2008-09-17 17:16:05 - For the price of your morning commute, you could be exploring quaint medieval European towns

G.A.P Adventures, the world's leading small group adventure tour operator, has expanded its European tours with an exciting new line up of trips that won't break the bank including Sicilian Volcano Trail, Paris to Barcelona Adventure and The Garden of France.

'Our trips offer excellent value for money and with the rising costs of living these days, travellers may discover it's

often cheaper to travel with G.A.P Adventures than to stay home!' says Bruce Poon Tip, CEO of G.A.P Adventures. 'For the price of a tank of gas, they could instead be hiking Cinque Terre or enjoying a wine tasting in a French vineyard.

'We have created these special small group tours for our travellers to enjoy the culture, romance and historical richness of Europe, all led by our expert tour leaders.'

G.A.P Adventures is also pleased to offer travellers the opportunity to save 10% off of all new 2009 Europe trips booked until November 15, 2008 for travel by May 31, 2009. Please quote the promo code when booking: New Europe trips 2009.

New Europe trips include:

Paris to Barcelona Adventure
This two week adventure includes a full day sightseeing tour of the glamorous city of Paris, a visit to one of Bordeaux's world-renowned wineries for wine tasting, the 'pink city' of Toulouse, tiny Andorra, and Spain's social and cultural centre - Barcelona.
Price: £1039 + €300 local payment
For more information: www.gapadventures.com/tour/EFPB

France to Italy Adventure
Travellers will have the opportunity to taste some of the local wines in Burgundy, wander
the spectacular medieval walled town of Avignon, and soak up the sun on the Cote d'Azure's cosmopolitan capital, Nice. Other highlights of this 13-day adventure include a day trip to Monaco, a coastal walk in stunning Cinque Terre, where five little villages are built into the rocks between the beach and the hills, the museums of Florence and the bustling Italian capital of Rome.
Price: £1019 + €300 local payment
For more information: www.gapadventures.com/tour/EFIA

The Garden of France
Travellers will visit Loire castles including impressive Chenonceau and Chambord, renowned for its fairytale architecture on this 8-day adventure. They will have the opportunity to taste the famous Loire Valley wine in Tours on a tour of local wine cellars accompanied by an expert guide, and enjoy a variety of optional activities in Tours from spending the day in medieval Chinon, exploring other fascinating castles or hiring a bike to cycle along the river.
Price: £729 + €200 local payment
For more information: www.gapadventures.com/tour/EFGF

The Best of Tuscany
Over 10 days, travellers will explore magnificent Florence, enjoy free time in magical Lucca, pose at the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, discover Siena's unique piazzas, and top it off with a wine tasting in the beautiful Tuscan countryside.
Price: £729 + €250 local payment
For more information: www.gapadventures.com/tour/EIBT

Sicilian Volcano Trail
This unique 8-day trip promises thermal hot springs, sunset treks and educational hikes. It will take the traveller through Mediterranean villages, black sand beaches, and unforgettable hikes over three active volcanoes: Vulcano, Stromboli, and the highest volcano in Europe - the mighty Etna, which is still active.
Price: £709 + €250 local payment
For more information: www.gapadventures.com/EISV


*Tour prices listed are before discount, land only and do not include international airfare.
For a full list of new trips, please visit www.gapadventures.com/new.


About G.A.P Adventures
G.A.P Adventures is a world leader in the adventure travel industry offering small group adventures on all seven continents and beyond to more than 85,000 global travelers annually. The award-winning trips, which focus on culture, nature and active travel, are ideal for those with a sense of adventure - people who want to leave the beaten path and authentically immerse themselves in a local culture or environment to experience the real world in a sustainable manner. Demonstrating its ongoing cultural, social and economic commitment to responsible tourism, G.A.P Adventures established the Planeterra Foundation, as a way the company and its passengers can give back to the communities visited. For more information, please visit www.gapadventures.com and www.planeterra.org.