Travellers Guidelines

As part of our responsible tourism policy, we aim to have positive impact on the countries we visit. Please read the following suggestions which outline the social, cultural and environmental impact of our tours - and how you can help. You might also be interested in our free carbon offsetting programme.

Dress
Egypt and Morocco are Muslim countries. As such women are viewed in a different way to the west. However, both also have a long history of tourism and western women are a common sight. To reduce to risk of causing offence we recommend dressing as most Muslim women would: long trousers and tops that cover the shoulders are a safe bet. On beaches, topless bathing is not acceptable, and thongs/ g-strings are likely to invite unwanted advances.

Security
Our criteria regarding international instability are simple: we follow the UK Foreign Office's advice instantly and to the letter. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Travel Advice Unit issues information advice to inform travellers about certain destinations. If you're concerned about a destination or your safety, you can check this information before you travel at: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo, or at the website of the UK Foreign Office: www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

Local Produce
Egypt and Morocco are different from the West in that there are few multinational corporations involved in retail. Most shops are owned by a local businessman who then rent properties to individual storekeepers. Almost all shopping that our guests are likely to encounter is therefore locally-run. However, it's worth noting that many of the items available in duty-free and in airport shops are readily available on the street. Incorporated into our trips are also specific opportunities to buy local crafts, which will be pointed out by our tour leaders.

Water consumption
Taking a bath uses nearly seven times as much water as a shower. In order to reduce water consumption, therefore, we recommend taking a shower wherever possible.

Environmental considerations
For most of the time we operate in two environments: in the desert, or by the sea.

There are several desert regulations: don't leave litter behind, bury all faecal material and burn the toilet paper. You should not pick any plants, or give sweets to Bedouin children as this encourages begging. Plants in the desert are untouchable; they belong to the Bedouins who know exactly when to cut them for fire or to use them for any of their tasks. Hunting is similarly strictly forbidden.

In the water, don't touch for any reason any kind of marine life, for the environment protection and your own safety (corals are animals, and are alive; fish and marine mammals can be seriously damaged by an innocent cuddle – their skin has a protective layer that can disappear with a human touch; other fish or marine creatures are poisonous or otherwise dangerous to humans if disturbed). Don't pick up from the sea or the beaches anything apart from garbage. Even a piece of dead coral or an empty shell need to be left in their place for the environment's balance. Sports fishing is totally forbidden. Walking on the reefs is strictly forbidden (apart from being a bad idea for your own safety and wellness: corals cut!)

Impacts on local cultures
The Middle East views Western sexuality through the eyes of the media. The only view many Egyptian or Moroccan men have therefore had of Western women is through the television. Consequently ideas of the availability of western women differ. Although inter-cultural relationships are common, a polite 'no thanks' should be adequate to fend off any unwanted advances. Islam is very strict on respecting women, and violence towards women is almost unheard of.

Bargaining is a Middle Eastern tradition. It is also an art: you will be invited to sit down and drink some tea, while various items are displayed. If you strike up a rapport with the shopkeeper you are more likely to get a better price; if you insist on shouting and blustering, chances are he will similarly stall. Bear in mind that prices tend to be cheap; it's often not worth the protracted negotiations that might reduce the price by five percent or so.

Local social projects
We have several opportunities to visit local projects run by Sinai Bedouins or Morrocan Berbers - these will be pointed out by your tour leader.

Being responsible doesn't finish when your trip does...
When you return home we'd like you to think about how you can give something back to the country you visited. Your spending has certainly helped the local economy, and now there are other things that can be done to help some other countries on an ongoing basis. There are various agencies and groups trying to address local issues, aiming to assist developing countries maintain their cultural identity, develop sustainable resources and improve social justice situations. Things you could do:

- Join a development agency or other group devoted to concerns in developing countries.
- Become a volunteer and donate time to aid groups.
- Buy your birthday or Christmas presents at shops run by various third world charitable groups.
- Write letters for Amnesty International to assist political prisoners or to put pressure on governments to change some intolerable situations.
- Become more aware of your own government's policies and how they influence the 'two-thirds world'.
- Or just be a more environmentally friendly household and help to use the world's resources more efficiently.


Yoga retreats, yoga holidays, yoga Egypt, Thailand, Morocco



FAQS - LINKS - FLIGHTS - EGYPT INFO - MOROCCO INFO - THAILAND INFO - MORE ON YOGA - YOGA WEEKENDS - YOGA LONDON - WHAT PEOPLE SAY - WHAT CAN YOGA DO FOR ME? - RESPONSIBLE TOURISM - READING LIST - GALLERIES - CLIMATE CARE - WORK FOR US - BOOKING FORM

Yoga holidays, yoga retreats and yoga weekends in Egypt, Thailand, Morocco, France and the UK

Travellers Guidelines

As part of our responsible tourism policy, we aim to have positive impact on the countries we visit. Please read the following suggestions which outline the social, cultural and environmental impact of our tours - and how you can help. You might also be interested in our free carbon offsetting programme.

