Imagine standing on the highest point in the whole of Africa. Imagine spending time on one of the most famous landmarks in the whole of the continent and imagine walking each day through a different environment to eventually reach a beautiful snow-capped peak. All of this can be achieved while climbing  kilimanjaro.

For those interested in Tanzania adventure holidays, Mount Kilimanjaro is a landmark on the list of the majority of people who visit this part of the world. Standing at just under 6,000 metres high, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and, therefore, attracts a great number of visitors each year. Many of those on Tanzania holidays intend on climbing Kilimanjaro due to the immense feeling of achievement that they get when they have reached the summit.

There is no better feeling than reaching the summit of arguably one of the most beautiful mountains on Earth and knowing that you are one of the highest people on the entire planet. Whether you are a keen mountaineer or just interested in experiencing the majesty of Kilimanjaro, climbing this mountain will be an unforgettable experience for all who participate. Not only is scaling Kilimanjaro an amazing achievement, it is also something that most people with a reasonable level of fitness can manage. So, with a little bit of determination, climbing Kilimanjaro can be achieved by almost anybody.

As well as being on your own personal journey while on the mountain, you will be able to enjoy it with others, scaling the mountain along with you.

Even for those interested on embarking on Tanzania holidays alone, there will always be someone to share your experiences with while on the mountain and accompany you on your journey to the summit. You will see familiar and friendly faces each evening when you reach your camp for the night and can absorb the beautiful surroundings with your fellow walkers, or wander off and enjoy the unique feeling of an African sunset.

Reaching the snow-capped summit of Kilimanjaro will obviously be the highlight of the trip for anybody enjoying Tanzania adventure holidays and these precious moments are what will make each visitor want to return to this wonderful part of the world again and again. Standing on this beautiful summit, you will be able to see the curvature of the Earth from any angle as well as be able to watch the sun rise in the distance above the plains of Tanzania.

So, for anybody interested in climbing the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, why not take a trip to Kilimanjaro, the perfect place to make your Tanzania holidays as memorable as possible.

Daffodils are sprouting at the roadside and there are snowdrops in the garden – spring must be on its way. But while the weather remains a bit too chilly for heading to the coast and a bit wet for walks in the countryside, a spa weekend can provide an ideal getaway.

spa deals are not only there to be purchased as Valentine’s Day gifts or Mother’s Day treats. They are for anyone at any time and the UK boasts some of the finest spa breaks and spa days in all of Europe.

Spa breaks are ideal for green-minded travellers who are seeking to avoid flying to sunnier climbs for a relaxing holiday. Most of Britain’s spas can be reached by train and bus and many of the spas themselves take pride in their environmentally friendly approach.

In the south of England, spa experiences in some wonderfully tranquil, relaxing settings are available all year round, at places like Spa6 in South Cerney, Gloucestershire. Longer stays at spas like these give visitors the chance to enjoy surrounding areas of countryside, such as the Cotswolds in the case of Spa6. The combination of rolling Gloucestershire countryside and the luxurious facilities of the spa can make for a truly memorable experience.

The hills and mountains of Wales might still be somewhat wild at this time of year, but there are a number of spa hotels to be found all over Wales, often in spectacular, historic buildings. For example, the Tre-Ysgawen Country House Hotel and Spa in Anglesey offers spa breaks within the lavish surroundings of a country house and gardens that date back to 1882.

While the last of the ice and frost melts on the rivers, lochs and glens of Scotland, the country’s spas offer many wonderfully secluded vantage points from which to enjoy Scottish countryside without having to brave the elements.

Bannatyne Spa in Inverness is one such spa, where the guests enjoy panoramic views of the Cairngorm mountain range and Urquhart Castle while treating themselves to a relaxing spa weekend.

Treatments offered by most spas include body massage, facials, manicures, Indian head massage and dry floatation, but many will have treatments not found elsewhere, depending on the facilities at the spa and the expertise of the staff.

The number of air travellers hitting the skies each year will grow to 3.3 billion by 2014, according to a new forecast released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) this week.

This figure represents an increase of 800 million on the 2009 figure, a sizeable increase by anyone’s standards. Air cargo is also expected to increase, with international aviation expected to be handling a staggering 38 million tonnes of air cargo – up 12.5 million tonnes on the 26 milllion tonnes transported in 2009.

