Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
1of3
Community:
By using local guides we get a great insight into local history, customs and culture; anything from learning about the education system, to making sure we don’t fall foul of any taboos! Employing local people is consistent with our policy of generating economic benefits in the areas we travel to. This we also do by shopping in local markets, not just the government emporia, and using a variety of local restaurants, and it is a pleasure to support these small businesses. Travelling by train is also a great way to mix with local people.
Though it is difficult in China to source accommodation which is particularly community benefiting, our hotels in Uzbekistan are generally smaller family run places. At Tash Rabat we stay in a beautiful yurt camp which enjoys a stunning location. The camp was established to benefit the local community.
Environment:
Travelling by train for the majority of our long journeys means we reduce our reliance on specially chartered vehicles on this tour and thus our carbon footprint.
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.
Listen to the podcast below:
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!
