Contiki Holidays launches 4 brand new conscious travel experiences for Europe 2020 as part of a new commitment by the travel provider to have a conscious travel experience on every single trip by 2021.
The brand new conscious travel experiences have been handpicked especially for travellers aged 18-35, aiming to give Contiki-goers a fresh perspective while also giving something back to the communities visited on their trips, and delivering to the growing trend for conscious and ethical travel among Gen-Z travellers.
The commitment to sustainable travel and tourism isn’t new for Contiki – it’s all part of making travel matter, supported by its Contiki Cares initiative and working with the TreadRight Foundation to support key projects globally. The mission of Contiki Cares and TreadRight is to protect people, wildlife and the planet, and this is the philosophy driving the inclusion of the new conscious travel experiences on the latest trips.
Included in the new conscious experiences in the Europe 2020 product release are a Cascais street art tour with local residents in Lisbon, an Unseen London tour of Covent Garden hosted by and supporting ex-homeless and vulnerably housed people, a Refugee Voices tour of Berlin guided by Syrian refugees, and the chance to take part in a reforestation programme in the Haukadalur valley of Iceland.
The Cascais street art tour in Lisbon showcases the culture of a Cascais neighbourhood that was historically regarded as dangerous and blighted by poverty. The local street artists knew the perceptions of the place were unfair, so they started a project of regeneration, creating an urban art gallery unlike anywhere in the world. Travellers will be taken on a walking tour through the neighbourhood to learn about the street art in the area, the residents who have created it and what they hope to change with their art.
Unseen London is a not-for-profit walking tour hosted by men and women who have experienced homelessness in London. The guides know the secrets of London’s winding historic alleys better than anyone, and will show travellers a fascinating city not usually seen by tourists. Travellers will be taken to Covent Garden in the heart of London’s theatre and arts district for a unique insight into the city’s culture.
The Berlin Refugee Voices tour, led by a Syrian refugee, take travellers to places of historical significance in the vibrant city of Berlin. The guide draws parallels between Europe in the 20th century and what has happened to Syria in the 21st, using Berlin’s turbulent past to gain a new perspective into the attitudes that Syrian refugees face in today’s world. Travellers will hear first hand the story of a Syrian refugee, the struggles of displacement and the experiences that come from creating a new home in a new city.
The Iceland Reforestation programme is located in the Haukadalur valley, a geothermal wonderland on the popular Golden Circle route. Iceland has suffered intense deforestation throughout its history, with forest coverage dropping to as little as 0.5% by the early 20th century. As part of a Golden Circle tour, travellers will get to reduce their carbon footprint and leave their mark in Iceland by planting 5 trees each in the valley.
Alongside the 4 new conscious travel experiences, the new & improved Contiki trips also include a variety of foodie experiences that give back to the local community, like a Salzburg Famers Dinner in Austria, eating locally grown produce that supports local farmers; Dining with Locals in Bosnia, with homemade dinners prepared with local produce supporting the Sarajevo community; a farm-to-table meal at Stella Croatica in Split, with authentic Croatian family recipes, local ingredients and minimal environmental impact; and an Icelandic dinner at Efstidalur organic farm, eating homemade delicacies like cheeses and skyr from local recipes.
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