Sicily history tour, Italy

Planet

Activity:
We try to operate on a ‘leave no trace’ basis, which involves being vigilant with proper disposal of waste and being sure to leave any flora, fauna and historical sites undamaged. By using local drivers for transfers, local restaurants and small shops, we make daily contributions to the economy and the community. Using local guides also has the mutual benefit of creating employment opportunities in the region, whilst clients have the advantage of in-depth expertise of the country. By visiting a number of archaeological sites, baroque temples, honey coloured towns and areas of natural beauty, we generate funds which support the maintenance of these important historical and natural places.

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

People

Accommodation and Meals:
We spend the week using comfortable, locally owned hotels. All accommodation is locally staffed and sometimes family run, which has a positive effect on employment levels and economy in the region. Most lodgings are located in proximity to the UNESCO historic sites we visit, which reduces further the need for carbon producing transfer vehicles on the trip. Sicilians are very proud of their local produce and so where meals are provided, fresh, locally sourced ingredients are used as much as possible- which benefits suppliers in the area. Free mealtimes are a valuable chance to explore the wide variety of cafes and restaurants on our route, serving tasty and authentic dishes. If there is time, guides can also direct clients to the daily market in Syracuse, which sells seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and regional cheeses, sausages and preserves.

Local Craft and Culture:
Cuisine is a huge part of Sicilian culture and so we include frequent stops at locally owned businesses to introduce traditionally crafted produce and customary specialties. For example, At Mount Etna, we arrange a wine and cheese tasting in one of the famous wine cellars of the area. Made at local vineyards, we can sample a range of wines, including the famous Sicilian desert wine, Marsala. Locally crafted cheeses including ricotta and pecorino are also prominent. By purchasing these products and other handmade items (paintings, ceramics, embroidery), we help to sustain traditional methods of craftsmanship.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.