Madeira island vacation

Planet

The stunning scenery we travel through is some of the most verdant you will see, and this is something which we all strive to maintain. Our local leaders actively encourage travelers to not only collect their own waste and dispose of it in a suitable manner, but also rubbish they find along paths to ensure the environment is unharmed and left as it should be.

Due to its remote location, those who live on the island are equally conscious about the marine-life and as a result, one of the days on this trip is spent visiting the Desertas Islands. This is a recognised Biogenetic Reserve which received the European Certificate of Protected Areas from the Council of Europe. During our trip here we learn about the work taking place and what we can do to assist in protecting the marine life. Going hand-in-hand with this, the local company who runs the dolphin and whale watching experience to the Desertas Islands are actively involved in conservation projects to further protect marine life and part of the boat trip cost we pay goes towards these projects.

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

Throughout the itinerary, you have the opportunity to visit and experience local shops, including the Bordal Embroidery Factory and artisans where you are encouraged to buy local products should you wish too, which all goes into the local island economy. We also do our very best to eat in locally owned and operated restaurants.

To gain a further understanding into the history and heritage of Madeira, we work with local leaders who pass on their own stories, culture and traditions. Nearly 80% of the staff are permanent workers with more than 10 years experience in the industry, with many of our leaders having significantly longer leading experience.

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.