France cycling vacation, Loire Valley

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Traveling by bike is the most sustainable way to travel, and it provides many opportunities to explore parts of lesser-known France and visit remote villages. This also provides us with a great opportunity to try traditional cuisine, which is usually made with locally sourced ingredients as many of the smaller villages grow much of their own produce. This trip has been planned to start in Tours which has great rail links to Paris and other major hubs ensuring it is accessible by rail for those who prefer not to fly to their vacation destination.

As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.

ENVIROMENT & WILDLIFE

Being kind to the environment includes using less water and the hotels we use actively minimise their water consumption by reusing towels rather than washing them every day. In addition, our local leaders encourage refilling and reusing bottles with the safe tap drinking water throughout the trip. We stay in locally owned hotels though out this trip and the hoteliers in Tour and Amboise pay attention to reducing waste, water and energy consumption, as well as recycling as much as possible.

We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Not all meals are included, this provides you with the opportunity to enjoy real local cuisine, and as a result, you are directly supporting the local economy but visiting small cafes and local markets. In the off the beaten track villages we cycle though like Chaumont there are no chains, which gives you an authentic experience and opportunity to buy picnic lunches from local bakeries. Through the included the wine tasting in Vouvray, you have the opportunity to buy fresh local produce in the form of their fine wines. In addition, the cost of the tour helps keep the local business running which in tern provides jobs for those living in the village.

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travelers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

All people involved in this trip are local to the Loire area of France, we try our very best to get authenticity and look for people who have real connections to the places we visit, this goes for wineries that have been in the same family for generations or restaurant owners that have seen generations of our customers eating in their premises. The cycling trips in France are operated by a one-man outfit who has yet to employ any staff directly. But when the time comes to expand, diversity and inclusivity will definitely be taken into account.

We believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.