Walking in Bulgaria holiday, spa hotels and thermal springs

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Our hotels have policies for reducing pollution, use of renewable energy for heating, solar panels, use of natural sources of thermal mineral water and run various activities to educate the locals and the guests of benefits to live more and more environmentally friendly.

On this trip we stay at two hotels that offer guests seasonal food, as well as vegan and/or vegetarian dishes with the ingredients from the local farms, which also helps a lot for the economy and stimulates the local communities. The variety in the local gardens is huge – tomatoes and cucumbers, watermelons and melons, zucchini and salads, green beans, potatoes and many others. The fruits and vegetables are fresh, tasty, natural and sun ripened. During the winter months also prepare pickled food grown on our farm.

For transportation during the holiday we are strongly determined to use environmentally friendly and electric vehicles for the transfers and where possible public transport, and avoid use of internal flights which we believe helps a lot to reduce the carbon footprint.

85% of our daily activities are by human powered transport (Walking), avoiding using as many vehicles as possible.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

During this tour all of our hiking treks are in National Parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We also visit local places which contain rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity, as well as historic sites of global cultural and scientific significance.

Park management aims to preserve and maintain biological diversity, protect nature and provide opportunities for scientific and educational activities, alongside development of tourism. Therefore our local trip leaders (certified mountain guides) give correct information on how to avoid detriment to the natural environment and wildlife, reduce carbon footprint, be a very positive example for the locals.

Our hiking routes follow existing, marked and regularly maintained trails reducing any possible damage to the surrounding wild areas.

Park entrance fees contribute to the protection and ongoing maintenance of these places.

Most places we pass through have recycling options so we encourage everyone to use them for specific items. When this is not possible, we carry back all rubbish at the hotel and throw it in the correct waste bins.

We encourage our guests and the owners of the accommodations to have good waste management (i.e. water waste, plastic bags and bottles). We explain to our guests the need for water conservation worldwide and advise them on how to minimise their water waste. As the water from natural springs in all areas is drinkable we encourage our guests to bring refillable water bottles.

Everything starts at home. We are committed to green tourism, and maintain strong recycling policies in the office. For instance waste electronic equipment, batteries, toners and ink-jet or fax cartridges will be recycled back to the company of origin wherever possible. We employ energy conservation measures, and avoid using paper tickets and paper advertising materials to all of our activities. We train our staff to be environmentally conscious and lead by example for guests and local people.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
This small group tour has a maximum of 18 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, environmentally friendly locally run hotels.

This tour encourages guests to have a positive effect by engaging with local people, using local facilities, locally owned shops, mini-markets, bakeries, restaurants and investing in traditional gifts and local produce.
Part of the income from visitors is used to maintain footpaths, churches, local museums and cultural monuments from being damaged with people walking in protected areas. Also spending money in this holiday helps for the various of projects run by the local authorities such as:
- Maintaining and restoring biodiversity.
- Protection and restoration of natural habitats and populations of plant and animal species or the conditions in their habitats.
- Conservation and management of landscape components.
- Regeneration of forests and protection against erosion and maintenance of architectural elements for recreation and tourism.

All those projects help a lot for national parks and restricted areas to combines adventure and sustainability perfectly.

On this holiday and any orher of our tours and holidauy packages we make sure that we are working with local partners who have same vision as us, helps develop the local economy by spending money for fair wages to the locally hired staff, facilities, running education programs for developing green tourism every year and useful reduce the pollution which have essential role in contributing to the local economy.
Meals during this holayda - All suppliers and ingredients come from the local farms and small and mostly use of the seasonal food, agricultural and livestock production of the region of Pirin mountain.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

The main goal in this holiday is to inspire people to live healthier and happier lives, aware of all the boundless possibilities of self-improvement that nature and hiking in a mountain can give us.

Responsible travel and sustainable tourism are fundamental ideas that we have been running since we began our activities.
These are the main leading points when employ/hire or working with other third-party partners.

We make sure that our operatives are selected by location where the experience takes place and have knowledge, love and attitude to truism and nature. For us everyone is welcome in a club of truism and nature lovers, no matter the background such as Cultural, Age, Racial, Gender, Sexual, Disability, Religious.
Another very important part of our company policy is our operatives and partners to be satisfied with the services provided by them. Therefore, the payment of Fair wages according to local authorities is one of the key factors to stimulate the operatives and partners to maintain and improve their skills and abilities of commitment to responsible tourism and helping to preserve the local areas.

By taking part of this holiday in a mountain or any other of our ?stablished tours you will bring work and income to the local communities, social projects that we and our local partners support including school for orphans, refugee camps, homeless people and various programs of for education regarding responsible travel and attitude to the nature.

Our experienced local mountain guides instructors have a lot to share with you regarding the local nature, traditions and history, sharing with you their ideas and love for their land. You will feel more like a part of the community and less like a tourist.
Very often in the region where our activities are, if you ask where you are staying, the answer of the locals will be to let you know you are very welcome.