Houses of Parliament
Green World Holidays were proud to be invited last week to the Houses of Parliament as guests of Iztok Jarc, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and MP Neil Parish responsible for trade and industry relations with Slovenia.
The Directors of Green World Holidays were invited to the Houses of Parliament in recognition of 10 years dedicated service to developing tourism in Slovenia. As well as meeting leading figures from trade & industry the Green World Holiday directors were also awarded with a special all-inclusive trip to experience Slovenia’s first Eco resort hotel & spa in the stunning Lake Bohinj Region.
The ‘2864 eco resort’ out of 1600 worldwide entrants is now down to the final two. The winner of the prestigious Green Globe award will be announced at this years World Travel Market exhibition in London next month.
After the presentation at the Houses of Parliament the Green World Holiday directors were invited to attend a drinks reception at the Slovenian Embassy giving them further chance to meet leading figures within the active tourism industry including the first Slovenian mountaineer to summit one of the top 10 peaks in the world.
Russell Smith speaking with Slovenia radio from the Houses of Parliament in London commented: “It was a prestigious event and one we were particularly proud to be apart of. We look forward to developing the awareness of Slovenia and tourism throughout the seasons and many beautiful regions of Slovenia”.
Running Wild…
Last week Green World Holidays entered a team into the Wolf Run Wild Running event. It was dirty work but somebody had to do it 
The Wolf run is a 10k cross country run across all sorts of terrain and obstacles including lake crossings, bmx style ditches, muddy tunnels and the like. Its not a timed race so its more about the experience of running wild and working together as a "wolf pack" to get over the very muddy finish line.
It was tough but a whole lot of fun and the weather was perfect making it an awesome day to be part of and nice for the friends, colleagues and family members who came along to support and heckle us!
The Green World Holidays Wolf pack is now looking for its next challenge. If you have any recommendations or ideas then please do contact us we are always up for something new especially if it involves getting muddy!
The Mouse that Roars!
"A Mouse that Roars."
This line was written by the Lonely Planet Travel Guide to describe Slovenia and here at Green World Holidays we can’t think of a better description.
If you like the great outdoors, then you simply have to come and experience this amazing and unspoiled country.
Slovenia’s countryside is picture postcard pretty and the roads are so quiet it is truly a joy to navigate around.
It is also a small country nestled in between Italy, Austria and Croatia, which makes it ideal to self drive.
The attractions are plentiful, but here is a short guide to the top spots.
Of course everyone must visit Lake Bled, this magical Lake with a small island and church in the middle. High above is Bled Castle, which offers amazing views.
Stunning Lake Bled Slovenia
Next up and only 40 mins drive is the less known but equally glorious Lake Bohinj. Here you can swim, fish, kayak, hike or simply relax and enjoy this stunning bit of nature.
From Bohinj we would recommend heading to the North West to enjoy some adventure sports. Here we organise White water rafting down the incredible aqua waters of the Soca River. Canyoning, Kayaking, Biking, Hiking and Climbing. It is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise!
Rafting on the Soca River
For those who would prefer towns and cities instead of rivers, mountains and trails then we would recommend spending time in Slovenia’s beautiful capital city Ljubljana and also a visit to the UNESCO Heritage town of Skofa Loka.
For those of you who have an unceasing draw to the sea then have no fear Slovenia also has coastline. The pretty town of Piran sits quietly on the Adriatic and is another hidden gem.
Hiking Biking and Skiing in Slovenia is a dream
A final tip is visiting Slovenia in winter season too. Slovenia has numerous mountains over 2500m and with a flight time from the UK of just 1 hour forty minutes it makes ski and snow board breaks extremely accessible.
These tips are really just a glimpse of what “the mouse that roars” has to offer. For more first hand advice and info don’t hesitate to contact us.
Festivals Far and Away
Tired of the same old festivals, corporate & main stream line ups?
Want to enjoy some beautiful destinations and immerse yourself in something completely different?
Then check out the list of festivals below which we recommend you consider:
THE QUIRKY:
The GUCA TRUMPET FESTIVAL in Serbia takes place in August for 6 days and plays hosts to wandering balkan brass bands. Gypsy, jazz, brass, hard drinking, dancing in the streets in the Serbian village of Belgrade you are sure to make friends and special memories. Lively, fun and Quirky.........
