Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan 11 day tour

Planet

We recognise that climate change is one of the most urgent problems facing our world today and the tourism sector is a growing contributor to the problem. Travel and tourism are responsible for around 5% of global CO2 emissions. Our challenge is to prepare for a low-carbon society by further reducing our environmental impacts, while ensuring we preserve tourism’s social and economic benefits – both for the host communities in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and for our customers.
Working with all relevant local bodies and authorities, we aim to help preserve or improve the environment and deliver a long-term benefit for the host community. All our suppliers should have or be developing green practices and work with their local partners to improve and educate their supply chains.

This tour uses high speed train to get rom Bukhara to Samarkand, and from Samarkand to Tashkent. We recognise the need to fly to destinations, especially as remote as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan but thereafter we will encourage traveling to minimise carbon emissions.

Of course, looking after our environment really should start at home. Our UK based office has an extremely low carbon footprint and we subscribe to a green energy only tariff. We are actively reducing the waste produced by our office and staff, no longer producing brochures or mailing leaflets and confirmations. Our offices have cycle locks and showers to encourage cycling to work and we offer staff a cycle to work scheme.

People

Your visit makes a real difference, bringing work to local drivers, guides and other staff. We and our partners believe in the social and economic empowerment of the local communities we visit on this small group tour. Our local partner takes great care of the people and the environment in which it operates and has a clear company Sustainability Policy which aims to minimize any negative impact and maximize positive impact on nature and communities.

Wherever possible, we generate income for people living in the areas that we visit by using local materials, transport, food and guides and paying directly to the individuals concerned rather than intermediaries. Entrance fees at numerous sites go towards maintenance of historic sites as well as contributing towards salaries and local employment opportunities. This can be seen when we visit Kyzyl Tuu village where tourism is supporting the local people in keeping the skills and knowledge required to produce traditional yurts. The commitment to using local providers is also in evidence when we have an evening meal with a local Uigur family when we visit Karakol.