Marseille to Barcelona cycling 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.

Precious resources are saved, in multiple night stops, by using hotels with policies of reusing towels to reduce pollution and water consumption. In addition our leaders encourage groups not to buy plastic bottles but refill and reuse from a large water container carried on the support vehicle during rides and for the whole journey.

We visit and cycle in the protected lowlands of the Camargue and Rhone Valley. This area is home to a wide variety of bird species and made up of dykes and salt water lakes. Tourism is essential in these parts to sustain the natural habitat but often by-passed by the hordes heading south to the Mediterranean. Cycling and staying in the region is a great way to support the local community and enjoy the natural beauty on offer.

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

One of the great aspects of a cycling vacation is the ability to stop off en route at any point to visit local markets, enjoy a drink in a small café and meet the local people. These stops are often off the beaten tourist trail and therefore help local businesses. The French and Spanish are appreciative when people try to speak their language so why not learn a few phrases before you go? Our tour leader will actively encourage budding linguists and at least make sure people know the basics.

We choose to include only breakfasts on this trip. Most lunches will either be a picnic, sourced in local shops made up of regional fare, or a stop at a local café or bar. Our tour leaders will make recommendations to clients to use locally owned restaurants for the evening meals. When dining in restaurants our tour leaders also offer advice about what to order based on what’s in season and what has been produced locally. Guests will also be encouraged to try local wines and other locally produced drinks.

We cycle through and stay in the Baix Emporda region of Catalonia in the north east of Spain. This is not an area with the same level of tourism as the nearby beaches of the Costa Brava but it has a thriving local artisan economy. We can help to support this and in particular the local vineyards and the pottery and crafts in La Bisbal.

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 UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.