What we're all dreaming about for 2008
Find out what inspires the responsibletravel.com team! We asked everyone in the office to choose their dream holiday... We were supposed to choose just one each but with close to 3000 holidays on the site, each hand-picked for their responsible tourism credentials and run by specialists in their field, some of us couldn't quite narrow it down to one.
Some trips were typical of the person they were chosen by but others managed to surpise us! And there's everthing here, from Kayaking in Scotland to joining the Genghis Khan Warrior Programme in Mongolia, and from volunteering with river dolphins to relaxing in a gorgeous beachside lodge.
Justin Francis, Chief Executive and Co-Founder
Justin is currently researching his honeymoon and is dreaming of a rather eclectic range of holidays including our Selous Game Reserve & Mafia Island holiday, Kenya beach resort on Manda Island, Kerala backwaters tailormade holiday, Isle of Skye sea kayaking holiday, Rajasthan village tour, Amazon wildlife & community holiday, Brazil and Finland activity centre holiday.
Richard Skinner, Sales Director
Richard has worked all over the world, including particularly tough assignments in the Maldives, and in the Milford Sound, New Zealand! He's chosen a Borneo tailormade holiday, which includes a visit to the Iban Headhunter tribe who live in traditional longhouse homes. Travellers' visits contribute financially to the medical and educational needs of the Iban people.
Paul Snudden, Finance and Operations Director
Father of twins, Paul chose a tailor made Kenya family safari as his dream holiday. Designed specially for families, this holiday offers comfortable accommodation and activities for the children, including a visit to The Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Daphne Sheldrick was the first person to successfully hand-rear newborn African Elephant orphans and her Trust had successfully saved and over 55 calves.
Jennifer Everest, Web Editor
Jennifer has always dreamed of visiting China and aims to treat herself on her 30th birthday. She's even learning Mandarin in preparation... so it was hardly a surprise to see she picked out The Silk Route, Beijing to Tashkent holiday which visits the Terracotta Warriors, a Tibetan monastery, markets, mountains and minarets.
Olly Wheatcroft, Account Handler
Olly, whose passions include paragliding, continues his energetic pursuits in his choice of our Himalayan trekking holiday in Mustang. This trip supports the Kvresthali Women society which provides education for impoverished adult women and provides funds for goat and vegetable farming, and for road repair.
Iris Coates, Web Team
Iris couldn't decide between our holiday in Bhutan - an area unknown to much of the world, offering magnificent mountains, lush valleys, thick forests, and traditions unchanged for centuries - and a Brazil river dolphins conservation holiday, which aims to help prevent enigmatic pink Amazon river dolphin following the demise of other river dolphin species.
Lyn Hill, Finance and Office Manager
On her career break Lyn visited Asia, Oz and South Africa. To celebrate her next birthday, Lyn is embarking on another adventure, on a Maasai Safari & Lamu Island holiday. This 9 day safari combining wildlife, local culture and the beach visits the Selenkay Conservancy and Ol Kinyei Conservancy, set aside by the local Maasai communities as reserves for wildlife.
Helena Posnett, Account Handler
Helena has been skiing since she was knee-high to a grass-hopper and has chosen The Haute route, Argentière to Zermatt as her dream holiday. This is perhaps the most famous ski-mountaineering itinerary in the Alps and justifiably so. This is the High Alps at their best crowned by Mont Blanc in Chamonix and the Matterhorn in Zermatt.
Suzanne Piggott, Account Handler
Suzanne surprised us by putting aside her beloved yoga to choose our Madagascar volunteer holiday instead. Madagascar is one of the world’s most biologically rich, yet economically poor countries. Participants on this trip join a range of practical construction, research and education activities, which focus on health, sustainable livelihoods and conservation.
Nicola Keen, Web Team
Nicola has a birthday coming up and, having been introduced to the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing by her flatmate, she's now considering this Cuba homestay & adventure tour, and our Rio volunteering & dance trip, which aims to turn the favela in Rio's poorest areas into a brightly coloured landmark, and have beginner & experienced dancers alike surpassing themselves!
Katie Fewings, Project Manager
Katie says: "I think it has to be this Chile tailormade holiday. I want to go to Chile but don’t want to be stuck in a group so this is perfect. New Zealand is another one I’ve been thinking of and I always prefer to do my own thing so I'm looking at Catlins holiday cottages, but this Marlborough Sounds accommodation, with its own beach, sounds tempting...