The association says it expects China to represent the biggest contribution to this increase – 45 per cent of the extra 800 million travellers expected in 2014 will travel on Asia Pacific routes, according to this new report. And in terms of the largest single country for air travel, the United States will remain the biggest consumer of air travel, with 671 million domestic passengers and 215 international passengers by 2014.

While the IATA recognises growth on this scale will present “some challenges,” it fails to mention the environmental impact of this continued growth in aviation. In a statement issued yesterday, IATA Director General and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani, said:

“To realise the economic growth potential that this will bring, we will need even more efficient air traffic management, airport facilities and security programs. Industry and governments will be challenged to work together even more closely.”

No mention then of the need for airlines to work to find ways to reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution generated by the aviation industry, even though the IATA states on its website that the “environment is one of our top priorities.”

Perhaps the association is hoping airlines will take the initiative themselves – a strategy which might just be helped by soaring fuel costs and tax increases. One such airline which appears to be taking steps in the right direction is Quantas.

The Australian national carrier announced earlier this week that is has signed a deal with a renewable energy firm, to look into opportunities to develop sustainable aviation fuel using algae as a base.

Quantas hopes to have a business case prepared within 12 months, after which time it will evaluate the sustainable fuel against “stringent commercial and sustainability criteria.”

Will other airlines follow suit? And if they do, will it be too little, too late? China’s own national carrier, Air China, doesn’t even have an environmental statement on its UK website, which is hardly an encouraging sign.

For visitors to Peru holidays always include the fantastic Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. However, aside from these ruins, for the tourist in Peru holidays are varied and fascinating. With its stunning natural beauty, its long history and friendly people, it is an ideal place for activity holidays, cultural holidays and family holidays.

Travelling south from Lima will lead you to amazing destinations, many of them linked to the Incan Empire. For those on cultural holidays or family holidays, visits to Cuzco and Arequipa are a must. Lake Titicaca is also an amazing location attracting all kinds of visitors. Those on activity holidays will also enjoy treks into the Colca Canyon (organised from

Arequipa) and those on cultural holidays will love the mysterious Nazca Lines.

Once the Incan capital, Cuzco is the centre of Incan culture and an archaeological treasure trove. The city centre abounds with churches and colonial buildings crammed full of Incan treasures. The local people are direct descendants of the Incas and there are huge Incan built walls all around the old town. Due to its very visible Incan heritage, the city has now developed into a massive centre for tourism and offers the visitor all the necessary amenities. A stay in Cuzco will invariably include a visit to the Sacred Valley, a lush area that provides fruit and vegetables to the city as it has done for centuries. It is a key site for anyone interested in Incan culture and history.

Continuing further south en-route to Arequipa, a stop off in Pisco is also recommended. This city has its roots in the Paracas culture of Peru. Tambo Colorado is nearby, an excellently preserved Incan site. Also close to the city, ideal for those on activity holidays, is the Paracas National Reserve otherwise known as the Peruvian Galapagos. It is a haven for a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.

Arequipa is the home of ‘Juanita, The Ice Princess’, an Incan girl found preserved in ice for 500 years. A visit to The Colca Canyon is also a must and easily arranged from Arequipa. Ideal for those on activity holidays, cultural holidays or family holidays, a trip to this awe-inspiring canyon involves swimming in thermal springs, seeing pre-Incan terraces and Andean villages and the chance to see the majestic Condor in flight. Active holidaymakers may also like a trek up El Misti Volcano. Best seen from the air, the mysterious Nazca Lines are another amazing sight and this is another enjoyable stopover for those travelling south.

No tour of southern Peru would be complete without a visit to Lake Titicaca.

At over 3,800 metres above sea level, this lake is an amazing sight. Sited between Peru and Bolivia, it is sacred to the Incans and it is believed to be the birthplace of the first Incan king. To visit Titicaca, the best place to stay is in Puno. Like all old towns in Peru it contains places of historical and cultural interest.

Southern Peru therefore offers everything for those on cultural holidays, activity holidays or family holidays. For the visitor to Peru holidays in the south of the country will offer an unforgettable experience.

If signs of spring have got you thinking about taking a UK break this year, why not think about Norfolk? As well as having a host of natural attractions to explore, this classic English holiday destination now boasts two Gold-certified, sustainable places to stay.

