Kyrgyzstan Silk Road holiday

Planet

One of the main draws of Kyrgyzstan is its incredible, pristine and untouched landscape. The nomadic cultures have left little imprint on the land over the centuries, and we look to carry on this tradition when we visit on our trips. We do this by recycling and re-using wherever possible, and ensuring that all waste is disposed of appropriately. We manage water consumption and reduce waste on this trip by encouraging people to bring along re-usable bottles and by supplying a large tank of fresh drinking water on our coach, available for refills.

Lunches and meals will often be taken at local guesthouses using locally sourced, seasonal produce. This provides direct income for the locals, as well as reducing the distance the food has to travel from source to plate. Guests can enjoy fresh and tasty cuisine that has had far less of an impact on the environment.

The distances travelled on this trip are large, so when travelling by road 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 admit less carbon.

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.

People

Kyrgyzstan is a country of big landscapes, nomadic peoples and a rich tapestry of history. One of the highlights of this tour is having the chance to get to meet lots of the local people we encounter along the way. We stay in yurts with nomads on the shores of alpine lakes, dine with local families where we learn about ancient traditions and wander its lush meadows with expert local guides. We want to learn about the traditions and daily lives in these countries, and interact with locals in a manner which is both insightful yet respectful. Your local guide will be a great facilitator in this regard. Buying crafts directly from them cuts out the middle man and enables them to supplement their income in an area where the economic opportunities are few.

In Kyrgyzstan we are also working with the German government organisation ‘GIZ’ to help our partners train locals further down the supply train – from guides and drivers to hoteliers and restaurant owners. This helps to professionalise the industry in Kyrgyzstan at a local level and benefits all businesses that we interact with.

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.