This is an excellent introductory journey that features all the main attractions while travelling on a multitude of local transport – allowing you to immerse yourself in some of the many cultures that make up modern-day China. In fact 'cultural immersion' is a key component of all our trips in China.
On the Yangtze River, you travel on a Chinese cruise boat (in preference to a 'foreign-style' tourist boat) allowing a wonderful cross-cultural experience. Between major cities you travel on local trains, another great opportunity to sit down and get to know your Chinese travelling companions. In addition, all our leaders are locally born and bred which allows a far greater understanding of Chinese customs and traditions than can be achieved with a western leader. In many places, local guides are also employed, which in turn benefits these people and their families.
This trip is focused on respecting and benefiting the local people and the environment of this country. On this trip you will be lead by an experienced local leader passionate about their country's history, heritage and natural beauty that will help you to get 'under the skin' of their country and see it through the eyes of a local. This trip stays at locally run accommodation; we eat at local restaurants and travel on local transport. This ensures the financial return to the local economy opens up training and employment opportunities - and allows for informal and meaningful interaction between our travellers and local people.
We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of neutralising our impact on the environment. We will become the first Australian adventure tour operator to offer a voluntary carbon offsetting option on the land component of all its tours, as well as the accompanying flights. Our Community Trust provides funds for local community projects and initiatives that promote responsible and sustainable tourism development in the destinations in which we operate. First and foremost, but not exclusively, the Trust supports projects and initiatives that advance education and employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. The Trust operates on a not-for-profit basis, with every cent of funds donated by us, our staff and our travellers, going to the nominated projects.
The maximum group size on all of our adventures is 16 passengers – with exception of some African trips (24 max) and in the Polar Regions, where our ship carries a maximum of 110 passengers. Travelling in small groups ensures we make significantly less impact on the natural environment, as well as breaking down many of the communication barriers presented by a larger group.
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