Kayaking vacations in the French Alps

Planet and people

The local economy of the Alps in summer is predominantly supported by agriculture and tourism. We only use local kayak and rafting companies for our kayak courses ensuring that the money we bring in from outside stays in the local community.

All the accommodation we use for the kayaking vacations are owned and run by local people rather than being part of a large international chain so again we ensure that the money we bring in from outside stays in the local community. All our instructors are environmentally aware and will where appropriate share their knowledge of the local river wildlife and habitat with clients to improve general awareness.

Kayaking itself has a minimum impact on the environment. The main impact is at the get in and out points on the river banks. The companies we use for kayaking manage the impact of kayaking on by using set put ins and outs on the rivers which is co-ordinated with other companies to minimise erosion and other human impact. Our office policy is to be as paperless as possible, to use recycled paper and re-use envelopes and jiffy bags where possible.

All accommodation suppliers are vetted according to their professionalism and their approach to responsible tourism (using local produce, respect for the environment and promoting the culture of the region). We don’t print brochures and keep paper use to a minimum in the office preferring electronic distribution as our main means of communication with clients. We provide detailed information on how to behave within the park such as carrying out all litter, no free camping and adhering to the rules of the park. We work closely with the Tourist Office and support their projects for sustainable tourism and in particular the impact of tourism on local agriculture (the traditional way of life in the area). We include local events that support and promote farming traditions, food production and markets in our itineraries and advice for things to do for our clients to help support the farming community and raise awareness of their culture.