Walking holiday in Crete
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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The leaders are not guides – they’re not there to shepherd you around. Instead, they’ll let you know which local restaurant serves great value food – without running the risk of travellers’ tummy. They’ll allow you to avoid hour-long queues at train stations and attractions.
We like to think of small group travel as the Goldilocks option. It is independent travel without the fuss, worry and bunk beds – and organised travel without the coaches. And it’s cheaper than a tailor made tour. It’s sits somewhere in the middle – and we think it’s just about right.
Have big, life-enriching experiences that would be impossible to organise without lots of time and insider knowledge.
Simplicity
Make the most of your holiday time by letting someone else do the hard work and boring logistics!
Peace of mind
Small group tours take care of the security aspects – and provide a safety net should anything unexpected happen.
If you don’t have three months to spend exploring, small groups trips let you cover more ground in less time. Your days are not spent queuing for tickets or finding hotels – so you can squeeze more into your holiday.
Solo travellers who’d like company
Likeminded travel companions plus peace of mind for those travelling alone. Single supplements are usually available – providing privacy if you want it.
Less confident travellers
Stray from the tourist trail without worrying about getting lost, and meet local people without dealing with the language barrier.
Couples and friends have private rooms, and you can choose to eat alone or not. Single supplements give solo travellers their own room.
“There won’t be any free time”
Free mornings or afternoons let you explore on your own, or just relax.
“The accommodation will be basic”
Trips are as high or low end as you like. Though off the beaten track destinations won’t have luxury hotels, this is all part of the adventure.
“I won’t like the other travellers!”
Tour operators try to create groups with a similar demographic – age, families, activity levels... Chances are, you’ll even make new friends.
“Will we be following an umbrella?”
No.
Responsible tourism
Walking holiday in Crete
Carbon reduction
Your holiday will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO2. Learn about the CO2 emissions of this holiday and how to reduce them.
Environment
Throughout this tour to Crete we stay in locally owned accommodation in which you experience hospitatily and food, most of which is sourced locally, as well as some great wine! This not only provides direct employment within the hotel, but also has the effect of percolating money beyond to small businesses that supply the hotel and in this way money is spread throughout the region we visit.
Our Tour Leaders are trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference. Minimising our impact by exploring on foot means that this tour operates in a very eco-friendly way. Donations given on optional sightseeing visits to the monasteries around Zaros means that we are helping maintain these local churches. Taking the optional sea-kayaking at Loutro supports this community situated in a very much out-of-the-way location, the residents of which depend upon tourism.
In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.
As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. Cool Earth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.
2 Reviews of Walking holiday in Crete
Reviewed on 13 Jun 2016 by Mai Ryan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most surprising part was becoming aware that the holiday that Responsible Travel had recommended , far from being gentle walks in the upland meadows of Crete, was a serious walking holiday, suited to seasoned hikers - not elderly women interested in wildlife. This only became clear on receipt of the detailed itinaary after insurance and final payment were already made, and flights booked.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Try if you can actually speak to someone on the phone, ask for information about your concerns. If you live in the UK it might even be possible to go to an office and speak with someone. Internet communicates only superficial information, and may mislead.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Our group stayed in hotels owned by local people in Crete.
A Cretan guide would have been good, but we had a (very able, pleasant ) Ukeranian guide.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
ok
Reviewed on 02 Oct 2013 by Anne Robson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The beautiful scenery, excellent guide and amazing Greek food.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The walking can be quite challenging due to the terrain, but there are options and you don't need to do all the walks -
however I'd recommend them if you can.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Stayed in locally run hotels and ate at local restaurants.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent!
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