Iraq history tour, Mesopotamia Explorer

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

We use vehicles that are big enough for four travelers, which reduces the amount of fossil fuels burnt and consumed while they are on tour. We also explore on foot as much as possible.

While on tour, our travelers are able to have vegan/vegetarian food where possible. Additionally, most of the food is locally sourced and grown in the country the travelers visit.

In our UK office, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint by opting to share information online via our website or through email rather than printing out documents and posting them to our travelers.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

We strive to ensure that we leave the areas that we visit as we find them and our team have been trained in strict no litter policies, meaning that we take all refuse to either be recycled or properly disposed of in nearby towns. Many people in Iraq do not have the same approach to the environment as we would in western Europe, therefore it is not uncommon for local people to dispose of rubbish simply by throwing it out of the window. We work to educate our drivers and other service providers so as to avoid contributing to this problem.

When exploring the landscape on foot we make sure that we stick to whatever tracks there may be, and when driving we stick to the dirt roads so as not to degrade the landscape.

In conjunction with our local team we work with hotels and guesthouses to implement best practices when it comes to environmental matters – in some places this is far behind what we might be used to in other parts of the world. This includes basic things like not replacing towels each day, as well as saving electricity and turning lights off .

When we visit national parks or other protected areas, our entrance fees go towards protecting and improving the landscape and surrounding environment as well as protecting wildlife.

People

We visit a number of sites and monuments on this tour that do not necessarily receive much funding from other sources; the entrance fees that we include help to maintain the heritage of this country for future generations – not just western travelers but more importantly to local people to whom they have far more cultural and historical significance. We use locally owned suppliers and our partners here are deeply involved with the preservation of the culture and heritage of the country.

LOCAL ECONOMY

Where possible we encourage our travelers to spend their money with local businesses; for example when visiting villages we usually make a point of stopping at a tea shop or buying supplies from shops, which helps to spread the economic benefits of tourism. It is not always practical to eat outside of the hotels and guesthouses but where possible we try to do this, again to make sure that a variety of businesses and people gain from our visit.

Some of the hotels/home stays our travelers stay in are owned by local people, which means the benefits of tourism come straight into the local economy rather than the money being taken out of the country and spent elsewhere.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

We employ drivers and local guides from within the areas that we visit, helping to provide income to a region that has traditionally been rather neglected from an economic point of view. Our travelers often purchase food, gifts and more from people who are potentially marginalised in the country like ethnic groups or the disabled which then gives a direct income to these people which benefits them and their community.