Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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Community:
Using public transport whenever practical and staying at simple, locally owned hotels and guesthouses, these tours really get off the beaten tourist track. Accompanied by an expert tour leader, we travel and mix with local people every day and seek out the most authentic local places, truly getting under the skin of the destination. The itinerary and activities are planned to be as flexible as possible, so you have the freedom to do your own thing: join in as much or as little as you want – it’s a very un-packaged experience!
In order to give you the best insight into the local culture we employ local tour leaders on this trip who can offer a true insight into local life, as well as explain the history and culture of the region. Using local leaders is consistent with our policy to generate local employment and deliver direct economic benefits to the areas we are travelling in. It is important that the people who work for us are treated fairly and confident in their work. This is why we take care to train all our local tour leaders and give them all the support they need to do their job well.
On our way to Halong Bay, we may be able to stop at the Hong Ngoc Humanity Centre, a Vietnamese run NGO, which enables disabled children and adults from the local area to receive vocational training in the manufacturing and marketing of handicrafts.
Environment:
Most journeys on this tour are made by rail. Travelling by public transport is not only a great way to get a flavour of the country and mix with local people; it’s better for the environment as it reduces our reliance on specially chartered vehicles.
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!
