At Wild Frontiers we believe it is crucial to support the local communities we visit and to do so in a responsible manner. This is achieved largely through our small group sizes, allowing us to integrate organically with local people, customs and traditions as well as our strong relationships with local agents and guides who share our passion and ethics for responsible travel.
Dining with local families not only allows us to provide them with a direct income, it provides our travellers with a unique, authentic experience and the chance for both parties to learn more about each other’s cultures.
You can read more about our Responsible Travel Policy here.
Let’s take a look at some of the wonderful people who opened their homes to us on our recent trip Across the Caucasus...
Dinner at Zeynab’s in Lahic, Azerbaijan
A short 10 minute walk from our delightful guesthouse, through the cobbled streets of Lahic, we arrive at Zeynab’s family home. Separated from her husband, Zeynab lives with her daughter Vafa and together they help support the rest of their family, by providing a beautiful setting, delicious food and lots of smiles to the small groups of tourists that the local guides bring to their door. Our first experience dining at a family home, we all thoroughly enjoy the sweet chicken, lamb and rice dishes coated in apricot sauce. Once finished we sit taking in our surroundings of chickens running free and children playing in the garden as we learn how Gorovan, our local guide, came to meet Zeynab in the village and through chatting decided to start bringing his groups here.
Lahic is a rural community located in remote mountains that is relatively hard to access. We had to get out and walk the last leg as the road would not support a minibus, just small cars at best. Therefore bringing business directly to families in Lahic is a rarity that not only benefits the people of Lahic, but enabled travellers to experience a sense of Azeri life and living off the land away from the main towns.
We are looking forward to future feasts in Georgia and Armenia. To be continued...
