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Environment
Our own staff in the field are expected to run trips in as sustainable a manner as possible. For example; not only do they insist on removing their own rubbish but they will when practicable clean up after other more selfish groups. Our aim is always to leave campsites in a better state than we have found them. Our staff ensure our clients are given clear guidance on dealing with litter, toilet issues, on prevention of water pollution, firewood usage and personal hygiene. We encourage all participants in our trips to follow our Responsible Tourism strategies as part of our Responsible Travel Policy through our pre-trip information and through our staff in the field.
Community
Benefit to Kabardino-Balkaria:
Although the area has other resources the population suffers from poverty. Tourism is critical to the regions economy. The outbreak of the various conflicts in the Caucasus hit the republic hard. Despite the fact that the area itself is calm and trouble-free, tourism in the region has been affected.
Benefit to Local Communities:
Traditionally local communities are extremely poor. Your visit will indirectly help many families and provide money for the clothing, feeding and schooling of many children. It is logical to use local people to work with the tourist industry. The majority of the staff that you meet on our trips are from local communities. Working with tourists has many benefits to them - their wages are higher than those normally received in these areas and they have the opportunity to earn tips. We aim to promote good practice in the mountains and valleys to protect the environment. We provide good conditions for the staff; in particular we insist porters are not given more than 15kg loads to carry, that they eat well, are well-clothed and can sleep in comfort. You will generally find they have much more energy on the mountains than you do at the end of what seems to you as a particularly hard day. This to a large extent is related to their superb acclimatisation.
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!
