Adventurous holidaymakers follow in celebrities footsteps

A celebrity charity trek up Mount Kilimanjaro has led to unprecedented demand for similar tours from holidaymakers, according to an adventure travel company.

TUI Travel Adventure Companies said its bookings for tours to Mt Kili were up 400 per cent for 2010.

Last year, a number of famous names including DJ Chris Moyles, X Factor judge Cheryl Cole and Boyzone's Ronan Keating climbed the mountain to raise money for Comic Relief.

Their efforts have clearly inspired others to follow in their footsteps, but anyone attempting similar treks is reminded to take out specialist travel insurance before they leave the UK.

Standard travel insurance does not normally cover activities with a high level of risk, especially if the main purpose of the holiday is to take part in a hazardous activity.

Cover for activities such as mountain climbing can be bolted on to standard insurance, but premiums will vary according to the level of risk.

Even if the activity makes up only a small part of the holiday, travellers will need adequate travel insurance for the whole of their trip, not just for the days they are taking part in the activity.

TUI Adventure Companies said it has seen strong demand for tougher treks, including a six-fold increase in travel to Nepal which offers some of the most demanding trekking in the world.

Its 'Passport to Adventure' report, based on findings from a YouGov poll, found consumers are 190 per cent more likely to take an adventure holiday this year.

TUI Adventure Companies includes several tour operator brands including The Adventure Company (www.adventurecompany.co.uk), Exodus (www.exodus.co.uk), Imaginative Traveller (www.imaginative-traveller.com), Peregrine Adventures (www.peregrineadventures.com), Geckos (www.geckosadventures.com), Quark Expeditions (www.quarkexpeditions.com) and Headwater (www.headwater.com).

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