Archive for Responsible Tourism
A hassle-free, low-impact luxury camping holiday for families and romantics
By Ching Lee
It’s not difficult to see why glamping is all the rage. Luxury camping combines home comforts with the freedom of the great outdoors; it’s a winning formula for families (and romantics) who are looking for a hassle-free, low-impact holiday with a difference.
Your Travel Planner is back from a glorious week in the Ardèche, France. With proper beds, stylish shower rooms, dinner provided and the stunning location of the Ardèche Gorge and Nature Reserve, the yurt holiday provided by Canvaschic is an exceptional outdoor experience for people who want to enjoy home comforts while camping.
After a day’s travelling, arriving at the camp feels like entering a haven. Even in the height of August, the camp feels peaceful and discreet and, best of all, we knew we didn’t have to worry about cooking; your week’s stay during July and August includes breakfast and five nights dinner.
The Yurts
The dome-shaped family yurts are handcrafted from oak and ash wood and covered in natural canvas. The tents are well-spaced throughout the forest and each yurt has its own deck and hammocks giving guests their own relaxed, private area.
There are 9 family yurts and three other more secluded yurts for couples can be found further into the oak forest.
Inside, each of the 12 yurts are individually styled. The family yurt is spacious, with a king-size bed, 2 camp beds for children and a portable style wardrobe. Decorative touches such Moroccan lamps, tealights, mirrors and pictures add to the homely atmosphere.
Shower Rooms
There are 5 spacious shower rooms in the shower block, each with a shower, toilet and washbasin…and there’s no need to bring soap if you don’t want to as locally produced, biodegradeable Savon de Marseille is provided in dispensers in the shower rooms.
Dinner with room to play
It’s a real luxury not to have to cook when you’re on holiday (though guests in the family yurts also have access to a fully equipped kitchen tent). At Mille Etoiles, breakfast and 5 nights dinner (Mediterranean style vegetarian buffet, using locally sourced produce, with one barbeque night) takes place on the outdoor terrace/restaurant and is included in the week’s stay in July and August. The bar offers drinks, local wines and even ice-creams for the children, charged as extra.
For both parents and children, it’s a wonderfully relaxing dinner experience, when you can eat and the children can go and play (within safe view) in between courses. There’s a swing and climbing frame, a pirate boat, a ping pong table, a small plunge pool…and even nets for catching butterflies and grasshoppers!
Things to Do
The Ardèche offers a huge array of things to do for holidaymakers - canoeing, forest adventure and zipwires, shopping in local markets, exploring caves, dining in superb local restaurants, but the hidden gem of staying at Milles Etoiles is the trail from the camp that leads down to the Ardèche Gorge.
After a steep 30 minute walk through the forest, the 35km Ardèche river meandering through spectacular limestone cliffs is a breathtaking sight. All the Mille Etoiles guests agreed that the gorge provided a fantastic, natural bathing area that had something for everyone: younger children were happy with their fishing nets, older children (and adults!) enjoyed jumping off the rocks and cooling off in the fresh water.
Things to Note
- The beds for children are camp beds and these may not suit everyone. One of the guests did end up purchasing an airbed!
- The walk down to the gorge is steep and rocky in places, so sensible shoes are required ie. no flip flops! Swim shoes or jelly shoes are useful for the rocks in the river.
- Each yurt is provided with its own solar lamp, but it’s useful to bring your own torch too.
For more information, visit the Canvaschic website. If you like the idea of a glamping holiday and need need help planning your trip, please feel free to contact me, Ching Lee, at Go2 Holiday Research, www.go2research.com.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Responsible Tourism, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Uncategorized | Activity Holiday, Glamping, South of France, Yurt|No Comments
One of the travel industry’s largest exhibitions, World Travel Market, is taking place in London this week. But to find authentic holiday ideas, it was the Fringe RT Network event last night that was the place to be.
The work being done by this global community of grass roots, responsible tourism organisations and individuals is truly inspiring. Their offerings give the traveller or holidaymaker more choices when it comes to searching for authentic holiday ideas, ideas that have a positive impact on the community and environment.
Here are just some of the offerings highlighted by Your Travel Planner:
Based on the idea of ‘Your Friend at the Other End’, Tripbod is a global network of trusted local travel advisors and planners. They can help provide local insight and create personal and unique ideas for your trip before you go.
This site is a great way to search and make an online booking for destinations, accommodation, tours and activities from local providers and operators, mainly from the developing world.
