Explore generously provided the First Prize for our National Poetry Competition. The Azores Whale Watching Adventure for Two was won by nine year old Jordannah Rees. Here Explore explain how responsible travel can be combined with unique adventure to create unforgettable experiences.

For 26 years Explore adventures have been more than 'just another holiday'. As well as incredible experiences available in destinations around the world, we have a programme of responsible tourism initiatives in place as a matter of course ensuring we tread lightly wherever we go. The company was created with this in mind, long before the media focus on the concept.

Less is More
Travelling in small groups is always a good start - a maximum of around 16 people ensures that even the smallest African village can host our tours without being swamped.

But further than that, Explore has total faith in Responsible Tourism and believe that:

• People who work for Explore should be treated fairly and paid a fair wage.
• We should learn about and respect the customs and culture of the country we are visiting so that we do not offend local people.
• We should try to ensure that local people benefit economically from tourism by employing them as leaders and guides, eating out in local restaurants and using family-run hotels where possible.
• We must minimise our impact on the environment by travelling in small groups, reducing waste and offsetting our carbon emissions.

Supporting Projects Across the World
As well as operating responsibly, Explore supports a variety of charitable projects including schools and tigers in India, homes for orphans in Egypt and Tanzania, secondary school places in Morocco and a baby elephant in Sri Lanka.

And now ALL flights will be Carbon Offset
For some time we have offset carbon emissions for all Explore staff flights, and we have encouraged customers to follow suit. However, now we have taken the next step, to carbon offset all our passengers' flights, by donating a sum from each tour cost to projects that reduce global CO2 emissions - we are the first large travel operator to do so.

Because of all these things we enjoy 3-star Responsible Tourism Status with AITO

Wide Choice
As an adventurous travel operator we offer a large range of holidays to more than 130 countries, through a number of programmes including School Adventures and Family Adventures. But there are also cycling holidays, special interest tours, short breaks and a series called 'Beyond' that go further and more remote than the average tour.

School Adventures
Many teachers and school staff enjoy travelling with us too, whether travelling solo or with friends or family, the small group concept makes an ideal way to travel.

Our School Adventures programme offers pupils and teachers alike a unique experience that will get you closer to the country you visit and provide a longer lasting learning experience. We can create totally bespoke tours based around a specific part of the curriculum, geography, history or citizenship for instance, or we can mould a great trip around an existing itinerary - it's up to you.

For more details on any of our tours call 0844 499 0901
To speak to someone about bespoke School Adventures or just to get a brochure call 0844 499 0601
Or visit our website – www.explore.co.uk