London to the Balkans and back by rail & sea

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
This tour is completely flight-free from the UK to Albania and the Balkans, and back to the UK making use of the rail and ferry network, therefore reducing the overall carbon footprint of the trip.

The majority of the cities visited on this tour are listed as UNESCO sites, such as Matero, Gjirokastra, Berat and Mostar. When exploringl, the tours and excursions are done by foot rather than driving from place to place. Also, many of the accommodation are centrally located and also near the train station, removing the requirement of short, unnecessary transfers to and from hotels.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
All the hotels we use on this tour have strong environmental and sustainability initiatives and values within their policies. Some of the hotels used on the tour are part of larger hospitality groups, such as Marriott International and Accor. Accor are working with sustainable certification programmes to gain external and independent recognition of the sustainable practices in place by their hotels. Accor are part of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and also partnered with Green Key and Green Globe which are recognised by the GSTC.

The hotel in Turin is owned by Starhotels who have implemented several initiative across their properties to cut carbon emissions, such as using low-impact generators for power supply.

On this tour we visit several towns and places that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Matero Town, Mostar Old Town, Gjirokastra). Our visits to these places help to support local projects to conserve the area's cultural and geographical heritage.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
We book directly with the local companies for excursions and transfers on this tour, who all use local guides, drivers and vehicles. This means that the money stays within the local economy, benefiting the local people rather than being outsourced to bigger companies or other countries.

We visit a number of important historical sites on this tour. The entrance fees that we pay at these sites helps fund their preservation and ensure that this aspect of the region’s cultural heritage remains for others to enjoy in years to come – particularly important in a country where finding resources for this can be difficult. In addition to this some of these sites contain ancient and fragile religious frescoes that are very susceptible to damage. We make a point of advising our travellers not to touch these valuable paintings to ensure that they remain as they are.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
On our trips we like to include experiences and interactions with the local people. Throughout this trip, the walking tours of the cities are done by a local guide who lives in the area, and they show them around on foot, mixing with the locals. Not only does this provide our clients with a more intimate experience but also provides additional income and employment for local people that may not have other opportunities. Our local guides will carefully explain the customs and cultures of the communities visited to ensure that our travellers are able to behave sensitively towards fragile communities, and help them gain from tourism while not being affected by some of its more negative aspects. By visiting these communities, many of whom live outside the cash-based economy, you are able to contribute to their ability to trade with mainstream society and gain some of the associated benefits.

Our philosophy is to only use small and locally owned suppliers, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution. We also feel that the passion inherent within such suppliers means that your experience will be enhanced. We also try to engage with our suppliers on an equal basis – getting the lowest possible price usually isn’t the best outcome for local communities and is ultimately unsustainable. We aim to always treat our suppliers fairly and with respect; they are after all part of the key to our success and to us working together is much more than just a business arrangement, but an ongoing relationship that we aim to ensure truly benefits everyone involved.