Cycle Burgundy's Route de Grand Crus

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

The main components of our vacations are already relatively low emitters of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, but we feel strongly that there is always room for improvement in this area. Burgundy is a brilliant destination with sustainability in mind, thanks to the investment into clean energy seen throughout the country. Many of the hotels and restaurants on this tour are powered this way, thanks to new French laws eco-labelling accommodation, including those on this Burgundy tour. Vegetarian food is mostly available on this route.

At our head office in the UK we recycle paper, card, plastic and metal cans and we always try to use fully recyclable materials for our printed travel documents and marketing communications. We encourage all our staff to cycle when they can and are part of the Cycle to Work scheme. We also like to take part in charity bike rides together each year.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Our partners in the Burgundy provide all cyclists with a refillable water bottle and share some top tips on how to support the local environment. Ideas such as turning off lights when leaving a room, considering if you need clean towels and bedding regularly and taking no more than one shower daily when possible. We also encourage our clients to stick to marked trails and to take away any waste when stopping off for a picnic or to explore the local area.
We've been organising cycling for over 40 years, encouraging this environmentally friendly activity is at the absolute core of our business.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
All our tours encourage cyclists to get off the beaten track and discover the lesser-known parts of Burgundy, visit small wine producers and eat in local restaurants. We also work with local suppliers to organise activities that support the local economy wherever possible and offer advice on bartering to offer a fair price for both the client and the vendor.

Our cycle experts and partners will also advise our clients to respect local cultures and traditions when visiting the area and its historic or religious sites, for example the Hotel-Dieu des Hospices, which was originally a hospital and carries a lot of cultural weight for the region. They will also discuss other ways you can consider your impact on the community such as asking for permission before taking someone’s photograph and learning a few words in the local language – often hello, goodbye and thanks is a good place to start.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
Each year when we purchase new equipment, we will donate our previous bikes and accessories to local businesses and charities in the local area. We also work with World Bicycle Relief to support bike-led charity projects in developing nations. This fantastic charity provides Buffalo bikes to those in remote communities, offering freedom of movement for the first time. This in turn helps the education, economy, and healthcare of that region, allowing people to travel safely and pursue their goals.