Catalonia walking holiday in Spain, self guided

Planet and people

UK Office:
We are well aware of the impact tourism has at home and abroad, and we make every effort to balance the environmental impact of travelling with the immense benefits sustainable tourism can bring to destinations and the people who live there. So we start in the office: we turn off all electrical equipment every night; we use energy-efficient bulbs; we measure print and paper consumption, and re-cycle wherever possible; we print our brochures on paper from sustainable sources, and send them out in bio-degradable packaging.

Leaders & local suppliers:
Catalunya has long been on the tourist map, but most Brits head to the developed resorts such as Tossa and Lloret de Mar. By contrast, our holidays are based in the Baix Emporda corner of the region, a typically Spanish part of the county characterised by its stunning coast, wealth of mediaeval villages and strong cultural identity. So by visiting Baix Emporda instead of the usual larger resorts, you will be helping to support a much smaller towns economy.

Our holiday starts, and ends, in the white seaside town of Calella de Palafrugell (not to be confused with tourist capital, Calella, further down the coast) where you’ll find three sandy coves, a traffic-free centre and lots of authentic local cafes, bars and restaurants. If you fancy a change of scene, the lovely coastal GR path takes you through pines to neighbouring Llafranc in just under an hour.

Staff:
Staff will suggest places to see and visit locally. Many of our overseas staff have worked for us for many years now – in fact, the 20 returning staff this summer have, between them, clocked up an impressive 189 years!

Group size:
Having no minimum number means that groups sizes can be small and therefore the trips have less impact on the environment.

Activity:
Walking has minimal impact on the environment as you provide most of the energy yourself and, when you’re strolling from village to village, you can enjoy a relationship with locals in a way motorists passing through never can. On foot, you get off the beaten track, and you’ll find that people treat you as a visitor rather than a tourist. Also, by walking independently, and not having to worry about keeping up with a group, you set the pace so you can soak up the sights, sounds and scents of your surrounds and really get under the skin of the place you’re visiting.

We proactively encourage walking clients to think about travelling responsibly too: packing light, saving water, buying locally and re-cycling all maps and route notes at the end of their trip.