New holidays sign up to responsibletravel.com
The team at responsibletravel.com has been busy adding 51 magical new holidays and three locally-run places to stay to its collection this month, as the growing movement in responsible tourism continues, taking the site's total holiday and accommodation count to 3,867.
From a turf-covered, renovated hideaway croft in Orkney and ground-breaking eco bungalows in Bali, to an adventure tour of the forgotten beauty of Zimbabwe or an action-packed family trip to the lesser-known, idyllic Maltese island of Gozo, there are new holidays - all with local flavour and flair - to suit all tastes and budgets.
Orkney self-catering croft, Scotland – from £595 per week (sleeps 6)
Quite simply one of the most exceptional renovations of a derelict croft you will come across. Purchased in 2003 as an unloved croft, by 2009 it had been fully gutted and rebuilt using traditional local materials. Complete with turf roof, antique interiors, immaculate flagstone flooring this place doesn’t compromise on top quality modern appliances either, with an integrated home cinema system plus Egyptian goose down duvets. It is situated in nine acres of beautiful private gardens and wildlife reserve, with an extensive vegetable garden for yummy seasonal produce.
Mountains and fjords, hiking holiday in Norway – from £643 (8 days)
Prepare to be overwhelmed by Hardangervidda - Norway's biggest national park and the largest high mountain plateau in Europe. Trek from secluded cabin to cabin, stopping at four spectacular waterfalls en route and finish up at the historic Utne Hotel by the fjord. This organisation is passionate about keeping Norway’s wilderness pristine - it has been lobbying against off-road driving on uncultivated land and campaigns against wind farms on vulnerable coastal stretches. Departs July and August.
Seattle to Los Angeles via national parks - from £1160 (15 days)
From the bubbling geysers of Yellowstone to the soaring depths of the Grand Canyon, this journey will leave you in no doubt of the beauty to be found in the US. Visit Monument Valley, the heart of the Navajo Indian Reservation where your local Navajo guide will take you to sacred places in the Valley, plus you’ll experience an authentic Hogan and listen to Navajo stories, told by a tribal elder. Departures during June until September.
Bali eco bungalows – from £88 per bungalow, per night (including breakfast)
Newly built in panoramic landscapes, these eco bungalows are run by an Australian couple, John and Cath Blundstone and their 6 year old son Huon, alongside a Balinese family, Mini and Agung. Built using local materials and labour this will be the first business in Bali to generate its own hydro-electricity. Visitors can enjoy organic food, stunning walks through rice paddies, bike rides, carving workshops, traditional basket making, kite making and flying, Balinese massage, making traditional coconut oil for massage and much more.
Camping safari in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana – from £1,206 (16 days)
An opportunity for the adventure traveller to rediscover the beauty of Zimbabwe, which has long been off the tourist map. Visit the Zimbabwe Ruins, Motopo’s National Park - a haven for the endangered Rhino and the resting place of Cecil John Rhodes, plus the unfenced Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe’s flagship game reserve. You’ll also take in the lesser-known parts of Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta. A proportion of the tour fee will provide the local community with mokoro (dugout canoes) so as to help protect sausage tree populations. Regular departure dates throughout 2011.
Law internships in Sri Lanka - from £945 - £1795 (2 - 12 weeks)
You'll work at a law firm situated in the middle of the beautiful coastal town of Negombo and your placement will be tailored to match your interests. You will become involved in the current cases and you will also have the chance to sit on the bench at local courts observing hearings and trials. Your accommodation will be in Ja-Ela with other volunteers and you will commute to Negombo daily. This is an opportunity to gain an extraordinary insight into the operations of law in Sri Lanka - a firsthand insight into international law.
Gozo family activity holiday, Malta – from £1345 (8 days) including flights from the UK
Celebrate the history, food and culture of Gozo - the hidden treasure of the Maltese Islands. The warm clear sea makes it ideal for water based activities. Enjoy a lazy boat day, snorkelling, climbing, abseiling, a treasure hunt day, kayaking and mini B diving. Plus, you will try your hand at the traditional game of “bocci”. Situated in a traditional village rather than a tourist resort, you’ll be staying at a 50+ year old farmhouse which has been sensitively converted to keep its character. Departures during May, July, August and October.
For over 50 new holidays and accommodations fresh to the site in January, visit: responsibletravel.com