East View Holiday Cottages near Wroxham have just been awarded gold in the Green Tourism Business Scheme – the Visit Britain-backed sustainable tourism certification programme. The two cottages are set on ten acres of landscaped grounds in the heart of the Norfolk Broads National Park.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the only official, UK-wide certification scheme for tourism businesses and demands high standards from businesses which want to be included in the scheme. Any tourism business with hopes of being awarded a gold, silver or bronze award must meet and exceed strict environmental standards, including defined criteria on energy, biodiversity and waste efficiency and management.

Some of the features which impressed assessors who visited East View Farm Holiday Cottages, include wind turbines which provide green energy for the cottages and excellent recycling and composting facilities. Owner Jane Pond actively promotes green transport options to guests staying at the cottages and provides information on local restaurants which serve local produce.

Commenting on the new award, Jane said: “I am very passionate about Norfolk and looking after our environment. Since opening in 2001 we have planted over 3,000 native trees and shrubs and created a wildlife pond so that our guests are able to enjoy the beauty of the English country side. We wanted to ensure that visitors to our cottages stay in an environmentally friendly accommodation without having to compromise on comfort.”

As well as high environmental standards, both cottages deliver excellent comfort for guests. Features include modern furnishings, a wood burning stove, country kitchen and spacious, inviting bedrooms.
The only other accommodation provider in Norfolk which has been certified Gold by the Green Tourism Business Scheme is Clippesby Hall Holiday Park, which lies between Norwich and Great Yarmouth.

The complex offers a choice of accommodation options including camping facilities and lodges, plus a restaurant, swimming pool and children’s play park. Aside from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the park has picked-up awards from several other certification schemes, including the David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation. Clippesby Hall has also received favourable reviews in several national newspapers, including the Guardian, London Evening Standard and Sunday Times.

It might only be February, but we’d say it’s never too early to start planning your summer escape!

Car hire Milan Linate Airport allows you to explore the ins and outs of Milan – the leading design capital and nerve centre of Italy’s economy. Surprisingly, Milan is not driven by tourism, even though its attractions are many and varied and easily uncovered with car rental Italy. Local gems include the elaborate cathedral, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, La Scala opera house and Castello Sforzesco.

Indeed it is Milan’s relentless creativity that sets it apart from all other cities in Italy.

Milan is the city where Versace, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Pucci and Gucci all first launched their fashion collections. Serial shoppers head straight to Milan to pick up clothing from the designers’ flagship stores in the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Golden Quad). Anyone who has flown into Malpensa airport and is getting around town with car hire Malpensa will be able to stow their bags safely away and shop at ease at nearby discount outlets selling last season bargains. It’s not only clothing that tops shopping lists in Milan. The city is also the world capital of furniture and soft furnishings (the beanbag was invented in Milan). Milan is also a centre for contemporary art.

Those flying with low cost airlines will find car hire Bergamo a much cheaper option. Milan’s temperatures soar in August – the peak time for locals to take their holidays. As a result, this is the city’s quietest month.

Beside’s fashion and banking, Milan’s other bug obsession is calico (football). The city is a base for both AC Milan and Inter, two of Italy’s biggest teams. During the soccer season, Sundays in San Siro stadium mean packed to capacity matches.

A drive outside of the city centre will take you to lesser known attractions including Navigli’s canal-side cafés and charming little gelaterie (ice-cream shops). The cutting-edge design district of Isola is also worth a look.

Spring is cycling season all over Europe and whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just a beginner there are many wonderful, green holidays to be had all over the continent as the weather warms up.

After all, who really wants to spend springtime driving around in a hire car, unable to take in the atmosphere, the smells and the impromptu adventures of their chosen destination? Cycling is a great way to explore towns, cities, countryside and even entire regions of a country if you are feeling fit enough, and you can do it all without harming the environment.

France is famous for its love of bikes, with the Tour de France race wheeling its way through the country every year, and some of the most picturesque cycling holidays in the world can be had in France. To see the very best view France has to offer, some serious uphill climbs are required but if you are in good shape, a cycling holiday in the Pyrenees offers stunning rewards for your hard work. The mountains that run along the border between Spain and France are beautifully tranquil and the hospitality available in places like Biarritz is some of the best in southern France.

If you’re more into mountain bikes than road bikes, one of the ultimate destinations to indulge your passion is Andalucia in southern Spain. From there, you can take to the hills along dirt tracks and rocky paths through two UNESCO reserves, four natural parks, through olive groves and oak forests to the Costa de la Luz on the Atlantic coast. This is no beginner’s route and mountain biking travel insurance policies are recommended, but the Spanish scenery and sizzling biking trails are not to be missed.