Holly Foat, Web Team
Holly has a BSc in Zoology but, having considered Madagascar, tiger watching and bear watching, she's decided on our tailormade holiday in Lapland. She says: "This Lapland trip has so much stuff packed in, things I've always wanted to do - the Northern Lights, dog sledding and meeting the Sámi, that I had to go for it".
Christopher Nott, Sales Accommodation Manager
Having an almost obssessive admiration for penguins because they make him laugh and smile, our Penguin & Albatross tour in Dunedin, which visits both Blue Penguins and Yellow Eyed penguins, obviously appeals greatly. The company running this trip is involved with habitat enhancement, nest site creation and predator control programs.
Krissy Pentland, PR Manager
Krissy says: "I'm thinking honeymoons here... we want to go on safari somewhere in Africa and then head to Mozambique and this Lake Malawi lodge accommodation looks like a dream come true! I love to be near water and a stunning beach, and there's plenty to do - snorkelling, swimming, sailing, canoeing and walking followed by delicious meals and some star gazing!"
Amelia Shepherd, Customer Services Manager
Passionate about travel and people Amelia started her 10 years travel industry experience as cabin crew in order to travel and use her languages. Over the years she has travelled extensively in Asia, South and Central America and is never far from her camera. She dreams of a Gorilla safari & community project holiday in Uganda or a Honduras adventure holiday.
Jerrine Barnett, Customer Services team
Jerrine spends a lot of time advising other people on their dream holidays so perhaps it's not surprising that she has chosen some of our more unusual holidays; our sailing trip to see the Whales and Northern lights, this Full Moon Festival Nepal trip, our Genghis Khan Warrior training programme and (a little more conventional!) a safari in Namibia.
Lisa Joanes, Web Team / Designer
Lisa, the newest member of our team has picked our Swimming with Humpback whales holiday in Tonga. She says "even though the sheer size of these whales would probably scare me at first, I imagine it to be one of the most awesome experiences you could possibly have!" This tour operator strictly abides by whale-watching guidelines.
If you've been inspired, get looking for your own dream holidays here.
Need some help? Contact Amelia and Jerrine on our helpdesk here.
Some trips were typical of the person they were chosen by but others managed to surpise us! And there's everthing here, from Kayaking in Scotland to joining the Genghis Khan Warrior Programme in Mongolia, and from volunteering with river dolphins to relaxing in a gorgeous beachside lodge.
Justin Francis, Chief Executive and Co-Founder Justin is currently researching his honeymoon and is dreaming of a rather eclectic range of holidays including our Selous Game Reserve & Mafia Island holiday, Kenya beach resort on Manda Island, Kerala backwaters tailormade holiday, Isle of Skye sea kayaking holiday, Rajasthan village tour, Amazon wildlife & community holiday, Brazil and Finland activity centre holiday.
Richard Skinner, Sales Director Richard has worked all over the world, including particularly tough assignments in the Maldives, and in the Milford Sound, New Zealand! He's chosen a Borneo tailormade holiday, which includes a visit to the Iban Headhunter tribe who live in traditional longhouse homes. Travellers' visits contribute financially to the medical and educational needs of the Iban people.
Paul Snudden, Finance and Operations Director Father of twins, Paul chose a tailor made Kenya family safari as his dream holiday. Designed specially for families, this holiday offers comfortable accommodation and activities for the children, including a visit to The Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. Daphne Sheldrick was the first person to successfully hand-rear newborn African Elephant orphans and her Trust had successfully saved and over 55 calves.
Jennifer Everest, Web Editor Jennifer has always dreamed of visiting China and aims to treat herself on her 30th birthday. She's even learning Mandarin in preparation... so it was hardly a surprise to see she picked out The Silk Route, Beijing to Tashkent holiday which visits the Terracotta Warriors, a Tibetan monastery, markets, mountains and minarets.
Olly Wheatcroft, Account Handler Olly, whose passions include paragliding, continues his energetic pursuits in his choice of our Himalayan trekking holiday in Mustang. This trip supports the Kvresthali Women society which provides education for impoverished adult women and provides funds for goat and vegetable farming, and for road repair.
