Georgia food holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

As a travel company we are acutely aware of our impact on the environment. All of our tours display a carbon footprint, and we strive to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our tours and embracing low-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which offer the added benefit of getting a closer connection with the destination and local community.

We travel in small groups which helps us to minimize our impact on the environment. Despite the distances involved in getting around Georgia, we only travel by bus. As our groups are small we are not using the larger, less efficient coaches to transport our customers. On several days during the trip we will walk to many of the attractions that we are visiting. In particular we undertake walking tours of the towns that we visit, such as Tbilisi, rather than touring the city by bus. The hotel we stay at in Telavi uses sola panels to produce part of the energy they use to run their business.

All meals are made used locally sourced, not only support nearby farmers and producers but also ensuring fresh and flavourful meals. Fresh from the farm fruits and vegetables bursting with seasonal goodness to locally raised meats and dairy products. This commitment to local sourcing allows us to create dishes that are not only delicious but also environmentally sustainable, reducing the carbon footprint.

From vibrant salads made with fresh produce to hearty vegetable stir-fries and innovative plant-based protein creations, plant-based and vegetarian dishes are available too and you'll find a diverse selection of delicious meals available every day.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

We visit some of the most important historic sites in Georgia, including Uplistsikhe Cave Town, the UNESCO World Heritage ancient capital of Mtskheta and Alaverdi Cathedral. Our visit helps support the upkeep and preservation of these culturally significant places.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

The ethos of this food adventure is to discover the fresh local produce and cuisine of Georgia and in doing so we support small artisan producers and at the same time help promote and maintain the food traditions of the country. For example, we visit the varied produce stalls at the Telavi farmers' market, a matsoni (curd) shop, an organic wine cellar and a qvevri-maker in the Kakheti wine district. Qvevri are large earthenware vessels used in the traditional Georgian wine-making process for thousands of years. We learn about how these things are produced and we'll also have the opportunity to purchase locally made products.

We visit Georgian family homes where local people will show us how to prepare some of their traditional cuisines. It's a great chance for a two-way cultural exchange and of economic benefit to the families. For example, we'll learn how to make Khinkali dumplings with a family in the mountain town of Stepantsminda and help prepare a traditional Kist-Georgian meal with the Muslim Kist minority people of the Pankisi Valley. This community have historically been economically disadvantaged and welcoming tourism is a great way for them to earn.

In Georgia we are working with the German government organisation ‘GIZ’ to help our partners train locals further down the supply train – from guides and drivers to hoteliers and restaurant owners. This helps to professionalise the industry in Georgia at a local level and benefits all businesses that we interact with.

Our local leaders are the heart of tours, ensuring we observe the cultural norms in a destination, acting as a bridge between travellers and the local community and making sure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

We believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.

This trip employs over 90% of people from local communities and our ground agents regularly support locally owned enterprises.
This tour is LGBTQ+ friendly and suitable for people with hearing or limited mobility too.