Travelling responsibly the Travelocal way

View from a ferry on the sunset

Responsible slow travel made effortless: active, independent and carefree

Our trips connect travellers with local life through family-run accommodations, lesser-known routes, and authentic experiences that respect both people and place.

By working closely with local partners, we make sustainability a natural part of how we travel: reducing our footprint, strengthening local economies, and preserving the cultural and natural heritage that make every adventure unique.

Whether travellers choose a ready-made itinerary or a fully tailored adventure, our mission stays the same: to make responsible slow travel effortless and enjoyable for everyone.

  • We design travel at a slower pace. Clear and straightforward organisation gives travellers the space to experience each adventure in an enjoyable and effortless way.We recommend staying at least three nights in each destination. Long enough to settle in, explore on foot, and actually meet someone.
  • We work with family-run accommodations and regional experts who know their communities best. Every adventure helps strengthen local economies.We favour hotels with just a handful of rooms, including a glamping with its own kitchen garden where guests can join a cooking class.
  • We believe in honest, reliable partnerships built on mutual respect and long-term cooperation. That's why we treat our travellers, suppliers, and colleagues with fairness.We host six interns each year through Erasmus+, placed with us by partner institutions in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • We take responsibility for the way we travel and the places we visit. That means reducing our footprint, and choosing fair, low-impact options in everything we do.We don't book captive wildlife excursions or experiences. We'd rather you observe Greece freely than pay to see it up close.

What this looks like in practice

Every Travelocal adventure supports nature, local communities, and a slower way of travelling.At TraveLocal, sustainability isn't a statement, it's built into the way we travel. From the partners we choose to how we design and operate each trip, every small action adds to the positive local impact we make.

  • Where the Greeks go

    Skip the queues and discover the Greece that Greeks actually choose for themselves. We steer travellers toward islands like Naxos, Andros and Tinos: quieter, more local, and just as beautiful. Away from the crowds.

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  • Ferry over flight

    Watch the islands appear on the horizon, fall asleep at sea, and wake up somewhere new. We recommend taking the boat over flying. Our ferry partners Attica Group and SOKAS are chosen for their sustainability standards.

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  • Giving Back to Nature

    For every booking, a €5 contribution is added, which we match to double its impact. Together we contribute to the protection of monk seals in the Aegean Sea, so you might just spot one in the wild.

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  • Giving back to the trails

    Every booking on an Andros or Menalon walk includes a contribution to the volunteer organisations that maintain those paths, so the route you walk today is there for the next traveller too.

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  • Local transport and luggage

    Your luggage is handled by local taxi drivers and hoteliers we have worked with for years. We rent from Kosmos Carrental, a Greek company. This keeps transport local rather than relying on international rental chains.

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  • A farm-to-fork hotel for groups

    When larger groups need more capacity, we work with Fresh Hotel Athens. Their kitchen runs on fresh, seasonal produce grown by hand, harvested and delivered the same day. Green Key certified, and firmly Greek.

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  • Stay somewhere that feels like Greece

    We favour family-run accommodations where the owner knows the trail behind the house. One of our favourites: Odyssey Eco Farm Glamping, where tents sit between olive and lemon trees, the kitchen garden supplies the cooking classes, and the chickens are part of the scenery.

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  • Cycling through the city (Let's Meet)

    Our bike tours move through Athenian and Thessalonian neighbourhoods at a slower pace, without emissions, queues, or the need for parking.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions about how we approach sustainability at TraveLocal? Below you'll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our choices, partnerships, and the impact of our trips.

  • What kind of accommodation will I stay in?

    We favour hotels with just a handful of rooms, including a glamping with its own kitchen garden where guests can join a cooking class.

  • Where should I eat and shop locally?

    Your road book includes recommendations for tavernas where locals eat, rather than tourist-oriented restaurants.

  • How do you avoid overcrowded destinations?

    We steer travellers toward Naxos, Andros and Tinos instead of Santorini and Mykonos. Since June 2024, a dedicated checkers team assesses every new destination for overtourism before we develop anything there.

  • How does my money stay in Greece?

    We rent from Greek companies, book ferries through local intermediaries, and work with family-run accommodations.

  • Will I encounter wildlife excursions?

    We don’t book wildlife experiences. Nature in Greece is best experienced freely: on the trail, at sea, or in one of the nature parks we recommend visiting.

  • What happens to the trails I walk on?

    Every booking on an Andros or Menalon walk includes a contribution to the volunteer organisations that maintain those paths, so the route you walk today is there for the next traveller too.

  • Is Travelocal independently certified?

    Travelocal holds Travelife Certified status, the highest level in the programme. Reaching it means an independent auditor has assessed how we work across the board: the accommodation partners we choose, how we treat our guides, how we track our carbon footprint, and how we run our office.

Our Travelife commitment

Responsible travel is easy to claim, but we chose to verify it through Travelife. As an independent certification programme for tour operators, Travelife evaluates how we manage our impact on people and the environment.

TraveLocal holds Travelife Certified status, the highest level in the programme. Reaching it means an independent auditor has assessed how we work across the board: the accommodation partners we choose, how we treat our guides, how we track our carbon footprint, and how we run our office.

For us, it’s a way of making sure that what we say about responsible travel matches what we actually do.

Learn more about Travelife

Responsible travel guidelines

Behind every Travelocal adventure is a clear set of guidelines that shape how we work. These guidelines help us stay accountable, and honest about the impact we make. If you’d like to dive deeper or have questions, you can explore the full policy here or reach out to us directly.

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