Our responsible travel policy

Lake Skadar National Park is a fragile and endangered ecological treasure in a country which is developing faster than it can legislate to protect its natural assets.

We are proud to be the first tour operators in this area who are dedicated to encouraging eco-tourism - inviting small groups, no more than eight at a time, to visit and enjoy activities which are low impact on the environment but high impact in experience.

Together, we can provide a boost to the local economy which gently nudges local people towards more quality, sustainable forms of tourism such as hiking, kayaking and mountain-biking.

Our own 'responsible' steps include cutting out all unnecessary printing and postage, employing local guides to provide local salaries, volunteering for German NGO GTZ to help provide quality eco-tourism materials about the lake and offering the opportunity for all our guests to make a contribution to a recommended conservation project.

Getting off the beaten track somewhere like Skadar can be an incredibly rewarding experience - for you and for local people - if it is approached in the right way.

Before you arrive
Do as much research as you can so you don't experience culture shock or cause unnecessary offence - eg, being drunk in public is frowned upon in Montenegro, as is going topless on a beach in a muslim area like Murici.
 
Learn a few words of the local language.
 
Try to leave excess packaging at home, especially anything plastic - waste collection facilities are scarce at Lake Skadar and you will struggle to find a bin.
 
Look at off-setting your flight's carbon emissions so you are carbon neutral. We recommend www.climatecare.org.
 
While you are here
Remember to dress appropriately when visiting monasteries and churches.
 
When buying souvenirs, try to buy locally made crafts and products to ensure your money goes direct to the community.
 
Conserve your use of water and electricity - many places you will stay are "off-grid".
 
Try and keep your use of plastic bags to a minimum - especially if the local shop offers you one for just one chocolate bar...
 
Pick up litter if you see it and take any rubbish home with you that can't be disposed of properly - including nasties like cigarette butts.
 
Remember to take drinking water out with you to avoid buying bottled water and contributing to one of the major blights of the 21st century. And never throw your plastic bottle anywhere other than a rubbish bin.
 
Never heed the call of nature less than 100 metres away from a watercourse.
 
Thanks for your support!