Text Matt Warnock
Images Photolibrary.com, Getty Images
The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as: “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local people.” With that in mind, here’s a list of cool and exciting places where you can enjoy a break, safe in the knowledge that your fun isn’t costing the earth
Milan, Italian Alps
For those that like to get their travel thrills naturally, it’s hard to beat an adrenaline-based weekend on the Swiss/ Italian border around Lake Maggiore and the resort town of Locarno. After a short train ride from Milan, head to the Verzasca Dam, the site of the incredible opening sequence from the James Bond film Goldeneye, which saw 007 bungee jump 220m over the side of the dam. You too can relive that stunt, as well as enjoying a whole host of outstanding adventures alongside it. We can’t guarantee that you’ll thwart the evil plot and get the girl, though.
As well as the dam drop, take your pick from canyoning, caving in the legendary Hell’s Hole, mountain biking or abseiling off incredible railway bridges – with all these heart-stopping adventure backdropped by the serene and stunning scenery (can be booked with trekking. ch). The natural adventure option is great for the body, good for the planet and even better for telling your friends about when you get back home.
Toulouse, French Pyrenees
While the French Pyrenees are well known for their beauty and their incredible food and wine, you may not have heard of a special trailer park near Mirepoix which combines the natural beauty of the area, environmentally friendly tourism and a whole lot of fun.
The Belrepayre Airstream & Retro Trailerpark (www.airstreameurope.com) is a unique place where you can enjoy the tranquility of the wonderful camping ground or explore the kilometres of easy walks and mountain bike rides around the surrounding lakes and through forests and typical French villages. You can bring your own retro trailer or stay in style in one of seven vintage Airstreams that provide the rather eclectic but hugely comfortable on-site accommodation.
In the trailer park, the water is solar heated and people are encouraged to recycle their rubbish and compost their waste. The fields, campsite and garden are maintained organically, and there’s a shop selling local and organic produce on site. And then there’s the camp’s Apollo Lounge – a happening, fun bar that operates out of a converted Airstream. For the ultimate, kooky, eco-friendly break, this special part of the Pyrenees has got the lot.
Nice, French Alps
Nestled in the French Alps, just a short transfer from Nice, lies the breathtaking Mercantour National Parc (www.mercantour.eu). This enchanting part of the world has everything from the sweeping scenery of uninhabited valleys to gleaming meadows and wheat fields to charming French towns with great restaurants and bars.
Most people base themselves in the towns of St-Martin-de-Entraunes, StSauveur-sur-Tinée, St-Etienne-deTinée and St-Martin-Vésubie, which all lie along the picturesque Barcelonnette to Sospel road. From there, the best way to enjoy this area’s delights is via the good old fashioned zero-emission walk. The well-signed trails range from pleasant strolls to strenuous treks. Of course, if that all sounds too much like hard work, you can always hop on a donkey and a take a ride through the foothills to check out some wider Alpine vistas.
One of the best hikes is from the Les Mesces Refuge. It’s a 10km hike that takes you into the Vallée des Merveilles, where hundreds of 3,000-year-old rock carvings of people and animals can be seen.
Naples and Capri, Italy
The energetic city of Naples is located in a beautiful bay dominated by the backdrop of Mount Vesuvius. It’s the perfect base from which to enjoy the island of Capri and the nearby Amalfi coast. And what better eco-friendly way to see these Mediterranean delights than to cruise around on a yacht, powered by the clean energy of a gentle breeze?
While you won’t be the first to check out Capri’s charms (it has actually been a holiday destination for over 2000 years), many of its finest stretches of coastline are inaccessible by land. That’s where your green transport comes into its own as you simply cruise into secluded bays and aquamarine coves that are perfect for swimming and sunbathing. After drying off, you then sail to a nearby harbour for the locally produced food and wine.
A range of charter options exists whereby you can book a single berth or charter the whole yacht with your family and friends. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a crusty, seasoned sailor or a complete landlubber, as self-charter or skippered and crewed trips are all available (try www.charterworld.com).
Warsaw, Poland
You don’t have to head to the savannahs of West Africa to track wild beasts. If you know where to look, they’re right under your nose – in eastern Poland, at any rate, which is about as close as you’re going to get on this continent. Ethical travel and wildlife holiday expert Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com) offers an expert escorted tour in search of European bison, elk, wild boar, red deer and – if you’re really lucky – wolf or lynx.
Flying into Warsaw, the trip includes all transfers and accommodation and takes in the marshes and primeval forests of eastern Poland. You’ll search for the wild beasts that were once widespread throughout Europe but are now sadly only found in this pristine and remote part of the world.
