This World Oceans Day, we have hand-picked a selection of incredible experiences celebrating and protecting the planet’s most precious resource – the ocean! In line with this year’s theme, ‘Catalysing Action for Our Ocean & Climate’, discover top bucket-list worthy adventures that celebrate ocean conservation at their core…
CARIBBEAN – From coral reef regeneration to turtle walks…
Petit St Vincent – This exclusive, private island lies at the southern tip of the Grenadines, with just 22 cottages surrounded by incredible coral reefs, pristine beaches, and barefoot luxury. Moreover, Petit St Vincent is committed to reef regeneration, endeavouring to create a designated marine protected area around the island. As part of its coral restoration project, in partnership with the Philip Stephenson Foundation and CLEAR Caribbean, the island has constructed a coral nursery using fragments of Elkhorn coral collected from around the island. Once grown, the outcrops of juvenile coral will be used to repopulate nearby reefs on the eastern side of the island.
Offer – Stay 7 nights at Petit St Vincent in a One Bedroom Cottage from £4,999 per person including international economy class flights to Barbados with Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow, domestic economy class flights to Union Island, return speedboat transfers to the resort, breakfast, and 2 complimentary nights! Price based on travel in November 2024.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis – Set on the glorious Pinney’s Beach, Four Seasons Resort Nevis enjoys a prime position on the west coast of this tranquil Caribbean island, worlds away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In partnership with experts at the Sea Turtle Conservancy and Nevis Turtle Group, the resort hosts its annual Sea Turtle Week, inviting guests to connect with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. From July 19-23, 2024, visiting environmentalists can gain complimentary insightful educational sessions to captivating nightly turtle walks along the pristine beaches of Nevis and witness the magic of sea turtle nesting and release, fostering a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of marine life in the Caribbean.
VIETNAM – Witness the release of baby turtles into Con Dao’s pristine shores…
In a heart-warming display of natural wonder, Six Senses Con Dao, nestled along the pristine shores of Vietnam’s Con Dao Island, recently welcomed the commencement of the turtle nesting season with the arrival of the Mother Turtle whose precious clutch of 92 eggs were safeguarded within the resort’s incubation centre, in collaboration with the Con Dao National Park Authority. Guests visiting Six Senses Con Dao from May to December can witness the extraordinary spectacle of baby turtles being ethically released into the ocean on the resort’s private beach—a testament to the resort’s dedication to sustainable tourism practices and marine life conservation.
Offer – Stay 7 nights at Six Senses Con Dao from £3,795 per person based on accommodation in an Oceanview Duplex Pool Villa on a B&B basis, international economy flights, and all transfers.
TAHITI – Spend ten nights at two idyllic eco-retreats where fish and coral thrive…
Stay at the authentically Polynesian Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, boasting one of the best views of Mt Otemanu. Located on ‘Motu Teveiroa’ in Bora Bora’s idyllic lagoon, this stylish retreat enjoys the exclusivity of being the only resort on this beautiful islet which is just 10 minutes by boat from Bora Bora airport. Combine with five nights at Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts, just a short hop away on an islet named Motu Tautau in the lagoon’s outer reef. Dedicated to preserving the beauty of French Polynesia, Pearl Resorts of Tahiti has created an environmental charter, shared by all its properties, named P.R.O.T.E.C.T, for Pearl Resorts of Tahiti: Eco-Caring Together. Initiatives include the creation of coral nurseries amid the overwater bungalows in partnership with marine biologist Denis Schneider to allow over 70 species of fish and a colony of 4000 corals to thrive. What’s more, Bora Bora recently saw the launch of the Okeanos Pearl, the first luxury solar-powered catamaran, respectful of the lagoon and completely silent.
Offer- Stay 10 nights at Le Bora Bora and Taha’a from £6,595 per person, including 5 nights in an Overwater Bungalow at Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts, 5 nights in a Taha’a Overwater Suite at Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts, daily breakfast, island transfers and international flights. Save over £3,000 per couple! Price based on travel December 2024 to March 2025, excluding festive season.
NEW ZEALAND – Spot whales and dolphins off the coast of South Island….
With a deep ocean shelf close to shore, the waters around Kaikoura on New Zealand’s dramatic South Island provide a year-round feeding ground for a variety of whales, dolphins, seals and more. Spy magnificent sperm whales and join the playful and dolphins in the water. Sing to them beneath the surface and you’ll soon be surrounded by dozens of inquisitive dolphins. Visitors to New Zealand are encouraged to agree to the ‘Tiaki Promise’ wherein they pledge to be conscientious stewards of the environment during their trip. Tiaki is a Māori word that loosely means to care, conserve, and protect, with a focus on four key, natural elements: the ocean, the forest, the sky, and the earth.
We can tailor-make journeys through New Zealand. An example itinerary includes the New Zealand Gourmet Journey which offers a 15-night journey from £6,950 per person based on 2 people sharing including accommodation at Eagles Nest, Craggy Range, The Martinborough Hotel, Bolton Hotel, Hapuku Lodge, Azur Lodge, flights, transfers, car hire and some breakfasts.
FIJI – Experience reef manta rays in their natural habitat at this eco-haven…
Surrounded by the Great Astrolabe Reef – the fourth largest barrier reef on the planet, extending for over 100km – Fiji is brimming with an enormous variety of sea life, including the extraordinary reef manta rays. These gentle giants have been threatened globally, by climate change and the gill plate industry. To help raise awareness and protect the Fijian manta population, Kokomo Island Resort – leading the way for ocean protection in the South Pacific – has launched the Kokomo Manta Conservation Project, encompassing a tagging project, manta identification work and sustainable manta interactions in collaboration with the Manta Project Fiji. To bring the experience home with you, why not adopt a manta while you are there!
Moreover, the resort invests significantly in coral restoration and other forms of marine preservation to ensure the reefs surrounding the area continue to thrive for generations to come, having so far transplanted over 2,000 corals back on to its house reef and increasing its coral nurseries to hold over 3,000 corals per season. Other projects include a ‘Clam Hatchery Conservation Program’, participation in the Adopt a Dive Site® initiative set up to protect and clean reefs, a collaborative project dedicated to sea turtle conservation, the implementation of a ‘No Take Fishing Zone’ within 200-metres of the island and a ‘Dock to Dish’ programme to forage for edible seaweeds and sea greens.
Offer – Stay 7 nights at Kokomo Island Resort from £8,865 per person including seven nights in a One Bedroom Sunrise Villa, full board dining, non-alcoholic beverages, non-motorised water sports and return seaplane transfers from Nadi to Kokomo. Includes one free night when staying 6 nights or more, saving over £2,000 per couple. Must book by 30th June 2024.
