Exodus launches new winter trips for thrill-seekers and fairy-tale fans

11 NEW trips announced for winter 2014/2015, including snowshoeing in Turkey and skating courses in Italy

18 August 2014 – Whether winter holidaymakers are looking for a ‘fairy-tale’ cultural trip or a thrill-seeking adventure this season, they will be spoilt for choice with Exodus. The UK’s leading adventure tour operator has announced 11 new trips for its 2014/2015 winter brochure, with a wide variety of winter activities, from snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to more cultural walking tours, as well as five new destinations: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey and Albania.   

Following demand from Exodus summer walking tour customers, the adventure specialists have launched several snowshoeing holidays for the coming season, with snowshoeing trips available in the French Alps, Albania and even Turkey, as well as cross-country skiing in France and the High Tatras of Northern Slovakia. For those in search of a new sporting challenge, there is the Transjurassienne Ski Race. Located in the French Jura Mountains, this challenge is one of the most popular in the ski racing calendar and stretches over 50km.

Meanwhile, a new collection of cultural trips will see customers travel from Vienna to Prague, sample Stockholm and the Baltics, discover winter in Transylvania and marvel at Finland’s Northern Lights. 
Tom Wilkinson, Exodus’ Winter Adventures Programme Manager, commented: “This winter we wanted to give Exodus winter customers more variety, while also offering more specialised tours led by our highly knowledgeable tour experts. We have stepped up the programme by adding more cultural tours and several new destinations such as Albania and Estonia. A range of difficulty levels also means a world of choice for beginners as well as repeat customers. We look forward to the new season and welcoming our new wave of winter enthusiasts!”

Here is a selection of Exodus’ new trips from the Winter Adventures brochure 2014/2015:

Vienna to Prague in Winter 

The run up to Christmas is a magical time across Europe, as the great cities are decked in lights and magnificent medieval squares host traditional Christmas markets. This trip journeys from the imperial city of Vienna through wintry landscapes to the historic capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. Unusual Christmas markets are central to the trip, with stops en route at the medieval town of Cesky Krumlov and Pilsen, UNESCO Capital of Culture for 2015 and home to Pilsner Urquell. First departure 27 November 2014. Priced from £999 per person for a five day trip, including flights, accommodation and all breakfasts. 

Snowshoeing in Turkey

While Turkey may seem an unusual destination for a snowshoeing holiday, the fairy-tale chimneys of Cappadocia and the unspoilt landscape of the Taurus Mountains offer fantastic winter walking opportunities. The troglodyte dwellings, cities and churches are best discovered on foot, and in winter are largely free of tourists. The trip then moves on to the Taurus Mountains, where the group enjoy snowshoeing through valleys and canyons with superb views over the dramatic scenery. First departure 27 December 2014. Priced from £999 per person for eight days including flights, accommodation, all breakfasts and snowshoes and poles. 

Winter in Transylvania

The towering peaks of the Carpathian Mountains mark the backdrop for this fairy-tale adventure into one of Europe’s most enchanted regions. The group explores Transylvania’s history and folklore, visits Christmas markets and even spends a night on beds of ice at the Ice Hotel. No trip to Transylvania would be complete without exploring the Dracula legend, and the group visits both Dracula’s castle and the UNESCO World Heritage site city of Sighisoara, birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s gothic tale of vampires. First departure 6 December 2014. Priced from £1,349 per person for eight days, including flights, accommodation and all breakfasts. 

Versciaco Skating Course

Based in the scenic village of Versciaco di Sopra in the Italian Dolomites, this 'Learn to Skate' course is ideal for anyone who wants to make the transition from classic cross-country skiing to using a skating technique or who wishes to improve their skating skills. The course is offered at two grades: one for newcomers to skating with no previous experience (who can already ski classic) and the other offers a mixture of instruction and touring for those who would like to perfect the skating technique. Some departures are led by Eric Woolley, a Snowsport England Coach/Tutor, who has been leading Exodus holidays for many years. First departure 31 January 2015. Priced from £1,229 per person for eight days, including flights, accommodation, all breakfasts, most dinners and five days ski instruction.

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To book, call Exodus on 0845 805 0366 or visit www.exodus.co.uk.

Press InformationFor more information or to discuss a trip, please contact Paul Stokes, Carolyn van Vliet, Sara Whines or Natalie Amos at Four bgb on 0203 697 4200. Email: exodus@fourcommunications.com