Green Travel Calendar for 2018 – part 1
Have you already planned your next vacation? Or are you still thinking about where to travel next – and above all, when? To make it easier for you to decide, this year we created a green travel calendar again, including tips on sustainable destinations that protect the environment and support local people and culture. Since January is almost over, we start with our tips for February.
February: carnival under the Carribean sun
Yes, that’s right: carnival is not only celebrated in Köln and Rio de Janeiro, but also in the Carribean! The biggest and longest carnival event takes place on Curacao: the sequence of colorful parades lasts almost a whole month. Its absolute highlight is the final parade that takes place in the evening and creates an almost magical atmosphere with its illuminated waggons. If you are looking for a quiet place as an offset, Morena Eco Resort is the perfect place. Here, you can enjoy the soft sand and the deep blue sea due to its location right at Jan Thiel beach. Alternatively you can explore the surrounding nature on foot or by mountain bike – passing tropical plants and animals.
March: a hiking trip through the Atlas Mountains
It takes only 25 minutes from Marrakesh to the impressive Atlas Mountains. Spring is the best season for hiking or biking tours in this area, when the temperature is pleasantly warm, but not too hot yet. At the foot of the Toubkal, the highest peak of the Atlas Mountains with 4.167 meters, there is a former Berber fortress, which today houses the Kasbah du Toubkal. In close proximity to a small village, you will live among locals and discover their culture. The guided hiking tours offered by the Kasbah du Toubkal are highly recommendable as well: on the first day you walk past bright green fields and spectacular canyons to a remote lodge, where you stay overnight. On the next day you set out for the journey back.
April: water everywhere – Songkran in Thailand
Songkran is the Thai New Year festival, taking place from 13th to 15th April. During these days, the whole country is out and about and enjoys high-spirited water fights. As soon as you go out onto the streets, you will certainly get “a bit” wet, too – luckily, this won’t be a problem due to the warm temperature. By the way, this tradition originates from Buddhism: in the past, the water used to clean Buddha statues in temples was collected and sprinkled over family members. This was regarded as a symbol for luck and spiritual purity. After all the excitement, Tongsai Bay on Koh Samui is the perfect place for a relaxed start into the New Year: sipping a delicious cocktail from a drinking straw made of lemon grass, you can enjoy the sea view from the bay in a relaxed atmosphere.
May: a treat for body and soul
In spring, people do not only get their houses in shipshape-condition – it is also the ideal time to pamper body and soul. At Wellnesshotel Seeschlößchen at Lake Senftenberg, you can thoroughly relax: the holistic concept with a focus on Ayurveda provides the perfect basis for the wide range of wellness treatments – be it the Russian Banya, the Oriental Rasul or the Hamam. The herbal sauna infusion is prepared from herbs from the own garden and the hotel uses regional ingredients for its Aryuveda food. Having spent a few days at Seeschlößchen, you will definitely feel completely relaxed!
