ethical travel companies uk

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

Get us in your inbox

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city and beyond

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

14 sustainable travel companies you can feel good about booking with

Do some good while seeing the world when you book with these ethical and sustainable travel companies

While we don’t want to labour on the negatives, you don’t need to be an expert or activist to understand that we are in a climate pinch. It seems a little contradictory to fear for the future while excitedly encouraging international travel, but we humans are an innovative bunch. Exploring the globe doesn’t need to be devastating, and being a responsible traveller doesn’t mean lectures and negativity. Whether you call it eco-travel, sustainable, ethical, regenerative or eco-travel, there is plenty to get excited about.

An increasing number of sustainable travel companies are creating itineraries that allow curious minds to see the world while keeping the impact down. The experiences are awe-inspiring, from hiking remote mountaintops to embracing the world’s most impressive national parks, allowing visitors to engage with destinations in a way that extends far beyond the superficial. If you’re looking for an ethical and environmentally driven travel company for your next adventure, look no further.

RECOMMENDED: 

🍁   Five of the world’s wildest places and the people working to keep them that w 🥾   The 16 best hikes in the world 🌊   The 15 most spectacular places to swim in the world

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Sustainable travel companies

1.  byway travel.

In an ambitious mission statement, UK travel platform Byway declares that its goal is to make flight-free holidays a mainstream holiday choice. Their way of doing so? By helping people discover the beauty of slow, overland travel across the British Isles and Europe . Founder and CEO Cat Jones launched the now B Corporation-certified company during the first Covid lockdown, determined to find a way to reduce flight emissions. Her explanation was simple: If we continue on the current trajectory, emissions from flying are due to triple by 2050. 

2.  Gondwana Ecotours

Named after the ancient supercontinent that gradually split to become the land masses we recognize today, Gondwana Ecotours says its mission is to bring people from different continents closer together, one trip at a time. The New Orleans -based company specializes in small group and private tours that take on exhilarating experiences around the globe, such as gorilla trekking in Rwanda and eco-adventures in Patagonia and Mendoza.

A key component of Gondwana is its network of guides who live in the communities visited, adding personal knowledge, depth and authenticity to the experience while providing tourism-generated income. The company is also committed to limiting its carbon footprint through sustainable travel practices and is recognized for offsetting more than 580 tons of carbon emissions. Since 2021, its tours have been 100-percent carbon-neutral, as certified by the Cooler emissions tracking organization.

3.  Intrepid Travel

Australian-owned Intrepid has always been forthright in declaring its commitment to ethical and responsible practices. In 2018, it became one of the first global travel operators to be B Corporation-certified. Since 2010, it has been operating as the world’s largest carbon-neutral company, carefully measuring and offsetting all unavoidable carbon emissions for 13 years. 

Their trips are just as impressive. From 15-day expeditions traversing the extraordinary gorges and remote villages of northern Pakistan’s Hunza Valley to nine-day itineraries centred around baby gorilla naming ceremonies in Rwanda’s spectacular Volcanoes National Park, Intrepid offer true bucket list travel adventures suited to guests of all interests and abilities. In 2020, as a part of the Tourism Declares A Climate Emergency initiative, the company published a seven-point climate commitment plan – revealing its intention to transition to 100% renewable energy use in offices by 2025 and on all trips by 2030.

4.  Experience Travel Group

Operating on the belief that ‘travel should be about reciprocation’, Asia travel specialist Experience Travel Group holds responsible travel at its core, enabling guests to interact with the community and experience real cultural immersion on every trip. Another B Corporation-certified company, the team is dedicated to creating experiences that divert away from trendy hubs and big hotels. Instead, they build personalised itineraries with initiatives to give back to the community included in the package. 

On adventures in Indonesia , Laos, Cambodia , Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam , for example, guests can enjoy delicious local dishes at ‘social enterprise’ restaurants that support vulnerable young people through job training and employment. In Cambodia, a trip to the Phare Circus in Siem Reap sends funds directly to a performing arts school for underprivileged children in nearby Battambang. A three-day hike along sections of Sri Lanka ’s Pekoe Trail follows the old horse and cart routes that carried tea to the ports, bringing vital income to little-visited communities. 

5.  Seacology

In 1990, American ethnobotanist Dr Paul Cox was conducting forest research in Samoa when village leaders told him 30,000 acres of pristine rainforest were about to be logged due to a government decree to fund a school. Cox was horrified and quickly devised a proposal to raise the needed money to conserve the forest in perpetuity. His plan worked and has come to define the Seacology model: Provide material benefits to villages that pledge to protect their natural resources.

Today, Seacology offers unique ecotourism adventures throughout the world’s islands, where travelers visit active projects, interact with local people and are part of the formula that helps conserve both habitats and communities. Seacology guests also explore intriguing island environments, from the coral reefs of  Fiji to the rainforests of Borneo, while staying at well-appointed resorts and visiting important cultural sites. With all this tropical splendour, expect plenty of opportunities to scuba dive, snorkel, hike and kayak.

6.  Discover Corps

Discover Corps is the leader in the rapidly growing field of 'volunteer vacations' focusing on children, schools, animals and wildlife conservation. Yes, 'voluntourism' has often become a buzzword to cash in on thinly veiled claims, earning criticism and scrutiny over the years. However, Discover Corps operates with complete transparency and has become something of a gold standard for the model.

Trip itineraries are designed to connect travellers to local communities and provide a deeper understanding of the culture, issues, and ways of life in locations around the world. Many projects are in Africa , Asia , and Latin America and can range from caring for elephants in Thailand to helping to protect the animals in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park region.

7.  ROW Adventures

From its beginnings as a whitewater rafting company in the US's Pacific Northwest, ROW Adventures has evolved into an adventure travel company that advocates the transformative nature of human-powered experiences. According to ROW, connecting people with nature results in positive impacts, and the company adheres to conducting business in an inclusive and sustainable way while promoting social equity, environmental stewardship and accountability. Human-powered activities allow participants to fully observe the surroundings, whether white water rafting in Idaho's Salmon River, sea kayaking the orcas in Canada, or trekking across Machu Picchu.

ROW also recognizes that travel is a large contributor to the world’s carbon footprint and subsequently mitigates the impact by offsetting carbon-producing activities whenever possible. At the same time, trips also educate guests to be advocates for locations visited, with special recognition given to the awareness of Indigenous communities and honouring their legacies, lives and connections to the land.

8.  Natural Habitat Adventures

Conservation through exploration is the credo of Natural Habitat Adventures , the official travel partner of the World Wildlife Fund. Nat Hab, as it’s called, is committed to environmentally friendly nature travel, stressing that its travellers become a force for change in addressing the planet's most pressing conservation challenges. Polar bear tours in the Canadian Arctic , African safaris and South American nature tours are examples of the company’s itineraries where tourism dollars become an influential incentive for communities to protect their natural resources.

Nat Hab also acknowledges that its 8,000 annual travellers on all seven continents expend plenty of CO2. To mitigate travel’s carbon output, the company leans into offsetting measures. From 2007 to 2019, Nat Hab offset 49,418 tons of carbon dioxide and has become the world's first 100-percent carbon-neutral travel company. They’ve also provided more than $4.5 million to support WWF’s global conservation efforts and continue to give one-percent of gross sales plus $150,000 annually in support of WWF’s global mission. 

9.  Cheeseman's Ecological Safaris

Ecology safaris catering to wildlife enthusiasts looking for an in-depth nature experience is what husband-and-wife founders Doug and Gail Cheeseman envisioned when they started their namesake company in 1980. Doug, a college zoology and ecology professor, and Gail, a naturalist, turned their passion for nature into a travel company focusing on comprehensive wildlife tours all over the globe. Working with local guides and wildlife researchers, tours are designed for hardcore animal lovers who are obsessed with travel and enjoy learning about the animals they encounter.

For example, Cheeseman’s  Palau National Marine Reserve diving trip in the western Pacific Ocean offers 12 days of snorkelling, paddling, sailing and diving among the awe-inspiring tropical islands in the region.

10.  Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions co-founders Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell took the first group of commercial travellers to the North Pole in 1991, completing the first-ever tourism transit of the Northeast Passage. That inaugural expedition proved a game-changer and positioned the company at the forefront of polar explorations. In the three decades since, its polar travellers have visited remote parts of the Arctic and Antarctic. 

