Small group holidays to Oman
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
The beautiful locations that are visited in this trip are testament to the responsible tourism that is going on behind the scenes. We have gone out of our way to ensure no new tracks are created to access these routes and that when we leave we leave no footprint whatsoever in the campsites. When travelling across the routes to get you to our camps our guides go out of their way to ensure they follow the routes already in existence to minimise the damage to sand dunes or other natural materials. Occasionally it may be necessary to veer to the side by a couple of metres but this is only to get better traction and to maintain client safety.
Throughout our trips guides will ensure that all rubbish is picked up and our support staff will ensure that any fires are safely out and the holes that are use are filled in. The tents themselves leave no footprint in the terrain we put them on and by encouraging our clients to use the biodegradable products we supply all runoff water natural runs into the ground. Toilets are all inbuilt chemical ones with electric flush and these are taken away from the sites and disposed of in a responsible manner. Clients are also encouraged to be aware of rubbish around them and to pick it up and put it in the bin or else give it to one of the guides or support staff.
This trip includes a trip to the turtle reserve at Ras Al Jinz. The state of the art eco-tourism facility provides a unique learning and recreational experience for visitors. It offers everything from turtle viewing to environmental and archaeological research facilities, contributing towards the conservation of Oman’s natural and cultural heritage, as well as the economic wellbeing of the local community. All fees paid to the reserve go towards the upkeep and development of the centre and this is something that we endorse.
All of the accommodation on this trip has been specifically selected either in an eco-conscious hotel or camping in beautiful remote places. Our camps are fully staffed and leave no natural imprint – all rubbish including waste is taken away and appropriately disposed of.
The maximum amount of people on this trip is 12 which means that we do not have more than 6 dome tents. This limits the amount of waste generated so that we can easily take it away and dispose of it. This also means that there is little damage to offroad routes and clients are not subject to a convoy system.
Are head office in Muscat and offices in the UK and Canada minimise paper use and our brochure is only printed in short runs as we prefer instead to encourage people to view our website and e-brochure. We also encourage clients/agents to return printed brochures once they have finished with them.
Community
This trip supports the turtle reserve and the Bedouin Camp in the Wahiba Sands both of which have been ecologically sensibly designed to give an authentic experience to the tourists. The Bedouin Camp is called Desert Safari and features locally produced handwoven tents completely with locally made wooden beds and chests. A fee of OMR
3 (£
5) per person is paid to the turtle reserve and all fees paid to the reserve go towards the upkeep and development of the centre and this is something that we endorse.
Our company and all the accommodations we visit are locally owned by Omanis. As with all of our trips the Northern Explorer is led by experienced local Omani guides who are fluent in a number of languages including English, French, and German. They are all trained and accredited by the Oman Tourism Board. We try and match up the guides for particular trips with the areas they come from. The boat captain on this trip is also an Omani.
The hotels in this trip are all locally owned. Each hotel has a policy of reusing towels unless clients specifically request otherwise. Staffing tends to be by Indians but all management if Omani. Water is well looked after and all plastic bottles are recycled for use again. The Jebal Shams Camp and the Bedouin camp in the desert are run by Omanis and the accommodation is in traditional Omani’s wool tents. They are all locally sourced and decorated for a local experience.
Food is locally sourced and where possible and to the guests liking we try and ensure you get to experience real Arabian cooking. We make all of our guests aware of the environment and culture they are in and this is reflected in the pre-departure information they receive as well as in the information they receive from their guides. We actively promote a positive experience for both the hosts and guests and find this leads to greater enjoyment for all concerned.
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