Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
The ‘Cycling through Switzerland’ tour gives a great opportunity to view the region of Mittelland in the northwest of the country. There is a support vehicle which transfers the luggage to the next overnight point, leaving you free to cycle throughout the journey although there is also a scenic train journey to the town of Fleurie on Day 7 and both the airport transfers use local trains giving a change to experience the Swiss train network and reduce carbon emissions. The route takes us through numerous typically Swiss villages where we stay in locally owned accommodation who have introduced various environmental policies including; a restricted water usage, purchasing food locally and employing local staff. Recycling in Switzerland is the law and hotels are required to have bottle, paper and glass banks as well as the requirement to dispose of fat, oil and uncooked food in the appropriate manner. Recycling is free although throwing away rubbish does actually cost money – each rubbish bag has to have a sticker that is purchased from local stores for it to be picked up. Meals are generally taken in the town’s restaurant giving a feel of the regional specialities of the area with some home grown cooking. The tour contributes to the local economy of each of the areas visited as well as experience local nature by visiting various sites of interest.
We visit Papilorama, a tropical environmental body which houses many species of butterflies and moths and our contribution allows this organisation to continue its work maintaining the various Kaleidoscope's of butterflies and moths. We also taste the local produce of the Vully wine near to the Lake of Murtensee and the Neuchatel vineyards and then pass along the edge of a nature reserve to arrive in Yverdon where we can visit the chateau museum or relax in the thermal spas.
As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.
This small group operator is just celebrating its 30th year and was originally set up to enrich people’s lives through adventure travel. The directors have roots in overland trucking and are determined to keep a pioneering spirit alive. They believe what sets them apart is the strong relationships they’ve developed with local suppliers and tour guides over the years. A tour leader who thinks creatively can turn a good experience into a fantastic one and open up a place so that travellers gain insight into a completely different way of life. They operate in many different countries and try to avoid a blanket approach – their aim is to get customers involved in the projects they visit and to forge lifelong friendships.
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