With the Earth’s polar regions threatened by climate change, Quark is committed to raising awareness of these delicate ecosystems through environmentally responsible tourism. A facet of that commitment is the company’s Polar Promise to reduce its footprint and work with other industry leaders, as well as guests, to address the complex and challenging issues facing the regions. Coordinating with a global network of scientists, community leaders and sustainability innovators, the company plans to contribute a minimum of $500,000 each year in support of key environmental initiatives and sustainable development projects.

[image] [title]

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out Worldwide

• All Time Out Locations
• North America
• South America
• South Pacific

• Inspiration
• Destinations
• Places To Stay
• Style & Culture
• Food & Drink
• Wellness & Spas
• News & Advice
• Partnerships
• Traveller's Directory
• Travel Tips
• Competitions

10 travel companies for eco-conscious travellers

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Conscious consumers need quick signposts to more responsible spending. A company displaying its B Corp status is welcome short-hand for telling us that the company has gone through a rigorous assessment of its impact on workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. 

‘As the travel industry, and all businesses, seek to recover from the effects of the pandemic, the sector is evolving to offer more sustainable ways of exploring the world – and B Corps can play a crucial part in accelerating this trend,’ says Chris Turner, executive director of  B Lab UK , which certifies B Corp businesses. ‘Increasingly, travel ventures are taking important and necessary steps to mitigate their impact on the environment. For B Corps, creating a positive impact means going beyond protecting our planet to empower workers, serve communities and legally embed these principles at the heart of the business.’ 

What’s the big deal about looking out for this marque on a website or products? Any business actively aiming to minimise harm to the environment and maximise human welfare every step of the way is naturally going to be more appealing to those striving to make more responsible purchases and live a more  sustainable  lifestyle. 

B Corporation holiday heroes

Travel companies aiming to be more sustainable are increasingly seeking that B Corp seal of approval and lots more businesses are applying for the accreditation since the first few dozen went live in 2007. To qualify, a minimum of 80 points out of 200 must be scored on the B Impact Score Assessment.

Sawday’s, UK

The first accommodation platform in the  UK  to achieve B Corp accreditation, Bristol-based Sawday’s group (which includes glamping directory  Canopy & Stars  and pet holiday company  Paws & Stay ), was founded on principles of social and environmental responsibility. The company is structured in such a way that it's been majority employee-owned since 2018, with a quarter owned by a charitable trust. It aims to plant a million trees by 2025 as part of a drive towards being a carbon-neutral office, plus it ranks high for staff wellbeing and happiness and for making an impressive contribution to local communities. ‘We are at a critical point for the environment and coming out of the pandemic, we have a once in a lifetime chance to reinvent responsible and ethical holidays – we must encourage everyone to think differently,’ says Mike Bevan. The company is also a member of  Travel by B Corp , a growing collection of UK-based B Corp travel businesses. sawdays.co.uk

A small, bespoke, high-end travel designer set up in 2017, specialising in personalised itineraries. Joro tries to make travelling more sustainable for its clients by communicating the carbon footprint implications of every step, prioritising electric vehicles for transfers, direct flights and the right accommodation choices. It has also founded the  Conscious Travel Foundation  to support conservation and community projects and to drive change. joroexperiences.com

Journeys with Purpose, UK

Score 129.8.

Founded with conservation at its core, Duncan Grossart’s agency plans nature-positive adventures. Each trip is planned around a specific intention, often rewilding . ‘Rewilding is the large-scale, long-term restoration of ecosystems where nature is allowed to take care of itself,’ explains the founder and zoologist. 'Restoring biodiversity is a key pillar in the building back of our planet’s diminishing life systems, and rewilding apex predators and keystone species is a fundamental aspect of this process.

journeyswithpurpose.org  

Intrepid, worldwide

The world’s largest  adventure travel  company, which has its headquarters in  Australia , was the first global travel firm to achieve B Corp status. James Thornton, its CEO, recognises that although there are hundreds of certification schemes in travel, few take a holistic view of impact in the way that B Corp does. ‘It took us three years to become certified, a painstaking process that has fundamentally changed the way we do business,’ he says. ‘But having that certification means that people who travel with us trust that we’re fully committed to benefitting people and the planet.’ intrepidtravel.com

This slow travel holiday operator makes complicated multi-stop journeys by train, bus and boat seem a breeze. By making it easier to eschew air travel, Byway plots flight-free itineraries booking locally-owned accommodation along the way. The British brand born during the pandemic is also introducing carbon labelling on their trips. Founder Cat Jones says, ‘We love that our B Corp status shows we’re up for being entirely transparent about, and accountable for our progress towards, our social and environmental goals. These include reducing the climate impact of leisure travel through our 100 per cent flight-free holidays and taking tourists away from hotpots to wonderful places off from the beaten path.' Byway is also prioritising delightful lesser-known locations over tourist magnets, and choosing lower-carbon routes such as the Scotrail service to cross the Glenfinnan viaduct in Scotland over the famous Jacobite Express steam train that runs on the same route.

byway.travel

Pura Aventura, UK

Spain ,  Portugal  and Latin America await via this  Brighton -based travel operator. It also measures the carbon footprint of your entire foray, which is offset through reforesting in the poorest part of  Nicaragua . 

‘Being B Corp means being one of a diverse group of companies which is greater than the sum of its parts. Large and small, we are all driven by a desire to have a positive impact,’ enthuses founder Thomas Power. ‘When we work together on a problem, narrow self-interest is left at the door and the world gets a turbo-charged collective of change-makers. B Corp gives you hope.’ pura-aventura.com

Amazonas Explorer

‘The concept of putting people and planet before profit is the future of how we should all be doing business,’ says Paul Cripps, managing director of this Peruvian travel company. ‘It is not easy to become a B Corp but so worthwhile. Every year we strive to get better, especially as you need to recertify every three years with a higher score – it’s not a one-off certification, but an evolving one.’ Having arranged Machu Picchu-pegged itineraries for three decades, Amazonas aims to work only with like-minded hotels and suppliers, and it’s taking all its tours carbon neutral by offsetting into a carbon sink in Manú National Park in southern Peru. amazonas-explorer.com

Blue Apple Beach, Colombia

This boutique hotel and beach club on the island of Tierra Bomba near Cartagena is a purpose-driven company from Portia Hart. Born to a Trinidadian mother and a British father and raised in rural England , Hart was instilled from an early age with the importance of social equality, as well as being in balance with nature. With this B-Corp recognition, Blue Apple Beach joins only 73 certified Colombian companies to have achieved the certification. On a greater scale, Blue Apple Beach’s B-Corp status proves that regardless of the size of your business, it is possible to meaningfully implement positive practices and become a changemaker in your industry. It is further evidence of how conscious consumers rely on these certifications as they research businesses, impacting their decisions when spending.

blueapplebeach.com

Bodhi Surf + Yoga, Costa Rica

Score 121.5.

Responsible practices have been woven into every aspect of this lodge in Costa Rica since it opened in 2010. Keen to have this validated by a third party, it’s the only surf camp or yoga retreat with the B Corp seal of approval – and it’s keen for others to catch up. Bodhi's Service and Surf programme in the Ballena Marine National Park shares knowledge and resources with community members, especially the young, in exchange for community service and beach clean-ups. bodhisurfyoga.com

International Volunteer HQ, New Zealand

The first and still the only global volunteer and internship travel specialist to become a certified B Corporation, this New Zealand-based organisation offers volunteering projects and international internships in more than 50 destinations, focusing on delivering impact for local communities, wildlife and the environment. All its projects have been developed to support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and in the last year, it has launched more volunteer projects to support climate action. Its business operations have been carbon neutral since 2019 and its focus on sustainability and regenerative travel has seen the company increase its B Impact Score in each audit undertaken since 2015. volunteerhq.org

Pack more B Corp

Brands reducing the natural and social impact of their products or services

Patagonia is the poster brand for transparency in fashion supply chains, having been working to produce its garments with integrity since 1973. This Californian purveyor of outdoor apparel donates one per cent of sales to environmental charities.

Finisterre ’s padded Biosmock slip-on jacket is winning awards for its circularity and biodegradability. 

