Altai Mountains overland adventure, 28 days

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

We are committed to positive environmental impacts through our Responsible Travel Policy. As an overland company we have extremely low carbon emissions throughout all our journeys. This journey travels for 28 days and 5100 kilometres overland from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Almaty, Kazakhstan. There is one internal flight in Mongolia of approximately 1000km to the far western city of Ulaangom (there are no railway connections, and the only alternative way to reach Ulaangom would be a 7 day journey by 4WD vehicle). The final 1300kms are by train from Ust-Kamenogorsk to Almaty in Kazakhstan. It travels through some of Central Asia’s most remote regions in the Altai mountain area and is ‘expeditionary’ in nature.


Where possible vegetarian meals will be available for the group.


ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Local Partners we work with to design our journeys seek the optimal way to limit our impact on the environment. We make certain to reduce plastic waste by promoting reusing drink bottles instead of buying bottled water. Where possible our clients stay in smaller-scale accommodation, such as locally owned guesthouses which have a lower carbon impact due to limited use of daytime lighting and air conditioning in common areas. This journey will also incorporate some nights camping as well as staying in host owned ‘ger’ (the traditional felt tents of the Central Asian nomads). There is generally no electricity, or solar only ensuring our environmental impact is close to zero on these overnight stays – while at the same time providing important additional income to these nomadic herder families.
We also choose smaller, local restaurants where produce is more commonly seasonal and locally sourced.

During this journey we will engage with the traditional nomadic herders of Mongolia & Central Asia. Their livelihood is earned through their livestock and all encounters with animals are in the context of their traditional lifestyle, not for tourism or the provision of entertainment.
These local encounters will also include the Kazakh peoples of western Mongolia who still maintain their ancient tradition of using eagles to hunt wildlife. There is no inclusion or guarantee of seeing them work with their trained eagles.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

We have a very clear mandate to support the countries and local communities we travel through, and we best achieve this by utilising the services of Local Partners, without whom our on-ground experiences wouldn’t be the same.

These Local Partners provide employment opportunities, training, and exposure to both the local and real impacts of tourism on their environment, and the needs for more responsible travel action.

Their local knowledge will also assist with securing high quality locally owned and managed services such as accommodation & restaurants, local guides, local artisans, and other authentic local experiences (cultural performances and family/home-based meals).

We have been operating journeys throughout Asia for over 60 years and strive to build on our long-established reputation for demonstrating respect for the places and communities that we visit.

These ‘on ground’ interactions not only enhance the overall experience for our clients but allow us to understand local traditions and create sound relationships between our travellers and local communities.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

All in-country guides, drivers and staff are residents of that country, with many guides being residents of the specific region or city we are visiting bringing a deep local knowledge and cultural understanding.

Further, many of the local people involved in and benefiting from employment in tourism are women.

In addition, many of our Local Guides have progressed to being National Guides on our journeys and even Tour Leaders on our multi-destination tours. Our Operations Manager was once a Local Guide on one of our journeys in Kyrgyzstan.

We require our Local Partners to ensure their guides and drivers are not dependent on income from commissions earned at shops and other outlets by not allowing unauthorised stops at such establishments