Ligurian Riviera, is situated at the foot of Mont Portofino and close to the Le Cinque Terre and the Tuscan highlights of Pisa and Lucca. Serfaus and Fiss in Austria are just over one hour from Innsbruck airport. These beautiful villages offer extensive hiking with high standard of accommodation with 4* and 5* hotels making up the majority of accommodation options. Vancouver Island offers an amazing diversity of wildlife, both marine and terrestrial, only a short ferry ride from the picturesque city of Vancouver. The Pacific Ocean dominates the landscape and provides the best wildlife viewing, kayaking and hiking opportunities.

Tours are gaining in popularity and with many more emerging destinations, this year Inghams has introduced some high-quality new itineraries. Client�s feedback continues to highlight that they like visiting more than one place during their holiday. New tours include: Albania Highlights (Albania); Austrian Express and Austrian Selection (Austria); Grand Tour (Croatia); Classic Iceland and Natural Wonders (Iceland); Alpine Highlights (Switzerland) and Best of Alaska and Yukon (USA);

Ten Top Tips for summer 2009 1. Outside the Euro-zone and tipped as front runners for next summer. The �Albanian Highlights� seven nights tour crosses the undiscovered Mediterranean country of Albania. From the capital Tirana to the northern town of Shkodra, highlights include Berat, the town of a Thousand Windows, Pogradec a UNSECO World Heritage Site, Lake Ohrid in Macedonia and the rugged Montenegro coastline. Plus the �Grand Tour of Croatia� tour combines cities, rivers, lakes and mountains. The tempting cities of coastal Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Mostar, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovinia, Split and Zadar are all included. This seven night tour is based on Croatia�s natural highlights.

2. Rather than fly, relax and enjoy the sense of adventure of an international rail journey whisking you across Europe to Inghams� destinations. New day time services from London St Pancras to all Inghams� Swiss resorts are available as well as to the Italian resorts on Lake Maggiore and overnight to Lake Garda.

3. A record number of British visitors are discovering Europe�s long, sunny summer and its unspoiled lakes and mountains as a refreshing, affordable and increasingly fashionable alternative to the beach.

4. Inghams offer value added holidays and this is an excellent perk when you are budgeting for that all important summer holiday. Little extras such as free lunch packs, free guided walks or free wine with dinner can impact the budget for a holiday. Look out for Inghams Plus offers throughout the programme.

5. Jet-ski versus foot and pedal power? Nothing is more energising than invigorating the senses by walking in the mountains or cycling out in the fresh mountain air. Next summer getting highs in an affordable way will be the way forward. Inghams continues to offer a huge variety of walks from pleasant strolls, professionally guided Wanderwalks and more challenging all-day hikes. In Italy, qualified mountaineering guides lead the seven nights �Lake Garda Panoramas� tour and the �South Tyrol Explorer�; in two of the most awe inspiring scenic areas of Italy. On the �Valley Explorer� Inghams propose five full days of guided walking from the comfortable base of Mutters, near Innsbruck. Whilst the �Danube Cycle Tour� is an unescorted cycling tour along the shores of the Danube with luggage transportation included between the hotels.

6. Needing the freedom to roam? This year there are eight independent self-guided walking holidays in conjunction with Inntravel, Inghams� sister company. Among the tempting European trails are a flexible route through the most westerly High Dolomites, Spain�s Catalan Coast, Switzerland�s Lake Lucerne, the Waterways and Flowers of Madeira, Slovenia�s Lake Bled and, in Austria, both the Leutasch Valley and the Lakes and Mountains of Salzkammergut.

7. Lakes and Mountains holidays span a multitude of activities, including cultural festivals. Head to the shores of Lake Lucerne and enjoy Lucerne�s Summer Festival in September, one of the great European music festivals, standing alongside Salzburg and Edinburgh. Verona Opera opens in June, so make the most of your trip to Verona. Sit in the warm night air and enjoy the magnificent Roman Arena, the electric atmosphere and spectacular Opera.

8. Lakes and Mountains holidays can also be a spa break. The Alps have a long spa tradition and with a rich cultural heritage make European mountain resorts an ideal destination to re-energise and detox in style. Inghams has hand picked the best European spas that focus on wellbeing and offer some of the most inspiring treatment room views in the world. High altitude destinations are known to increases the blood cells and endorphins released into your bloodstream, so you look and feel great too!

9. Every Inghams� holiday represents excellent value for money. Prices start from �287 per person at the 3* Poblado apartments in Arinsal in a 2 room apartment on a self-catering basis, including flights from Gatwick and transfers for seven nights. Prices start from �362 per person at the 3* Hotel Solana in Arinsal in on half board, including flights from Gatwick and transfers for seven nights. Regional airports are available at a supplement for both holidays. www.inghams.co.uk 020 8780 4454. People like to know that they are protected by their tour operator when travelling if anything goes wrong. Inghams have over 75 years of experience and are ATOL protected.

10. Austria and Switzerland will not be hosting Euro 2008, instead they will be offering fantastic improved facilities in the host cities of Innsbruck, Vienna, Salzburg, Berne, Zurich, Basel and Geneva. Time to visit.

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For further information please contact: Lynsey Devon Public Relations Manager Tel: 020 8780 8813 or E mail: Lynsey.Devon@Inghams.co.uk