Yala Jewellery sells contemporary African designs crafted in Kenya .

Pala Eyewear's stylish sunglasses raise funds to support long-term solutions in Africa , including eye tests, eye care and specs, helping people to access education or employment. Founder John Pritchard features on our Green List .

Veja’s sustainable sneaks have always been a lesson in ethical supply chains and labour practices. The company has just launched a lighter, new-gen running shoe: Condor 2 walks its talk in a new way, thanks to its innovative use of plant-based and recycled materials.

Ace & Tate ’s bio and recycled frames in both bio and recycled acetate mean their specs have been fashioned from off-cuts.

KeepCup has stepped things up with its Thermal range for hot and cold beverages, sparing us the need for disposable drink containers on the go.

Davines is dedicated to supplying sustainable hair and skin products, and this month the Italian family-run company launches Heart of Glass, shampoo and conditioning treatments for blondes.

Bombas  doesn’t simply sell the most comfortable socks and slippers ever, they have a model where for every pair bought they help homeless people. 

2024 World Tourism Day Forum on Tourism, Justice, and Peace

Registration is Now Live!

Learn More about CREST's 2024 World Tourism Day Forum

CREST's 7th Annual World Tourism Day Forum from September 24th-25th in Atlanta, GA aims to Bridge Barriers and Amplify the Voices of the Unheard in Tourism.

Get to know our team and why we're so passionate about what we do.

See what areas of responsible travel we're focusing on and current projects.

Browse our library of research, past studies, reports and publications on our work.

Get Involved

Discover the ways you can get involved in our mission and support our work.

Donate Today

Our generous supporters have helped us tackle more projects than ever before, but there’s still lots of work to be done before responsible travel is the norm. Can you contribute to our cause?

Contribute to Our Auction

We host four online auctions a year and packages are generously donated by hotels and travel companies around the world. Would you like to contribute a package?

Conserving what we love: Playa Viva’s watershed regeneration project

We believe in highlighting the good work tourism businesses are doing to promote responsible travel. In this series, we will be highlighting the work of our platinum sponsors, a group of responsibly-operated hotels and tour operators from around the world whose values align with our mission and have committed to supporting CREST for at least…

Muy’Ono Farms’ Sustainable & Regenerative Farming Practices

Small is beautiful: An interview with Bodhi Surf + Yoga

Sign up for our newsletter.

Join our newsletter and we'll keep you in the loop about all of our latest news, programs, and ways to get involved.

" * " indicates required fields

Ethical Traveller

Catherine Mack – Content manager, editor, copywriter and travel writer

Top ten sustainable tourism companies for post-pandemic travel

There is a lot of talk of the new normal in travel. How we are all going to be sustainable, savvy and sensitive when we are allowed out of our cages again. I have always believed that sustainability is normal in tourism, and so this isn’t new for me. It isn’t new for the following sustainable tourism companies either, who have been flying the fantastic flag of fair and fun tourism for many years. 

So, if you are revving up to travel again but want to not only keep things responsible but also remote, here are some beauties in my book. These ten sustainable tourism companies are led by pioneering people who will look after you, your loved ones, their own communities and environments. I don’t like top ten type round ups, because ranking leaders like this is just nonsense, so they’re in alphabetical order. 

Inntravel 

My first port of call when it comes to self-guided walking holidays is Inn t ravel . This is one of those outdoor tourism companies that people come back to holiday with again and again. When I went on a walking holiday in Brittany with them, walking down the Pink Granite Coast of Brittany, it was superbly organised, all the accommodation was hand picked and exquisite, the food was locally sourced, and the logistics of luggage being sent on to the next hotel was very smooth.

They just get it. And they certainly get responsible tourism , having been one of the first pioneers of slow, local and ethical travel. I have walked 10K a day for most days of lockdown, so I am definitely ready to walk in a glorious new place again, but away from the crowds. I know that with Inn Travel I shall be in safe hands.

Itinerance Trekking, hiking with a donkey in the French Alps

As people flock back to the French Alps, there is one region of Alpes Maritimes, just an hour’s journey from Nice by train, that is quieter than most: the Mercantour National Park. One of the most exciting ways to explore this region, especially for families, is by trekking across its valleys, inn to inn, with a donkey to carry your bags.

You won’t see a soul for days, except at your accommodation, all of which are superbly managed in terms of responsible tourism by the founders of Itinerance Trekking . Their website does not quite capture their brilliance, but this is one of the best family holidays we have ever had. Read more here .

Magnetic North Travel 

One of the best things about working in the responsible tourism sector of our industry is the people we meet. I first met Laura Greenman when she was a writer, editor and publisher and she commissioned my book Ecoescape Ireland, having just completed her own Ecoescape UK. She has a vast understanding of responsible tourism, is totally ecoaware and now is a leading ecoentreprenuer, running a travel company dedicated to wilderness trips in Scandinavia and Canada.

When international travel starts again, Laura recommends Iceland as a first outing back into the beautiful, wild world, as it’s the only one of her destinations that plans to reopen for international travel in summer 2021. Iceland is also almost coronavirus free. For real remoteness, and breathing Iceland’s invigorating air, check out her trip to Deplar Farm in the north of the country, far away from the traditional tourist trail. See more of Magnetic North Travel’s trips here .

Much Better Adventures

If you are revving up to go a little bit wild when this is all over, but in a responsible and nature-filled way, check out the new portfolio of rewilding holidays just launched by Much Better Adventures. These take you well off the beaten track to remote parts of Europe, including the Tatras Mountains of Romania, Abruzzo National Park in Italy and the boreal forests of central Sweden. All in the footsteps of wolves, moose and bears.

This small, responsible tour operator has been superb during the pandemic, not least by its creation of a Family Relief Fund to support local guides, hosts, porters and their families in remote places who saw their livelihoods obliterated by the pandemic. So this is definitely one of the sustainable tourism companies to support now that we are able to think about travel again. 

Peak Me, Picos de Europa National Park, Spain

This is the antidote to all that home schooling, or perhaps the boost you need if you have been doing Duolingo to death during lockdown. Ana Rodríguez García, a language teacher, mother and outdoors enthusiast is someone wholly committed to sustaining her home village of Panes by running this too cool for school, Peak Me Languages .

Panes is the gateway to the Picos de Europa Mountains and eponymous national park. After learning Spanish in the mornings, you head off into the mountains to climb, hike, do the via ferrata, paddle board or snowboard in season, all in wild and wonderful places. If you don’t feel like flying yet, read a more detailed article about my trip with Peak Me in The Irish Times . I am counting the days until I can return. 

Soomaa National Park, Estonia

Another little known European wilderness, I love Soomaa National Park. It feels a little bit like you are going back in time to a land of foraging, dug out canoes, remote boglands, exquisite wild swimming, saunas and traditional rural lifestyles. This all comes at a fraction of the cost of its Finnish neighbours (although I love Finland, don’t get me wrong). 

Soomaa is a bit more of a secret and there is no better person to organise a trip there for you than Aivar Ruukel , who runs one of the best sustainable tourism companies there, Soomaa . Read more here about my trip there a few years ago – spring, summer, autumn or winter, Soomaa has something for each season. It even has a fifth season , when the snows melt and the forests are flooded – this is canoeing heaven.

Swimming kept me sane in between lockdowns, especially as I am lucky enough to have plenty of lido loveliness in London where I live. When all the pools closed, I drooled and dreamed over all of Swim Quest’s water wanderlust images. The co-owners of this company, John Coningham-Rolls and Alice Todd , and I have chatted at length about sustainable travel, travelling to off the beaten track destinations, and safety of course. Even when pandemics weren’t a thing, you want your swimming holiday to be safe and Swim Quest is one of my top choices (I also highly recommend Wild Water Adventures i n Ireland by the way, but it’s a little bit more niche, and nippy).

As well as having upcoming swimming trips to Greece, Croatia and Cornwall, they are experts in bespoke small group holidays, so you can go bobbing around in your bubbles if you feel safer that way. For more information see Swim Quest’s website . Or you could just keep drooling over their Instagram pics . If I were you though, I would just dive in.