The best time of the year to make the trek is in the winter months, when the snow cover makes tracking easier and cold weather forces many creatures to shun their natural fear of man and appear less shy. You’ll also get ample opportunity to check out a vast array of birdlife. This is an unusual winter vacation offering a glimpse of a sadly decreasing European wildlife in a stunning, untouched environment.
Faro, Portugal
What better way to see the beautiful coast, historical towns and national parks of the Algarve than under your own steam? Or, more to the point, your own leg power? The Mountainbike Adventure Company (www.themountainbikeadventure.com) offers great cycling and bike-hire packages, the idea being that you simply turn up and have an experienced mountain bike guide take you through coastal trails in the area. You can pick your level (from hair-raisingly steep trails to flat meandering tracks) and everyone from a six-year-old kids to 75-year-old grandmothers can be catered for.
They pick you up at the airport – you stay in a friendly local B&B and you’re even given a packed lunch to take on your trek. It’s the perfect, low environmental impact, healthy holiday in a gorgeous part of the world.
FR » Eco-vacances
Nous avons recensé quelques endroits fascinants où vous pourrez profiter d’un break, en connaissance de cause, dans une perspective qui n’est pas dommageable à la planète.
Milan
Difficile de trouver un week-end plus énergisant que sur les rivages italosuisses, autour du lac Maggiore et Locarno. Sur le Dam Verzasca, revivez l’épisode de l’incroyable saut en élastique de James Bond dans le film Goldeneye, en jouissant d’une foule d’autres aventures.
Toulouse
Au Belrepayre Airstream & Retro Trailerpark, savourez les joies du camping en toute tranquillité ou partez à l’exploration des lacs, des forêts et des villages environnants. Démarquez votre style dans l’une des sept caravanes Airstream, présentes sur le site.
Nice
Non loin de Nice se trouve l’étonnant Parc National du Mercantour, qui s’apprécie par-dessus tout lors de randonnées à zéro émissions, en empruntant les chemins bien balisés. L’une des promenades à retenir se situe au Refuge Les Mesces dans la Vallée des Merveilles, où émergent dans les roches des centaines de sculptures, vieilles de 3 000 ans.
Naples
Existe-t-il une meilleure façon de voyager que poussé par l’énergie propre d’une douce brise? Naples est le point de départ idéal pour des vacances nautiques autour des îles de Capri et le long de la côte Amalfi. Les options de transport maritimes vont d’une simple couchette à tout un yacht.
Varsovie
L’expert des voyages éthiques et des vacances dans les contrées naturelles Responsible Travel propose un circuit accompagné des régions marécageuses et des forêts de l’Est de la Pologne, à la recherche du bison européen, de l’élan, du sanglier sauvage, du cerf élaphe, du loup et du lynx. La meilleure période de l’année est durant l’hiver, lorsque la neige rend les traces plus repérables.
Faro
La Mountainbike Adventure Company propose de super vacances cyclistes en Algarve, avec des tours guidés le long de la côte et dans la campagne. A vous de choisir votre niveau et le repas peut être fourni.
NL » Ecovakanties
We stellen enkele leuke trips voor met een minimale impact op het milieu.
Milaan
Onklopbaar is een adrenalineweekend op de Zwitsers-Italiaanse grens nabij het Maggioremeer en Locarno. Bij de Verzascadam kan je je even James Bond wanen en behalve allerlei andere avonturen ook de adembenemende bungeesprong uit de film Goldeneye herbeleven.
Toulouse
Blaas uit in het Belrepayre Airstream & Retro Trailerpark of verken de omliggende meren, bossen en dorpen. Voor een stijlvol verblijf kies je een van de zeven klassieke Airstreamtrailers.
Nice
Vlakbij Nice ligt het prachtige Mercantour Nationaal Park, waar je emissievrij wandelt op goed bewegwijzerde paden. Een van de mooiste wandelingen gaat van de Les Mesces Refuge naar de Vallée des Merveilles, waar je honderden 3000 jaar oude rotssculpturen kan bewonderen.
Napels
Wat dacht je van een zacht briesje als milieuvriendelijke energiebron? Napels is de perfecte uitvalsbasis voor zeilvakanties rond het eiland Capri en langs de kust van Amalfi. Chartermogelijkheden gaan van één slaapplaats aan boord tot een volledig jacht.
Warschau
Responsible Travel, gespecialiseerd in ethische reizen en natuurvakanties, stelt een begeleide reis voor door de moerassen en wouden van Oost-Polen, op zoek naar Europese bizons, elanden, everzwijnen, rode herten, wolven en lynxen. De beste periode is de winter, wanneer de sneeuw het spoorzoeken vergemakkelijkt.
Faro
De Mountainbike Adventure Company biedt fijne fietsvakanties in de Algarve aan, met begeleide tochten langs de kust en in het binnenland. Je kiest je eigen niveau uit en iedereen komt aan zijn trekken.
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