Special September Offer to the Mercantour, France

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - August 18th, 2010 - Upland Escapes announce a special September Offer to the Mercantour, France. The offer includes a 10% discount on an Original Escape throughout September and a 5% discount for a No-Frills Hosted Escape. Prices start from just £275.50 pp. For more details, visit www.uplandescapes.com or call 01367 851 111.

Walking in the rugged Mercantour National Park
This beautiful National Park is only an hour's drive from Nice, yet it's another world in autumn when you feel like you have the mountains to yourselves. Deep valleys cut northwards into the mountains, paving the way for this unique and incredibly picturesque Upland Escape experience. Here lie the borders of the Mercantour National Park, where populations of protected species including wolf, ibex and chamois are carefully monitored.

Butterflies are rich in abundance and more than 2,000 flora species have been spotted in this region. Meadows are mixed with forests of larch which change in colour with the season, from a luminous green in the summer to a rich red in the autumn.

On 16th September close to where we stay in the Mercantour, Guillaumes hosts the 'Foire Aux Tardons' Transhumance Fair, at which the spring-born lambs are brought to market from the high pastures. It has fast become one of the biggest in South-Eastern France and show-cases French rural life at its finest.

About Upland Escapes
Winner of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award 2009 (Best in a Mountain Environment) and winner of the TTG Travel Award 2007, ‘Scream if you’re Green’ Award, Upland Escapes offers over 40 years of combined experience in seeking out the very best and most rewarding walking in a selection of stunning upland landscapes.

Whichever Upland Escape you choose, you can rely on finding wild, untouched uplands, wild flowers and animals and rural, rustic landscapes – the essence of a holiday to remember. All Upland Escapes walking holidays are single-centre based in delightful B&B's, cottages, and even cave houses, which allows you to become fully immersed into local life. An Upland Escape provides guests with a unique opportunity to experience life in the local community, which involves sampling the local cuisine in village trattorias and indulging in locally-sourced produce such as cheeses, breads and vegetables.

Upland Escapes walking holidays are popular with families as there is no repeat packing and no notorious school holiday price hikes. Our holidays are also popular amongst solo travelers, couples (including honeymooners) and private parties, and because we provide a range of walks from gentle strolls to full day hikes, it means that there is something for everyone.

All Upland Escape holidays are entirely flexible, you are free to walk as much or as little as you wish and there are no set itineraries. What's more, all guests on an Upland holiday benefit from the full support of our English-speaking Upland Manager, 24 hours a day. The Upland Manager is on hand to provide dedicated support and advice on self-guided walks, as well as optional, organised walks and delicious deli-style packed lunches.

There are a number of flexible Upland walking holidays available:-

• Original Escapes – independent holiday option hosted by knowledgeable Upland Managers, hire car, daily packed lunches, organised walks and a range of self-guided walks

• Original Car-Free Escapes – enjoy an Original Escape on a scheduled 7-night departure, with airport and local transfers provided

• No-Frills Hosted – a simpler option that includes car hire, handbooks for self-guided walks and Upland Manager support.

Operating a sustainable tourism policy and having a responsible attitude to the environment is a fundamental underlying principle of Upland Escapes. Our aim is to minimise the negative impacts, and maximise the positive benefits in four key areas:

• Local economies in which we operate
• Local society and culture
• Environment
• Climate

Upland Escapes.com – Walking to make your soul sing

Visit: www.uplandescapes.com

###