The train brains

If you aren’t ready to fly yet, or are joining the growing number of people who aren’t going to fly much at all anymore, then I have plenty of train tips for you. Before the pandemic I lived and breathed trains as editor for Rail Europe, a train booking website where you can buy a ticket from anywhere in the UK to all over Europe. I wrote a load of useful guides for them including national parks , long coastal journeys , European day trips , French walking trails and UK islands by train .

Since coronavirus killed that role sadly, the silver lining was writing articles for Byway , a new travel start-up that books holidays in the UK and Europe that don’t involve flying. During both these roles, I had the pleasure of also getting to know the editors of Hidden Europe magazine . Published three times a year, they know every train route possible in Europe, and it is a must have for any keen train traveller.

Tourism declares a climate emergency

Tourism Declares for short, this isn’t one company but a network of over two hundred travel organisations, and growing. They have come together to declare a climate emergency and, in so doing, are working together to plan a better future for tourism. Responsible tourism is about collaboration, and this is one of the finest examples of such. These are not token gestures, but serious commitments to adjust their tourism strategies, models and modus operandi in order to cut global emissions by 50% over the next decade. Check out the companies that have ‘declared’ , their reasons for declaring and their plans for creating change. If your favourite company hasn’t done so already, and they claim to be on the carbon case, ask them why not.

Undiscovered Montenegro

While other European countries were open to travellers last summer, Montenegro was given the red light, something local people and tourism operators were stunned about as there were almost no cases there at the time.

Another of my favourite sustainable tourism companies is responsible travel operator and expert Undiscovered Montenegro , run by a British family who created a superb adventure company on the shores of Lake Skadar National Park. Well off the beaten track, they are totally sussed when it comes to slow, sustainable, fun and just a little bit feral holidays. I mean who doesn’t want to go a bit of feral in the sun this year, canoeing on Lake Skadar , hiking in the Bjelasica and Biogradska Gora National Park or just finding sanity again on a yoga retreat ? All based in the safe confines of Villa Miela , the hub of all things responsible and pride and joy of its creators Emma and Ben Heywood.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Follow Ethical Traveller

Get every new post on this blog delivered to your Inbox.

Join other followers:

12 Sustainable Travel Companies Boosting Eco-Friendly Travel 

In a world where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discussions, sustainable travel has become a crucial aspect of responsible tourism. Traveling sustainably involves conscious choices to minimize environmental impact while exploring the world. 

In this article, we’re diving into sustainable travel by examining what it means and why it matters and exploring the current state of the sustainable travel industry. We’ll also shine a spotlight on 12 sustainable travel companies at the forefront of eco-friendly exploration. These trailblazers are changing the game by offering carbon-neutral tours and community-focused initiatives, ensuring travelers explore the earth while preserving its natural beauty and well-being. 

Moreover, we’ll offer tips to help you embrace sustainable practices to enrich your travel experience and connect you deeply with the places and communities you visit.

Key Takeaways

• Despite the benefits of global travel and tourism, the industry faces the critical challenge of overtourism, which leads to severe consequences such as damage to the local environment and historical sites and diminished quality of life for locals.
• Sustainable travel is seen as one of the most effective solutions for minimizing the impact of tourism by promoting practices focused on reducing carbon emissions, supporting local economies, and respecting indigenous cultures. 
• The sustainable travel sector is experiencing a notable surge in popularity and economic significance fueled by a significant shift in consumer behavior. 
• Travel companies are crucial in promoting sustainable travel by leading by example and inspiring others to follow suit. 
• Sustainable travel companies prioritize environmental conservation and minimize their environmental impact.
• They support local communities and indigenous cultures through responsible tourism and community-based projects.
• They strive to educate travelers about responsible practices and showcase the planet’s beauty.
• They invest in renewable energy projects and work towards reducing carbon footprints to promote sustainability. 
• Some eco-friendly travel options they offer include carbon-neutral tours, locally sourced accommodations, and responsible wildlife encounters.
• Travelers can support sustainable tourism by choosing companies that prioritize ethical and eco-conscious practices.

What is Sustainable Travel, and Why Does It Matter?

Travel and tourism play significant roles in the global economy. They can be a lifeline during economic downturns, help rejuvenate ancient historic sites, and spotlight cultural practices and communities that may have been overlooked. The intention behind promoting such activities is often to share the beauty and heritage of a place with the world.

The growth of global travel and tourism is both staggering and unprecedented. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) there is a leap from 25 million international travelers in 1950 to over 1.3 billion in 2017 . This surge is ongoing, with projections suggesting that by 2030, the world will see 1.8 billion tourists crossing international borders annually , with an expected growth rate of 3.3% each year.

Despite its benefits, travel and tourism face a critical challenge known as ‘ overtourism. ‘ This occurs when an area attracts more visitors than it can sustainably handle. While the influx of tourists brings economic benefits, the scale of visitation can lead to severe consequences, from damage to the local environment and historical sites to diminished quality of life for locals. 

Consequently, while travel and tourism are significant economic engines and vehicles for cultural exchange, responsibly managing them is crucial to avoid the pitfalls of overtourism. Balancing visitors’ desires with the needs of residents and environmental preservation is essential to enrich destinations and those who visit them. This is where sustainable travel can help.

Sustainable travel, also known as eco-friendly or responsible travel, focuses on minimizing the negative impact of tourism on the environment, local communities, and cultural heritage. It involves practices such as reducing carbon emissions, supporting local economies, and respecting indigenous cultures. 

Sustainable travel matters as it significantly benefits local communities and the environment in numerous ways. Here’s how:

Growth of Sustainable Travel 

The sustainable travel sector is experiencing a notable surge in both popularity and economic significance. According to data from Statista , the global ecotourism industry was valued at an impressive $172.4 billion in 2022 . This figure is expected to soar to $374.2 billion by 2028 , showcasing a robust annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9 percent. 

This remarkable expansion reflects a shifting mindset among travelers towards more environmentally friendly and socially responsible travel practices.

Image Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1221034/ecotourism-market-size-global/

The drive towards sustainable tourism is breaking away from the notion that it’s a preference solely among niche groups like eco-warriors. It’s becoming clear that a broader audience is eager to engage in travel, mindful of its impact on the environment and local communities. This shift reflects a general desire to make more responsible choices while exploring new destinations.

A fascinating study by Bain & Company , focusing on travelers interested in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, offers insight into this trend. The research reveals a strong inclination toward sustainability among tourists. 

An impressive two-thirds of those surveyed across selected markets deemed sustainability factors necessary or extremely important for their leisure travel decisions. Furthermore, a significant 73% anticipate that the importance of sustainable travel will grow even further in the next five years.

These findings underscore a keen interest in sustainable tourism options and demonstrate that travelers are more than passively interested. A majority, 64%, claimed that sustainability concerns shape their travel choices. Additionally, 66% expressed willingness to invest more in sustainable travel options, highlighting that people are ready to put their money where their values are.

Perhaps most encouraging is the social ripple effect suggested by the study: 57% of respondents would recommend a holiday destination based on its sustainability credentials. These figures indicate that sustainable travel isn’t just a personal preference but is becoming a part of how people evaluate and share their travel experiences with others.

Image Source: https://www.bain.com/insights/sustainable-tourism-an-untapped-opportunity-for-green-growth/

How can Travel Companies Promote Sustainability?

The broadening appetite for sustainable tourism or green travel indicates a significant shift in consumer behavior. It conveys to the travel industry that integrating responsible practices into their offerings is good for the planet and aligns with evolving traveler priorities.

Travel companies play a crucial role in promoting sustainable travel . By implementing sustainable practices in their operations, they can lead by example and inspire others to follow suit. This includes adopting eco-friendly policies, reducing single-use plastic and waste, and implementing energy-saving measures.

Furthermore, travel companies can support local communities and economies by partnering with local businesses, employing local guides, and promoting authentic local experiences . This benefits the local people and enriches the travel experience for the traveler, fostering cultural exchange and understanding.

It is also crucial for travel companies to prioritize sustainable accommodation options. By partnering with eco-friendly hotels, lodges, and resorts, travelers can stay in establishments committed to minimizing their environmental impact. Renewable energy use in travel is another important aspect, as it reduces reliance on fossil fuels and helps to create a more sustainable industry.

10 Sustainable Travel Companies to Check Out

As the call for sustainable travel grows louder, it’s encouraging to see a diverse array of travel companies responding with enthusiasm and innovation. Below, we have listed 12 travel companies leading the way in responsible and sustainable travel . 

