Backroads of Kerala cycling tour, India

Planet

We consciously strive to reduce wastage and minimise the environmental impact of our small group trips by asking customers and staff to travel with a reusable water bottle, to reuse towels and sheets and turn off lights and water when not in use. Plastic waste in India is already a huge problem, we aim to minimise adding to this by refilling water bottles and using material shopping bags rather than plastic.

As well as being low impact, cycling is a great way to get closer to the local way of life as you can easily stop and visit offbeat places, chat to the locals… so it’s friendly and environmentally friendly! Pedal power is one of the most sustainable and lowest impact forms of transport so it’s a great way to keep your carbon footprint (and waist measurement!) low.

By using Homestays we also reduce our environmental impact as waste and energy usage will be much lower than in larger hotels.

People

In Kerala we stay at locally owned and run hotels and homestays, and recommend local restaurants, meaning a more authentic experience for the traveller and direct economic benefit for the communities visited. As on any cycling trip there are many stops for refreshments, these are all at local cafes and small entrepreneurial stands along the route allowing us to support local communities as we pass through. We also stop at vibrant markets where you can purchase traditional gifts and crafts. Where the tour ends in Kochi you may wish to try a traditional Ayurvedic massage.

Cycling has a unique way of enabling interaction with locals which in turn can give you an insight and understanding of their culture and lifestyle.
We visit Periyar National Park who employ and train their guides from the local area. This community based eco-tourism project is the hallmark of the Tiger Reserve. People who once made a living by illegal operations in the forest are now paid to take an active part in its protection. Our visit helps fund this project and our contribution directly helps forest conservation and community welfare.

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in