Walks and coastal towns of Croatia holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This trip combines exploring the urban areas of Zagreb, Trogir and Split with the oldest National Parks in Croatia, Plitvice and Paklenica. Walking is the main activity each day allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes with little carbon footprint.

To help reduce the level of pollution within the urban centres, the sightseeing tours we operate are undertaken on foot. A much nicer way to explore the winding streets and gain a greater insight into the local culture and daily life. When coaches are being used to travel between destinations for these small group trips we keep the size of the coach to a minimum, so rather than using gas guzzling 40-50 seaters we opt for more environmental friendly 15-25 seat coaches that use less fuel and therefore admit less carbon.

As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

We spend a full day in, what is probably Croatia’s most famous national park, Plitvice. Here we will be free to walk along the paths past tumbling waterfalls and glistening lakes. By visiting the park we’re helping to fund the upkeep of the boardwalks and to ensure that the natural beauty is preserved for future generations. Plitvice Lakes National Park is has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. There are several restriction in place to converse the natural beauty which our leaders fully brief the group on. These include no swimming in the turquoise lakes, keeping to designated paths to protect the flora and not to leave food for animals.

The tap water in Croatia is safe to drink and we encourage travellers to take a reusable water bottle to fill up from the hotel taps, rather than adding to the number of plastic bottles used and to be carried. We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day.

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Croatia is without doubt one of Europe’s most fascinating countries and for years one of its best kept secrets. The Croatian people have put enormous efforts into rebuilding their country since the Croatian War of Independence in the early 1990s and our visit brings support to communities throughout this fascinating region. Nowadays almost a quarter of Croatia’s population is employed in jobs related to travel and tourism and so the economic benefit of visiting the country is enormous.

We use a local tour leader who have lived in Croatia all their lives and are passionate about their country and showcasing its natural beauty. Throughout this trip the tour leader gives the group options to choose to eat out at local family-run restaurants which is both an opportunity to experience the traditional cuisine and specialities of each country and region, and also helps support the local economy.

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travellers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

Our ground operations on this holiday are taken care of by a small Croatian company, by contracting directly and collaborating with numerous small, local operators, we ensure that the journey supports and uplifts the local economy. The owner lives in Zagreb and is passionate about his county and outdoor activities, starting his outdoor career as a competitor kayaker.

We understand that each traveller is unique, so the tour leaders will work with each group to cater to skill level and interests, allowing individuals to explore Croatia at their own pace. Although the majority of tour leaders do tend to be male, we are working with the local agent to balance this out, they currently have two trained female tour leaders and will be increasing this over the coming years.

At Explore we believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.