Italy is not to be outdone or overlooked when it comes to cycling holidays, offering equally testing mountain bike trails in and around the Dolomites. There are also some wonderful routes for less hardy cyclists, such as the Via Appia Antica – an old Roman road that connects Rome to Brindisi. The road ambles along, taking riders on a historic tour of Roman Italy, with views of ancient tombs, catacombs and grand villas. Picnicking spots are not hard to find on the grassy verges and fields near the route and accommodation is available at the many towns and villages along the way, allowing you to break up your ride however you wish.

There are, of course, many great biking routes right here in the UK. So if you want to go truly green and avoid flights or trains into Europe, head to the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Snowdonia or Scotland for some road biking and mountain biking to rival anywhere in the world.

Easter holidays represent a chance for families to take an extended break together, as the kids enjoy two weeks away from school. Thousands of people in the UK take the opportunity to fly to areas such as southern Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Spanish islands, where temperatures are warming up nicely as spring weather arrives. But an increasing number of families choose trains over planes for their Easter travelling, as they head to some of Europe’s fantastic city break destinations.

A trip to Disneyland is the dream of millions of kids – and more than a few grown-ups too! Disneyland Paris is easily accessible by train from London, making it a great option for parents looking to satisfy their children’s holiday hopes without having to fly around the world.

Eurostar runs one direct train from London St Pancras to DisneyLand Paris at 8:53am every day, with a journey time of just two hours and 34 minutes. Coming the other way, there is a direct train at 7:37pm and return tickets can be purchased from as little at £69.

If Mickey Mouse and his friends are not your family’s thing, the Eurostar trains from London can take you and your family all the way to southern French cities such as Nice and Perpignan, or across France to the tulip-filled fields of the Netherlands for a floral Easter experience.

Chocoholics flock to Belgium all year round to sample the produce of some of the world’s finest chocolatiers, so if your kids fancy tucking into an artisan Easter egg while you enjoy the cafes, bars and brasseries of Brussels, hop on a Eurostar this Easter.

For those looking to stay even closer to home, apartments in London offer the perfect base for an Easter holiday that is jam packed with the sights, sounds and experiences of the UK’s capital city. Day trips to Madame Tussauds waxwork museum, the spectacular London Eye and the Sea Life London Aquarium can be rounded off with a show at the West End, an Oriental dining experience in Chinatown and a walk through the bright lights of Picadilly Circus.

London has more than enough to keep even the most active families busy for a fortnight and the wide range of catered and self-catering apartments available in the city features options for all budgets and requirements.

Green tourism was given a boost this week with the establishment of a new global partnership designed to improve the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the global travel industry.

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism consists of eighteen national governments, five UN organisations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 17 private businesses and 16 non-governmental organisations.

The aim of the partnership, which was inaugrated in Costa Rica this week and will be chaired by the French government, is to share best practice about sustainable tourism practices. It is hoped that by discussing issues and sharing achievements, organisations involved in the partnership will be able to dissementiate information in their home countries and put the knowledge gained into action.

“The Partnership will be an up-to-date, dynamic forum where countries that are interested in tourism which is truly sustainable will be able to learn from the successful efforts of the other members and obtain technical assistance and which will promote constant dialogue, the exchange of experiences and seek solutions to the problems that are common to the tourism sector,” said Gina Guillen Grillo, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica.

The partnership will concentrate on seven key areas: policy framework, climate change, biodiversity and environment, poverty alleviation, cultural and national heritage, sustainable tourism practices and finance and investment.

It is hoped that the global focus of the group will help spread knowledge and improve progress in sustainable tourism practices across continents, so that experiences learned in Europe could be applied in Africa or Latin America and vice versa.

“The broad geographic scope of the Partnership, as well as the depth of its members’ expertise, will enable it to adapt, replicate and scale-up successful projects initiated by any partner in other regions – engaging the public and private sectors and consumers, identifying and setting-up project funding opportunities and informing on policy which will benefit the development and promotion of sustainability in tourism,” said Gérard Ruiz, Chairman of the new partnership.

Many of the organisations involved in the new partnership have already worked together on “high impact” sustainable tourism projects as part of the Marrakesh Process initiated in France five years ago, so the group has a track record of working together to achieve common goals.

Will the new partnership succeed in pushing green travel forward on a global basis? If debate and discussion can be translated into affirmative action, then maybe so. Only time will tell!