Alpine walking in Mont Blanc

Planet

Carbon Reduction

We've taken steps to minimise the carbon footprint of this vacation through a number of measures. Due to the great public transport options we have decided not to include airport transfers on this vacation. Our customers are proactively encouraged to travel to and from our base in Chamonix by way of the efficient and convenient airport to hotel shared shuttlebus service from Geneva Airport. Public transport (local buses and trains) is used throughout the week to access the start and end of each walks and, with 5 included day walks, the very nature of the primary activity of this vacation - walking - has a minimal carbon footprint.
As a travel company we are acutely aware of our impact on the environment. All of our tours display a carbon footprint, and we strive to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our tours and embracing low-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which offer the added benefit of getting a closer connection with the destination and local community.

Environment and Wildlife

The Tour du Mont Blanc passes through an area of natural beauty and there are a number of nature reserves along the route. Our tour leaders brief our groups at the start of the vacation on the etiquette of trekking in the great outdoors, things such as sticking to the trails to reduce erosion and ensuring all rubbish is taken out with you. Experiencing the natural beauty of the Alps reminds us of the importance of respecting and protecting nature.
In Chamonix we suggest that customers visit the Mer du Glace glacier at Montenvers where you can walk inside the glacier itself and learn about the rapid retreat of the glacier in recent years and observe the stark effects of climate change at first hand. Personal experiences such as this are an important motivator to act in a responsible manner towards the environment in everyday life.
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

Our small chalet-style hotel base in Les Houches in the Chamonix valley is locally owned. The hotel restaurant, where we eat on 4 of the 7 nights, serves typical French cuisine and uses locally sourced produce as far as is possible. On the other nights we encourage customers to eat at one of the many other nearby local restaurants.
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 and Diversity

In line with local regulations, we use qualified International Mountain Leaders to lead this vacation. Whilst not all of them will have been born and brought up in the Alps, they have all spent a considerable amount of time here and are experienced Alpine leaders with a particular affinity to the region.