Cycling in Georgia vacation

Planet

Cycling vacations are a relatively sustainable way to travel as they have less negative impact on the local infrastructure, environment and people while encouraging positive interaction with local people. We cycle on routes that are removed from mass tourism, creating less pollution, noise and traffic. When using motorised transport we work with small, locally owned transport companies.

Our leaders are trained in responsible tourism matters and work to our detailed Responsible Tourism Policy. To reduce plastic waste, we encourage the use of refillable water bottles and guests can refill from a large reusable water container carried on the support vehicle during the rides.

Georgian food and wine is superb and integral to the local culture, religion and practices. Meals are taken in local restaurants that source local and seasonal ingredients wherever possible. We include visits to local food and wine producers that help promote understanding and appreciation as well as injecting money into the local economy.

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

We stay for some of the nights in family-run homestay accommodation that are both part of and built alongside family homes. As well as allowing a genuine insight into the lives of local people our visit is thus helping generate much needed income for the community.

Using local guides and crew is consistent with our policy to generate local employment and deliver direct economic benefits to the areas we are traveling in. We also do this by using locally owned hotels, spreading our business to a variety of local restaurants.

In Georgia we are also working with the German government organisation ‘GIZ’ to help our partners train locals further down the supply train – from guides and drivers to hoteliers and restaurant owners. This helps to professionalise the industry in Georgia at a local level and benefits all businesses that we interact with.

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.