Kazakhstan tour, small group

Planet

Tourism is very much in its infancy in Kazakhstan. We therefore want to ensure our groups are leading by example by recycling and re-using where possible, and ensuring that all waste is disposed of appropriately.

Kazakhstan is a vast country and to cover these great distances a large amount of the traveling is done by train. Traveling by public transport is not only a great way to get a flavour of the country and mix with local people; it’s better for the environment as it reduces our reliance on specially chartered vehicles. When coaches are being used, we keep the size of the coach to a minimum, so rather than using gas guzzling 40-50 seaters we opt for more environmental friendly 15-25 seat coaches that use less fuel and therefore admit less carbon.

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.

People

During the many years of communist rule Kazakhstan was cut off from the outside world. Once it gained its independence it quickly utilised its vast natural reserves and has developed into a fast-growing economy, with its modern and striking capital Astana showcasing this new-found wealth. But outside the main cities the wealth has yet to trickle down and in the small towns and villages life goes on very much unchanged. Our trip has been designed to offer you a balanced insight into the whole country - the modern metropolises, the rural villages and of course the cosmodrome at Baikonur.

In Kazakhstan, we hire local tour leaders who are passionate about showcasing their country and are keen to put it on the tourist map so that local people can benefit from the money trickling down into the local economy. We provide extensive training opportunities for our leaders, with them all required to attend an intensive training course, empowering them with the skills and knowledge they need to become industry-leading Tour Leaders.

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.