1. Intrepid Travel

Since its inception in 1989, Intrepid Travel has grown from a grassroots operation into a leading global tour operator, celebrated for its unwavering dedication to environmentally and socially responsible travel.

At the core of Intrepid’s mission is the belief that travel should be exhilarating, conscientious, and beneficial to local communities. This ethos is evident in their commitment to offering small group trips and adventures, which helps minimize environmental impact and allows for more meaningful interactions with local cultures.

Recognizing the significant carbon footprint associated with travel, Intrepid Travel took a bold step forward by becoming carbon-neutral in 2010. They meticulously calculate the carbon emissions from their trips, including transportation, accommodation, and other activities, and then invest in renewable energy projects and reforestation efforts that offset these emissions. 

But they didn’t stop there. Intrepid Travel solidified its position as a leader in sustainable tourism in 2020 by becoming the first global tour operator to have its emission reduction targets officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The company was also among the pioneering signatories of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. This declaration, unveiled at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, aims to unite the tourism industry under a common goal: significantly reducing its carbon footprint. By signing this declaration, Intrepid has committed to implementing robust actions outlined in the text, with a key target being the halving of emissions by 2030 and striving to achieve net-zero emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2050.

Moreover, Intrepid is deeply involved in wildlife conservation efforts and works ardently to ensure their tours do not contribute to animal exploitation. They’ve set strict animal welfare standards and educational programs about ethical wildlife experiences for travelers.

Intrepid Travel’s leadership in sustainable and responsible tourism has not gone unnoticed. They’ve received numerous awards and recognitions for their pioneering efforts. By continuously pushing boundaries and advocating for a more sustainable travel industry, Intrepid Travel offers adventures and fosters a global community of responsible travelers. 

2. Gondwana Ecotours

Named after the ancient supercontinent that gradually split into today’s recognizable land masses, Gondwana Ecotours is on a mission to connect people across continents, one journey at a time.

Operating from New Orleans, this company specializes in creating intimate adventures through small group and private tours, offering exhilarating experiences worldwide.

From thrilling gorilla treks in Rwanda to eco explorations in Patagonia and Mendoza, Gondwana Ecotours brings unique and sustainable adventures to life.

One standout feature of Gondwana is its network of guides residing in the communities visited. This brings unparalleled personal insight, depth, and authenticity to each experience while contributing to the local economy. Furthermore, the company takes serious steps to minimize its carbon footprint through responsible travel practices.

Gondwana’s commitment to sustainability is evident in offsetting over 580 tons of carbon emissions and achieving 100 percent carbon neutrality for its tours since 2021, a distinction verified by the Cooler emissions tracking organization.

3. GreenGetaways 

Green Getaways offers a unique collection of sustainable accommodations in Australia, ranging from glamping to eco resorts, tiny houses, cottages, treehouses, yurts, and 5-star hotels. As a hub for responsible travelers, the platform gathers individuals who are passionate about exploring conscientiously.

The accommodations featured on Green Getaways Australia prioritize sustainability by conserving water, energy, and resources and promoting recycling . These efforts benefit the environment and result in cost savings passed on to travelers.

Green Getaways focuses on delicate environments and supports properties’ commitment to environmental management and rehabilitation.

Committed to responsible tourism, Green Getaways highlights accommodations that encourage energy efficiency , water conservation, recycling, and waste management.

The platform also advocates for fairness and dignity, promoting equal treatment for all guests and staff and championing fair wages and workers’ rights. 

Encouraging transparency, Green Getaways requires listed businesses to share their environmental practices openly, ensuring travelers can make informed choices. 

4. Byway 

Byway is a champion of slow, immersive travel experiences that prioritize connections with local environments and cultures over the speed and convenience of traditional tourism. This innovative company is dedicated to providing travelers with customizable journeys that are 100% flight-free, distinguishing itself as a pioneer in sustainable travel options.

The foundational idea behind Byway’s offerings is simple yet revolutionary—to offer an alternative to modern air travel’s high-speed, high-impact nature. By focusing on ground transportation options like trains, buses, bikes, and boats, Byway enables travelers to take the scenic route, experiencing the landscapes and communities they pass through in a way that flying doesn’t allow. This approach reduces carbon emissions associated with travel and enriches the journey itself, transforming travel time into an integral part of the vacation experience.

The company caters to diverse interests and preferences, from vineyard tours in vintage locomotives to leisurely bike tours through idyllic countryside. Each itinerary is thoughtfully designed to showcase the destination’s natural beauty, culture, and heritage without the rush, offering a more meaningful and satisfying way to explore.

Moreover, Byway places a strong emphasis on supporting local economies. By partnering with small-scale accommodations and recommending locally-owned restaurants and attractions, they ensure their travel packages benefit the communities they touch. This focus on local experiences maximizes the positive impacts of tourism dollars and offers travelers authentic insights into the places they visit.

Furthermore, Byway promotes the concept of “traveling without leaving a trace,” reinforcing the sustainability ethos throughout its operations. From selecting eco-friendly accommodations that practice waste reduction and energy conservation to recommending experiences that promote conservation efforts, Byway embeds environmental consciousness into every aspect of its trips.

5. Responsible Travel

Since its establishment in 2001, Responsible Travel has remained a pioneering force for positive change. What sets it apart is its candid acknowledgment of the challenges within the travel industry, including its journey towards sustainability. This honesty and a proactive stance on initiating change positions the company as a leader and catalyst for transformation.

Choosing to travel with Responsible Travel means more than just booking a holiday. It signifies an active decision to support and participate in a model of tourism that prioritizes the well-being of environments, cultures, and communities worldwide. Each trip designed by Responsible Travel is meticulously crafted to ensure that it aligns with the principles of responsible tourism, offering travelers authentic experiences that are enriching and mindful of their impacts.

One of Responsible Travel’s most heartening aspects is its commitment to social responsibility. The company has implemented an inspiring initiative where every booking contributes to giving a child from an underprivileged background a day out—an experience they might otherwise never have had.

In response to the urgent climate change crisis, Responsible Travel actively advocates for reducing air travel—an industry-wide challenge due to its significant carbon emissions. While recognizing that avoiding flights altogether may not be feasible for all travelers, they encourage choices that reduce flight frequency and highlight destinations accessible via more sustainable modes of transport.

Furthermore, Responsible Travel leads by example in striving to diminish its carbon footprint. It invests in projects and practices that combat global warming, from supporting reforestation efforts to promoting eco-friendly accommodations and activities. By doing so, the company works towards neutralizing its environmental impact and inspires travelers and other businesses within the industry to follow suit. 

6. Seacology

Seacology is a nonprofit organization focused on conserving island ecosystems around the globe. It plays an essential role in protecting these unique and vital habitats. The urgency of their mission cannot be overstated, as island environments face various threats, from climate change to deforestation, which in turn endanger the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage they harbor. 

Seacology’s dedication to preserving terrestrial and marine ecosystems on islands has made significant environmental impacts and brought them into the spotlight of international acclaim. Their impressive accolades include being named a finalist for the ORG Impact Awards in Overcoming Climate Change (2021), winning the Energy Globe National Award in Sri Lanka (2020), receiving a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize (2020), and earning the United Nations Momentum for Change climate action award (2018).

The organization’s unique approach is compelling; Seacology launches expeditions that offer direct conservation outcomes by working closely with local communities. These expeditions are carefully designed to support conservation efforts that benefit the environment and the people living there. 

By engaging in projects ranging from establishing marine protected areas to restoring critical habitats such as mangroves and coral reefs, Seacology ensures that their actions lead to sustainable outcomes. Their comprehensive strategy underscores a commitment to tackling environmental challenges while recognizing the inseparable link between thriving ecosystems and the well-being of indigenous peoples and local communities.

7. Gondwana Tours 

Gondwana Tours beckons adventurers seeking a deeper connection with the natural world and aiming to contribute positively to the communities they visit. This isn’t your ordinary travel experience; it’s an immersive journey into the heart of Africa. 

The company’s tours cover a breathtaking array of destinations, from the lush deltas of Botswana to the majestic peaks of Rwanda and the rich cultural tapestry of South Africa to the pristine beaches of Mauritius. Each location offers a unique window into the diverse ecologies and cultures that make Africa a continent of wonders. 

Apart from traditional safari drives, Gondwana Tours understands the yearning for adventure diversity and responds with many activity-based experiences. Whether gliding through waterways in a kayak, galloping alongside wildlife on horseback, quietly stalking birdlife, trekking across vast landscapes, or casting lines into abundant waters, there’s something for every active traveler. 

Gondwana Tours goes beyond the conventional travel experience, emphasizing smaller, more intimate settings outside the well-trodden paths of “mainstream tourism.” This deliberate choice promises adventurers a more personal and enriching journey and aligns with a more profound commitment to sustainability and meaningful community engagement. By focusing on these less-visited destinations, the company fosters local employment opportunities. It ensures that the benefits of tourism directly support community development and contribute positively to the country’s economy and wildlife conservation efforts. 

8. ROW Adventures

ROW Adventures is deeply committed to leading adventures into the heart of the wilderness and engaging in meaningful dialogue about the environment, climate change, and preserving natural resources. This commitment goes beyond mere words to tangible actions, actively collaborating with conservation groups and local communities to bolster efforts in protecting the environments it explores. 

Understanding the significant carbon footprint associated with travel, particularly air travel, ROW Adventures strives to balance this by making conscientious choices in conducting tours and seeking ways to mitigate its environmental impact. This acknowledgment of the broader implications of travel reflects a responsible approach that values sustainability alongside exploration.

Bringing people into untouched or wild areas does come with its footprint; however, ROW Adventures sees this as an opportunity to transform travelers into passionate advocates for these natural places. Through immersive experiences in pristine wilderness settings, visitors develop a deep appreciation for these landscapes, becoming invested in their protection. This direct engagement offered by the company provides a powerful counterbalance to threats such as unchecked development, mining, or the construction of dams that endanger these habitats. 

Contiki is a global travel company known for its vibrant selection of over 350 journeys worldwide, catering to young travelers aged 18 to 35. 

The company has outlined comprehensive plans to offset carbon emissions for its trips in a bold move towards sustainability. 

This ambitious initiative aims to cover every aspect of the travel experience, from the meals served to the choice of accommodation and modes of transport used. By integrating these changes, Contiki aspires to reduce its ecological footprint and enhance the travel experience in alignment with the values of environmentally conscious consumers.

The steps taken by Contiki include significant investments in environmental conservation and clean energy projects. Proceeds are allocated towards supporting crucial forest conservation programs in Australia, which are pivotal in preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Similarly, contributions are directed towards fostering renewable energy developments in the USA, marking a clear commitment to combating global warming. 

Moreover, Contiki’s operations are evolving, with the introduction of biofuel-powered coaches and an expanded range of vegan-friendly dining options, reflecting a deeper understanding of the impact of sustainable practices. The company also achieved carbon neutrality in January 2022, setting a precedent in the travel industry and demonstrating that memorable travel experiences can be exhilarating and ecologically responsible.

10. Sawday’s 

Sawday’s , a distinguished accommodation provider renowned for its curated collection of unique places to stay across the UK and Europe, is proactively addressing the challenge of overtourism. By deliberately capping the number of properties they include in specific locales known to suffer from the adverse effects of excessive tourism, Sawday’s adopts a conscious approach to tourism management. 

This strategy, which applies across its brands — Sawday’s, Canopy & Stars, and Paws & Stay — targets 13 destinations grappling with overtourism pressures. The company’s commitment to not increasing its portfolio in these regions is aimed at mitigating further impact on already strained local infrastructure, curbing the rise of properties turned second homes, easing housing affordability, reducing overcrowding, and safeguarding the environment from tourism-related damage. By refraining from adding new properties in these areas, Sawday’s sets an example of sustainable operation within the hospitality sector.

The intention behind such a considered move is twofold. While acknowledging that this initiative may have a modest direct impact, Sawday’s envisions it as a catalyst for change within the broader travel industry, hoping to inspire other companies in the travel and hospitality sectors to reevaluate their approaches to expansion in tourist-heavy areas. 

Sawday’s champions the cause of sustainable growth and emphasizes the importance of achieving an equilibrium between welcoming tourists and preserving the quality of life for residents, as well as protecting natural and built environments. 

11. Rickshaw Travel

Rickshaw Travel is a UK-based independent travel company providing tailor-made holidays that embrace and promote sustainable tourism practices. For over 15 years, the company has worked closely with local partners, ensuring that each travel experience is authentic and contributes positively to preserving the environment and local cultures. 

Such an approach allows travelers to immerse themselves in genuinely enriching experiences, such as staying in family-run accommodations, participating in tours with knowledgeable local guides, and engaging in activities that directly benefit the community. Rickshaw Travel’s commitment to sustainability is evident in every trip it curates, highlighting that travel is a force for good, fostering environmental stewardship and encouraging cultural exchange and appreciation.

Rickshaw Travel’s concept of responsible travel extends beyond just minimizing negative impacts; it seeks to create benefits for travelers and host communities. By integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of their holidays—from selecting transport methods that reduce carbon footprint to supporting initiatives aimed at conserving wildlife and natural habitats—Rickshaw Travel demonstrates that thoughtful travel can contribute to a healthier planet. 

Furthermore, the company’s dedication to cultural preservation ensures that local traditions and lifestyles are respected and sustained. Through Rickshaw Travel’s tailored journeys, travelers get more than a holiday; they gain insights into the importance of maintaining the world’s diverse ecosystems and cultures for future generations to explore and cherish.

12. Aracari

Aracari is a luxury travel agency offering sustainable travel experiences in Peru, Bolivia, and the Galapagos Islands.

With an emphasis on conservation initiatives and cultural exchange programs, Aracari crafts exclusive journeys that offer travelers unique insights into local traditions, lifestyles, and efforts to protect endangered ecosystems. The company meticulously selects accommodations that share its sustainability ethos, promotes eco-friendly activities, and works closely with communities to ensure tourism benefits are felt locally.

Aracari’s dedication to creating tailor-made travel experiences also involves active participation in projects to preserve the environment and support indigenous cultures. By choosing Aracari, discerning travelers embark on unforgettable adventures and contribute to meaningful efforts that encourage ecological conservation and cultural preservation. 

The compelling blend of luxury travel with a conscience empowers guests to explore breathtaking landscapes and ancient civilizations while fostering a positive impact.

Ways to Travel More Sustainably

Now that you’re equipped with a list of responsible companies for your upcoming travel plans, let’s explore additional strategies to ensure your future journeys are even more sustainable.

• Choose Eco-Friendly Transportation : Opt for trains, buses, or bicycles whenever possible. These options reduce your carbon footprint and offer a deeper connection with your surroundings.
• Support Local Economies : Make an effort to support local economies by dining at family-owned restaurants, staying in locally-owned accommodations, and purchasing gifts and souvenirs from local artisans. This enriches your travel experience and helps distribute tourism dollars more equitably. 
• Reduce Environmental Pollution : Play your part in reducing environmental pollution by carrying and using reusable water bottles and shopping bags, thus minimizing reliance on single-use plastics. 
• Respect Wildlife and Natural Habitats : Do so respectfully and ethically when engaging with nature or wildlife. Adhering to guidelines that ensure you don’t disturb natural habitats or wildlife behaviors is crucial. 
• Offset Your Carbon Footprint : This is an impactful way to counterbalance the ecological impact of your travels. Offset your carbon footprint by investing in carbon offset programs that fund renewable energy, forest conservation, or other sustainability projects, and choosing to travel with companies committed to achieving carbon neutrality. 
• Rethink Your Approach to Travel : Avoid viewing travel merely as a leisure activity. Instead, use it as a chance for meaningful exchange with host communities by learning and sharing. More importantly, reflect on the impact of your stay on the destination and its residents, aiming to leave a positive legacy.

Check out The Lonely Planet’s video below for more strategies to becoming an environmentally responsible traveler: 

The Future of Sustainable Travel

Looking ahead to the future, the travel industry has set ambitious goals for the coming years. Many travel companies have committed to becoming carbon neutral or even carbon negative by investing in renewable energy, offsetting carbon emissions, and implementing sustainable travel practices.

