They’re giving away over £1000 of Haglofs gear, and you can enter in four different ways!

To find out more, head on over to

http://shop.packyourbags.com/xmascomp

Good luck !!

The Matterhorn (Mount Cervin) dominates the town of Zermatt and can be seen from almost everywhere, even if you are not looking up at the Matterhorn then everything about Zermatt is focused on the Matterhorn. To enjoy the pleasures of Zermatt and the surrounding area you do not have to be a hardcore mountaineer or climber although if you are then there are many peaks over 4000m here. The average person can walk around the mountains along many lovely well made paths either traversing the sides of the hill or climbing up and down. You don’t need to walk from Zermatt town you can catch the lift up to a starting point and then go from here either up or down. You do see a lot of people who catch the lift up and walk down, particularly older people and those with families.

There are numerous mountain huts all seem to be staffed by friendly people willing to serve you their own speciality. My personal favourites are the Edelweiss, Trift and the hut in the little hamlet at Tuftern although there are many more.

We did 5 days out of 6 of good walking covering 12+ miles most days with some big ascents and feel much better for it we were also lucky with the weather and only really had one half day of rain which coincided with a rest day anyway. We also saw an eagle sawing high above us and found in just one spot the elusive Edelweiss flower, we managed to get on top of most of the accessible big peaks in the area mainly walking up and down from Zermatt – none of this catching the lift up!!!

Here’s what David had to say: “The picture, taken by my wife, shows me paddling for the first time solo in our new canoe. I’m trying to edge it for the first time, too (I didn’t fall in).

The river we’re on is the Hérault in the Languedoc region of France. You can see Mont St Baudille in the background.

The trip? It took us a whole lifetime to get to this area. It’s where we’ve retired to. Looks peaceful, doesn’t it? Particularly from under the brim of my new Tilley hat. (I lost my old hat in a canoeing incident we shan’t go into here.)”

Thanks David!

Please send your photographs to photos@packyourbags.com.

Holidays resorts like Costa del Sol, Marmaris, Olu Deniz or Malia are famed for providing excellent value hotels for all international tourists. The great news is that with package holidays you won’t need to worry about anything – your flights and transfers are pre booked, your room is reserved and if you booked all inclusive or half board, your food is also ready for you for your maximum comfort.

So why wait? Head straight to that sunny beach or laze by the imaginatively designed pool. Ooops! You know the feeling when all empty sunloungers are actually occupied by towels? And no matter how long you wait or how early you wake up in the morning, they are still there! This summer season, the tour operators like Thomas Cook have decided to spare their German guests the unnecessary headache with the ongoing issue of sunbeds in the hotels being permanently reserved.

Thomas Cook have launched a new service on their German market – pre-book your sunlounger for only 3 Euros. This way there is no need for anyone to wake up at the crack of dawn to snap up their spot at the swimming pool. Luckily, many hotels understand how much discomfort and disappointment this can cause to their guests and therefore have decided to sign up to the scheme. Although this new idea will be put in place for this season’s winter sun holidays, many willing hotels in Turkey, Egypt and the Canary Islands have embraced it and Thomas Cook are hoping more hotels will join in the future.

There is no reason why this idea shouldn’t be extended or work on the British market. Many holidaymakers are prepared to spend extra money for making their holiday as comfortable as possible. The airlines as well as the tour operators are constantly trying to improve their service and we are being given the options to pre-book our meals on the flight, our foreign currencies, our rooms with sea views or balconies, our tables at the restaurants, so why not have your sunlounger and umbrella waiting for you at your chosen hotel without any ‘towel wars’ with other hotel guests?

Photo credit: Nick Butcher http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickbutcher/

Could travel into space be the future of our adventures? The cost of such adventures are set to fall thanks to entrepreneurs like Sir Richard Branson and his company Virgin Galactic who intend to bring to a wider selection of the public a environmentally friendly trip into space at a fraction of the cost paid by Mr. Tito, the experience will last somewhere between 2 and 3 hours and as you enter the out atmosphere you will become an “astronaut”.

Aeroplanes are being designed now; that will travel higher than ever before, not necessarily out of the atmosphere but high enough to make a difference to the length of a long haul journey which in turn will improve the well being of the passengers and their susceptibility to “jet lag”. These aircraft will burn new environmentally friendly fuels and probably be able to carry a larger number of passengers. These journeys will not be in space like Virgin Galactic will take you, but our journeys for the conventional long haul traveller providing an efficient and quicker way to travel, they will be as near as most of us will get to travelling in space.

