Oman holiday, Forts and Deserts of Oman

Environment

We are very aware of the economic, ecological and ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures and fragile environments. We realise that taking clients through such a region can have a negative impact on the the environment if not handled responsibly. On all our Oman trips we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive… after all, there are also many good things that the traveller can bring

We have a strict environmental policy to make sure that the fragile eco-structure of the coast and the desert is not damaged or spoilt in any way. Our guides are trained to uphold this policy and all clients are fully briefed on appropriate/responsible behaviour whilst in wilderness areas. Our “Leave No Trace” ethic is applied to all trips in all regions, and as tour operators is something we are careful to promote.

In addition, when you take one of our trips, we make a contribution to “Carbon Clear” – an organisation devoted to ‘offsetting’ or ‘neutralising’ harmful greenhouse gas emissions such as those caused by your flight. They work with hundreds of organisations to measure their carbon footprint, in an effort to then reduce their carbon emissions. This is done by funding projects across the world that will reduce greenhouse gases on your behalf such as through sustainable energy or rainforest restoration.

Community

In Oman we use local ground handlers who in turn book locally run hotels, providing employment for a number of members of staff and support families. The ground handlers also use local drivers and camp staff, and ensure that all supplies are purchased locally for the journey. This means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy, and benefit the local community.

In each area we employ and develop close relationships with drivers, staff and guides. We feel the interaction between our friends and our clients offers both parties a valuable understanding between cultures. This is of particular importance in areas where there are limited employment opportunities - by working with local people and communities we are able to extend tourism in Oman away from the more commercial centres and into the more remote desert regions.

We also support several NGOs around the world such as the Hope Foundation, A-Cet and Adopt-A-Minefield, which are all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit. In 2009 we also launched our own charitable foundation which allows us to channel profits from the trips and fundraising events, directly into community projects in the countries we visit. Details of current projects and scholarships supported by the foundation are available on request.