Murcia cycling holiday in Southern Spain

Environment

Wildlife
Our cycle route travels through a region with typical Mediterranean scenery and the combination of crops, forest, rivers and lakes is ideal for birds of prey such as booted eagles, Bonelli’s eagle, golden eagles while small birds are more frequently sighted along the way. Cycling through the region is a great low impact way that doesn’t disturb the wildlife. It is also possible to encounter Barbary sheep or wild boar if we are lucky.

Transport
Cycle tourism helps to reduce the impact on the local environment of the places we visit and reduces the pressure placed on sites that are visited by motorised transport. Cycling is a quiet and sustainable way to travel that also promotes interaction with local people encountered along the way. We use local taxis for the transportation of luggage between accommodation to help support the local economy.


Buildings
Some of the hotels we use are restored historic buildings. The hotel in Caravaca is within a 16th century convent, restored in around 2005, that is still in use and partly funded by the Saint John of the Cross ecclesiastic institution. The presence and use of the hotel helps the small religious community to maintain the building and employ local people in the running of the reception, cleaning and cooking.
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.

Community

Friends & neighbours and travelling with Respect
We encourage visitors to eat in local eateries and to try local dishes, specialities and the local wines. On our cycle routes wherever possible we stop in local shops to buy drinks and supplies, helping to spread the spending. The hotels we use are locally owned, employ people form the local area and use local produce for included breakfasts. The nature of the itinerary and places visited enables frequent direct contact with the friendly and helpful local people. The Tour Leader helps clients to learn the basic Spanish needed in order to be received in the best way possible when ordering food and drink in local bars and restaurants.

A fair deal
We work with a locally-owned partner and Tour Leaders in Murcia. Our client feedback shows the value added by our local Leader that has settled in the region for many years now as they share with passion the cultural and historical points of interest. We provide expert training and ongoing feedback through our operations managers. We stay in locally run hotels that employ people from the local region and in more rural and less visited areas this helps provide alternative employment opportunities away from agriculture and enables them to stay in the community without migrating for work.

Local crafts and culture
The visits of museums and attractions (fortresses, churches and basilicas) are the best way to learn about and support the heritage of the little visited inland Region of Murcia. It is also a way to support the local economy of these councils and local organizations who are in charge of the maintenance of these sites and places.
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.