A unique feature of the WHL network is that each destination booking site is owned and operated by locals. You deal directly with local people in the destination you are travelling to and they say that “unlike other global booking sites, the people you book with will be there when you get there.”
The Blue Yonder provides responsible travel experiences in India. It was originally set up to raise funds for the Nila Foundation, to revive and regenerate one of the longest and sadly neglected rivers in South India called Nila (Bharatapuzha).
socialtours is a specialist tour and trekking company based in Kathmandu, with a difference. Their tours are run with tourism for the future in mind, so that local communities benefit and risks of environmental damage and the erosion of culture are minimised.
If you would like help planning a more authentic holiday, please contact me at Go2 Holiday Research. As a member of the Fringe RT Network, I can help put you in contact with other members who provide responsible, sustainable or eco-friendly travel.
Filed under: Responsible Tourism | |No Comments
If you’ve left it a bit late to book your summer holiday, you may start feeling very smug when you see some of the late holiday bargains that are currently on offer.
Holiday with Family or Friends
For a late getaway with family and or friends, how about a recently converted barn with six bedrooms, and six ensuite bath or shower-rooms (sleeps 12). Described as ‘very roomy and comfy’, with lovely views across miles of countryside, the barn has its own enclosed, lawned garden, a games/ laundry room and two ponds for a spot of fishing. Late availability: 25% reduction for the week of 21-28 August 2009. Was £2308, now £1731, from Helpful Holidays, ref. G40.
Holiday Villa in Menorca
Save over 40% with this newly built 3 bedroom villa (sleeps 6/8) with private heated pool terraces garden and BBQ, located near Cala Canutells. Late availability: £710 reduction for the week of 31 July -7 August 2009. Was £1700, now £990, from Owners Direct, ref. B3437.
Activity Holiday in Croatia
Combine sea-kayaking around the Croatian islands, coastal walks, mountain biking with local food and wine, mid-day naps and snorkelling. Late availability: 20% discount for remaining rooms due to cancellations for 25 July - 1 August 2009 (double room available) and 1 - 8 August 2009 (double room available). Was £760, now £608 per person, excludes flights, from Responsible Travel, ref. Croatia holiday, activity week.
If you’d like to some help researching more late holiday bargains, please contact me at www.go2research.com/contact_Go2.php.
Filed under: Cottages, Destinations, Europe, Responsible Tourism, Saving Money on 2009 Holidays | Late Holiday Bargains|No Comments
A beach holiday, in a hot destination, with good snorkelling. It’s many people’s idea of a dream holiday.
Seeing the wonders of the underwater world is breathtaking and it’s something that we would want our children and future generations to be able to experience.
However, scientists estimate that 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs have already been lost. Those that remain are threatened by climate change and human-induced damage, including tourism-related activities, such as harvesting for jewellery and souvenirs.
SeaWeb’s Too Precious to Wear campaign highlights 5 coral saving tips to consider when on holiday:
- Avoid purchases of products made from real coral. Instead, choose jewellery or decorative items that are made of alternative materials. For products that are coral-inspired, not coral-derived, please visit www.tooprecioustowear.org.
- When snorkelling or diving, refrain from collecting pieces of coral or other reef creatures as souvenirs or from even touching them. Corals are slow-growing animals and can take decades to recover from impacts, sometimes never recuperating from the damage.
- Choose hotels and recreation vendors that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and make the same commitment for your own home. Carbon dioxide emissions are warming the ocean and making it increasingly acidic, negatively affecting the health of reef corals and other marine organisms.
- Do your homework. Visit beach resorts that receive a high green rating, particularly for their pollution control and conservation policies. Do your part at home by refraining from putting chemicals and other toxic wastes into your sewer system. All treated sewage can eventually end up in the ocean and other important water systems.
- Whether you are going on holiday or staying at home this summer, make a pledge and take action to help preserve corals by signing Too Precious to Wear’s coral pledge at http://www.seaweb.org/TPTW/pledge.php.
For the full story, see the Yahoo! News website or the article on the TravelMole website.
Too Precious to Wear is a SeaWeb campaign to create a demand for coral conservation. Too Precious to Wear is made possible with support from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, Kingfisher Foundation, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and The Ocean Foundation. www.tooprecioustowear.org.
