Baltic Republics small group vacation

Planet

We use a local Tour Leader and guides on this trip who know the region very well. Our Leaders are trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference.

The majority of the accommodation we use is locally owned. This not only provides direct employment within the hotel, but also has the effect of percolating money beyond to small businesses that supply the hotel and in this way money is spread throughout the region we visit. The historical capital cities of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius are all UNESCO World Heritage Listed, and money spent within them helps to support the local communities and the preservation of the legacy of these distinctive cities.

To help reduce the level of pollution within the city centers, the sightseeing tours we operate don’t use transport and are instead taken on foot, which is also a great way of seeing all they have to offer first hand. When coaches are being used for these small group trips we also keep the size of the coach to a minimum, so rather than using gas guzzling 40-50 seaters we opt for more environmental friendly 15-25 seat coaches that use less fuel and therefore admit less carbon.

The Curonian Spit National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as a valuable cultural landscape and Nida Beach within the national park has been awarded a Blue Flag. The national park authorities have put in place measures for the sustainable development of beaches and marinas through strict criteria in collaboration with the Water Quality, Environmental Education and Information, Environmental Management, and safety providers.

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour Leaders leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

A percentage of the entrance fee to Rundale Palace goes towards helping with the restoration of this attraction, so that it can be enjoyed by future generations. Besides historical sites the trip also includes Saaremaa Island in Estonia, Sigulda and Cesis in Gauja National Park in Latvia, and the Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania.

Overall in these parks there are in excess of 300 plant and animal species under protection. By traveling here we are assisting and encouraging the local communities to safeguard their natural beauty and native flora and fauna.