Grand Angle Tours: sustainable travel agency
How can we travel more responsibly?
At Grand Angle, we want our journeys to leave a lighter mark on the places we visit. That means measuring the impact of a trip, making lower-impact choices where we can, and working with people who care for their local communities and landscapes. Here is how we put those commitments into practice.
Measuring the impact of our trips
Understanding a trip’s carbon footprint is the first step toward reducing it. We look at travel to and within the destination, accommodation, food and activities. Transport can be the largest source of emissions, particularly when a journey includes a flight. Sharing this information helps travellers compare ways to reach the start of a trip and helps us improve how we design our tours.
A longer stay can spread the impact of getting to a destination over more days. Walking and cycling also let travellers discover a place at a slower pace once they arrive. We do not describe any journey as impact-free: the purpose of measuring is to make better-informed choices.
Reducing the impact of our journeys
Destinations closer to home
Europe represents the great majority of Grand Angle’s catalogue. We have developed a wide choice of trips in France and neighbouring countries, many of which can be reached by train. Each trip page explains how to get to the starting point, so you can compare the available options when planning your holiday. Explore our European trips for ideas.
Travel on foot or by bike
Hiking and cycling are central to the holidays we organise. They allow time to meet people, enjoy local food and experience the landscapes at a human pace. When a cycling trip requires equipment, we offer bike rental so that travellers can avoid bringing a bike from home or buying one for a single journey.
Small decisions during the trip
We use reusable fabric travel pouches and offer digital travel documents. On guided tours, we encourage guides to choose local and bulk products for picnics and to use reusable bags. These practical steps help limit waste while supporting the places we visit.
Supporting environmental projects
Reducing emissions comes first. Alongside that work, Grand Angle contributes through the SETOSPHERE endowment fund to certified projects that reduce emissions. One supported initiative, Jiko Sawa in Kenya, distributes improved cooking stoves to rural communities. These stoves use less wood and help reduce indoor air pollution.
Travelife and responsible tourism
Grand Angle holds Travelife Partner status, which recognises work on environmental and social practices, partner relationships and the way trips are organised. We are working toward the further Travelife Certified level. Grand Angle is also a member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR), an association that promotes transparency, respect for local communities and better tourism practices.
These commitments require continuing work: improving the information we give travellers, reducing waste and emissions, and strengthening our relationships with local partners. You can learn more about the people and values behind our journeys on our about us page.
Your choices before and during the trip
Where your journey allows it, compare rail and shared transport to reach the starting point. During the trip, follow the rules of protected areas, reduce waste and be mindful of water use. Our traveller’s code of ethics explains practical ways to respect the people and places you visit. Our carbon footprint page explains what the trip estimates include and how to consider your journey to the departure point.