THE NATURAL:
The SOMMELO Festival in Kuhmo, Finland attracts artists and creatives from all over the Baltics, Scandinavia, Russia and beyond. The festival is all about exploring our Roots.... and it takes place in a town surrounded by lakes and forests, filled with bears and wolverines!
THE LAST TANGO:
KROKSTRANDS Festival in Sweden started out as a celebration of TANGO but now a days it plays host to worldwide music and dance! It attracts amazing undiscovered artists and offers superb workshops which give you a chance to join in. It is a real family friendly festival too and the location next to the stunning Iderfjorden adds to the allure.
THE YOUNGSTERS:
For our younger GWH customers then you may be interested in the STOP MAKING SENSE Festival in Tisno, Croatia. This is 5 days of musical anarchy! The decks kick off at noon each day and DJ's play though until 07.00am. There are daily boat parties too. The location is gorgeous so you can soak up and explore the Adriatic coastline if you have the energy!
THE DESERT:
It now has legendry status. Yes it is the BURNING MAN Festival in the Nevada dessert. The location is Mad Max surreal and with the positive ethos behind the festival it is sure to guarantee happy times and memories. No money is allowed here, you get buy on good will, sharing and friendship. It is a special place indeed and certainly worthy of its now cult reputation.
Royal Visit
Green World Holidays, received an unexpected visitor on Friday during our very own Jubilee office celebrations!
A spokes person for GWH said "It was a proud moment meeting the Queen and we think she appreciated our efforts and some of our novel office decorations!"
78 Degrees North
Green World Holidays is always looking to find the next exciting destination for you to explore! That’s why we decided to visit what some call the last true remaining wilderness: SVALBARD.
At 78 degrees north, it is the most northerly inhabited settlement in the world!
When you touch down in Svalbard it certainly feels special. There is a magic to the place that you can’t quite grasp yet & that is definitely part of the intrigue.
As you walk out of the arrivals hall you are greeted with a polar bear warning sign firmly reminding you where you now are!
We stayed at the SAS Radisson but in fairness there are lots of great and alternative places to stay. One thing they all have in common is you have to take your shoes off at the door. That’s right, its slippers all the way in Svalbard. This is due to a tradition started by the first settlers in Svalbard, who were here to mine the coal and of course had boots which would not be popular in any home around the world.
It’s a quirky and homely tradition which really sums up this enchanting part of the planet.
As well as the coal mines, tourism is now the other major contributor to jobs in Svalbard. For such a remote destination I was surprised to see so many cool and funky restaurants, bars and hotels, which seem to attract young, vibrant workers from Norway, Sweden and Canada, who all seem to have one thing in common: a keen interest in living in this amazing & exclusive arctic wilderness.
I certainly get it. There is a magic to Svalbard which seems to lure and keep people here. It’s like some kind of secret members club that seems to be growing steadily in popularity as word gets out.
But I guess if you are travelling to Svalbard, to 78 degrees north, you are not coming for nice food, cool hotels, pubs & people; they are just a very nice added extra. You are ultimately coming to explore this vast and unique landscape.
Of course the only two ways to do this are by snow mobile or husky. We were lucky enough to try both. Our snow mobiling expedition was awesome. Covering over 100km in a day and reaching speeds of up to 90 kmph, this was a day of adrenaline combined with awe inspiring views. Landscapes included ice covered lakes, frozen water falls and even a solitary land locked ship, which tourists can spend the night on at certain times of year!
The views were breath-taking and the feeling of solitude and peace are un-questionable. At times with the pink clouds above and the infinite plains in front, you feel like you are in a Reuben’s painting.
So how would dog sledding rival this? Well I am pleased and surprised to report that it was as good, if not better. The two things I really enjoyed about the dog sledding was firstly the inter-action with your dogs. It’s not done for you, you have to collect your dogs and harness them together. No mean feat I assure you and greatly satisfying especially for someone like myself who has never had pets.
So after the effort and sweat of getting your team together, with the dogs excitedly barking, you are now ready for the off. Soon the second big plus becomes apparent. The silence! Once the dogs get going they are down to business, no more barking just running. As you get whisked through the unique arctic landscape you have a lot more time to disconnect, breathe it in and enjoy this wonderful nature first hand.
Of course you can’t cover nearly the same ground as you can on a snow mobile but the feeling is definitely superior, even for an adrenaline junky like me. As you finish the day and take your respective dogs back to their kennels you can’t help feeling a connection to them and the inspiring land you have just travelled across.
