Turkey Eastern Borderlands
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We have a strict environmental policy to make sure that the fragile eco-structure of the borderlands is not damaged or spoilt in any way. Our guides are trained to uphold this policy and all clients are fully briefed on appropriate/responsible behaviour whilst in wilderness areas. Our “Leave No Trace” ethic is applied to all trips in all regions, and as tour operators is something we are careful to promote.
We also visit the Bald Ibis colony at Birecik (one of only two colonies of bald Ibis remaining in the world) to raise awareness of the species and conservation efforts in place. We include visits to a number of National Parks and national monuments where the entrance fees we pay help maintain and protect the sites. The trip includes visits to the Karagol (Black Lake) National Park which we visit on foot, to avoid environmental damage inside the park area.
Community
In Turkey we use local ground handlers who in turn book locally run hotels, providing employment for a number of members of staff and support families. The ground handlers also use local drivers and guides, and ensure that all supplies are purchased locally for the journey. This means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy.
In order to facilitate a structured and enduring support structure for the communities we visit, we have set up a charitable foundation through which we can channel funds to both existing NGOs and our own development projects. In addition to organising ethically sensitive tours, having our own charitable foundation allows us to raise money – through the cost of our tours, charity trips and fund raising events – which is used to fund various projects in education, sanitation, reforestations and a number of other important issues facing developing communities. Wherever possible we are happy for our clients to visit these projects to see for themselves where and how this money is being spent.
This trip visits Meydancik and supports the Village National Cultural Protection Foundation, dedicated to preserving the cultural way of life and traditional housing. We also do not arrive in a village base loaded up with products we have brought in from the nearest big town - we buy locally for picnics (fruit, veg, cheese, snacks, biscuits, local honey, bread, etc) and also we use local small restaurants for lunches and dinners.
Hotels and guesthouse are owned and run by local families, giving a valuable source of income. We use owner-operated vehicles for transport
We make sure all clients are well briefed on the cultural issues pertaining to their tour to ensure cultural (and often regional) sensitivity in terms of dress code, awareness of local customs, behaviour in public, etc.
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