Small group cycling vacation in Croatia

Planet

Accommodation & Meals
On this trip we spend four nights in locally staffed hotels. We tend to avoid the larger chains and choose to invest in the smaller businesses, where money generated stays local. All breakfasts on this trip are included, and where meals are not provided, our expert guides will be able to recommend cafes and restaurants where authentic Croation cuisine will be available. For example, in Ston, the group can stop to try oysters. Croatian cuisine has a mixture of Central European, Italian and Balkan influences, producing a mixture of dishes like grilled lamb, pizza, fine seafood, pasta and salads.

Activity & Environment
As the itinerary is mainly based on cycling and sightseeing Dalmatian coast, we have a low impact on the environment. The sightseeing aspect of the tour is truly beneficial to the country and its several historical and cultural gems. The ancient, heavily walled city of Dubrovnik, for instance, benefits from tourist fees which go towards the upkeep of the buildings. We also visit Mljet National Park where our entrance fees will contribute to the maintenance of this reserve.
A ‘leave no trace’ policy, whereby we ensure nothing other than footprints are left behind in the places we visit. On our final day – depending on flights – there may also be time for optional sea kayaking or a boat tour to Lokrum Island, home to the ruins of Benedictine Monastery.

Water:
Water is a really important issue with cycling trips and whilst we must stay hydrated, it is also vital that we have a system for providing clean water without causing lots of waste with plastic bottles. We suggest that instead of repeatedly buying bottled water, guests should re-fill a singular bottle and provide clean water in large bottles to facilitate this. Whilst cycling, there will be an accompanying vehicle containing water so that bottles can be refilled.

Group Size:
This is a small group tour, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.

UK Office:
It all starts at home where we work towards reducing our carbon footprint in our offices through energy conservation measures, recycling policies and the promotion of cycling and walking as a means for our staff to commute. Our head office has become a plastic-free zone with the use of plastic bottles being banned in our head office and we distributed reusable water bottles and tote bags to every staff member. We also support a large number of community and environmental projects in different parts of the world and try to give something back to the places we visit.

People

Community & Culture
During this trip, we will have the opportunity to engage with and support small family businesses, where we can taste local foods and wine in Konavle. Our tourism directly impacts these organisations as our visit financially supports the work of local people, and most of the money generated is reinvested into the area. Through our visit to the saltworks, we’ll also learn how salt is collected and sample olive oil produced by Natura Dalmatia. Guests can further support this local business by purchasing liqueurs, dried figs and other homemade products. On the first day, dependent on flight times, there is the possible option for clients to familiarise themselves with the old town and explore the limestone streets.