Uzbekistan upgraded small group holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.

Uzbekistan is a vast countries so despite sometimes having to lean on internal flights to cover some routes, the country has seen recent dramatic improvements to its infrastructure, resulting in some legs of our journeys being on the new ‘Afrosiyob’ bullet trains. These are very modern and comfortable trains, a wonderful experience travelling with the local people and watching the scenery roll past the window. When coaches are being used, we keep the size of the coach to a minimum, so rather than using gas guzzling 40-50 seaters we opt for more environmental friendly 15-25 seat coaches that use less fuel and therefore emit less carbon.

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.

There are plenty of opportunities to experience local cuisine and some of the highlights are a lunch in a local house where we take part into a cooking demonstration of traditional Shivit Oshi while in Khiva. These are handmade noodles, bright green in colour thanks to a dill infusion.

While in Nukus, we visit the Mizdahkhan Necropolis. This is one of Karakalpakstan's oldest and holiest sites and according to a local legend, it's Adam's burial place of Adam. One of the crumbling mausoleums is known as the Apocalypse clock, where every fallen brick brings us closer to the end of the world, so Muslim pilgrims return a brick to the structure just in case. By visiting this less known sight which dates back to the 4th century BC, we contribute to its preservation.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travellers and the local community and ensure 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.

Visiting one of the many lively bazaars dotted around Uzbekistan is a must when visiting the country. These are a haven for whoever has an interest in local quality handicrafts and seeing artisan’s at work. We visit several on this trip, and with the help of our expert local guide we promote responsible bartering for the handicrafts, intricate woodworks and souvenirs on display. Your tour leader will help you striking a balance between paying a fair price and recognising the exceptional work of the artisans selling their products.

EMPLOYMNET, 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.

Our supplier is a small locally owned company and over the past 25 years we have built a long standing, mutually beneficial and respectful relationship. They employ local tour leaders who are some of the highest scoring tour leaders across all our tours. Hardworking and proud individuals with a passion for sharing all the secrets of their stunning country.