A guide to the greens

Jersey Kayak Adventures

Jersey's only specialist sea-kayaking company provides guided tours around the rugged coastline of the Channel Islands. Open year-round, the company is accredited by Wildlife Safe (WiSe) to run low-impact tours and observe marine life. Group tours £37.50 (Dh210), child (under 17) £25 (Dh140). Private lessons from £95 (Dh533). Visit www.jerseykayakadventures.co.uk

The Canoe Man, Norfolk Broads

Paddling among narrow channels and shallow waters inaccessible to motorboats, you're far more likely to see the wetland's wildlife. The Canoe Man runs guided trips along the broads, with overnight stays at B&Bs. Also available is a bushcraft course at Weasenham, which includes a stay in a tipi camp. Two-night trip at £175 (Dh981) per person B&B. Visit www.thecanoeman.com

Preseli Venture, Pembrokeshire

Sea kayaking, surfing, biking and coasteering — Preseli Venture, an outdoor-activity centre on the South Wales coast, offers all of the above. The centre's accommodation is billed as a five-star eco-lodge, having many low-carbon technologies, including a ground-source heat pump for heating and hot water. There's free pick-up in a biodiesel bus from the nearest railway station at Haverfordwest. Endorphin Blaster Adventure Day of coasteering, sea kayaking and surfing, half day from £49 (Dh275) (£35, or Dh196, under 16), full day from £98 (Dh550) (£70, or Dh393, under 16). Visit www.preseliventure.co.uk

Wilderness Scotland

Edinburgh-based adventure-travel company Wilderness Scotland specialises in kayaking, sailing and photography holidays. The start and end points of its trips are linked with trains at stations. One example is a ten-day holiday in the Outer Hebrides, where you're met at Mallaig station before walking over to its yacht mooring to embark on ten days of sailing and walking around the archipelago. It has developed a Wilderness Guide Training Programme, which includes a Leave No Trace policy and guidelines on environmental leadership. The ten-day sailing and walking holiday (August 4-14), £1,350 (Dh7,571) per person. Visit www.wildernessscotland.com

Nature Travels, Sweden

Sweden specialist Nature Travels offers dog sledding, timber rafting and wilderness canoeing. It does not offer any experiences based on motorised transport, including snowmobiles. Nature Travels donates 2 per cent of its pre-tax profits to small-scale conservation projects, such as the Swedish-Finnish-Norwegian Arctic fox programme, and has subscribed to 10:10, the campaign to cut carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010. Six-day bushcraft canoe tour from £463 (Dh2,595) per person. Four-day canoe tours from £89 (Dh499). Visit www.naturetravels.co.uk

Global Boarders, Cornwall

Penzance-based Global Boarders is doing its bit to green up Cornwall's overcrowded surf scene. It runs small-group and family-surfing holidays from April-October at lesser-known beaches throughout western Cornwall. In partnership with the Eden Project, it is trialling sustainable surfboards. Surf lessons include a talk on the importance of marine conservation and keeping beaches clean. Surf Experience day, £75 (Dh420) per person. Weekender from £375 (Dh2,101), including three days of surfing. Visit www.globalboarders.com

Eco-Frontiers Ranch, Poland

A 60-hectare organic farm in the heart of the Carpathian mountains. The focus of the ranch is on riding Hutsul horses but there are also guided walks in the Eastern Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and the Bieszczady National Park, tracking wildlife. The ranch is totally off-grid: Electricity is provided by windmills and solar panels and the owners have created a private wetland nature reserve for wild orchids, junipers and beavers. Accommodation from about £35 (Dh196) per person per night. Visit www.ecofrontiers.net

Pure Mountains, Spain

Low-impact mountain-biking-holidays specialist Pure Mountains is run by owners in the Sierra Nevada, from their mountain cortijo at an altitude of 1,700 metres. Power is provided by solar panels (a wind turbine is planned), water from a natural spring and waste is recycled or composted. Seven-night "Easy Going" trail (May 8-15), £630 (Dh3,529) per person plus £110 (Dh616) for bike hire. Visit www.puremountains.com

Off the Rails, Yorkshire and Lancashire

This cycling company runs two- and three-day tours and day trips in the Yorkshire Dales and Forest of Bowland. Its big idea is to offer the combination of an uphill train journey and a downhill bike ride. One-day ride in the Eden Valley, £75 (Dh420) per person, including rail fare, bikes and equipment. Visit www.offtherails.org.uk

Saddle Skedaddle, worldwide

Saddle Skedaddle organises road-cycling and mountain-biking holidays mainly in Europe. It also runs sightseeing trips to developing countries, such as Peru, where you get to stay with fair-trade farmers. A 15-day "Meet the People" tour in Peru from £1,795 (Dh10,052) per person, including accommodation and most meals. Visit www.skedaddle.co.uk