Poland and the Baltics small group holiday

Environment

The Baltic States are easily explored by public transport meaning we’ll use it on this trip wherever it’s reliable, safe and feasible to do so. For example, on the seventh day of our itinerary we’ll take a local bus from Vilnius to Riga, or on the ninth we’ll use a public ferry to get to Saaremaa Island. If for any reason public transport isn’t an option, we’ll choose to travel in private locally owned vehicles instead.

We educate our all passengers about environmental issues. Starting with our initial group meeting, during which we encourage everyone to refill bottles and recycle throughout the trip when possible. All our tour leaders are there to set a good example and teach individuals how to become more responsible travellers. They will pick up litter if they see any, use drinking bottles and continue to communicate our responsible travel philosophy.

We also give out canvas bags at the start of each trip. Our travellers can then use them every day, whether to go shopping for souvenirs or for carrying those daily essentials. These bags go home with our travellers too in the hope they’ll continue to be used long after their adventure with us comes to an end.

Community

An important part of travelling is mixing with the local people and experiencing real-life in your chosen destination. In the Baltic States, our focus is on making a positive impact and providing numerous opportunities for local interactions, particularly as we cover so much ground using public transport. You’ll be amazed by how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during a journey.

The markets in Riga and Vilnius also offer a great opportunity to speak with locals and help us to give back to the communities we visit. Elderly people in the Baltic States have depended on selling their produce at markets for many years and this is often their only source of income. So, by buying local produce and products you’re helping to boost the local economy.

We’re also committed to employing local leaders for our trips. On the many guided town tours, we use the services of a local guide, bringing money into the local community and giving our travellers the benefit of an experience through local eyes. Your leader and local guides will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip too, enabling you to discover real local fare at real local prices (you might even learn some of the local language whilst you’re at it).