FOR AS LITTLE AS ...

pounds 50

you can spend a week on a UK Working Holiday with the National Trust. These conservation holidays involve learning skills such as charcoal making, dry-stone walling, gardening etc. Accommodation ranges from tents to barns; participants join in cooking. For a brochure write to NT Working Holidays, PO Box 84, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1ZP.

pounds 69

you can spend two nights B&B in London over the August bank holiday to visit the Notting Hill Carnival. This price is per person, and includes return rail travel from nearby areas (price is higher further away from London). Call London Travel Service on 01992 456177.

pounds 179

per person you can enjoy a three-night break in Paris, in a central three- star hotel any time in August. The price includes Eurostar travel and B&B accommodation. Call Crystal Cities on 0181 241 5040.

pounds 239

per person, you can spend a week in a four-star hotel with pool in Luxor, southern Egypt, during August. Nile views, pharonic antiquities, sunshine and monumental heat guaranteed. Call Crusader travel on 0181 744 0474.

pounds 435

you can spend a week half-board at the four-star Iliada beach Hotel in Protaras, Cyprus. Price based on two sharing, in August. Call Odyssey Holidays on 0181 343 9090 for details.

pounds 439

you can spend five nights in Bangkok in August and September. Includes non-stop flights on Qantas from Heathrow, and twin accommodation at the Indra Regent Hotel. Extra nights from just pounds 18 per person. Contact Qantas Holidays on 0990 673464.

pounds 475

per person you can spend next Christmas staying with a family in Slovenia. Large amounts of food, drink and jolly hospitality will be on offer, as well as snow and winter fun. Price is based on flights and half-board accommodation. Call Slovenia Pursuits on 01763 852646.

pounds 863

per person, spend a week riding strong, cross-bred horses from one comfortable farmhouse to another, in company of an expert guide, in the Corbieres hills of the Mediterranean (near Perpignon). Price is based on two sharing, includes six days half-board accommodation and flights as well as horses. Intravel: 01653 628811.

pounds 1,485

you can gain (almost) exclusive access to the Russian state archives, thanks to tour operator Steppes East. View personal diaries of Tsar Nicholas, Edward VII's abdication letter and part of Hitler's skull. The above price would cover a tailor-made itinerary including three nights B&B in a five-star hotel, plus flights and a translator. Call 01285 810267.

pounds 1,990

you can spend 14 days visiting the fantastic displays of desert flowers in South Africa's Namaqualand, with the specialist natural history operator Naturetrek. The price includes flights, half-board accommodation and the services of highly-qualified botanical experts. Call 01962 733051.