Feel Virtuous After Your Holiday Workout

LONDON, October 5, 2011 -

Thomas Cook’s Guide to Active Destinations for World Fitness Week

Not everyone wants to lounge in a deckchair for the duration of their holiday and with World Fitness Week upon us (3-9^th October) check out Thomas Cook’s guide to top holidays guaranteed to keep you active.  Even an hour spent packing a suitcase will burn off 161 calories, making the stress of choosing what to take on holiday all the more virtuous!  

Running and Mountain Biking

The Serra de Tramuntana mountain range forming the northern backbone of Majorca is a beacon for outdoor enthusiasts providing trails suitable for runners, walkers, mountain bike enthusiasts right up to hardcore tri-athletes taking part in ‘Ultra Trail’ championships.

Calories burned by an hour of mountain biking: 645

Calories burned by an hour of running: 766 (at 6mph)

Direct Holidays Delxue - 7 nights in Majorca from £412 per person

Staying at the 4 star Puerto Pollentia in Puerto Pollensa on half board, Gatwick - 1st May 2012

www.directholidays.co.uk or call the dedicated call centre on 0844-879-8173

Hiking

Tenerife is the home of Spain’s highest mountain, in Teide National Park.  Seasoned walkers can scale the 12,198ft high volcanic peak of Mount Tiede and be rewarded with stunning vistas.  Keen hikers may want stay at a summit refuge and experience the magical night sky or a beautiful sunrise over the national park.

Calories burned by an hour of hiking: 453

Thomas Cook Holidays with Style - 7 nights in Tenerife from £465 per person

Staying at the 4 star Barcelo Santiago in Puerto Santiago on half board, London Gatwick - 3rd February 2012

www.thomascookstyle.co.uk, 0844 412 5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Going Places

Snorkeling or Diving

Egypt’s ‘Red Sea Riviera’ on the southern Sinai coast, is renowned for its underwater scenery filled with over 250 different corals and 1,000 species of exotic fish.  You’ll be so mesmerised you won’t even realise you’re actually exercising!

Calories burned by an hour of snorkeling: 403

Thomas Cook Holidays with Style - 7 nights in Egypt from £656 per person

Staying at the 4 star Sentido Crystal Bay in Hurghada on all inclusive, London Gatwick - 3rd February 2012

www.thomascookstyle.co.uk, 0844-412-5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Going Places

Golf

Portugal is deemed the ‘Golfers Paradise’ as it boasts no less than 70 courses of varying design and difficulty.  Numerous regions across the country are home to a variety of courses offering practice to everyone from beginners to professionals.

Calories burned by an hour of golf: 463 (carrying clubs) or 262 (using a golf cart)

Thomas Cook - 7 nights in Portugal from £520 per person

Staying at the 4 star Dom Pedro Golf in Vilamoura on half board, Manchester - 1 May 2012

www.thomascook.com, 0844-412-5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Going Places

Walking

The Portuguese archipelago of Madeira offers more sedate walking options.   Visitors can amble along water channels known as “levadas” and explore the Laurisilva Forest, a UNESCO world heritage site. City lovers can roam the streets of the cosmopolitan capital Funchal admiring the old streets and city squares.

Calories burned by an hour of gentle walking: 211 (at 2mph)

Thomas Cook Holidays with Style - 7 nights in Madeira from £570 per person

Staying at the 5 star Cliff Bay Resort in Funchal on bed & breakfast, London Gatwick - 6th February 2012

www.thomascookstyle.co.uk, 0844-412-5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Going Places

Salsa Dancing

Salsa in Cuba represents a melting pot for European (Spanish) and African cultures with the origins of Cuban style Salsa firmly rooted in the Afro-Cuban Rumba style of dancing.  Visitors can sample the hot and spicy rhythms with classes, workshops or by simply enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

Calories burned by an hour of salsa dancing: 453

Airtours - 14 nights in the Cuba from £928 per person

Staying at the 3 star Brisas Guardavalaca in Guardavalaca on all-inclusive, Manchester - 1st February 2012

www.airtours.co.uk, 0844-871-6636 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Going Places

Notes to Editors:

Calorie calculation based on an average 12 stone person (168 lbs)

Source: www.healthstatus.com

About Thomas Cook UK & Ireland:

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland is the second largest leisure travel group in the UK with around 16,000 employees.  The company has a network of around 800 high street stores (Thomas Cook and Going Places), leading websites (www.thomascook.com, www.directholidays.com and www.airtours.uk), and some of the world’s favourite travel brands.

These brands include Airtours, Club 18-30, Cresta, Cruise Thomas Cook, Direct Holidays, Elegant Resorts, essentialtravel.co.uk, Flexibletrips, flythomascook.com, Gold Medal, www.hotels4u.com, Manos, www.medhotels.com, Neilson, netflights.com, Panorama, Pure Luxury, Sunset, Sunworld Holidays, Swiss Travel Service, Thomas Cook, Thomas Cook Signature, Thomas Cook Sport and Thomas Cook Style.  

Thomas Cook is an Official Supporter of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the exclusive provider of short breaks to the London 2012 Games.   

Thomas Cook Airlines operates a fleet of 41 aircraft from 19 regional airports to destinations worldwide.  

Thomas Cook offers a range of financial services including foreign exchange, the Thomas Cook Credit Card, the Thomas Cook Cash Passport (the new generation of travellers’ cheques), and a wide range of travel insurance policies.  The company owns White Horse Insurance Ireland Limited, who underwrite Thomas Cook’s travel insurance and are authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Thomas Cook also has a leading publishing division offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 300 independently authored travel guidebooks to more than 150 destinations across the world.  

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland is part of Thomas Cook Group plc (www.thomascookgroup.com)

Thomas Cook Group Plc, Group Corporate Communications, The Thomas Cook Business Park, Coningsby Road, Peterborough, PE3 8SB. Email - pressoffice at thomascook.com, Tel +44(0)1733-417271