Puglia walking holiday in Italy

Planet

As part of our Responsible Travel policy, we advise customers to take reusable water bottles with them on tour. Our local leaders actively do not distribute single-use plastic water bottles and encourage customers to refill their bottles from taps throughout the trip. The tap water in Italy is completely safe to drink, and bottles can be refilled at hotels and at various rest stops. Another way to reduce unnecessary waste is through advising customers to bring lunch boxes and cutlery for picnics.

This trip stays in a cave hotel in Matera's troglodyte Sassi quarter which has been populated for thousands of years. This UNESCO protected site, where dwellings have been cut into the limestone rock, had become a slum quarter by the 1950s and the inhabitants were forcibly evicted by the Italian government. Today it is being rejuvenated. By staying in this traditional accommodation we are helping to preserve these ancient and unique buildings.

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

Throughout this trip we choose to eat out at local family-run restaurants which is both an opportunity to experience the traditional cuisine and specialities of Puglia and also helps support the local economy. The Tre Archi restaurant in Altamura is one such restaurant. Nina and Peppino, the owners even take us to visit their vegetable patch where much of the produce for their restaurant is grown.

This trips also visits a number of small-scale producers which we'll have the chance to support through purchasing their various products. Places such as the Putignano Azienda Nuovo Muretto)organic farm where local cheese is made, the butchers' shops of Cisternino where bombette (traditional stuffed pork parcels) are grilled and served and an olive oil mill that produces oil using both a traditional and a modern press.

We use local tour leaders, who know the country very well and who will help to give us a unique insight into its history, customs and culture and get us that bit closer to the local people. They also ensure that our customers are aware of the cultural norms that should be observed, dress code, gestures, etc. Our tour leaders are trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference.

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.