Exotic Indian tours offered

CORK-based Shandon Travel has expanded its tailor-made worldwide travel offers with a huge increase in programmes to India and South America.

The company offers a mind-boggling array of special tours in India from €1,170 to about €3,000. In co-operation with Beacon, it offers a selection of countries in South America, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Peru.

Check out the Indian packages on www.incredibleindia.ie or tel [phone] or at any Shandon Travel shop. Details of South American holidays on www.beaconsouthamerica.com or tel [phone]

* PANORAMA Holidays has launched a dedicated brochure for Portugal and Madeira. The company offers flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon from €289, with a host of special offers.

Call to any travel agent, or contact Panorama Holidays on 0818 20 20 20, or visit www.panoramaholidays.ie

* TOPFLIGHT recently launched its new, extended sports programme for schools, adding rugby, hockey, and adventure activities to its already successful ski and soccer programmes.

Rugby-mad kids should be particularly interested in a programme that provides an opportunity to train under top coaches in Toulouse and in areas of Argentina. The company organises matches against local opposition who would be of similar age and standard.

Check it out at www.topflight.ie

* GIRL power rules with Slopeside, the ski and snowboard holiday company. The company is selling a “Girls Only” package in the French Alps between January 13 and 20 (ex-Dublin). The all-in price of €1,099 includes chalet accommodation for seven nights, private transfers, bed, breakfast and evening meal, complimentary wines with meals, ski guiding service, one complimentary massage and group ski lessons (all levels).

Check it out at www.slopeside.ie or call 01 4789 501

* TREKKING and walking holidays have become increasingly popular in Ireland over the years. Now the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is hoping to attract large numbers of visitors in 2008.

The board is already a market leader in this type of holiday by offering physical details of The Waymarked Ways, routes that are clearly marked and mapped.

Developed in recent years, the Ways cover 225 miles and are fully sign posted with the standard Waymarked Way Symbol. Each route also has illustrated interpretive panels at key points.

One can choose from relaxing strolls of between two and five miles, to more serious 20-mile hikes.

Guidebooks with maps for each Way, and accommodation details for specific areas, are available from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on 1850 230 230, or by logging onto www.discovernorthernireland.com