Spain self drive vacation, Rioja & Pyrenees

Carbon reduction

Your vacation will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO₂. Learn about the CO₂ emissions of this vacation and how to reduce them.

Environment

As an Anglo-Spanish company we are passionate about the areas of Spain our clients visit, and our ethos is firmly fixed in preserving the destiations on our vacations here, a large number of which are remote, natural landscapes. One of our founders, Diego, lives and guides in the mountains and was instrumental in setting up a charitable foundation aimed at protecting and conserving the bearded vulture as well as preserving the traditional rural, mountain lifestyles which support and nourish the ecosystem.
The properties we use on this vacation are carefully chosen, small hotels which reflect their natural environment and are committed to preserving this in its beautiful state. Some of them grow their own produce, and employ sustainable techniques to harness energy. For example, in the Pre-Pyrenees, our hotel generates much of its electricity by solar power, collects rainwater to irrigate its organic vegetable garden, and uses geothermal energy to heat the hotel in winter.

Community

As a trip aimed at getting under the skin of the real Spain, this vacation incorporates meeting local people, learning about their way of life, and supporting the local economy through the choice of hotels, restaurants and guides. We work directly with local businesses and organisations to directly benefit local economies. We use small, locally owned hotels and restaurants.
We work with local guides so that our vacations are more interesting for clients and more beneficial locally.
The hotels you stay in are all locally owned, all but one (Bilbao) is run by the owners. This means that you get a much more authentic experience as well as providing maximum benefit to the local economy.
By leading you off the beaten track, our guides are not only sharing with you a greater appreciation and understanding of your surroundings, but are also making sure that economic benefits are spread as widely as possible. Throughout the vacation our clients are provided with recommended contacts for locally-owned suppliers of excursions, restaurants and shops.