Romania photography holiday with James Rushforth

Planet

Home to some of Europes last great wilderness there are some 33,000 species of animal found throughout Romania’s alpine, forest and steppe vegetation zones, a staggering 47% of which are still characterised by natural or semi-natural ecosystems. Preserving this delicate environment is fundamentally important to our business and is one of our foremost considerations when planning trips to this beautiful region. Where possible, our excursions are made on foot and in cases when motorised transport is necessary to cover greater distances or reach remote locations, we use the minimum number of vehicles possible, either through car sharing schemes or the use of low emission rental vehicles.

We will visit a number of the 25 architectural gems in central and northern Romania that have recently been declared UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in acknowledgement of their natural, scenic and monumental appeal. The criteria for such a classification states that it should be ‘…an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change’. As a company, we are sensitive to the outlined vulnerabilities of these monuments and work closely with the relevant local authorities to ensure our environmental impact is kept to a minimum. Trips are planned with controlled group sizes during low season, with a view to sustainability and bolstering the local economy when the region most needs it.

As a company, we are very aware of the impact that plastic has on the environment and aim to minimise our use of single-use plastics in all aspects of our holidays.

All of our service suppliers are informed of our responsible travel policy which is clearly visible on our website.

Out in the field
Guests are encouraged to travel responsibly and we invite you to consider the following guidelines.
We give you comprehensive information on travel, health and any existing environmental concerns affecting Romania before travel. For example the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (CNPA) is currently expanding and evolving. We work closely with local Romanians and will be informed of any new environmental considerations.
Wherever possible our work is conducted electronically: we are totally web-based company and our paper use is minimal.

People

Knowing that tourism is an important source of income for the areas that we visit, our holidays visit places that are less frequented by tourists, avoiding the creation of “honey-pots” that can damage the environment and erode community heritage. In addition, our workshop itinerary visits Romania during the winter season when visitor numbers are lower and our economic contribution is especially welcome.

We collaborate closely with local businesses and partners who have been carefully selected for their shared respect for our sustainable ethos and environmental values. A local Romanian from Sibiu who has worked in the tourist industry for many years will assist our photographic tutor with both the running and planning of the trip.

Our accommodation is provided by small, family-run hotels, guesthouses and mountain rifugios which have been carefully selected by our Romanian host.

As in many mountainous regions, farming is an integral part of traditional life and many local providers continue to grow and process local produce according to traditional methods. Where possible, food and drink are sourced locally from these producers, contributing to the sustainability of the local farming industry while keeping food miles to a minimum.