Greek cruise and island walking vacation

Planet

The traditional family-owned caique used on this trip has been painstakingly preserved and is one of only about 70 traditional caiques still in use. Originally before World War Two there were about 3000, after the war only 300 had survived and now there are only about 70 left. Although this boat was build in the 60s, the original pre-war wood construction and design is no longer built, so this trip really helps maintain a part of Greek maritime history.

While the boat does have a motor, sails are used at points during the trip to save fuel and reduce pollution in the marine environment. The exploration that we do on shore is predominantly on foot aiming to limit our polluting effect on the small towns that we visit. It's important to note that the boat has a maximum capacity of 14, so our shore visits are very low impact compared with a typical cruise ship.

The toilets use salt water on board, of which there is of course an abundance. The tap water is drinkable in Greece, in addition our local agent has recently installed a drinking water tank that enables all customer to refill their bottles with clean tap water at room temperature. There is also a fridge that customers can use, placing their water bottles in to keep cold throughout the day.

As a travel company 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.

People

There is a really strong integration with local communities on this trip. The boat itself is family-owned, and the crew is all local. They have an excellent relationship with the island communities visited during the course of the trip.

The owner and captain of the boat is a great advocate of using local produce for meals on board, which he shops for most mornings in the towns and villages on shore. He will take you ashore for dinner to eat in local tavernas, ensuring that money is generated for local businesses too. This part of Greece is quieter and off the main tourist circuit, so the links to the local economy are very important.

As a company 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 the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.