Escapism

A new series of tented fixed camps in the vast, little-explored, and utterly beautiful Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan have made independent treks here a realistic proposition for the first time. Walks Worldwide's (walksworldwide.com) 14-night, self-guided trip to Khan Tengri base camp costs from £1,775pp, including meals, helicopter flights, camping gear and route notes, but not international flights. Departs July and August.

What's new?

Accommodation
Boutique hostels are not a new idea, but most of the ones we've come across are abroad. So hurrah for Plas Curig, a new, beautifully decorated independent hostel slap-bang in the heart of Snowdonia national park. The (unisex) dorm rooms have bunk beds, complete with Welsh blankets and curtains for privacy. Beds in here cost from £22.50, but a room for two is not much more, at £25pp, and a family room costs £27.50pp. This price does not include breakfast but there is a swish kitchen and a dining room, plus library, lounge, drying room and bike storage.
• snowdoniahostel.co.uk

Tour
HiddenCity is a simple but clever way of exploring a city. You put together a team of mates and then solve a trail of clues sent to you by text, each leading to a new location. There are 11 themed trails (art, food and drink, open spaces and more) available in London, Brighton, Newcastle and York; the most recent is aimed at a younger audience – the Science Museum Discovery Trail. Perfect for text-savvy kids.
• £16 per team, inthehiddencity.com

Deal
Augill Castle, a family-friendly B&B in a 175-year-old castle on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, is celebrating its 15th birthday by offering double rooms at the 1997 rate of £80 B&B throughout March. Quote "15 years old" when booking.
• stayinacastle.com

Tweet ur trip: insect horror

• Getting to the bottom of my Christmas chicken curry in Malaysia to find a cockroach drowned in the sauce @Andyho73

• Pulled back the sheets on my bed in a hostel in Flores, Guatemala to discover a sea of pulsating bug eggs @gemma_howe

• Being laughed at in Laos for eating the entire cricket not realising the locals pick off wings, head, legs @EllaMullings

• Bitten by spider in Belizean jungle, intense pain. Guide said try sleep, we've adrenaline if you stop breathing. Thanks @Recruitment2Rio

We had some great tales from you about your horrific insect encounters – see our pick of the best here on Storify

Next week: Bizarre transport. Tweet us @GuardianTravel #TravelCorkboard