New for 2014: An insight into magical Malagasy life and culture

Four new worldwide destinations – Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), Rajasthan and Quebec/Ontario – offering guided holidays combining sightseeing with walking have been introduced into HF Holidays’ preview walking programme for 2014.

Enjoy a wealth of experiences and wildlife on the island of Madagascar – in addition to taking in its charismatic and lovable lemurs and the towering baobab trees, this new holiday offers an insight into local life and an introduction to the vibrant Malagasy culture as well as walking amid four of the island’s most impressive national parks.

Highlights include an opportunity to talk to locals in Antisrabe where overnight accommodation is at Guesthouse Residence Madalief which was opened by the charity, Residence Madalief, to help fund its vital work in supporting local orphans. Guests have the chance to chat and play with some of the children and to find out more about the project.

There’s a visit to the Institute for Conservation of Tropical Environments to learn about community initiatives in Ranomafana National Park – with the option to join in replanting endemic trees before enjoying walks to discover the park’s wildlife with ICTE’s Eco-guides.

The holiday also includes a walk through the rice fields and villages of the Betsileo people – complete with a taste of typical Malagasy cuisine as lunch is taken with the families of one of the villages – as well as enjoying walking trips in the national parks of Isalo, Andringitra and Andasibe taking in many types of lemur, forested canyons, sandstone cliffs, waterfalls, tropical rainforests and magnificent mountain scenery.

Available with selected departures in 2014, the cost of this 16-day holiday is £2459 per person, land-only or £3159 inclusive of return Heathrow flights and transfers. These twinshare prices also include 14 nights’ full board accommodation – with two in twin-bedded tents – the full activity programme with an HF Holidays’ leader and a specialist local leader, plus internal flight, national park entrance fees and travel by train, minibus or coach.

It’s another great example of how HF Holidays are constantly striving to adapt their trips, from activity holidays to biking holidays.

About HF Holidays

HF Holidays has been helping people enjoy the great outdoors for nearly 100 years. Today over 50,000 people come on holiday with us every year. They come for the walking. They come for the activities. They come for the fun. They come for the food. And they come for the high quality accommodation. It’s why we’re Britain’s biggest walking and outdoor leisure holiday specialists.

Background info:

* Founded in 1913, HF Holidays is a co-operative society arranging walking, outdoor and
leisure activity holidays for 50,000 people each year (for non-members, a £5 associate fee
is payable per holiday).
* Options range from guided walking breaks and self-guided trails in Britain to challenging
ascents Worldwide. The leisure activities range includes art, music, literature and mindand-body holidays.
* HF Holidays is the recommended walking holiday partner of the Ramblers, Britain’s
walking charity (ramblers.org.uk), and supports the work of the Ramblers through
membership initiatives and charitable donations.
* HF Holidays has 20 Houses in the UK’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural
Beauty as well as independent hotels for overseas holidays.
* HF Holidays’ walks leaders are passionate about walking and keen to share their
experience with guests (after passing a rigorous selection course).
* HF Holidays is committed to Responsible Tourism, contributing to environmental projects
around the UK – such as footpath maintenance – through its Pathways Fund and
supporting local Air Ambulance and Mountain Rescue teams as well as charities in Kenya
and South Africa.
* Voted Best Large Tour Operator by Guardian and Observer readers 2010, 2011 and 2012,
with a 2012 satisfaction score of 98 per cent. Also Best Large Short Break Operator 2011
and 2012.
* In recent research (March 2012) carried out by Which?, HF Holidays achieved
Recommended Provider Status receiving an overall customer satisfaction score of 94%.
* HF Holidays is a member of ABTOT and is ATOL protected.