Bali, Flores and Komodo vacation, Indonesia

Planet

On this trip we visit the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Komodo and Rinca islands, home to the infamous komodo dragons. We visit the islands using a small local boat and explore the islands alongside the knowledgeable park rangers. By visiting not only do we increase the exposure of the excellent work being done here to conserve a species only found on these two islands, but our entrance fees also help contribute to the upkeep of this incredible and unique destination.

Our in-country local partner has recently been awarded with a Travelife certification for their commitment towards responsible tourism. In order to earn this accreditation, they have had to demonstrate that they are responsible across all areas of their business from office staff and electricity use all the way to fair-pay, equal opportunities and green initiatives. On the road the Tour Leader must ensure that any local interaction is handled in a responsible way, making sure both parties benefit from the experience. Water and waste management must also be handled responsibly, by encouraging the use of multiple-use bottles and central water tanks on buses, along with ensuring litter is disposed of appropriately and recycled where possible.

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.

We are strongly opposed to parks and resorts where guests are allowed to touch and pose for photographs with the animals. Instead we will arrange your tailor-made vacation to visit reserves where the wildlife and birdlife can be observed in their natural habitat without the need for interference from tourists.

We aim to use lodges and hotels that have a Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) or are Rainforest Alliance Verified, meeting certain criteria regarding water usage, waste management, furniture/art work handcrafted by locals, water treatment plants, amongst others.

Your tailor-made itinerary tends to use shared transfers, keeping the cost low for the customer and carbon emissions low for the environment – it is also a great way to meet other travelers!

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

This trip showcases Indonesia's rich cultural heritage contrasting the bohemian town of Ubud on the island of Bali with small rural villages on the lesser-visited island of Flores. When visiting the rural villages we get a chance to meet the local people, learn about their traditions and daily life and interact with them in a manner which is both insightful yet respectful. We are always very sensitive to the impacts of visiting rural communities.

Local people benefit from this form of tourism as it injects vital income directly into the local economy, provides education and increasing exposure about the fragile environment and ecosystem of Indonesia and provides job opportunities within the tourism sector.

We are always very sensitive to the impacts of visiting rural communities. One of the reasons we prefer to use local tour leaders is they can give a real insight into the local culture; anything from learning about the education system, to making sure we don’t fall foul of any taboos. It is our policy to generate business and employment opportunities in the countries we travel to by employing local people. All our leaders in Indonesia are locals and we’ve trained them all too so they are comfortable in their work and you get great service.

On the island of Lombok, we have contributed £750 for a start-up fund for a free-range chicken farm to help communities get back up on their feet and become self-sufficient after the recent devastating earthquake.

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.

We employ local guides and encourage our clients to use restaurants, shops, and other local businesses along the way in order to benefit the communities we visit directly. On this itinerary you’ll visit a coffee estate and a small town, Grecia, known for its ornate ox-cart paintings, allowing for the opportunity to interact with and support local artisans.

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. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world.

In addition to the above, 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 UK 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. As well as this, 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 UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.