Do we need to go to space to find adventure? Although the highest mountains have been conquered and the poles of the earth regularly reached there are still many challenges left on this planet to keep most of us occupied for a lifetime so is space travel really necessary for most of us? If you have the money and desire to leave the world then great, but most of us will have to get our kicks from the adventures that this world has to offer us.

Take for example travelling on a safari holiday, much excitement can be had by getting up early, as dawn breaks on a new African morning and travelling through the bushvelt in an open land rover searching for predators, such as a lion or leopard returning home after a nights hunting and eventually coming across them feeding on a recently caught impala or experiencing a large herd of elephants crossing a river while crocodiles watch carefully from the bank. If you want to learn about space and the stars, go to a lodge where there is a resident astrologer, the remoteness of the lodges in Africa means that light pollution in the safari areas is nonexistent so on a clear night the stars come to life, almost as if you can touch them and with the guidance of a local astronomer and perhaps a telescope you too can travel to space! South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Kenya all offer wonderful opportunities to experience the stars and animals.

You may prefer to explore the depths of the world under the sea or just enjoy being in the sea. What has this got to do with space? In simple terms the relative distances of the earth and the positions of the moon and sun to each other all have an effect on the tidal patterns around the world. So if you go diving or snorkelling what you will see and your safety could be affected by the tidal patterns which are fixed by the positions of the moon and the sun in relation to the earth. Diving is a great adventure holiday and although this is not something you can undertake without instruction, it is something that most people can do and you don’t have to travel too far from the UK to experience the warm waters such as to Malta, Egypt and Turkey.

Those prepared to brave the colder waters can of course stay in the UK, but by travelling to places like Egypt you are likely to see a lot more. It is also possible to get great value cheap holidays to places like Turkey and Malta.

T In The Park

10-12 July, Balado, Kinross-shire.

The line-up is quite stunning for this. Presumably they’ve pulled out all the stops as this is Scotland’s only large festival. Mainstream acts include The Specials, The Streets, Pet Shop Boys, Franz Ferdinand and Lily Allen. James Morrison and Nick Cave could bring you down but your girlfriend should be happy. The highlight for me will be the sets from Dave Clarke and Jeff Mills. Expect harder 4 to the floor from the former and a minimal Detroit techno vibe from the latter. Also in the electronic vein, Nine Inch Nails and Laurent Garnier both play on the Saturday. Check out the website for the full line up.

Essential kit:

A decent Rucksack / Backpack

Site:  http://www.tinthepark.com

Isle of Wight

12-14 June, Seaclose Park, Newport.

 The Isle of Wight Festival was first held in 1968 but it was the 1970 event that was most famous, seeing the last major performance of Jimi Hendrix. There’s an eclectic mix of talent on display here.  Keep an open mind and you could enjoy Neil Young and The Zombies just as much as The Prodigy and Basement Jaxx. The Pixies and Simple Minds are also on the bill  with The Pigeon Detectives Maximo Park  and The Ting Tings adding a more modern flavour.  Ultravox  and Killing Joke play the Big Top stage and if you’re camping you can see the Human League on Thursday night.

Essential kit:

Waterproofs

Site: http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/default.aspx

Flickr Images courtesy of –  David Jones

Below is your guide to the best music festivals that are coming up this summer. The Typical British Summer! Sun, Rain, & Wind? Read and find out what the essential items that you will need for the festivals this summer ranging from waterproof clothing to sun lotions and Sun hats, this guide has got it covered.

Download

12-14 June, Donnington Park, East Midlands.

All you ageing rockers out there will be pleased to know that ZZ Top, Def Leppard  and Whitesnake are all appearing at this total Rockfest in June.  Faith No More will be playing live for the first time in 11 years and the mighty Slipknot and Marilyn Manson will be topping off what has to be the best Saturday night any metal fan can hope for.

Site: http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx

Glastonbury

24-28 June, Worthy Farm, Somerset.

The line-up has yet to be confirmed at this, the Grandaddy of festivals, but Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Blur seem pretty certain. Who cares? Don’t buy a programme, forget the line-up and just follow your nose, that’s how to enjoy Glastonbury. There really is something for everyone in this town-sized festival where the people are the show.

Essential kit:

For the pessimist:  Waterproof Boots

For the optimist:  Sunglasses

Site: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/

Family Friendly

The Big Chill

7-9 August, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Basement Jaxx and David Byrne of Talking Heads will be on a strong line-up; but for me, it is the return of Orbital to the stage that will tear the (non existent) roof off this cross-cultural party. For the more cerebral among you, Chris Cunningham is rumoured to be doing a live set. Who’s he? The cutting edge film director who made videos for the likes of Portishead, Bjork and various acts from the Warp stable.

