Elaphite Islands & Dubrovnik walking tours in Croatia
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Islands have water from the mainland, plastic bottles are recycled and collected, local food is available on the small island markets. People mainly grow vegetables, grapes, oranges and lemons in a traditional way. The groups are small up to 10 people and walking is on the existing paths, we leave nothing but foot prints behind. We support the slogan "Help us keep the Adriatic clean" which also includes the islands.
Our guides emphasize on the importance of respecting local people and wildlife. Our tour is fully guided tour and the travellers are advised not to litter. When we pack picnic lunch we use recyclable bags.
In our office, and in the whole region we get the electricity from green energy scheme - hydro electric. We use energy efficient light bulbs We recycle paper in the office and we print out only the documents that need to be printed because of the record keeping. We print out the documents only when it is necessary. We encourage car sharing. Since Dubrovnik is small we walk to our office. We use local ferry transportation and on the islands we do not use cars but we walk.
Tourism in private accommodation has benefited conservation of the local area since the guests are staying in the old houses, that have been there even before tourism started developing. In this way the villages preserved their charm since overbuilding did not occur. Thanks to the incomes earned from private accommodation, these old houses are well maintaned.
Community
We direct our travelers to local private accommodation providers. Overnight in private accommodation enhances the visitors’ experience, since they get an opportunity to be welcomed by a local host and thus get better insight in everyday life of local people on Croatian islands. Also, in this way our travelers are contributing to the local economy. Accommodation in local guesthouses is simple but clean, with own bathroom. Accommodation is licensed by Croatian National Tourist Board. The Island has lovely stone houses.
While walking we stop for lunch in local restaurants. Thus our clients have an opportunity to taste some of the typical specialties of the region and at the same time help local economy. Food in local restaurants that we visit during our walking trips is produced organically where possible. Those are family owned restaurants that are supplied with fresh fish from local fishermen and vegetables from local farmers.
We assist inhabitants of Elaphite islands in their efforts to keep the young generation from leaving the islands by directing our guests to the restaurants owned by local people who employ young local inhabitants. The fees paid to the local community like tourist tax and entrance fees to Old Castle and Rennaissance arboretum as well as local boat tickets will contribute to local economy.
We use local leaders who had training both abroad and home. Djivo graduated from Rochester college of Management and technology, had two years practice in Colorado and Nordic walking training in Zagreb. Ivana his colleague is a professional tour guide. We provide training for our guides and they are certified according to Croatian standards.
As a company we support elderly on the islands not only during the summer season but keep in touch year around as our guides stay in accommodation owned by elder local people and they help carry the groceries and during the winter months if they need anything from Dubrovnik. We also help them to organise transportation to the island (islands are very small and during the winter only basic groceries are available there).
16 c Renaissance castle, Stjepovic-Skocibuha, on the island of Sipan was in ruins for a long time. A few years ago it was reconstructed and opened for tourist visits. Our tour includes visit to Renaissance castle and we pay the entrance for our guests. Money collected from the entrance fees is used for further reconstructions.
Many local people found employment in local restaurants, shops, coffee bars and tourist office. This has reduced the number of people moving to Dubrovnik in search of work. Some of the locals opened shops with handicrafts - paintings, original souvenirs and traditional embroidery. Traditional embroidery is one of the skills known by local people that was in danger of dying out but recently many young girls learned how to do it since it brings them opportunity to earn additional income.
Thanks to tourism ferry connections between the Elaphite Islands and Dubrovnik are more frequent. Most of the locals are renting their rooms and apartments to tourists. This is a very good additional income for them.
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