MARMOT TOURS LTD NEWSLETTER - No. 12, March 2007

Includes:

Explore the Pyrenees independently, staying in James and Cathy’s Holiday Cottage (sleeps 4)
Getting Greener: jumping whole heartedly onto the environmental bandwagon
Don’t miss spring in the Pyrenees this year
Unsurpassed spectating of the 2007 Tour de France
Offering help to do the Etape de Tour
Summer trips: book now to save £££’s
Wedding bells this October

Cherry Cottage: The perfect place from which to explore the area on your own (with a few top tips of course!)

In October 2006 we bought a beautiful stone cottage with a view to renting it out as a Gite/Holiday Accommodation.  It is in our own tranquil village of Pech, nestled at 530m high, on the mountainside of the Plateau de Beille, and above the village of Les Cabannes, which offers a host of facilities to locals and the holidaymaker alike.  The cottage has 2 bedrooms and sleeps 4, although there is also a sofa bed available in the living room.   

Many of you have expressed interest in coming back to the Ariege to explore independently, so we thought you might like to know that we have finished our renovations, and Cherry Cottage is now ready for visitors!   You will already know what the local area has to offer, but if you need a little reminder, or are interested in the facilities of the cottage, then please do look at www.cherrycottage-gite.com for more detail, availability and prices, or email info@cherrycottage-gite.com for further information.

Going Greener: All doing our bit for the environment

Like most of you, we have become increasingly aware of our responsibilities as both individuals and a company, to reducing carbon emissions and analyzing the impact of our activities on both the local and global environment.  As a result, Marmot Tours Ltd is reviewing it policies and practices in an environmental light and we are looking into how we can make our trips as environmentally friendly as possible.  We are particularly looking at alternative methods of transport to flying. This is a work in progress, but please check out the new website pages http://www.marmot-tours.co.uk/green/index.htm where we will keep you up to date with how we are progressing.

Spring Flowers of the Pyrenees

Look no further for a gentle, relaxing holiday in the stunning countryside around Ax les Thermes.  The Pyrenees is often known as the garden of France, and for good reason.  The spring gently starts in the valleys, working its way up the mountainsides, and bringing with it an amazing host of flora and fauna.  The holiday is aimed at those wanting to spend their time outdoors, walking gently (about 5km/day), exploring the nature that surrounds them.  We have a lepidopterist (butterfly expert) joining us on one day to help us understand the local butterfly species and their habitats.  We also take the time to delve into the history of the Cathars, with a visit to the famous Montsegur castle.  Good food and wine go without saying!  Look for more details at http://www.marmot-tours.co.uk/summaries/wfa.htm.  Don’t let it confuse you – we also do an autumn trip along a similar itinerary, but with Autumn bronzes rather than Spring hues, lighting the countryside.

Exciting addition to the Tour de France 2007 road cycling trip.

Our last newsletter told you about this fantastic trip running in July, following the route of the 2007 Tour de France.  We are very excited as this week we have secured our mobile satellite TV that is going to give us an English coverage of the Tour from the mountain roadside.  This means that we can watch the race approaching on TV, and then pick the real views up as the pro’s fight their way to the top of the Plateau de Beille.   There is no beating that!

So, if you have been thinking about booking on this trip, get those forms in, because not only is it going to be a fantastic cycle challenge and experience, but you will be doing the best spectating possible! See  http://www.marmot-tours.co.uk/summaries/rft.htm for further details, or email us direct.

Do you need help with arranging the Etape de Tour

Many of you road cyclists will know that this years Etape de Tour is on our doorstep.  We are helping cyclists with finding and booking accommodation, plus with transport to and from the start/finish of the race.  If you, or anyone you know is interested, we still have 4 places left.  Email info@marmot-tours.co.uk to make enquiries.

Summer Bookings: book now for your 5% ‘early bookers discount’.

Save ££££’s by booking your summer trip now.  Not only will you save on your flights, but we will also give you a 5% early bookers discount.  We would love you to join us this summer, as we head high onto the mountain peaks and ridges, for spectacular views and breathtaking scenery.  July and August can be very warm in the valley, so we spend our days walking up above 1500m where the temperatures are lovely.  We have a huge playground to explore, from Andorran peaks to the mountains of Ariege.  If you prefer cycling to walking, then we can offer you the fantastic experience of cycling some of the Tour de France’s most famous cols including the Tourmalet, Peyresourde and Portet d’Aspet on our Classic Cols trip. We provide van support for you during the week, and move your baggage on along our point-to-point route, where we stay in small family run hotels with good food (and lots of it!).  Go on, make that booking!

Wedding Bells

Just to let you know that we got engaged in October 2006 and will be getting married in France in October this year – hopefully up at the Plateau de Beille, which many of you will be familiar with from cross country skiing, snowshoeing or cycling trips!

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