America National Parks family holiday

Environment
This trip is designed for families who want to explore the United States’ national parks’ natural beauty and discover why visitors are so passionate about this beautiful region. We travel in small, intimate groups (maximum of 13 passengers) and have the benefit of a professionally trained local guide who knows the best places in the national parks, national monuments and wilderness areas to respectfully observe wildlife, to enjoy fun, adventurous activities and appreciate the flavours of the local culture.

We have over 37 years of experience operating small-group adventure tours that foster understanding, appreciation and conservation of the cultures and environments we visit. We are committed to working with our clients and the peoples of our host destinations to ensure direct economic benefits at a community level. We aim to operate beyond best practice guidelines and to provide a tour programme that creates a positive impact on the lands that we visit and a lasting impression for those who travel with us.

Our published traveller’s code of conduct is further promoted by our leaders throughout the tour, and particularly in the first night’s orientation talk. Our RT policy or traveller’s code of conduct is made available to all travellers prior to departure. This includes policies on the following:

• Established policy to support recycling (and to educate our clients on recycling) on all of our tours in North/Central/South America. We aim to utilize properties that recycle glass and plastics. When this service is not available, we will pack and store recycling in our own containers and drive them to a suitable facility
  
• Leave No Trace is a national and international campaign designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts about how to reduce their impacts when enjoying the outdoors. Because this trip spends much time exploring the National Parks and "wilderness" areas, familiarizing clients with the "Leave No Trace" ethic will help minimize the impact on the natural environment.

We support a variety of conservation initiatives; our tour leaders and management staff have taken part in “clean ups” of a number of parks, monuments and attractions around the country. We are a founding member of Tourism Cares- a non profit organization dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. Through Tourism Cares projects our leaders and managers have taken part in a post Katrina clean up of New Orleans, the revitalization of Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans as well as other projects. We are also proud sponsor of the American Hiking Society. We hold permits for numerous National and State Parks, National Monuments and wilderness areas and are proud sponsors of the Friends of Big Bend (National Park) and the Mojave Preserve Land Trust.

We partner with Climate Care to encourage clients to off-set domestic/international flights. We are committed to off-set vehicles’ emissions and as such, we match client contributions up to £5000 per year. 100% of our UK corporate headquarters’ power is green (renewable). We contribute to local charities and projects such as “Tourism Cares for America” (of which we are a founding member), American Hiking Society, “Friends of Big Bend” and the “Mojave Desert Land Trust”- organizations dedicated to improving and/or expanding national parks.


Community
When lodging we will stay in 2 and 3 star “tourist class” hotels. Where possible we stay inside the national parks (Death Valley). Staying in the national parks allows us to minimize driving distances to some of the hiking / activity areas. Where staying inside the parks is not possible we endeavour to use smaller, locally owned/ family run hotels and lodges located as near the parks as possible in a continued effort to minimize these driving distances. We generally eat our meals in locally owned restaurants which supports local business, as well as allows passengers to experience local flavour and mix with local people when appropriate.

Throughout the trip we utilize established local suppliers for activities en route that help support local business and keep money in the community. On this tour, we include visits and entry admission to all national parks and monuments listed in the itinerary. Fees support park upkeep and conservation projects, and we encourage our clients to visit the visitor centres for additional information about the region.

On this tour we include a Navajo guided 4X4 tour of Monument Valley. While the public is allowed to drive private vehicles in Monument Valley including this guided tour allows our passengers one on one contact with the Navajo and encourages learning of both the history of the Navajo and their current lifestyles. As well, it provides our local guides with much need employment and income.

The tour is led by one of our fully trained local guides. Prior to leading our groups, guides must successfully complete our pre-season intensive training programme which lasts approximately 4 weeks. During this time we support the guides with accommodation, activities and supplemental salary.