Highlights of Indonesia vacation

Planet

Whilst waste is a severe problem in Indonesia as much as in every other developing country in the world, our ground handlers are working with a company called Eco Bali, that offers a responsible waste management on the island. Waste is pre-sorted here in their offices and regularly collected by Eco Bali for maximising recycling and reducing the quantity of waste to landfill and promoting composting. Eco Bali is operating its own sorting and material recovery facility, ensuring that waste is properly managed. For more information visit http://eco-bali.com/

In order to have water saving initiatives on our tours, our ground handlers provide bottled drinking water for guests which are then collected and recycled Eco Bali. They also have water dispensers in their offices for staff, to avoid buying small plastic water bottles.

Transportation will be done in private vehicles according to the numbers of people traveling together. Unfortunately in Indonesia there are no hybrid cars or similar more environment-friendly vehicles available, but in order to reduce the carbon emissions of transportation, our ground handlers only newer vehicles, no older than 5 years, and guides stay overnight in nearby home-stays or guest houses to avoid additional driving times.

The Houseboat Tours in Kalimantan have a low impact on the environment and use. Their principles are respecting local cultures, supporting local communities, as well as helping to protect Orangutans and other wildlife.

This trip includes the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at Camp Leakey. Your visit helps to fund the vital work of the center which strives to protect Orangutans which are currently listed as highly endangered. Camp Leakey is an active research facility which is dedicated to protecting and conserving its resident orangutans and the rainforest which has been destroyed by deforestation and palm oil plantations. The tourism activities here are controlled and run by local guides and local communities who understand that it is imperative that the orangutans and their environment are protected. By visiting Camp Leakey, you are helping to protect the work of the Orangutan Sanctuary through your entry fee and by purchasing any souvenirs while you are there.

While visiting the camp you will be given a full briefing about their work and you will be able to see the researchers in the field, however we do ask that you don't interfere with them and that you respect the wild animals in their natural environment to limit unnecessary contact with humans and allow them to continue their rehabilitation process without interruption. Educating the local community and tourists who visit the center is an important part of the work the camp is undertaking to ensure that these wonderful animals come off the 'highly endangered' list where they currently are.

The park fees paid to enter Tanjun Putting National Park help to preserve and protect the environment and its wildlife and goes towards its upkeep to ensure future generations will be able to visit. And while in the national park you will also visit a reforestation program which is working to restore the jungle through a tree planting program and your visit will help to continue their important work.

People

Where possible, we focus on locally owned and managed accommodation, but of course this is not always possible in some locations. On this tour, the boats in Kalimantan, the MesaStila Resort, the Plataran Borobudur Resort, the Jiwa Jawa Resort and the Komaneka Bisma Resort are all locally owned and managed.

The Plataran Borobudur Resort also provides free medical care and medicines for the surrounding villagers.

Jiwa Jawa Bromo works closely with the local organisation Sahabat Bromo, with a shared vision to promote the livelihood of the local Tengger community. Through Sahabat Bromo, they are able to create a platform where all stakeholders at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, including the natives, local guides and local government, could communicate effectively.

Rivers, Oceans, Lands, Ecology (R.O.L.E.) Foundation is a not-for-profit humanitarian organization based in Bali, whose aims are to promote environmental awareness and empower women. Our ground agents support this excellent cause as an educational partner for the foundation. The Women’s Skills Education Program offers a free community center providing classes in literacy, English language, basic life and work skills, and vocational skills to local women in need, allowing them to gain employment opportunities and achieve a sustainable income. The R.O.L.E Foundation has already helped 843 women through the graduation and employment process. Our ground agents
sponsor five students each year from families that cannot afford to enter them into college education.

As with all our destinations we try to give our clients a ‘real’ experience of the country they are visiting by showing them the cultural traditions and visiting local communities where possible. In this tour you will be taken to see the ancient revered art of Kris making, as well as visiting the local Gianyar Night Market and Balinese restaurant on a culinary tour .

We only work with responsible ground agents, and in Indonesia our Ground Agents live and work in the country and recognise that it is their home. They have fully committed to ‘giving back’ to ensure an improving quality of life for their local communities. They provide local villages with the tools to help improve education along witch social services, assistance programs and structural developments, although any building work is carefully considered to minimise its impact on the natural environment.

Employing local guides and drivers to accompany our clients is an important way of keeping money in the country, but also in offering our clients a genuine experience of Indonesia and chance to learn about the country’s history and culture.