Slow Travel Package

How To Reduce Your Holiday CO2 Emissions By 90%

Back in 2020, we began our sustainable journey as part of our goal to become a net-zero company and have recently been working hard to reboot this post-pandemic.

As part of this, we’ve partnered with Tree-Nation and will be planting enough trees to offset 110% of the CO2 emissions of every villa holiday booked with us. So far, we’ve planted enough trees to offset 691.41 tonnes of CO2 emissions, which we think is pretty good going.

Also, with the help of a sustainability expert, we are currently auditing our entire portfolio right from air conditioning and electricity usage to waste management systems and recycling rates. We are also analysing the size of the property, its most popular season and the national energy suppliers’ fuel mix.

From this, we will be adapting toward lower emission properties and aim to be fully accredited by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) by the end of 2022.

Why are we doing this, you might ask?

We’re doing this because travel and tourism contribute to around 8% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. As a business in the industry, we can’t ignore this. We must do our bit to reduce this number and emissions across the board.

We’re proud to be able to reduce emissions on all holidays by offering a slower approach to travel, like taking a train right through the landscape and staying in a villa to really experience what life is like in a particular destination.

After all, the only footprints we should be leaving behind are those in the sand.

If you are interested in booking this package, please contact our concierge team with your dates and number of guests so we can check availability and provide an accurate quote. CONCIERGE >>

 

 

Included in the Slow Travel Package:

  • Travel advice offered, or arrangements made for you, on the most sustainable way to reach your destination - either by train or ferry.   
  • A fully-stocked fridge on arrival with all items being fair-trade, organic and sourced within a 50-mile radius so that you really get a taste of your destination.   
  • Bicycles will be available at the property for all guests. These will be encouraged as the method of transport during your stay - aside from walking, of course - so that you are really immersing yourself in the local surroundings.   
  • All necessary car transport will be arranged using electric vehicles only in order to reduce carbon emissions.   
  • Reservations at highly recommended restaurants that serve locally sourced cuisine.   
  • A local cooking class where you will learn how to cook regional favourites and take a trip to a local market or farm for ingredients.   
  • And if you really want to disconnect, we can arrange for the wifi and television to be unplugged for the duration of your stay.

Sustainable Villa Collection

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Our top Sustainable Villas

Countries around the world are starting to adopt this slow travel approach and doing their bit to encourage more sustainable tourism. Whether it's using local or homegrown produce only, installing solar panels and collecting rainwater or offering an electric vehicle with which to explore the area, each of these exceptional, hand-picked homes greatly contribute to a more sustainable stay.

Explore the different initiatives of some of our favourite holiday destinations below and find out which properties we recommend for the ultimate slow travel experience.


This stunning waterfront property has a strong recycling policy and boasts a productive vegetable patch which supplies produce for guests to enjoy each day. What’s more, when there is a high tide, the mud flats outside the property become an ideal place for keen birdwatchers and wildlife fanatics. Keep an eye out for the red-breasted merganser and other lesser-known species that serveThis stunning waterfront property has a strong recycling policy and boasts a productive vegetable patch which supplies produce for guests to enjoy each day. What’s more, when there is a high tide, the mud flats outside the property become an ideal place for keen birdwatchers and wildlife fanatics. Keep an eye out for the red-breasted merganser and other lesser-known species that serve as a reminder of the habitats you are helping to preserve.

Offering complete privacy, this neoclassical mansion is nestled on the beach of its own private islet of beautiful Mediterranean landscape that spans an impressive 900 acres. Treasure Island relies completely on its own generation of water and energy, with rainwater-collecting reservoirs and solar panels that power all of the property’s electricity. The owners also grow organic produce on the island so guests can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables each day. It doesn’t get much more local than that! And if that’s not enough, the breathtaking property also has a carbon footprint of only 14.1kg CO2 emissions per night, which is a staggering 66kg less than the country’s average.

Located just outside the village of Pernes-les-Fontaines, this place invites you to stroll to the nearby village and enjoy a glass of sparkling wine made from a local vineyard before picking up some seasonal produce like strawberries, asparagus and almonds at the bi-weekly market for dinner. The property works only with environmentally friendly, organic cleaning products and dry cleaners who apply sustainable measures. The property’s plastic consumption is limited too and the on-hand chauffeurs are being converted to an electric vehicle fleet. These initiatives mean that Villa Ocre emits 8.9kg per night/each stay and generates 8.9kg of CO2 emissions less than the country average.

The exquisitely restored 19th-century farmhouse transports you back to a time when life was much more simple and offers a real slow travel experience. The grounds of the villa are surrounded by traditional drywalls which were included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2018 and contribute to biodiversity. And as for the environmental impact of the farmhouse, all the energy used at the property comes from green sources, one source being the 1,200 olive trees that the owner planted a couple of years ago that are estimated to absorb 20 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Found among 17 hectares of unspoiled woodland and overlooking one of Europe’s largest biological pools, this is the eco-friendly resort dreams are made of. The cabanas flow directly into their own private swimming pools, the waters of which are kept fresh using nothing more than the power of nature. When it comes to the environmental impact too, the resort puts an emphasis on local dining with all three of its restaurants focusing on traditional local cuisine, and one in particular offering a farm-to-table experience.

If you’re looking to stay somewhere that puts slow travel at the forefront, this property is where to stay. Can Ferriol is an exquisitely restored 13th-century farmhouse that blends ancient nods from the past with contemporary design and comfort. You can also really immerse yourself in the local culture with local wine tasting, cooking and herbalism workshops. Alongside its slow travel approach, the property really puts an emphasis on sustainability with its 2020 renovation making it the first home in Spain to be awarded a prestigious LEED Platinum certification.

From the blog...