Press releases: New, unusual holidays with local stories to tell

Family holidays
Back to nature family activity holiday in Scotland - from £399 (4-7 days) per adult and £299 per child. Departs 8 Aug and 13 Oct
Stay in wooden lodges on a lake; explore forests and unspoilt beaches; use wild plants to make jewellery; enjoy eating delicious home cooked food; start a fire without matches and bake bread over it; then sing songs, toast marshmallows and tell stories. Adults can take time out alone for yoga lessons or a relaxation treatment. Visit local projects (via bio-diesel powered minibus!) including the Findhorn Foundation ecovillage and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society wildlife centre. Price includes accommodation, meals, activities, expert guides and pick-up if required.


Family activity holiday in Slovenia - from £684 (11 days) excluding flights. Children under 14 - 10% discount
Discover turquoise blue rivers, surrounded by high peaked mountains, amazing gorges and green forests. Go night canoeing; enjoy walking in the Polog Valley; jump and slide down the picturesque Prsjak gorge for some canyoning, try kayaking, white water rafting and much more. You’ll stay at the Hotel Krn, a fantastic locally run 3 star hotel, offering locally sourced food. This operator campaigns against the excessive extraction of river gravel in the local area.

Price includes accommodation, half board, all equipment and activities, airport return transfers, qualified English speaking instructors, games and evening entertainment. Departs 19 Jul, 26 Jul, 2 Aug, 9 Aug.


Holistic and well being holidays
Life coaching & spa holiday in Chiang Mai, Thailand - from £460 (5-8 days) excluding flights
This trip is ideal for those faced with a major life change, such as redundancy. On arrival you’ll be met by your own personal life change practitioner who will guide you through your programme and continue e-mail contact for up to 12 weeks afterwards. You’ll stay at the luxury Baan Saen Doi, located at the foot of the sacred Doi Suthep Mountain, 20 minutes from the centre of Chiang Mai city. Baan Saen Doi is famous for its Spa - all its therapists are trained at the world-renowned Chiva Som. 5% of the cost of your trip is donated to The Vieng Ping Children’s Home.



Scottish Highlands holistic and wellbeing holidays – from £600 (8 days) excluding flights. Departs 27 June
Wake up to stunning views across Loch Broom. Mornings will start with a local walk or a yoga session, run by experienced local yoga teacher Joani (all levels catered for, including beginners), followed by breakfast. Then take a trip to one of the many deserted sandy beaches in Ross-shire, finding inspiration for the next days art session, when you can try felting or painting. Enjoy delicious healthy balanced meals using produce from the organic farm you will be staying on. Pick elderflower heads and learn how to make elderflower cordial. Price includes accommodation, transfers from and back to Inverness, meals, workshops and activities.


Cooking
Creative Spanish cooking holiday , Spain - from €600 - €1050 (5-8 days) excluding flights.
Learn to create sumptuous Moroccan, Middle Eastern and Iberic feasts at this stunning finca situated in the Sierra de Montanchez, Extremadura. Famous for its dinners the owners have decided to share their secrets and run a creative cooking course using natural fresh local vegetables, meat, fish, fruit, wine and herbs. Enjoy tapas on the terrace followed by dinner around the huge dining table outside if the evening is warm. Departs the first week of each month: March - June & September - December according to demand and availability.




Extreme Adventure
Oman trekking holiday - from £1100 (9 days) excluding flights. Departs 8 Mar, 6 Apr, 1 Sep, 1 Oct
This Full Moon Camel Trek will be a unique opportunity to trek with the local Bedu, experience the traditional Omani way of life and enjoy the grandure of the desert environment. The expedition will be led by a member of the Al Wahibi tribe; one of the true families of the desert. You will travel in the traditional Bedu way, trekking through the desert on camels, travelling by moonlight and setting up wild desert camps under the stars. At the end of the trek you will head for the stunning coastline between Al Ashkarah and Ras al Haddon. See turtles laying their eggs at a local turtle reserve and swim in the beautiful pools of Wadi Shab.


Venezuela trekking holiday, Lost World and Angel Falls - from £1690 (16 days) excluding flights. Departs 10 Jul, 11 Sep, 18 Dec
Travel to the remote area of the Table Mountains in Southeast Venezuela to combine an ascent to the summit plateau of Auyan Tepui (requiring fixed rope in places), followed by a river journey by dugout canoe to the base of the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, visiting a number of remote Indian communities along the way. During the trip you will encounter the village of Kamarata, which houses the only rural medical post where doctors attend to children and adults from a 482km radius. This operator has been assisting with the building of a rest house here.



All holidays are subject to availability.

Notes to editors

About responsibletravel.com:
responsibletravel.com is the world's leading online ethical travel company, selling over 3,000 holidays from over 270 specialist operators and 550 accommodations. All the holidays meet specific responsible tourism guidelines and aim to create better places for people to live and to visit. Launched in 2001 with backing from Dame Anita Roddick, the website is for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. The organisation - based in Brighton, England - also campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.

Contact:
Krissy Pentland
press@responsibletravel.com
07717 348 368