Whether you are treating yourself to a memento from your adventure, or choosing a gift for a loved one back home, let us be your shopping guide in a few of our most popular walking and cycling holiday destinations. Shopping locally is one of the best ways to practise responsible tourism, and there are certain gifts that you can seek out that are both fair and fun, delicious and desirable. There are also certain gifts that you should avoid if you want to keep things ethical and mindful, some of which are mentioned in our list of responsible gift ideas below. And remember, if you want to bring back liquids such as wine or olive oil, you need to check in your luggage if flying or travel by train if possible. And don’t forget to bring your reusable shopping bag with you.
Spain
You may not want clouds when you go on one of our Spanish adventure holidays, but you do want clouds if you are buying olive oil. The cloudier the better, in fact. Spain produces nearly half of the world’s olive oil, and so seek out a local producer to buy it from. You will see them growing in many areas but in particular on our cycling holiday through Alicante and Valencia or Andalucía and on our walking holiday in Mallorca.
Spain has a rich tradition of pottery and ceramics such as the azulejos, or intricate tilework, which dates back to the 700 years period when the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule. Some of the finest tiles can still be bought in the region’s biggest towns and cities such as Granada, Seville, Almería, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca.
Another fine present from Spain is the cazuela, or terracotta dish, often handmade by local potters and used for paellas or tapas. You will find them all over Spain, and the same goes for espadrilles, known locally as alpargatas, although they originate from the Pyrenees and are perfect for resting your feet after a day on the local walking trails.
Albania
People may now be getting to hear about and discover the natural wonders of Albanian walking and cycling holidays, but only some are aware of just how much room they should leave in their suitcases for gifts. Artisan crafts are still very much part of the local culture in Albania, and the most common items you might see at markets and small stores include traditional qeleshe felt hats, hand-woven qylym rugs, or some handcrafted olive wooden spoons and other kitchen implements.
The wooden spoons are perfect for dipping into the locally-produced honey, which you will see at small farmstalls throughout the country. As tempting as it might be to bring back some of their incredible cured meats, if you are travelling back to the UK, for example, it is illegal to bring any meat or dairy products from a country outside the EU. You are allowed, thankfully, to bring back some of their colourful handmade ceramics, often using the typical Albanian hues of blue and vermillion.
Bulgaria
We are very sweet on Bulgaria at The Natural Adventure, and our customers are proving to be equally intoxicated by its beauty. The good news is that you can bottle some of its sweetness and bring it home, as Bulgaria is famous for its production of high-quality rose oil and rose water. Check out the local markets and small artisan shops for an array of rose-scented soaps, cosmetics, perfumes and essential oils made from Bulgarian roses. You’ll also often find these at spas on our walking and spa adventure holiday.
Mursalski mountain tea is another Bulgarian treat, and easy to squish into hand luggage. It is made from the herb ironwort, found on rocky terrain over 1,000m, of which there are plenty in this hiking heaven of a country. Its Latin name is sideritis scardica, and it is protected by law in Bulgaria, and only produced by those who have a licence to do so. It is said to be a cure-all for all aches and pains, especially colds, flu and allergies. So it’s not to be sniffed at. If you are sniffly, however, you might also want to seek out some Bulgarian traditional lace handkerchiefs or an array of other lace products.
As there is no shortage of snow in Bulgaria in winter, seek out some of the locally-made brightly-coloured wool hiking socks, slippers and hats, at half the price of some similar woollies closer to home. The traditional ones are bright red, so perfect for Christmas stockings. You can buy some locally-produced honey and a traditional ceramic honey pot to put in there too.
Croatia
You definitely want to check in your luggage if you are flying to and from Croatia, so that you can bring back a couple of bottles of local wine. Especially from Istria where, on this cycling holiday for example, you explore the vine-strewn hills, home to local Muscats, Malvazijas and many more.
Croatia is also known for its lavender fields, particularly on the island of Hvar, which features on many of our Dalmatian island-hopping holidays. You will find a plethora of essential oils, soaps, lotions and lavender honey on the island, as well as many mainland small market towns.
Croatian olive oil is also top-notch, but do check that it has been produced locally because, surprisingly, it is sometimes imported. You will also see a lot of imported jewellery in the markets, but go find the local artisans for superb silver and gold filigree work, which dates back generations and is often designed using natural themes such as leaves, flowers, vines and the sun. You will also see red coral jewellery, but as this is very rare now, be sure to only buy it from farmed sources and from experts who have a licence to produce it. To be safe, just let the coral be.
Greece
You might not think that you need to check in luggage for Greece, but it’s definitely worth paying that extra bit to bring home some gifts from the Greek gods. Greek wine’s reputation has grown over the years, leaving behind its rough retsina reputation, and welcoming the country’s varied grape varieties. Moschofilero is flowing on our Peloponnese tours, malvasia and mandilaria thrive on Crete’s rugged terraces, and assyrtiko rises like a phoenix out of the volcanic ashes on Santorini walking holidays.
