Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Community
We travel in small groups of 13 people to minimize the effects that large groups have when visiting remote areas and small villages. It is easier to 'blend in' with a small group and it allows us to stay in smaller properties and eat in more local establishments - where a group of 40-50 would need to eat in more touristy places.
We set up camp outside of the National Parks in locally owned camping facilities that support conserving the environment and benefit the local population. We buy food and fresh produce in locally owned markets and stores to support the local community. In Moab we support the local community by eating in authentic American restaurants and by using local adventure outfits for our mountain biking trip and other activities to explore the uniqueness of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks through environmentally-friendly means.
During this trip we visit natural wonders which are owned and/or managed by Native American Indian tribes, for example: Monument Valley. At Monument Valley, the heart of the Navajo Indian Reservation, we will have the opportunity to experience an authentic Hogan and listen to Navajo stories, told by a tribal elder, who will engage us in an inspiring conversation about the Navajos' domestic lives. Our Navajo guide will take us to sacred places in the valley and play Navajo tunes on a flute to us to allow our minds to open up to the spiritual world of the Navajos. Our group may also opt to experience a Navajo cultural dance show, complete with sampling Navajo foods.
We have an expert operations based in the USA so our team is fully aware of current affairs. We have found that a local operations base is a superior way to ensure the quality and safety of our travellers.
Each year we conduct extensive safety audits to ensure our properties comply with local regulations as well as our own safety requirements. We also conduct reviews of our itineraries to ensure they include as much local interaction opportunities as possible, where our travellers can engage with the locals and learn their way of life and the local cultures of the places we visit. These experiences often make our trips unique.
Environment
Our National Park trip is carbon offset so you can be sure that all carbon emissions generated from travelling on this trip, are offset by investments into sustainable projects around the world including a rice husk biomass project in Thailand as well as hydro electric projects in China and India.
This trip includes Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, and Grand Canyon National Parks where our travellers have the opportunity to experience these wilderness areas and appreciate the delicate natural environments that make them highlights of any trip to the USA. We include and pay entrance fees to National Parks. The fees support the upkeep of the national park, aid conservation projects and protect wildlife. Where we include national parks we provide written information for our travellers to peruse while in transit, to learn of the local flora, fauna and key issues that threaten the environments. We take our group to the park visitor centers to learn about current environmental threats and conservation projects, and how to visit the park without disturbing the environment by adopting a "no trace left behind" attitude.
During the trip we encourage our travellers to use our reusable waterbottles and when preparing our meals at the campgrounds we make sure to minimize trash, recycle and use biodegradable cleaning supplies. We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism and educate our travellers on our website and in our pre trip notes on how to become a responsible traveler on our tours.
This company started in 1989 with a passion to get travellers off the beaten track. It was started by best friends who wanted to develop a style of travel that was all together different; wanting travellers to become a part of a country - and not just tourists looking in. Wanting them to have fun, meet people, learn things, explore, and do stuff they could never do at home, to travel by anything and everything, and stay anywhere and everywhere! Fast forward two decades and they now travel to more than 110 countries and offers over 800 itineraries however their philosophy on travel is unchanged. Their core purpose is to enrich people's lives by creating unique, interactive travel experiences. Providing fun, affordable and sustainable travel adventures that are beneficial to local communities.
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!
