Classic Java vacation, Indonesia

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

We are promoting the natural beauty and ancient heritage of Indonesia through not only visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and Prambanan Bromo, but also Tengger Semeru National Park. 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 Indonesia.

We will embark on a cycle tour of the UNESCO sites of Borobudur and Prambanan. Using no carbon transport such as cycling not only gives you a slower paced experience, but also cuts environmental damage and tourist carbon footprint.

We are committed to low-level tourism impact and we keep group sizes to a maximum of 12 to avoid huge tour bus loads of tourists, which increases environmental damage but also is less likely to be welcomed by locals.

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.

Community

On Day 6, we will visit a traditional Kris-maker. An asymmetrical dagger with a distinctive blade, the Kris has long been steeped in traditional folklore and mysticism and is listed by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. You will learn about the Kris-makers of this area and traditional creative methods that go back centuries. Visiting artisans not only provides income to them via selling their goods, but also ensures they are able to continue their craft and pass it onto the next generations. On Day 8, we will also visit the traditional craftsmen of Kaliopak village in Yogyakarta.

On each tour we use local ground handlers. This means that all operational costs go directly into the local economy and help improve employment opportunities in remote regions. Such support can also be seen in our incorporation of homestays, locally owned hotels, family run restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, which ensures that the money you spend with us goes directly into the local economy and local community.

As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. On this particular trip we will be in a combination of hotels (some comfortable, others somewhat simple) but we will also spend several nights in homestays and guesthouses, with the occasional night wild camping.