Minho River kayaking holiday in Portugal

Planet

Each region of the Minho Valley has its own natural beauty. Our priority is to enjoy this beauty without leaving a mark on Mother Nature.

Waste - In our expedition we reduce the use of plastic packaging as much as possible. Each participant will have their own water canteen, avoiding the use of plastic bottles.
Each kayak will have a container to put the garbage/plastic found in the Minho River.

Water - whenever possible, we will use water from natural springs.

Buildings - on our expeditions we will stay in small villages, farms, family houses. We try to avoid accommodation in large hotel units, as the energy cost, waste and environmental footprint are large.

Transport - whenever possible we use the train for our expeditions. Transfers can also be made by train or taxi van.

Suppliers - everything needed for the expedition will be made of recyclable material. For food, our suppliers are local, helping the local commerce and the development of the communities.

People

It is important for us to create a link to local communities. We make a point of valuing what each community has to offer, such as accommodation, the landscape, natural life. Throughout the expedition we will experience different food, different landscapes, different customs.

To be part of this experience is to contribute to the sustainable development of small villages.
Responsible Tourism is about making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit, this means making responsible choices creating social, environmental and economical impact.

How can we make a positive social impact?
• Take a locally led tour with an accredited guide
• Take a cooking or art class in the community
• Make an effort to stay in a rural accommodation
• Be respectful of customs and cultures. Try to learn about their beliefs.

How can we make a positive environmental impact?
• Fly economy class. Pack light. Take the most direct route.
• Donate to offset carbon emissions from your trip.
• Take shorter showers and turn off your lights and air conditioning.
• Stay on marked trails.
• Keep wild animals, wild. We don’t support tours where animals are forced to perform.
• Choose hotels and lodges with a light carbon footprint
• Use environmentally friendly products to keep chemicals from entering the water system or damaging the environment

How can we make a positive economic impact?
• Buy local souvenirs direct from artisans; more money goes directly to the artist and into their community.
• Tip guides well, when appropriate. Money goes directly into their pockets, back to their families and into their communities.
• Try local foods at family-owned restaurants, purchased by local farmers
• Stay at locally owned hotels with staff from the community

This is how we work and plan our expeditions with our participants.