Likewise, numerous ethical travel companies are developing climate action plans to address the environmental impact of the travel industry and ensure a greener future for all. However, the future of sustainable travel relies not only on the efforts of travel companies but also on the actions of individual travelers.

Travelers can play a vital role in boosting sustainable travel by making conscious choices, such as opting for slow travel and eco-friendly trips, reducing waste, and supporting local communities. 

The future of eco-friendly travel looks promising with the emergence of sustainable travel companies. They strongly emphasize reducing their carbon footprint and promoting environmentally friendly practices. Likewise, they set a new standard for sustainable tourism by consciously using renewable energy sources, minimizing waste, and supporting local communities.

With the growing awareness and demand for eco-friendly travel options, these sustainable travel companies will likely continue to thrive and inspire others in the industry to adopt more sustainable practices.

As a traveler, you have the power to make a positive impact on the world through your choices. By supporting the sustainable travel companies above and adopting eco-friendly practices, you can contribute to preserving the planet’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Travel responsibly. Leave behind only footprints and memories while inspiring others to follow in your footsteps towards a more sustainable future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the concept of sustainable travel.

Sustainable travel, also known as responsible or eco-friendly travel, refers to the practice of minimizing the negative impact of tourism on the environment, local communities, and cultural heritage while maximizing the benefits for all involved.

How can sustainable travel companies help reduce their carbon footprint?

Sustainable travel companies strive to reduce their carbon footprint by implementing various initiatives. They may use sustainable materials , support local projects worldwide, promote conscious travel, and encourage eco-friendly transportation options like trains instead of cars.

What is the significance of sustainable travel policies in businesses?

Sustainable travel policies in businesses play a crucial role in promoting eco-friendly practices among employees and creating a positive impact on the environment. These policies encourage employees to choose sustainable transportation, reduce waste, and support responsible travel choices.

How do sustainable travel companies contribute to local communities?

Sustainable travel companies often collaborate with local communities to ensure the tourism industry benefits everyone involved. They may support local businesses, contribute to community development projects, and promote cultural exchange between travelers and locals.

What is the goal of sustainable travel companies?

Sustainable travel companies aim to enhance further their efforts in promoting responsible and regenerative tourism. They aim to reduce environmental impact, protect the planet’s natural resources, and ensure the well-being of local communities.

How can travelers contribute to sustainable travel?

Travelers can contribute to sustainable travel by choosing eco-friendly accommodations, engaging in environmentally sustainable travel activities, respecting local cultures and traditions, supporting local businesses, minimizing waste generation, and opting for sustainable transportation options.

What is the difference between sustainable and regenerative travel?

While sustainable travel focuses on minimizing negative impacts, the regenerative expedition aims to improve and actively restore the environment and communities. It goes beyond sustainability and focuses on leaving a positive, lasting impact on the places visited.

Are there any other sustainable travel companies that travelers may also like?

Yes, apart from the mentioned companies, travelers may also like to explore B Corp-certified sustainable travel companies, which meet rigorous sustainability standards to ensure a positive impact on the planet and communities.

Related articles

Top 10 Greenest Sustainable Countries in the World

Explore the top 10 greenest and most sustainable countries in the world, leading the way in environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.

• Better Brands

The Must-Have Sustainable Fabrics for Eco-Friendly Fashion Trends

Discover the must-have sustainable fabrics for eco-friendly fashion trends. Find sustainable fabric and materials that embrace sustainability in textiles for a greener future. Explore the world of eco-conscious fashion with sustainable fabric options.

• Energy and Environment

What Is Fleece Fabric and How Sustainable Is It?

Uncover the softness and comfort that fleece offers while exploring its eco-friendly characteristics. Learn why this popular material is not only cozy but also a responsible choice for conscious consumers.

Less is more when you buy green this summer

If you’re a socially conscious adult, you may have experienced trouble navigating the jungle of brands and product offerings that is the eco-friendly space. 

Big picture : Shopping dominates modern culture, yet it also advances many issues like messy supply chains or the abundance of plastic waste in the ocean.

Between the lines : Buying green or purchasing eco-friendly products creates a ‘warm glow’ in consumers. It generates satisfaction, like the feeling from helping others. 

Purse vs. Purpose

• Buying less is better for the pocket book, but buying green isn’t often more expensive. 
• Price often largest barrier for consumers
• Eco friendly items are often more expensive to less sustainable alternatives 

For the people : Buy green or Buy less? Short answer — do both 

• On one ✋ : you don’t need to stop buying things you need on a regular basis, but you might not need that fourth pair of sunglasses
• On the other ✋ : you might deserve that new pair of sunglasses after your latest accomplishment, we get it. We encourage you to find a company that has limited environmental impact - Read how here .

Dig deeper → 3 min

Understanding What Slow Fashion Means and Why Should You Join the Movement

Embark on a sustainable wardrobe journey with slow fashion. Embrace the slow fashion movement and bid farewell to fast fashion for a more sustainable future.

Your Guide to Affordable, Sustainable Food

The scoop With increased pressure on supply chains from COVID-19, food systems are seeing a shift toward local-purchasing. For environmental purposes, maintaining local food supplies post-pandemic will be crucial.

Support farmers markets, food hubs, and community-supported agriculture. Ride the wave toward more resilient and sustainable food systems.

Things to know

• Millions of pounds of food products lost across the US
• Grocery stores are dealing with food shortages
• Consumers are shifting to purchasing locally and local farmers face an increased demand for local food
• We need resilient and sustainable food systems even after the pandemic
• Farmers’ Markets
• Community Supported Agriculture Programs

Bottom line Eating local should not be expensive or exclusive. You can buy local food based on what fits your schedule and budget. Sustainable and local food systems rely on consumer behavior.

There is no doubt a major increase in local purchasing during COVID. However, reaching sustainable development goals and building resiliency in food systems requires your action to support local farmers. Buy local.

Dig deeper → 5 min

Fashion with a Conscience: 10 Sustainable Brands of Women’s Clothing Made in USA

Discover 10 American-made clothing brands crafting sustainable women's wear, promoting ethical practices, and reducing environmental impact.

12 Thoughtful and Sustainable Graduation Gifts to Inspire the Next Chapter

Celebrate graduation with these 10 sustainable gift ideas! From eco-friendly gadgets to ethical fashion, find the perfect present to inspire the next chapter.

Weekly Newsletter

> Be Part of the Solution

Join our community of +220k Conscience Readers

Trending News | Innovations | ESG Brand Reviews | Careers

Sustainable Review is copyright material. All rights reserved.

> Be Part of The Solution

Join our community of +220k Conscious Readers 

• Polski ( Polish )
• Português ( Portuguese (Brazil) )

12 of the Best Responsible Tour Operators in the World

Posted by Francesca Brooking | World | 4

Tours are a wonderfully hassle-free way to see the world. Whether it’s a big trek or a small excursion, your itinerary is, for the most part, sorted and all you need to do is turn up. Tours make the world a more accessible place, but they can also exploit the countries they operate in, and it’s the environment and poorer communities that suffer the most.   

Travel should never be about suffering. The only impact a tourist should make on a country is a positive one, which is why choosing a responsible tour operator is so important.

Responsible tour operators are sensitive to the needs of the community and environment they visit and work accordingly to benefit them.

These travel companies immerse you in the culture by employing local staff and services. Money is then fed into the local economy and it creates business opportunities at a grassroots level.

Sustainability is also a core value of every responsible tour operator with most choosing to go low impact or carbon-neutral to protect the environment.  In a nutshell, these companies are all about responsible tourism.

How to ensure the tour operator is responsible

Travelling with responsible tour operators is a rewarding experience as they care about people and planet!

Here are some key steps you can take when choosing a responsible travel company:

• Research the tour company. Spend time going through their website and policies. A responsible and ethical tour operator will tell you about their accreditations.
• Their policies should reflect the World Tourism Organisation on sustainable tourism. If you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to contact the company and ask for some more clarity about their business model. If you’re confused about all the sustainable travel terms, this is a great resource.
• Read reviews about the tour operator and find out what other people have been saying about them. Reviews can give you a little bit of outsider knowledge about who they are, what to expect and how they handle criticism. 
• Observe what kind of tours the company is offering. Are there any elephant rides or lion walks? If so, it’s not a responsible tour operator. 
• Observe how the local communities are being portrayed. Instead of excursions to schools and orphanages, do they advertise social enterprise programs that keep families together? 
• Don’t take anything at face value. Responsible tourism sells because tourists want to put their money into something good. Unfortunately, this has created a rise in greenwashing. Any tour operator can say they’re responsible when they’re not because they know it will put money in their pockets!

