Southern Iraq tour

Planet

Our local partner is instrumental in developing a regional policy for environmentally sustainable tourism and works very closely with the Regional Government in advising them how to best implement this. This includes the preservation of key natural attractions and ensuring that the gradual increase in tourism and its associated services does not have a detrimental effect.

This is a concept that is still very much in its infancy in this part of the world and we are proud to be working with such a respected pioneer in this field at such a key moment in tourism. We are advising local hotels and guest houses on such issues as waste management and the management of scarce resources. We are advising on future developments in the tourism sector to ensure that they are carried out in an environmentally sensitive manner.

We work with our local suppliers to highlight best practice in terms of environmental issues, an important effort in a country where the environment is often taken for granted. Single use plastic is one area where we are making a sustained effort to educate local suppliers on the alterantives available and that our clients would prefer.

People

Our philosophy is to only use small and locally owned suppliers, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution. We also feel that the passion inherent within such suppliers means that your experience will be enhanced.
We always engage with our suppliers on an equal basis. Knowing that getting the lowest possible price usually isn’t the best outcome for local communities and is ultimately unsustainable. We aim to always treat our suppliers fairly and with respect; they are after all part of the key to our success and to us working together is much more than just a business arrangement, but an ongoing relationship that we aim to ensure truly benefits everyone involved.
We limit our presence in areas where local culture can be quite fragile. By doing this we hope to avoid as much as possible the phenomenon whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to tourism. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come.
We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best.
Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. They will take you to the local restaurants and all provisions are sourced locally. There are many opportunities to support local tradespeople and craft workers. We meet and can trade with local woodworkers and rug manufacturers based in Baghdad.
Where possible we use local public transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops and encourage our clients to interact both financially and socially with the communities that they are passing through. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. Our local supplier works closely with the Regional Government to help protect the impressive archaeological sites to be found here.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travelers. This has much less impact when traveling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects.