Borneo small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - you will be sharing your experiences with like minded people. Group sizes are limited to a maximum of 11 persons, a genuinely small group. Experience has taught us that smaller groups are less intrusive to local cultures and environments whilst allowing more interaction with local people. Furthermore it means greater flexibility on a day to day basis and on a social level it proves to be fun. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends/family its good value, and a great way to meet new people! The intention is to travel as a group of friends rather than a typical tour group, so don't expect stick-on name badges or any following the umbrella.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Information - To be aware of the potential impact of the environment, and to have respect & appreciation for the ecology of areas visited.
Group sizes - By limiting groups to small sizes we aim to reduce the impact on the environment.
Local products - They are also advised against buying prohibited items and products made from parts of wild animals or plants.
Local awareness - We carefully select the places we visit to ensure that none are involved in exploitative practices of people or animals.
Community
Information - Providing suitable, relevant information for our customers; to help them to gain a wider understanding of our style of tourism that focuses on learning, genuine interaction with the local communities, reciprocity and cultural exchange processes. To be aware of the potential impact of tourism on the local society and culture and to behave and dress appropriately with a respect and appreciation for local customs, mores and traditions. Our guides and leaders thus facilitate communication of our values to both travellers and local communities, educating them in sustainable tourism practices
Group sizes - By limiting groups to small sizes we aim to reduce the impact on local communities whilst allowing for greater genuine interaction with said communities. It also results in a higher guide/customer ratio thus greater facility for supervision and individual assistance and allows us to use smaller hotels and restaurants and employ the services of more genuinely ‘local’ operators perhaps not otherwise well equipped for larger groups.
Destinations - We combine the well known tourist sites with many off-the-beaten-track, rarely visited destinations thus diverting tourist revenue and contact with responsible tourism into areas not usually benefiting as well as providing a more authentic view of the region visited.
Local products - As much as possible we aim to employ local personnel, (guides, drivers, agents etc), use local restaurants and smaller privately owned accommodation. Customers are also encouraged to buy and use local products and services as much as possible in order to support and stimulate the local economy.
Local Awareness - By explaining our methods and the reasons behind them local agents, guides and hotels are encouraged by us to adopt further responsible tourism practices themselves and guides and drivers are provided with additional training in this respect.
In addition, some of the specific initiatives for this tour include the following: In Danum Valley and Bata Puti, we stay in eco friendly accommodation including a traditional style longhouse and an Eco Lodge. The Eco Lodge has environmentally aware and environmentally friendly policies on amongst other things, waste disposal, reusable materials, involvement of the local community and care for the environment. We stay at and support the Sabah Tea Plantation and explanation of its’ organic, pesticide free tea production. We are happy to use their accommodation, restaurant and guides as well as educating our travellers as to the methods of producing organic tea.
Participation in a tree replanting scheme on the Kinabatangan River. Deforestation due to the rapid recent increase in planting palm trees for oil has meant that many of the natural flora is being destroyed along with wildlife habits of more than just the orangutans. Tree planting is very labour intensive and the locals need all the help they can get so, tour participants, dig a hole and plant a sapling in it.
Use of local transport (bus) for part of the tour. The production of the tour is assisted by a small, locally based operator and using native Sabah guides only. We have included destinations not part of standard itineraries such as Danum Valley, Tawau etc. In this way we spread responsible tourism into areas which do not get much income from tourism or awareness of responsible tourism practices.
Our two days in Brunei concentrate on visiting the local people and learning their skills. Whether we are visiting the fishing village or the longhouse, we spend two days with the indigenous people under their guidance living as they do.
Gunung Mulu National Park is the highlight for Sarawak tour. The indigenous people of Mulu; the Penans, Berawans, Kenyahs, Kayans, Kelabits and Kiputs are employed by the park thereby generating income for their families and improving their economies. They are encouraged to provide cultural entertainment (traditional dances and music) helping to preserve their culture; sell their handicrafts, all contributing to the economy of the people. The guides are friendly and helpful, possessing a wealth of knowledge to help us understand and appreciate the cultural and natural history of Mulu and the surrounding area. They are also qualified First Aiders and provide the core of the Park’s Search and Rescue Response Team. The boats used in the park are all owned and operated by the local people.
The trip ends with a visit to Semenggoh Orangutan sanctuary who aims to rehabilitate confiscated wildlife that have been incapacitated due to prolonged captivity by humans. The aim of this rehabilitation and education centre is to eventually release the animals back to the forest. It also has a captive breeding programme for endangered species. By visiting this centre and forest reserve brings valuable income to care for these animals.
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