Kyrgyzstan discovery tour

Planet

Carbon Reduction:

1) Our transportation run on diesel and consumes approximately 10 liters per 100 kilometers. It complies with Euro 5 emissions standards, and we use a special fluid for soot neutralization. This is the best we can do, given that this is a mountainous region served by few trains. No domestic flights were used in the making of this tour. Exploring on foot is encouraged wherever possible, even though having an older clientele restricts their ability to walk longer distances.

2) At any point along the route, we can provide a vegetarian and vegan menu if we have all the details in advance.

3) Food is locally-produced and seasonally-grown, being that Kyrgyzstan does not rely overly on imported produce.


Environment & Wildlife:

1) We collaborate with hotels that have undergone special training in sustainable tourism and have been awarded the Travelife certification, signifying their commitment to adhering to sustainable tourism principles.

2) Each hotel has its own achievements in implementing sustainable tourism principles. Here are some of them:

-They pour water into pitchers instead of providing plastic bottles.
-They dispense shampoos and soaps in refillable containers instead of single-use packaging.
-They use local food products.
-Some utilize solar panels.
-They source from local suppliers wherever possible.

3) Wildlife engagement is implemented on tour with the aim of raising awareness about the centrality of nature in the fate of man. We go further, exploring the symbiosis of man and animal in a long-standing partnership, by visiting the eagle hunters in Bokonbaevo.

People

Local Economy:

1) Homestays and hotels used on this trip are all locally owned

2) We deal only with local investors and stakeholders who reinvest into the regional economy through a process of sustainable development (expansion and maintenance of new and existing infrastructures, e.g.).

3) Ample opportunity is given to the local, endemic population to become a paid part of the tour experience. A case in point, our hotels buy local products from local artisans and merchants; our needs serve those of local specialists: from catering to building, carpentry and maintenance; we actively recruit from a nearby pool of labour, by inviting local providers for additional services (guides, drivers, etc.)

Employment, Inclusivity, and Diversity:

1) People from marginalised communities and ethnicities are indeed accepted into the industry? And how? Kyrgyzstan is a multinational state where people are not divided into ethnic groups. As for marginalized groups, hotels try to follow all the principles of sustainable tourism and recruit a certain number of people from these groups.

2) All employees are well paid; for instance, guides earn around $10,000 for the season, which is a very good income considering local prices

3) People with disabilities (poor eyesight, limited mobility, cognitive difficulties, and so forth) are enabled to work in local tourism. A certain number of roles in tourism are reserved for those with physical and mental disabilities.

4) We are please to confirm that women and those over the age of 50 are actively recruited, enjoying a good degree of status in our local tourist economy.