Finding JOY

FROM THE EDITOR Rebecca Miles

Hello and welcome along to the 15th issue of Charitable Traveller magazine. As milestones go, it may not be the biggest (does it even have its own shiny element?) but I still think it worth marking as I’m all for small victories and celebrating everything that brings us joy.

And there’s lots of joy to be found in this issue. Starting as far south as we can, Jamie Lafferty reports from Antarctica, where the penguin antics provide plenty of amusement among the epic icebergs. Then head to South Africa to hear how the country combines sustainability with natural quality, before discovering the lesser-known delights of Spain and revelling in the simple pleasures of slow travel. Interpret that as you wish, there’s a languorous holiday for you out there. Closer to home, we’re visiting Jersey in the Channel Islands and, as always, shining a light on the great work our charity partners are doing.

Our hearts and minds are with everyone in Turkey and Syria who have been affected by the earthquakes. It’s been heartening to see the fantastic rallying the travel industry has done to offer its support in anyway possible, as well as all the charities who have stepped up to provide essential aid during this tough time. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and these beautiful countries.

©CHARITABLE TRAVEL 2023. CHARITABLE TRAVELLER is part of CHARITABLE TRAVEL, Fundraising Futures Community Interest Company, Contingent Works, Broadway Buildings, Elmfield Road, Bromley, BR1 1LW, UK. Putting our profit to work supporting the work of charitable causes. T: 020 3092 1288 E: bookings@charitable.travel W: charitable.travel While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, CHARITABLE TRAVEL cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. FRONT COVER: 123RF.com. ICONS: thenounproject. com & flaticon.com. CEO: Melissa Tilling; MARKETING: Ally Ware, Rosie Buddell, Adam Pedley & Maddy Foot; SALES: Ali Nicholls; MAGAZINE EDITOR: Rebecca Miles; MAGAZINE DESIGNER: Claire Gates (clairegatesdesign@gmail.com)

56 Luxury in every sense of the word in South Africa

63 Four views of... Finland

65 Travel begins at 40 Mark Jackson in Trentino, Italy

66 Top ten Luxury spa resorts

70 Girl About Travel in Leeds

68 Social enterprise Q&A with the founder of BillyChip

Turtle duo back in the ocean

A pair of rehabilitated sea turtles were released back into the Atlantic Ocean on Valentine’s Day, February 2022. The team at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital had been caring for the juvenile green sea turtles, nicknamed Port and Starboard, for three months. Found in the water at Lower Keys and diagnosed with fibropapillomatosis — a debilitating tumourcausing disease that affects sea turtle species around the world – they’ve been treated with surgery, antibiotics and a healthy diet by the team at the hospital in Marathon. charitable.travel/north-america/ florida/florida-keys

All flips, no flops.

Celebrate the start of spring

Taking place in cities and villages across Cyprus, ‘Anthestiria’ celebrates the coming of spring and the renewal of nature and life. Inspired by the ancient festival that was held in Athens, Larnaca, Germasogeia and Paphos municipalities have flower festivities during May, including parades with beautifully decorated floats, flower markets and shows. charitable.travel/cyprus