Essential kit:

A sleeping bag for when you don’t want to feel the Big Chill

Site: http://www.bigchill.net/festival

Cambridge Folk Festival

30 July-2 August, Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge.

Booker T, The Zutons and The Saw Doctors are most recognisable to the majority of us, the rest of the line up coming from the more traditional folk circles. I’ve never been before but some of my mates go back year after year and always have a good time. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere, real ale and acoustic music.

Essential kit:

As  this festival is in the height of summer, a decent sun hat is a must

Site: http://www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/

Compact and bijou

Hop Farm

4-5 July, Paddock Wood, Kent.

The site that also hosts the biggest military vehicle show in Europe certainly has plenty of facilities for this deliberately less commercial festival. The line up includes Echo & The Bunnymen, Paul Weller and The Fratellis.

Site: http://www.Hopfarmfestival.com

Gazastock

3-5 July, nr Hildenborough, Kent.

An intimate gathering in the countryside of the Weald of Kent. Every year this mellow festival raises much needed cash for a local hospice. Line up includes Origami Dinosaur, The 38s, The Diarys, Blackadder and Paul Dunton. You may have to keep your eye on ebay for tickets as they are limited and always sell out quickly.

Essential kit:

As organisers request no glass on site, Source Liquitainer 4litre folding water bottle is a great idea

Site: http://www.gazastock.co.uk/

Smelling Optional (daily tickets, no camping).

Wireless

4-5 July, Hyde Park, London.

A turn-up-on-the-day weekend of Dance and Hip Hop, featuring the likes of Basement Jaxx, Dizee Rascal, The Streets and a set by Paul Okenfold. Expect a mix of cultures and ages all trying to get bombed before the 22.30  kick out time.

Essential kit:

Shades are a must and better take some sun protection: Sun Cream & Skin Protection

Site: http://www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/home/index.aspx

Get Loaded In The Park

30 August, Clapham Common, London.

The E-generation should be out in force for this bash with Orbital, Laurent Garnier  and Carl Craig hitting the four to the floor, while Roni Size’s Reprazent pumps out the Drum ‘n Bass with an exclusive UK appearance. This is a Bank Holiday weekend,  so check your train times. The party finishes at a startlingly early 9pm so best have another rave to go on to (you must know someone called Steve who’s setting up a sound system in a field off the M25, surely).

Essential kit:

Sun cream and a pair of sunglasses for the morning after.

Site: http://www.getloadedinthepark.com/

Rave

Creamfields

29-30 August,Halton, Cheshire.

Expect a younger, Radio 1 listening crowd here. Acts include Basement Jaxx, Dizee Rascal, John Digweed and a welcome appearance from Sven Vath. If none of them float your boat then don’t worry, Creamfields is known for having just about any style of dance act that you can imagine. Be sure to check out their website to make sure that it’s your kind of thing as this is a very commercial affair.

Essential kit:

Hydration Packs

Site: http://www.creamfields.com/

Overseas

Sonar

18-20 June, Barcelona.

Not your usual festival. A series of performances, films, installations and more from the world of experimental music and video. DJs, VJs and hundreds of artists from all over the world will be hosting shows throughout the city. Expect thoughtful conversations from readers of Wire magazine and strange Germans who bleep in their spare time.

Essential kit:

Waterproof Cases for your Camera & Valuables

Site: http://www.sonarbarcelona.com/en/

Flickr Images courtesy of:
Al Green - Glastonbury Festival Image                              UK Mari – Download Festival Image
Twak – Cambridge Folk Festival Image                               Hoodrat – Hop Farm Festival Image
Dave Nicholl – 02 Wireless Festival Image                     Landii – Creamfields Festival Image
Sml – Sonar Music Festival Image

The Bumper edition of the Packyourbags Newsletter also features a huge range of father’s day gift ideas, so there’s no excuse for those boring socks this year!
With the Festival Season near enough upon us, we have included in our newsletter some festival essentials, ranging from waterproof gear to tents & camping accessories.

Remember for all the latest travel deals follow us on twitter, we have regular updates & posts on our talk on travel twitter page as well as great holiday offers. Follow @talkontravel today to see all the latest deals.

The competition deadline is Friday June 26th 2009, so check out the latest Packyourbags Newsletter now!