Walking holiday in Tuscany

Planet

Activity:
As a walking holiday, this trip has very limited detrimental impact upon the environment, residents and communities in the regions we visit. Adverse effects like pollution and threatening wildlife do not come into play and although erosion on popular paths can be an issue, guides can advise pre-planned routes to avoid this. Trekking also allows for flexibility and allows for easy access to the local population, shops and restaurants, which facilitates cultural exploration. By operating consciously with a ‘leave no trace’ policy, we are able to raise local awareness for a kind of tourism which refuses to sacrifice the environment and real connections with people.

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

People

Accommodation and Meals:
We will spend 7 nights at Braccicorti, a lodge-style farmhouse or ‘Agriturismo’ as they are known in Italy. For challenging grade departures, one of these nights is replaced with mountain hut accommodation. Using a locally run Agriturismo is a great way to support the agricultural community by giving farmers an alternative source of income. In order to be part of the Agriturismo Association, it is a requirement to hire local staff and to use local produce. So where meals are supplied, fresh and seasonal ingredients like the Farro grain and abundant sweet chestnut are used to make regional specialties. Where meals are not supplied, it is part of the trip to stop at local cafes and restaurants. Here we can support these businesses, engage with locals and try some authentic cuisine.

Local Craft and Culture:
There are plenty of unique villages and historical sites along our route, including the 16th century shepherds village of Campocatino, San Viano's rock-hewn hermitage and Villa Collemandina with its church and quaint cafes. A local guide joins the group in Castiglione di Garfagnana, a small but beautiful walled town where Italy's largest and most popular chestnut festival is held in Autumn. Should you arrive on this date, you will be able to experience the long held tradition celebrating local chestnuts, truffles and mushrooms. Clients will also have the chance to see locals go about day to day life at various markets. This is a great chance to learn something about local produce and to support small suppliers.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.