PEAK SEASON FOR BOOKING MOUNTAIN TOURS

Essex, CT – (April 12, 2004) – Bill Russell Mountain Tours today announced the official start of the company's open registration for its "peak' session of mountain and garden tours.

"This is typically the time of year that most people plan their summer vacations, so we prepare for the easiest means for people to book their trips,' Bill Russell, founder and chief operator of the company that carries his name, explained about his Essex, CT–based mountain tour business. "Our tours are becoming increasingly popular. We have a tremendous amount of interest in our walks through The Alps. Over each of the past three years, people seem to be seeking a different type of vacation. Our tours are active trips, where people enjoy walking and hiking to beautiful destinations, versus traditional tourist attraction sites. No two tours are ever the same at Bill Russell Mountain Tours.'

Russell's tours involve daily hikes (about 6-8 mile walks that are easily managed by anyone in normal good health and walks regularly), meals, and nightly stays at some of the world's best-kept secret establishments. "We stay at three and four star hotels each night, include breakfast and dinner as part of the tour package, plan lunch stops in quaint towns, and hike along the scenic routes of some of the most majestic sights in the world,' Russell explained.

Tell the "Tourist' Label to Take a Hike!

"It is difficult to experience the true charm and local flavor of a community, when you are a tourist. You have to escape the tourist label.' Russell said. "We arrange small tour groups of no more than 10 people per guide. It is easier to navigate through outlying areas. You can visit Zurich, Geneva, or Vienna, but just beyond the souvenir stands and commercialized tourist traps, our handpicked Russell Mountain Tour historians and seasoned experts can guide you on a completely authentic experience of the location, society, and culture.'

One of Bill Russell's Mountain Tours is the "Three Culture Hike' in the Alps. According to Russell, it is one of his most popular because of its diversity and beauty. The Three Culture Hike has travelers start in the French section of Switzerland called The Valais; travel through the German Bernese Oberland; and finally to the Engadine, where Romansch is the basic culture. The tour consists of hiking in each of three cultural areas, returning each night at each of three top hotels that have all of the comforts of home, plus some of the exclusive luxuries and spa amenities that can only be offered by a first-class Swiss hotel. The last night of the Three Culture Hike is spent at The Swissotel in Zurich.

Bill Russell Mountain Tours, based in Essex, CT, was established in 1987. The company's first tours were to destinations in Switzerland and concentrated on The Alps Mountain Range. By 1989, ski tours to Switzerland were added, and as the demand from vacationers increased, other hiking destinations were added. One or two week excursions encompassing up to four different countries became standard offerings. Regular destinations now include mountain tours of The Pyrenees Mountains of Southern France, The Haute Route, a top recommended outfitter selection by Outside Magazine (March 2001), The Dolomites of Italy, The England Lake District, Austria, other areas of Switzerland and France, Slovenia, Norway, Ireland, and Scotland.

Last year, the company added Garden Tours to England. The company now operates 20 different tours and employs 10 expert guides. Trips are open to any combination of singles, seniors, couples, and groups, and self-guiding tours can be scheduled separately and arranged by Mr. Russell personally.

For more information on Bill Russell's Mountain Tours, ask for a FREE Swiss trail map, or book a trip, visit the company website at www.russelltours.com or call 1-800-669-4453.
###

Bill Russell's Mountain Tours 3 Pratt Street, Essex, CT 06426
T: 1-800-669-4453; E-Mail: hiking@russelltours.com; Website: www.russelltours.com