The Great Silk Road Adventure via the Caucasus vacation

Planet

The tour visits a grand total of 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We are promoting the natural beauty and ancient heritage of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkeythrough visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Bukhara, Samarkand, Qobustan, Shirvanshahs’ Palace, Mtskheta and Göreme Open Air Museum. UNESCO Sites are chosen by the UNESCO committee and must "bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to civilisation", "an important interchange of human values" or be outstanding examples of major stages of Earth's history or ecological and biological processes in evolution. Visiting such sites helps sustain the traditions and natural ecosystems of the countries we visit.

We attempt to reduce plastic bottle use wherever possible by promoting use of reusable and filtered water bottles. Our partnership with Water-To-Go provides a discount on filtered water bottles to our clients. We do not provide water from plastic bottles to our clients in country but always ensure there is regular access to drinking water on our tours.

By keeping the group size to a maximum of 12, we can also minimise the human impact on the fragile sites and ecosystems we visit.

People

In Central Asia we have developed unique relationships with many people of the region and through our form of interactive, socially conscience tourism have helped them adapt to the modern, changing world by providing important income opportunities. On this tour we will be staying in a homestay in Nuratau Reserve for a unique glimpse into the traditions and customs of local life. The homestay market, helps them to provide good, clean and interesting accommodation which in term allows them to educate their children, improve their standard of living and look after their ill. The wonderful thing about this kind of interactive tourism is that everyone gains – the families financially and us with the wonderful welcome and experience they give us. Wherever possible we stay in locally owned accommodation, eat in locally owned establishments and purchase supplies from the local nomads. For example, in Kyrgyzstan we will be staying a homestay with basic facilities, to get to know the host family and provide them with tourism income.

The best way to share stories and meet new people is over a plate of great food and a glass of wine in hand. On Day 30 in Kakheti, Georgia’s wine region, we will be meeting with a local farmer to visit their vineyard and enjoy lunch with them. Supporting the local food and beverge industry of a country not only maintains the cultural identity of the country but connects cultures through the most ancient of pastimes, eating!

In the Caucasus - and in particular in Georgia - we have developed unique relationships with many of the mountain peoples of the region and through our form of interactive tourism with a social conscience we have helped them by providing an important additional income. On this trip we travel through regions where conditions are harsh and there is limited opportunity for earning an income. By visiting local families we are able to put much needed funds directly into the local communities. In addition all foods are produced locally so several members of the village benefit financially, which improves several familys’ standard of living. The great thing about this kind of interactive tourism is that everyone gains – the locals financially and us from the fuss they make of us!