SLOVENIA: Young environmentalists offer up an eco friendly way to enjoy an adventure holiday

Record ID: 346200

  • Title: SLOVENIA: Young environmentalists offer up an eco friendly way to enjoy an adventure holiday
  • Date: 16th August 2011
  • Summary: WIDE OF CLIMBERS SHEEP GRAZING VARIOUS OF TOURISTS CAVING
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Slovenia, Slovenia
  • Country: Slovenia
  • Topics: Environment,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA752Q6ZYDYAYKXAM50FJJJC3H5
  • Story Text: In the cool valley of the Slovenia's Vrsic mountain, nature lovers are being given the chance to live the outdoor adventure, without harming the outdoors.
    A group of young environmentalists have taken up residence in the Triglav national park and are running an eco camp there.
    They are trying to show people that it is possible to live simply, respect the environment and still offer a fun packed holiday for intrepid adventurers and families with young children.
    For Zoran Mirosevic who has come with his family from the Croatian coastal town of Split it offers some respite from the scorching temperatures and packed beaches that are the Dalmatian coast in August.
    "Most of all I like the nature, the environment and people here are relaxing. There are people like us with small children so they can play with each other, animals are around as well. We like this atmosphere," Mirosevic said.
    But besides relaxing, playing mini table tennis or taking walks next to the cold Soca river, the camp offers a variety of activities. From climbing to water sports such as canyoning, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, hydro speeding and more.
    The camp also strives to support local farmers who have goats and sheep so visitors can get fresh milk, cheese and some meat from the farmers. Since this valley is not a farming area the rest of the food needs to be bought elsewhere.
    "The main difference at this camp is that we make sure that we have an individual approach to our guests and we follow ecological principles. We are selecting our waste, we maintain basic standards. We want to show people that they can live with only basic standards and at the same time enjoy life to the fullest," said the 30-year-old Matic Leskovsek, who founded the camp in 2005 with his friends.
    Leskovsek got the idea while studying eco and adrenalin tourism in Canada and the camp aims to impact the environment as little as possible.
    "Two hundred metres over the camp we have a pumping site at the river and we get all the water from there. As far as electricity goes we almost do not need it," he said.
    For 11-year-old Matic Beber it was not just a chance to improve his carbon footprint but a way to test his mountain climbing skills.
    "It was great that I got a chance to climb this kind of wall where it was hard to hold on to. So I got the feeling how hard it is to climb in mountains," Beber said.
    The tourists come mostly from Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands and interest is growing every year, Leskovsek told Reuters.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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