Catalonia cultural bike tour, Spain

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION
As a cycling tour, this vacation is naturally low carbon. Catalonia is renowned for its amazing local cuisine, and we recommend all our clients to eat locally. By doing this, they reduce the food miles associated with dining at franchises and chains. Meals included on this vacation comprise of locally sourced food when possible and vegetarian food is available throughout the tour.

At our head office in the UK we recycle paper, card, plastic and metal cans and we always try to avoid using physical travel documents. The office runs on renewable energy, much like many of our chosen hotels. Our paper marketing communications also utilise recycled materials, to help reduce our impact on the earth. Clients are encouraged to take the train instead of flying, and are offered the chance to offset any flights they do take. 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
Whilst cycling in Catalonia, we provide all cyclists with a refillable water bottle and share some top tips on how to support the local environment. Our clients are told how best to respect the local region, including tips on how to reduce waste, especially in hotels. By sticking to well marked cycle paths, our cyclists avoid any unnecessary damage to the local Spanish environments. By respecting the places we love to visit, we ensure they're left for future generations to enjoy and respect.

We've been delivering vacations by bicycle for over 30 years, encouraging this environmentally friendly activity is at the absolute core of our business. Whilst on this tour, you'll have the chance to visit the Costa Brava - this stretch of coastline has important ecological value, and all of our clients are reminded of this. The any rock pools in particular are filled with exciting and rare wildlife like octopus and nudibranchs which should be respected and not touched.

People

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
Our previous, older bikes are donated each year, so that they can be reused and not wasted. We also work very closely with World Bicycle Relief, who provide life-changing Buffalo Bikes to those in developing countries. These bikes provide freedom of movement to many in remote areas.

LOCAL ECONOMY
Catalonia is renowned for its amazing local cuisine, and we recommend all our clients to eat locally. By doing this, they reduce the food miles associated with dining at franchises and chains. This also benefits the local economy, so our tours can help be a force for good in the region. This tour visits the Gala Dali Museum, where many of the local Catalonian art pieces are housed, along with Dali's most famous. By supporting these, your visit helps keep the Catalonian art alive, meaning your visit is a force for good.

Our cycle experts and destination managers will also advise our clients to respect local cultures and traditions when visiting the area and its historic or religious sites, including appropriate dress. 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. Catalonia, like much of Spain, boasts some amazing churches. This tour visits many, including the gothic masterpiece at El Pedro. We remind our clients to respect the local traditions and culture when it comes to these religious sites which can include covering bare shoulders.