Dress
Egypt and Morocco are Muslim countries. As such women are viewed in a different way to the west. However, both also have a long history of tourism and western women are a common sight. To reduce to risk of causing offence we recommend dressing as most Muslim women would: long trousers and tops that cover the shoulders are a safe bet. On beaches, topless bathing is not acceptable, and thongs/ g-strings are likely to invite unwanted advances.

Security
Our criteria regarding international instability are simple: we follow the UK Foreign Office's advice instantly and to the letter. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Travel Advice Unit issues information advice to inform travellers about certain destinations. If you're concerned about a destination or your safety, you can check this information before you travel at: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo, or at the website of the UK Foreign Office: www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

Local Produce
Egypt and Morocco are different from the West in that there are few multinational corporations involved in retail. Most shops are owned by a local businessman who then rent properties to individual storekeepers. Almost all shopping that our guests are likely to encounter is therefore locally-run. However, it's worth noting that many of the items available in duty-free and in airport shops are readily available on the street. Incorporated into our trips are also specific opportunities to buy local crafts, which will be pointed out by our tour leaders.

Water consumption
Taking a bath uses nearly seven times as much water as a shower. In order to reduce water consumption, therefore, we recommend taking a shower wherever possible.

Environmental considerations
For most of the time we operate in two environments: in the desert, or by the sea.

There are several desert regulations: don't leave litter behind, bury all faecal material and burn the toilet paper. You should not pick any plants, or give sweets to Bedouin children as this encourages begging. Plants in the desert are untouchable; they belong to the Bedouins who know exactly when to cut them for fire or to use them for any of their tasks. Hunting is similarly strictly forbidden.

In the water, don't touch for any reason any kind of marine life, for the environment protection and your own safety (corals are animals, and are alive; fish and marine mammals can be seriously damaged by an innocent cuddle – their skin has a protective layer that can disappear with a human touch; other fish or marine creatures are poisonous or otherwise dangerous to humans if disturbed). Don't pick up from the sea or the beaches anything apart from garbage. Even a piece of dead coral or an empty shell need to be left in their place for the environment's balance. Sports fishing is totally forbidden. Walking on the reefs is strictly forbidden (apart from being a bad idea for your own safety and wellness: corals cut!)

Impacts on local cultures
The Middle East views Western sexuality through the eyes of the media. The only view many Egyptian or Moroccan men have therefore had of Western women is through the television. Consequently ideas of the availability of western women differ. Although inter-cultural relationships are common, a polite 'no thanks' should be adequate to fend off any unwanted advances. Islam is very strict on respecting women, and violence towards women is almost unheard of.

Bargaining is a Middle Eastern tradition. It is also an art: you will be invited to sit down and drink some tea, while various items are displayed. If you strike up a rapport with the shopkeeper you are more likely to get a better price; if you insist on shouting and blustering, chances are he will similarly stall. Bear in mind that prices tend to be cheap; it's often not worth the protracted negotiations that might reduce the price by five percent or so.

Local social projects
We have several opportunities to visit local projects run by Sinai Bedouins or Morrocan Berbers - these will be pointed out by your tour leader.

Being responsible doesn't finish when your trip does...
When you return home we'd like you to think about how you can give something back to the country you visited. Your spending has certainly helped the local economy, and now there are other things that can be done to help some other countries on an ongoing basis. There are various agencies and groups trying to address local issues, aiming to assist developing countries maintain their cultural identity, develop sustainable resources and improve social justice situations. Things you could do:

- Join a development agency or other group devoted to concerns in developing countries.
- Become a volunteer and donate time to aid groups.
- Buy your birthday or Christmas presents at shops run by various third world charitable groups.
- Write letters for Amnesty International to assist political prisoners or to put pressure on governments to change some intolerable situations.
- Become more aware of your own government's policies and how they influence the 'two-thirds world'.
- Or just be a more environmentally friendly household and help to use the world's resources more efficiently.


Yoga retreats, yoga holidays, yoga Egypt, Thailand, Morocco



FAQS - LINKS - FLIGHTS - EGYPT INFO - MOROCCO INFO - THAILAND INFO - MORE ON YOGA - YOGA WEEKENDS - YOGA LONDON - WHAT PEOPLE SAY - WHAT CAN YOGA DO FOR ME? - RESPONSIBLE TOURISM - READING LIST - GALLERIES - CLIMATE CARE - WORK FOR US - BOOKING FORM

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