SeaWeb is a communications-based nonprofit organization that utilizes social marketing techniques to advance ocean conservation. www.seaweb.org
Filed under: Responsible Tourism, Travel Tips | Beach holiday, coral reef, snorkelling|No Comments
It’s been many years since I visited Nepal, but it still ranks as one of my best trips. From the intoxicating Kathmandu Valley to breathtaking mountain ranges, Nepal is a country of diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions.
So it’s with particular interest that Your Travel Planner reports on the launch of the ‘Green Circuit‘ today, an initiative that brings together some of the best responsible travel packages in the South Asia.
The ‘Green Circuit’ is the brainchild of Raj Gyawali from socialtours, a specialist tour and trekking company based in Kathmandu. Currently, the Circuit connects four great experiences around Nepal, India and East Himalaya using various means of ground transportation:
Nepal: Tamang Heritage Trail highlights an ancient lifestyle combined with picturesque scenery and healing baths in natural hot springs; 17 days, heritage sightseeing, moderate trekking, jungle safari
Eastern Himalaya: Red Panda Tea and Elephant Trail explores East Himalaya, one of the top biodiversity hotspots of the world; 22 days, culture, wildlife and tea gardens
East India: Orissa Odyssey offers an adventure through timeless India; 15 Days Kolkata - Visakhapatnam
South India: The Malabar Holidays captures the spirit of old Malabar (now northern Kerala). Live and let live as you meander through Cochin to the virgin beaches of Kannur; 14 days, culture, spice tour, beaches, homestays
If you have the time, the Green Circuit can be done as one long expedition, or taken seperately (and all are customizable). If you’re after shorter experiences, the companies involved are more than happy to discuss alternative itineraries.
For more information, visit ‘the Green Circuit‘ on the socialtours website.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Responsible Tourism | India, Nepal, Responsible Tourism, South Asia|No Comments
Today is Earth Day. And when it comes to travel and holidays, there are many sources of information if you’re a traveller or holidaymaker who wants to ensure your holiday has a positive impact on the rest of the world.
Choosing a place that uses solar-powered electricity, or serves local, seasonal and organic produce or one that supports local community projects could be your way of making sure that you travel green.
Here are some suggestions from Your Travel Planner for researching a greener holiday:
Set up in 2001, responsibletravel.com is a good place to start researching holidays that make a real difference to local people and the environment. The site covers over 270 operators and 100s of villas, lodges, B&Bs and small hotels around the world. Each holiday has personal reviews as well as an explanation of how it makes a difference.
This site is a great way to search and make an online booking for destinations, accommodation, tours and activities from local providers and operators, mainly from the developing world.
A unique feature of the WHL network is that each destination booking site is owned and operated by locals. You deal directly with local people in the destination you are travelling to and they say that “unlike other global booking sites, the people you book with will be there when you get there.”
- Green Places to Stay, Alastair Sawday
If you prefer a guide book, Alistair Sawday’s “Green Places to Stay” gives the very best of eco-tourism accommodation around the world. The Alastair Sawday team have sought out and visited people with a passion for the local culture and environment, from the heart of Borneo to the African savannah. The aim is that each place featured provides tangible benefits to local communities and minimizes the impact of holidays on the environment. See www.sawdays.co.uk or Amazon.
If you would like help planning a greener holiday, please contact me at Go2 Holiday Research. As a member of the Fringe RT Networking group, I can help put you in contact with other members who provide responsible, sustainable or eco-friendly travel.
Filed under: Responsible Tourism, Travel Tips | Responsible Tourism|No Comments
As climate change issues increase our awareness of the way we live, more people are thinking about the way they travel.
The growth in interest in holidays under the “responsible tourism” banner is significant. What’s even more significant though is the fact that the travel industry as a whole is putting responsible tourism high on its agenda.
In November 2008, World Travel Market (one of the travel industry’s largest exhibitions) held its second World Responsible Tourism Day. Held in association with the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) and backed by all the leading industry organisations, the day was designed to be ‘a collective day of global action on responsible tourism’.
Independent travellers have unconsciously made the ‘responsible’ or ethical choice for years and whilst there are consumers increasingly demanding a more responsible, caring travel industry, for most people, travel choices are much more driven by cost than environmental concerns.
Mass tourism will never go away, but if hotels, airlines and operators start integrating better environmental approaches throughout their businesses, the impact would be huge. The environmental choice would then already be part of the ‘package’ and our planet would definitely be better for it.
The World Responsible Tourism Day is a welcome step in the right direction.
Filed under: Responsible Tourism | Responsible Tourism|No Comments
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