The final high of the programme occurred on our last night. Up until this evening we had only seen the Northern Lights once, very faintly on our first evening in Tromso. However on our way to dinner at a restaurant outside the town and away from the town lights we started to notice Northern Light activity. The driver reacted quickly, found a safe place to park and turned off the head lights so we were enveloped in darkness.
At first, all we could see were long shapes of light but gradually the show became more dramatic. The glow became stronger and the shapes began moving from strips of light into cloud patterns. However the best was yet to come. Like an experienced concert conductor Mother Nature saved the best until the end of the show. The cloud pattern very quickly changed into a V shape and for a matter of 4 or 5 seconds began literally bubbling.
Then as soon as it had appeared it vanished, leaving behind just a few feint streaks, which in turn died away, leaving our group enthralled and amazed.
I had always been curious about the Northern Lights prior to this trip and had heard various reports from friends and colleagues but having witnessed them dance in the dark Svalbard skies I can truly say it is worth every effort to witness them with your own eyes. It was indeed a privilege and a memory which will stay with me forever.
If you are interested in venturing into the Arctic Circle then please do contact us to discuss what is possible and keep an eye on the green world holiday website for new programmes!
Detox for 2012
If you feel like you have eaten and drunk too much over x-mas and new year and want something to look forward to later this year that will keep you motivated and inspired, then we have just the thing for you.
active retreat holiday in brazil
Our new active retreat holiday in Brazil is a detox holiday like no other. Located on a magical island off the coast of Rio in Brazil, you will have chance to detox and destress and come back feeling amazing and with treasured memories to enjoy forever.
Daily Yoga classes
The programme includes 6 hours per day of supervised activities, be it trekking, kayaking or snorkeling. There are 2 yoga & movement classes each day (one hour each). Plus three full body massages during your stay (one hour each).
Devoted staff and like minded travellers
The retreat is gorgeous and staff are devoted to showing you the best of the island and getting the best out of you. When you are not relaxing or exploring you can also enjoy our spa area, which offers a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna facing the ocean. Each guest has their own room and bath overlooking the ocean.
Breathe, disconnect and enjoy the experience!
Pistes are Open!
Green World Holidays has been organising winter holidays to Slovenia for nearly 10 years now & are proud to be one of the few UK specialists for this region.
Well thats good news for us and our customers as one of the main attractions to Slovenias ski resorts is the fact they are peaceful, small and you'll have the pistes to yourselves.
Last weekend more snow arrived meaning the Pistes have now officially been open for over two weeks already! Great signs for another long season.
For those of you who dont know much about Slovenia, then here is a small introduction. Slovenia is only 1.5 hrs flight from the UK, it is a beautiful country with pristine nature all year round. The skiing in the beautiful Julian Alps is ideal for families, beginners and intermediates & any one fancying a short ski weekend away! In fact Kravavec resort in Slovenia has been voted as the no.1 short break ski resort in Europe for UK residents!!!
Needless to say we are big fans and have been skiing and boarding in Slovenia for a long time. We would be delighted to share our knowledge and experiences with you. From staying the night in an Igloo through to off-piste survival courses there is so much to offer and discover in Slovenia!
Please do check out the website for example winter packages!
Harpa of 1600 Strings
Finally Reykjavik has its own music hall; an architectural masterpiece and a world class concert hall.
Everyone in Iceland had an opinion on the Harpa musical hall but now it is open it seems everyone likes it.
The design is very cool, futuristic and the accoustics are incredible.
Icelanders are proud to show case this amazing cultural venue which will be used to host a wide range of musical types and tastes!
So if Reykjavik wasn't on the cultural city break map before, it is now!!
Iceland has recently been voted "best place in the world to be a woman".
The survey examined five measures that affect women’s lives. Of 165 countries. Each country was graded on 5 factors, using a scale of 1 to 100
JUSTICE
Laws protecting women from domestic violence, adolescent marriage and marital rape, and also women’s access to land and bank loans
HEALTH
Includes rates of maternal death, HIV, and infant mortality, and also access to safe abortions and skilled health workers
EDUCATION
Education level, literacy, and gender parity in schools
ECONOMICS
Includes percentage of women in the labor force, gender pay gap, access to all industries, ability to climb the ladder
POLITICS
Share of women in government, including senior positions