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Blessed with stunning sunlit seas, islands, mountains, rivers, and forests, Greece's natural beauty is just as impressive as its historical contributions to Western civilization 2,500 years ago. Today, Greece is cleverly transforming itself by employing a diverse set of methods – both traditional and modern – to address the task of conserving its environment, wildlife, natural resources, and local communities.
It takes many years of service to begin to understand the ethos of a company, to get to know its partners abroad and how the company interacts with them. It isn’t just a matter of arriving in Greece signing up properties that look the part - there are plenty of those.
The relationship of a specialist with its overseas suppliers goes much deeper than that. Sunvil has worked with many of its owners for the last 50 years and more. Over that period, owners and local agents have become our friends and our many repeat clients enjoy meeting them time and again. Working with our owners, suppliers and local representatives we have come to understand what our guests expect and what we need to provide to our hosts in order to maintain the destination as we came to find it. Our tourism footprint has always been low impact so that we do not destroy what our clients came to see in the first place. We have no sustainability and carbon reduction claims as we usually fly our clients to a destination and aircraft are polluters. In recent years we have begun offering 'slow travel' by train to Corfu and Sivota, not only to help our clients reduce their carbon footprint but to reconnect with their surroundings. We do not feature all-inclusive hotels because we believe they deprive local businesses of custom and we do our best to educate our oversees partners so as to prevent them from raising prices which lead to 'over tourism'.
Across her islands and the mainland, Greece is laden with excellent destinations to enjoy stunning nature, support local communities and minimise your environmental impact. Below are just a few of the places, activities and initiatives to 'go green' in Greece.
Crete's cuisine is rich in vibrant Mediterranean tastes. The traditional Cretan dishes are simple yet flavourful, crafted from fresh ingredients sourced from Crete's natural surroundings through eco-friendly practices. Agrotourism thrives in Crete, with tavernas and restaurants showcasing menus filled with locally grown produce and authentic recipes. What better way to sample the island's cuisine than attending a local cookery class? Mrs Koula's cookery classes are run in Vamos village, West Crete (located between the north coast towns of Chania and Rethymnon). Lessons are in an old 'Fabrica' in the village. Fresh organic produce is used and at the end of the class the participants sit down to the meal that they have helped to prepare including, of course, wine. Our clients love it and it can be booked via our island representative.
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Another idea is a visit to the Botanical Garden of Crete, which can be reached by local bus from Chania. Some 50 acres to explore followed by a meal at their restaurant which uses organic local produce and is certified by the Quality Label of Cretan Cuisine.
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Embark on an unforgettable full-day boat trip, immersing yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Alonissos Marine Park, a haven of unspoiled charm. Explore the captivating coastline, marvelling at the scenic wonders that unfold before your eyes.
The pristine waters around Alonissos and its archipelago of uninhabited (goats apart!) islets in the Sporades are protected making it the largest Marine Park in Europe. Home to a wide range of marine and bird life, including the rare Monk Seal, Eleonora’s Falcon, certain whales and many species of fish, a handful of small excursion boats are licensed to operate here. Alonissos also ticks other eco-friendly boxes - it has banned plastic bags and is in the process of getting rid of plastic bottles. The island is home to Greece’s first underwater museum and there are several dive schools - sea kayaking trips are also available. And a network of paths through the wooded valleys and hills makes Alonissos a great choice for walkers with or without a guide.
Tiny Tilos (pop. 550), an island in the Dodecanese midway between Rhodes and Kos, aims to show other Greek islands the way in environmental protection and eco-tourism. The islanders, led by a progressive mayor, realised years ago that the way forward was in limited, high quality tourism a world away from the mass market. To this end they dedicated their efforts to sustainable tourism – becoming the first island in Greece to ban hunting was a bold start – and Tilos is now self sufficient in energy. The latest initiative is Just Go Zero which aims to make Tilos the first zero waste island.
The island’s 64 sq kms, together with its surrounding archipelago of 16 uninhabited islets, have been designated an Important Bird Area, an EU-registered Special Protection Area and a Natura 2000 site amongst others. What this all means is that visitors here will find a protected natural environment with a wonderful diversity of flora and fauna, especially birds (there are 155 documented wild species, including the rare Eleonora’s Falcon).
Tilos has a network of walking paths, the ideal way for visitors to discover the countryside, flora and fauna of this charmingly unspoiled island, with spectacular views from almost every point. Tilos can be combined as an island hopping holiday with the neighbouring island of Halki, which is also now self-sufficient in energy and leading the way in electric vehicle use on small islands.
Aside from its natural beauty, the Ionian island of Lefkas boasts charming villages, historic sites, and delicious local cuisine waiting to be explored. Lefkas is also making a name for itself as a cycling destination. There are plenty of routes and all types of bikes are available for hire, including e-bikes of course. A number of local companies offer escorted small group day tours which means you are taken on the best routes by professionals and don’t need to worry about having a puncture or simply getting lost!
Other organised activities available on Lefkas are walking tours, micro farm tours, Greek cooking lessons, marine adventure boat trips, windsurfing and sailing.
The Ionian island of Kefalonia is a picture-book island paradise. Breathtaking mountains, Mediterranean oak forests and vineyards, mysterious caves, lovely beaches and dizzyingly high cliffs dropping down to glittering azure seas invite endless exploration.
“Outdoor Kefalonia Activities” is a family run, alternative tourism office. They offer unconventional, alternative and extreme activities, such as: sea kayaking, jeep safaris, hiking, caving, and provide unique and different ways to explore the island. Their aim is to show you the elements of earth, wind and water, mixing and fusing with the natural beauty of Kefalonia.
Have you ever longed for a chance to pause before diving into a well-deserved holiday? Take a moment to reconnect with your life and surroundings. Lately, we have noticed a growing interest among our guests in "slow travel" options by train – holidays that embrace a leisurely pace and foster deeper connections with people and nature. These holidays not only offer a chance to restore balance in our fast-paced world but can significantly help reduce your carbon footprint by taking one less journey by airplane.
We offer holidays by train to Corfu (with transfers to Paxos) and to Sivota (with transfers to Lefkas, Parga and Sivota). So take the time to slow down on scenic routes and fully savour the vast beauty while travelling comfortably by train.
30th July 2024
Sunvil's holidays are designed by passionate travellers just like you. Our reservations experts and product teams, many of whom have been with us for many years, are passionate about our destinations and, through their personal, first-hand knowledge can answer any questions that you may have. They are well qualified to advise and recommend, based on your own holiday criteria. We can point you to those special, little-known places, some not found even in guidebooks.
Call one of our experts to discuss your next holiday with Sunvil on
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