Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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This trip is run in conjunction with individually selected local businesses, giving you the chance to experience and contribute to the local economy and environment. We are always mindful of local guidelines and traditions whilst planning routes. Our trained staff are knowledgeable of the culture and history of the region and are only too happy to share this information and answer your questions.
Our cycling itineraries are carefully planned in order to allow you to be involved with the local community. As well as picking the best routes to take you off the beaten track and see the real, authentic Ardèche, we ensure that you arrive in local towns and villages to witness the markets and fetes that are so important in keeping the economy and local spirit alive. We pick our accommodations for cultural and environmental credentials. We also like to stop in locally run places that offer an insight into the region and its peoples. Such places might include working farms, former monasteries or old staging posts that are now hotels and chambers d’hotes.
All accommodations that we use are locally run and locally supplied. We ensure that recycling and energy saving measures are in place and that opportunities to learn more of the local history and traditions are made available.
We are aware of the impact that tourism can have on the social and physical environments that we work in. We strive to make this impact positive wherever possible and to do our part in minimising damage or waste.
In the Ardèche, many of our activities take place in or around the Ardèche National Park or in forest and farmland locations. We work hard to train and educate our staff so that they in turn can advise our clients on how to enjoy the region without having negative impact on the environment.
In addition to the physical concerns, we believe that it is vital that we work in partnership with the communities that we live in and to embrace the cultural and linguistic differences. All of our English speaking staff are given lessons and advice on French speaking and are obliged to converse and interact at every opportunity. Wherever practical, we work with local companies and suppliers to provide services for our clients. We believe that this not only improves our local relationships but it adds to our clients experience and improves understanding of the local environment for all involved.
We always try to:
- Remove all of our litter (and a little extra!) when we are in the outdoors.
- Encourage our guests to use green transport or offset emissions where possible for international travel.
- Reuse or recycle wherever possible.
- Respect wildlife and habitats by using established trails and not altering the natural environment in any way.
- Minimise consumption of artificially stored water and electricity by close monitoring and using devices such as timers to prevent waste.
- Manage our properties in order to limit energy consumed to heat or cool them.
- Make recommendations to our guests regarding how to care for the local environment.
- We try to raise awareness of local, sensitive environmental issues.
- Offer opportunities to visit local heritage sites, local historical buildings and national parks.
- Work with local businesses to provide activities, accommodation, shopping and meals.
- Visit and, where possible take part in local shows and events.
- Buy locally produced foods (we’d be crazy not to – its great!).
- Behave responsibly and with respect for the community by encouraging considerate interaction and conduct.
- We like to take a moment to consider how our presence may be perceived by those around us and to behave accordingly.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