You can wrap up jars of Greek honey, often flavoured with thyme or pine, or just bring home some of the actual herbs that are used to infuse it. Greek saffron (krokos kozanis), for example, is from a small crocus flower that thrives on many of the Greek islands, and marjoram, mountain mint and red oregano are more ambrosial delights to seek out.
Herbal teas are also prolific in Greece, the most popular being mountain tea, or tsai tou vounou, from the same herb, ironwort, as found in Bulgaria. It is also sometimes called Olympus tea, and so, not surprisingly, you will find it on our walking holiday to Mount Olympus. It’s also everywhere on Crete, famous for its White Mountains and superb walking trails. Linden flower tea, or tilio, is another popular herbal remedy tea, and the blossom is often used in honey. In times of Ancient Greece, the Linden tree was considered sacred, and dedicated to love and fidelity, so choose your gift recipient wisely!
What’s not wise is buying natural sponges, coral and shell products in Greece, or indeed anywhere. As with all marine products, leave them be – in the sea.
France
Local artisanship is prolific in France, especially in local markets, of which there are so many, which is why we have listed some of our favourites here. Shop locally for all your needs when you can, from soap to socks, snacks to backpacks. Markets are brimming with local produce, mountain gear shops will welcome your business along the Tour du Mont Blanc and local artists will appreciate you supporting their work wherever you go.
In Provence, for example, you’ll never regret leaving room in your luggage for Provençal presents, with bags of lavender, local honey, Fleur de Sel, olives and sumptuous soaps such as the iconic Marseille soap cube, just a few of the goodies on offer. Hand-made baskets are also a feature of Riviera shopping, but make sure they are locally made, not imported. In the Dordogne, look out for jars of truffles, walnuts or chestnuts, and, if you are cycling or walking through France’s fine wine regions, you will definitely want to leave room for something special. All the more reason to travel by train to France, if you can.
If you are going on our cycling holiday between Amsterdam and Paris, but don’t want to buy Belgian chocolates as presents en route, there is a plethora of French artisan chocolate makers in the capital. This cornucopia of chocolatiers includes Jean-Paul Hévin, Patrick Roger, Jaques Génin, Jean-Paul Hévin and Edwart. All have boutiques scattered around the city.
Slovenia
The beautiful hand-crafted wooden utensils that you see in many of Slovenia’s markets make perfect gifts. As does their delicate lace, made with Slovenia’s bobbin lacemaking traditions, protected as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Similarly delicate is Slovenia’s Rogaska crystal, and it’s worth some careful wrapping to bring home this exquisite memento. And, if you are travelling to Slovenia by train, you can also pack a bottle of the country’s best wine to drink from it. Felt slippers are also very popular in Slovenia, made from the country’s indigenous Jezersko-Solcava sheep breed. Buy some for yourself too on arrival because everyone wears slippers in Slovenia, so you are a responsible tourist to just have them in your bag at all times anyway when you enter a local place to stay.
Italy
You will always want to bring home some Italian produce, after the many epicurean adventures you will have on our walking and cycling tours in Italy. It’s hard to know where to start really, but looking for certifications of Italian quality is one place. For wine, make sure it has a DOCG and DOC designation as a sign of a good local appellation, and DOP is the recognised sign of quality Italian food products.
Piedmont in northern Italy is the centre of the Slow Food movement, where it was founded in the 1980s, creating a worldwide domino effect in sustainable food sourcing. So it’s almost the law to delve into its delicacies on our Piedmont adventure holidays, be it Barolo or Barbaresco wines, Gianduiotti chocolates or locally-roasted coffees. Another fine Piedmont gift is found in Mondovì, a small medieval town just an hour south of Turin, famous for colourful ceramics. You can also usually buy them in Turin.
Italy is also famous for its high-quality leather products, and Florence boasts the most famous leather artisans and designers. You can go on a shopping spree at the end of our cycling holiday between Pisa and Florence, or our walking holiday along the Path of the Gods. You might need a new bag to check in a few bottles after our Chianti Wine Trail walking holiday anyway.
You will find an array of beautifully crafted ceramics and pottery in Italy too. In particular, if you are travelling to Sicily, the Amalfi Coast or Tuscany, you can’t miss hand-painted tiles, dishes and ornamental pieces. In Sicily, for example, each town or region has its own style, usually brightly coloured with floral influences. One quirky ceramic feature of Sicily is the pigna, or pine cone, which symbolises good health and immortality. You will find plenty of real pine cones on our Sicily walking holidays, as well as oodles of good health. We can’t promise immortality, though!
You may now be shopped out, but we hope that you aren’t holidayed out. For more adventures that bring you into contact with small, local artisans, you may enjoy our blogs on Bigging up the Balkans, Most underrated places in Italy and Our top Tour du Mont Blanc alternatives. Do also share photos of favourite souvenirs or gifts that you have brought home from your adventure holidays, by tagging us on our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