Iris Coates, Web Team Iris couldn't decide between our holiday in Bhutan - an area unknown to much of the world, offering magnificent mountains, lush valleys, thick forests, and traditions unchanged for centuries - and a Brazil river dolphins conservation holiday, which aims to help prevent enigmatic pink Amazon river dolphin following the demise of other river dolphin species.
Lyn Hill, Finance and Office Manager On her career break Lyn visited Asia, Oz and South Africa. To celebrate her next birthday, Lyn is embarking on another adventure, on a Maasai Safari & Lamu Island holiday. This 9 day safari combining wildlife, local culture and the beach visits the Selenkay Conservancy and Ol Kinyei Conservancy, set aside by the local Maasai communities as reserves for wildlife.
Helena Posnett, Account Handler Helena has been skiing since she was knee-high to a grass-hopper and has chosen The Haute route, Argentière to Zermatt as her dream holiday. This is perhaps the most famous ski-mountaineering itinerary in the Alps and justifiably so. This is the High Alps at their best crowned by Mont Blanc in Chamonix and the Matterhorn in Zermatt.
Suzanne Piggott, Account Handler Suzanne surprised us by putting aside her beloved yoga to choose our Madagascar volunteer holiday instead. Madagascar is one of the world’s most biologically rich, yet economically poor countries. Participants on this trip join a range of practical construction, research and education activities, which focus on health, sustainable livelihoods and conservation.
Nicola Keen, Web Team Nicola has a birthday coming up and, having been introduced to the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing by her flatmate, she's now considering this Cuba homestay & adventure tour, and our Rio volunteering & dance trip, which aims to turn the favela in Rio's poorest areas into a brightly coloured landmark, and have beginner & experienced dancers alike surpassing themselves!
Katie Fewings, Project Manager Katie says: "I think it has to be this Chile tailormade holiday. I want to go to Chile but don’t want to be stuck in a group so this is perfect. New Zealand is another one I’ve been thinking of and I always prefer to do my own thing so I'm looking at Catlins holiday cottages, but this Marlborough Sounds accommodation, with its own beach, sounds tempting...
Holly Foat, Web Team Holly has a BSc in Zoology but, having considered Madagascar, tiger watching and bear watching, she's decided on our tailormade holiday in Lapland. She says: "This Lapland trip has so much stuff packed in, things I've always wanted to do - the Northern Lights, dog sledding and meeting the Sámi, that I had to go for it".
Christopher Nott, Sales Accommodation Manager Having an almost obssessive admiration for penguins because they make him laugh and smile, our Penguin & Albatross tour in Dunedin, which visits both Blue Penguins and Yellow Eyed penguins, obviously appeals greatly. The company running this trip is involved with habitat enhancement, nest site creation and predator control programs.
Krissy Pentland, PR Manager Krissy says: "I'm thinking honeymoons here... we want to go on safari somewhere in Africa and then head to Mozambique and this Lake Malawi lodge accommodation looks like a dream come true! I love to be near water and a stunning beach, and there's plenty to do - snorkelling, swimming, sailing, canoeing and walking followed by delicious meals and some star gazing!"
Amelia Shepherd, Customer Services Manager Passionate about travel and people Amelia started her 10 years travel industry experience as cabin crew in order to travel and use her languages. Over the years she has travelled extensively in Asia, South and Central America and is never far from her camera. She dreams of a Gorilla safari & community project holiday in Uganda or a Honduras adventure holiday.
Jerrine Barnett, Customer Services team Jerrine spends a lot of time advising other people on their dream holidays so perhaps it's not surprising that she has chosen some of our more unusual holidays; our sailing trip to see the Whales and Northern lights, this Full Moon Festival Nepal trip, our Genghis Khan Warrior training programme and (a little more conventional!) a safari in Namibia.
Lisa Joanes, Web Team / Designer Lisa, the newest member of our team has picked our Swimming with Humpback whales holiday in Tonga. She says "even though the sheer size of these whales would probably scare me at first, I imagine it to be one of the most awesome experiences you could possibly have!" This tour operator strictly abides by whale-watching guidelines.
If you've been inspired, get looking for your own dream holidays here.Need some help? Contact Amelia and Jerrine on our helpdesk here.