Balkans rail holiday

Planet

For the vast majority of this trip we will be travelling by public trains, which is great way of seeing the countries we are travelling through and allows us to cover a great amount of distance in just 16 days. One of the rail journeys we will take is famed to be amongst the most beautiful in Europe, as we ride the rails of the Bar to Belgrade line. We will also take one overnight train journey, so this will serve as both our transport and our accommodation. From the railway stations we will transfer to our hotels either on foot or occasional by taxi, so again we are trying to keep the amount of pollution we create to a minimum.

Through all the debate over the relative environmental merits of different forms of transport, it is generally accepted that rail travel is a lower carbon option than flying. Conscious of our impact on the environment, by opting to travel most journeys on public trains we are drastically reducing the reliance on privately chartered road transport within this trip. All travel has impacts, but we are confident this trip keeps those to a minimum. Train travel is also a great way to meet local people and get a more personal experience of travel in their country.

To further reduce the level of pollution within the urban centres, the sightseeing tours we operate are done on foot, which is also a great way of seeing all they have to offer first hand.

In addition to the above, 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 UK 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. As well as this, 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 UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

On this trip we will explore seven Balkan countries that were formerly part of Yugoslavia, many of which still aren’t a regular stop on the normal tourist trail. We will stay in locally owned small hotels and dine in local restaurants in each of the towns and cities we visit, as well as buying drinks and snacks for our train journeys in local shops and markets. We’re therefore helping to bring economic benefits to many different small businesses in these lesser visited areas, and you are getting to try the great variety of delicious food and drink that they have to offer.

We use a Macedonian Tour Leader and local guides on this trip who know the countries visited well and who will help to give us a unique insight into the history, customs and culture of this developing region and to allow you to get under the skin of the true Balkans. Our Tour Leaders are trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference.