Native American tour with the Navajo & Hopi
These tours are unique in that they bring you into contact with some of the world’s most fascinating cultures in iconic locations, where those people actually deliver the experience or are central to your trip. You will see a destination through the eyes of the local people and you will stay with them for part of the trip in traditional and comfortable accommodation to get to know them and to learn about their ways and beliefs. Itineraries are pre-planned and they may vary slightly according to various things, but they will always give you the best experience possible. The mix of genuine contact with a culture, exciting and traditional activities, iconic locations and traditional and contemporary accommodation will leave you refreshed, inspired and informed –with some beautiful memories and maybe some new contacts too!
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
These tours are conducted with complete respect for the environment. Our ground partner is committed to preserving both the delicate wilderness that surrounds them locally and in the wider world as stakeholders in the health of our planet. Reducing the contribution to environmental degradation is an ongoing objective.
The Basecamp is centrally located on the Colorado Plateau, reducing the amount of time the vehicles (and participants) are on the road. The expeditions are based around Leave-No-Trace (LNT) principles. The small groups have a lesser impact as they travel through the wilderness, and all participants are taught skills that will help them tread lightly on the earth. To learn more about LNT, see www.lnt.org. Over the years, through more than 100 conservation service projects, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, they have instilled in hundreds of young people, a passion for giving back to the wilderness as they enjoy its gifts.
The sleeping cabins are powered with solar panels and our two main buildings are designed to be passive solar, requiring no electricity for heating and cooling. The Meeting Place, is a straw bale building finished with natural materials. The food eaten is one of the key factors in determining our environmental impact and locally produced (organic where possible) meat, dairy and produce is used. An organic garden is cultivated at Basecamp to supply fresh, delicious salad and vegetables. Participants may choose to help out in the garden while spending time at Basecamp, a great way to connect with the soil and learn where the food comes from.
Community
On one of the days, our visitors arrive at the home of a Navajo family which is re-establishing a traditional farm, to learn about their family history and way of life. They will spend the afternoon working alongside the family on the farm, helping with the activities and spending valuable time with the Navajo people. Sometimes the visit will involve alternative community service, helping to build things or taking part in school activities, depending on what is happening at the time. Visits to the Hopi silversmithing and woodcarving artists support their work and income.
Our ground partner has long-standing friendships with the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Ute Nations. They have youth groups that live with Native American families and work with them on cross-cultural service projects important to their traditional ways of life. Conservation service is also an important part of their work. In cooperation with public land agencies, they also support service projects that teach stewardship of our natural and historical resources. By undertaking this tour, you will contribute towards that ongoing activity and allow more groups to attend service projects. The partner uses local guides and the experience will be one in which the Navajo act as the guide to their homelands.
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