Dolomites guided walking vacation in Italy

Planet

We believe that walking trips are the best way to experience a destination; because you have more time to appreciate the changing landscapes and get to know locals in the villages and towns that you pass through. Traveling on foot has minimal impact on your environment, but we encourage clients to stay on the marked trails to avoid erosion.

Our bags are transferred by mule on the majority of trips, therefore keeping the carbon footprint of this tour low. There is a 7 kg maximum for the bags that are to be carried by the mules, and this weight limit is strictly adhered to. This ensures that the total load our mules carry is within the ethical pack carrying guidelines. Mules are a traditional form of cargo in the alpine areas of Europe. They are well cared for during their 3-4 months season with our travelers, where they are part of the walking team, get plenty of affection and graze on alpine grasses. Outside of the walking season they are moved to the south of France where they can graze in pastures in a warmer climate.

Our Waste Management Policy encourages our travelers to take their own reusable water bottles, coffee cups and reusable stuff sacks to avoid single-use plastics. We follow this same philosophy in our office as well as on the trail: in our London office we have banned single use coffee cups and water bottles. We use recycled paper in our office and we are working towards reducing the amount of paper we use, as well as recycling all of our paper and plastic waste.

People

This trip stays in mountain huts and refuges, with dormitory accommodation included as standard. These are small scale traditional hikers accommodations including the Fanes Hut which first opened in 1928, and the Refuge Guissani, which has been run by the Dapoz family for four decades. These accommodations provide simple but comfortable overnight stays and authentic food, and provide valuable employment during the hiking season for the area. Mountain huts are very sociable, and a great way to enjoy the hospitality of those from the region, and meet fellow travelers from around the world.

We use local guides throughout this trip. The guides are highly experienced, have strong local knowledge of the area. This not only provides a richer experience but creates valuable employment helping to keep income within the community.

In 2000 we developed the award winning Responsible Travel Guidebook, which presented our Travel Group’s comprehensive policies on sustainable travel. Over the years our Responsible Travel Guidebook has evolved to meet the ever-changing landscape of sustainable travel. In March 2018 The Thoughtful Traveler booklet was launched, which is an easy-to-read document that empowers travelers with suggestions about how they can be part of the solution and collectively make the world a better place when they travel. Everyone is encouraged to read the Thoughtful Traveler ebook before departure.