Peloponnese turtle conservation holiday, Greece
Highlights
Morning surveys | nest shading/protecting | public awareness work | running info kiosk | beach cleans | beach patrols | nearby watersports centre | Gythio | Greek meals included (including veggie and vegan options) |
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
This trip is all about sea turtle conservation! It proves that tourism can be a significantly important tool for conservation, by respecting wildlife and biodiversity in every possible way! Specifically: * You will become a conservationist yourself when participating in this project!
* Included in your travel package is a donation to the sea turtle protection society of Greece. Both when you visit the Sea Turtle Rescue Center and when you later volunteer on the beaches!* Wildlife species are not harvested, consumed, displayed, sold, or traded.
* No captive wildlife is held – no healthy turtles at least UNLESS the sea turtles are injured or sick (in case of the Sea Turtle Rescue Center)
* The trip supports and contributes to biodiversity conservation, including natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value.
* Interactions with wildlife, considering cumulative impacts, do not produce adverse effects on the viability and behaviour of populations in the wild. Any disturbance of natural ecosystems is minimized. No turtle swimming or turtle petting
* Information about and interpretation of the natural surroundings is provided to tourists in the area, as well as explaining appropriate behaviour while on the beaches where turtles nest. When you volunteer for the sea turtle protection society YOU will be the one raising public awareness on these issues!
* For most of this holiday you stay in 1 spot: the coastline of the South Peloponnese
* The necessary transfers are group transfers, in a minivan.
* When volunteering you will mostly just walk. Because the long stretch of beach is right in front of the accommodation!
* For optional excursions possibility to use the public transportation (bus) or rent a bike.
* The food is mainly locally sourced, seasonal and fresh. Olive oil (produced on the premises) is used in the food too. Plenty of vegan, vegetarian options available.
* Lodging is in a camping with a “back to nature” concept - with minimal electricity and power use.
* Guides are local, thus reducing his/her need to travel.
The Impacts of this Trip
One of our core values is to celebrate a Diversity of Place & Culture whilst delivering you rich and authentic experiences at an affordable price. It is done because we are 100% local. Expect authentic experiences such as local traditional cuisine and local traditional architecture in an area untouched by mass tourism! * so the operator of this tour is a small, local independent tour operator business
You support the community in the following ways:
* Information about and interpretation of the local culture, and cultural heritage is provided to travellers by locals
* Your tour leader is local, offering local knowledge and expertise
* Local services and goods are purchased and offered, following fair-trade principles.
* Supporting local small entrepreneurs to develop and sell sustainable products that are based on the area’s nature, history and culture (including food and beverages, crafts, performance arts, agricultural products, etc.). The owners of the camping produce and sell their own top olive oil on the premises.
* Purchasing policies favour locally appropriate and ecologically sustainable products, including building materials, capital goods, food, beverages and consumables.
* The camping in the countryside is family-owned. This is also where the research centre of the charity is located during the Summer months. The setting of the campsite is basically an olive grove.
This trip is all about sea turtle conservation! It proves that tourism can be a significantly important tool for conservation, by respecting wildlife and biodiversity in every possible way! Specifically: * You will become a conservationist yourself when participating in this project!
* Included in your travel package is a donation to the sea turtle protection society of Greece. Both when you visit the Sea Turtle Rescue Center and when you later volunteer on the beaches!* Wildlife species are not harvested, consumed, displayed, sold, or traded.
* No captive wildlife is held – no healthy turtles at least UNLESS the sea turtles are injured or sick (in case of the Sea Turtle Rescue Center)
* The trip supports and contributes to biodiversity conservation, including natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value.
* Interactions with wildlife, considering cumulative impacts, do not produce adverse effects on the viability and behaviour of populations in the wild. Any disturbance of natural ecosystems is minimized. No turtle swimming or turtle petting
* Information about and interpretation of the natural surroundings is provided to tourists in the area, as well as explaining appropriate behaviour while on the beaches where turtles nest. When you volunteer for the sea turtle protection society YOU will be the one raising public awareness on these issues!
* For most of this holiday you stay in 1 spot: the coastline of the South Peloponnese
* The necessary transfers are group transfers, in a minivan.
* When volunteering you will mostly just walk. Because the long stretch of beach is right in front of the accommodation!
* For optional excursions possibility to use the public transportation (bus) or rent a bike.
* The food is mainly locally sourced, seasonal and fresh. Olive oil (produced on the premises) is used in the food too. Plenty of vegan, vegetarian options available.
* Lodging is in a camping with a “back to nature” concept - with minimal electricity and power use.
* Guides are local, thus reducing his/her need to travel.
The Impacts of this Trip
One of our core values is to celebrate a Diversity of Place & Culture whilst delivering you rich and authentic experiences at an affordable price. It is done because we are 100% local. Expect authentic experiences such as local traditional cuisine and local traditional architecture in an area untouched by mass tourism! * so the operator of this tour is a small, local independent tour operator business
You support the community in the following ways:
* Information about and interpretation of the local culture, and cultural heritage is provided to travellers by locals
* Your tour leader is local, offering local knowledge and expertise
* Local services and goods are purchased and offered, following fair-trade principles.
* Supporting local small entrepreneurs to develop and sell sustainable products that are based on the area’s nature, history and culture (including food and beverages, crafts, performance arts, agricultural products, etc.). The owners of the camping produce and sell their own top olive oil on the premises.
* Purchasing policies favour locally appropriate and ecologically sustainable products, including building materials, capital goods, food, beverages and consumables.
* The camping in the countryside is family-owned. This is also where the research centre of the charity is located during the Summer months. The setting of the campsite is basically an olive grove.
4 Reviews of Peloponnese turtle conservation holiday, Greece
Reviewed on 20 Aug 2019 by Abigail Williams
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Read the operator's response here:
Reviewed on 20 Aug 2019 by Isabella Tully
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Doing night patrol, really trying to look for turtles and potentially help them in
the water. Along with educating people about how they can help keep the
turtles protected and safe.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Try everything once. My group didn’t know about night patrol for the first few
nights and when we tried it, it was great. Same with collecting bamboo, it's all
part of the experience so try everything once even if you don’t think you will
like it.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel like while my group was there we talked to many people, and some were
more receptive then others. I definitely felt a big support in the conservation aspect.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would recommend it to anyone it’s an amazing experience in general but the
bonus is you get to impact and animals well being and that’s just incredible in
itself.
Read the operator's response here:
difference.
Reviewed on 27 Aug 2018 by Anja Tremper
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the turtle hatchlings make their way to the sea.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
not sure
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I hope so but one week is very little time. Still I hope we were of help to the local group.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I really enjoyed it.
Read the operator's response here:
Reviewed on 20 Aug 2018 by Louise Shaw
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Rescuing some hatchling turtles, which had been confused by the lights of the adjacent campsite when they emerged from their nest on the beach, and
encouraging them to go the right way towards the sea. Two hours after the "turtle emergency" was declared, all but a handful of the escapees had
successfully flapped their way to the water, and were taking their first swims. Between the volunteers and the interested and helpful campers of all ages, we
probably rescued about 50-60 turtles.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring a dependable alarm clock, as the starts are early. The food is great, but watch your waistline. Bring a mask and snorkel for swimming, especially at
Valtaki Beach.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Supported conservation; supported local people by using public transport and eating locally.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very relaxed pace, good to have a chance to make the world better. Gythio is a pretty little town and the surroundings in Mani have very very dramatic
scenery.
Read the operator's response here:
Loggerhead sea turtles ! It was a pleasure to get to know you and your family. Wishing you all the best.
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