Highlights of Poland holiday

Planet

Our local tour leaders do not use single use plastic bottles and also encourage our customers to use their reusable water bottles. In most areas tap water is safe to drink. The local agent we use recycles according to Polish laws in their office building. Above that they aim to reduce the unnecessary use of printing paper and also plastic bottles, cutlery and food containers. On tour our local agent and tour leaders try to follow a zero waste travel strategy whenever possible.

On this tour we primarily use public transport including local trains and trams, which reduces our carbon emissions and allows us the opportunity to meet more people from the local community. To help reduce the level of pollution within the urban centres, the sightseeing tours we do in the main city centres are mostly done on foot, which is also a great way of seeing all they have to offer first hand.

As a travel company 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.

People

Our tour leaders will make recommendations to clients to use locally owned restaurants, bars and shops. When dining in restaurants our tour leaders also offer advice about what to order based on what’s in season and what has been produced locally.

In Krakow there is the opportunity to join a cooking lesson to learn how to make traditional Polish specialities. This is a family run business. Whilst in Wroclaw there’s the chance to visit Zagan or Ksiaz Castle which our local agent books through a small guiding company from the area. This helps to ensure that the money our groups spend stays within the communities we are visiting.

In all three cities visited during this trip there is the option of purchasing local handicrafts, food and drink. Most of the products are sold directly by the manufacturers without any intermediaries. Such as the grocery market in Hala Targowa in Wroclaw or in Kleparz Square in Krakow, the coffee shop 'Cafe Targowa' in Wroclaw and the Cloth Hall in Krakow.

Whilst in Krakow we have included a traditional Jewish dinner with Klezmer music which is performed by local musicians. This type of music is particularly important for preserving the memory of the Jews and Jewish culture present in Krakow before World War II.

Our tour leaders encourage our customers to learn basic phrases in Polish and use them in places like restaurants, hotels, sites and during social interactions. They want our groups to interact with locals as much as possible and in a positive way.

Our Tour Leaders will also be able to explain all about the history and culture of the areas visited and ensure historical sites are visited in a respectful way and that local sensitivity is taken into account. This is especially important at the sites visited that relate to World War II and to Poland’s religious history.

As a company 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 the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.