Key practices of a responsible tour operator

• Favouring programs that work to keep families together over the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children. 
• Making use of locally run and sustainable accommodation.
• Avoiding the use of wild animals for human entertainment. 
• Employing local staff who are appropriately paid and trained. 
• Taking measures to minimise its environmental impact. 
• Supporting social enterprises and environmental programs. 

12 of the best responsible tour operators in the world 

Without further ado, here are some of the best travel companies that are making travel a force for good around the world. Check them out: 

1. Original Travel

Original Travel offers tailor-made, luxury holidays. It’s key aim is to help you travel less but better through authentic and meaningful experiences.

The trips are self-guided with the help of local travel experts so you can get a deeper understanding of the destination you visit. You can also book a range of slow and responsible travel itineraries.

What I like most about Original Travel is that it’s open about travel’s carbon footprint and it’s taken steps to tackle it. 100% of the carbon footprint generated by clients and staff is absorbed by its financial support of the Livelihoods Carbon Fund.

This €100m project is fighting against climate change by providing maximum social and economic benefits to destinations on the front line, including reforestation initiatives.

You can do tailor-made Original Travel tours all over the world. All you need to do is pick a destination and tell the experts what you’re interested in. How about Florence to Venice for eight days by train from £2700 GBP or a 10-day Taste of the Nile from £3080 GBP?

2. Intrepid Travel 

Intrepid Travel was the first global tour operator to remove elephant rides from their trips. A carbon-neutral travel company, they have invested more than £2.5m into global grassroots projects addressing issues such as healthcare, education, community development and animal welfare.

As part of their Namaste Nepal campaign, Intrepid donated 100% of their profits from a Nepal trip to help rebuild the country’s economy after the earthquake in 2016.

Leaders in child protection and gender equality; they have removed school and orphanage visit from their tours and set a goal to double their number of female tour guides by 2020. They exceeded their target six months early in 2019!

All Intrepid Travel tours come in a variety of different themes from walking to cycling and even family. Take a 20-day tour of Antarctica from £8,900 GBP per person or trek through Madagascar for 13 days from £1,863 GBP per person !

Did you know Nepal is one of the world’s most sustainable destinations? You can find out why here!

3. Byway Travel 

Photo credit: Connor Mollison

Byway is a UK-Based tour operator that specialises in tailored, self-guided trips around the UK and parts of Europe. It’s particularly unique in that it only focuses on slow travel experiences and avoids trips that involve flying.

Byway’s tours allow you to find enjoyment in travelling overland via train or boat. All their trips take you off-the-beaten-path to lesser-known attractions and hidden gems. 

On top of their no-fly holiday ethos, Byway aims to be as sustainable as they can by booking accommodation that’s kind to the community and environment. Their dedicated team will also help you organise activities with a more positive environmental impact. 

This sustainable travel company is also on track to become a Certified B Corporation. B Corps are businesses that balance purpose and profit. They work to ensure that their impact on staff, suppliers, community and environment is a positive one. 

All Byway Travel tours are completely customisable to your preferences. You can build a holiday that’s tailored to you or you can find an existing one you like the sound of and tweak it how you like. A popular tour is their 10-Day Scottish Highlands & Islands Itinerary which costs about GBP£1,257 per person. 

Read More:  Scottish Highlands Itinerary: The Perfect 10 Day Itinerary with Byway

4. G Adventures

G Aventures

G Adventures work with The Planeterra Foundation a non-profit organisation committed to helping communities earn an income from tourism. Partnering with Planeterra, G Adventures helped fund Women on Wheels, a project in India to get more women to become self-sustaining professional drivers.

Wanting to get a better understanding of how their tours were impacting the communities they visited, they created The Ripple Score. Each trip is evaluated on how much it provides for the local economy and monitored for improvements.

The travel company collaborated with the International Institute of Tourism Studies at George Washington University to develop a set of international guidelines for interacting with indigenous communities. 

They also work with The Jane Goodall Institute running ethical nature-based tours and wildlife experiences.

G Adventures has got a small group tour to suit every interest and style. Do a 28-day Australia/Pacific tour from £3,699 GBP per person or keep it short and sweet with a 7-day Iceland tour from £1,479 GBP per person. You can discover their latest travel deals here. 

5. Much Better Adventures 

Much Better Adventures

Much Better Adventures ensure that at least 80% of the cost of a trip is given back to the local economy. Working with the climate change charity Cool Earth, the company helps protect threatened primary rainforest through carbon mitigation. To date, they’ve saved 83 acres of rainforest which amounts to 19,920 trees in total.

Backing important conservation initiatives is a strong part of their core values and they work with non-profits, NGO’s, conservationists and activists to raise awareness of important issues.

One such project led them on a rafting trip down the Vjosa, Europe’s last free-flowing river to raise awareness of the controversial plan to dam it up!

Much Better Adventures have 126 trips to choose from spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Kayak and Wild Camp for two nights in the Norwegian Fjords from £371 GBP per person or trek the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia for 8 nights from £1,109 per person. 

6. Rickshaw Travel 

Rickshaw Travel

Rickshaw Travel pride themselves on ensuring that all trips have a positive and meaningful impact on the traveller and local communities alike. Just some of their incredible experiences include a visit to the Elephant Nature Park, a proudly ethical elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai in Thailand.

Another trip includes an excursion deep into the Sumatran jungle in Indonesia. The tour was originally created out of concern for the impact that illegal logging was having on the jungle.

Many loggers were local and trying to earn a living so bringing tourists into the area created employment opportunities and improved the local economy. A prime example of ecotourism and travel being a force for good.

Rickshaw Travel offer holidays in Asia and Southeast Asia, North, Central and South America. Join a 12-day Taste of India tour from £1,425 GBP per person or discover Bhutan and The Land of the Thunder Dragon for 7 days from £1,598 GBP per person. All trips are flexible and can be tailored to your needs. 

7. Undiscovered Mountains 

Undiscovered Mountains

Undiscovered Mountains is a small tour operator that specialises in sustainable trips to the Alps using local tour guides, businesses and accommodation. Travellers can take part in their winter eco-challenge in which they build and sleep in an igloo for a night.

Commonly known as the ‘igloo expedition’, it’s bookable as an activity on any of their winter holidays in the Southern French Alps. The challenge was launched to promote a more sustainable focus on winter tourism outside of ski resorts.

For every challenge completed, 50€ is given to the charity, Tourism Concern.  

Specialising in the Alps, Undiscovered Mountains do a range of adventure holidays from wildlife, walking and cycling tours. Choose from guided or self-guided including a Gourmet Alpine Walking Holiday from 1162€ per person. 

8. Adventure Alternative 

Based in Northern Ireland, Adventure Alternative leads travellers up some of the most iconic mountains in the world. Promoting responsible travel across the globe, they work to bring the benefits of tourism to the local community by employing and training local guides with the possibility of career progression.

‘ Alternative’ refers to their business model – they run their own operations instead of outsourcing clients. As part of their initiative to help disadvantaged communities, the company set up their own sister NGO, Moving Mountains, which offers grants to remote and struggling villages.  

Adventure Alternative offers a range of adventure holiday experiences including treks, mountain climbs, volunteering and safari expeditions. Do a 15-day Wild Borneo trek and visit the Sarawak tribes, Mulu Park and Batang Ai all for just £1,815 GBP per person. 

Tailor-made luxury travel company, Aracari, specialises in trips to Peru, Bolivia and the Galapagos. Conscious travel is at the heart of their business and they work to create a luxury experience that is sensitive to the needs of both the environment and local communities.

Their trips focus on educating travellers about cultural best practices, promoting community-run projects and supporting non-profits such as tree planting programs.

Serious about their environmental responsibility, Aracari provides all their guests with reusable water bottles and any brochures and leaflets are printed on FSC certified and recycled paper. 

Do a 15-day Galapagos Luxury Trip and Peru from US$12,014 per person or a Classic Luxury Trip to Peru for US$5,245 per person. All trips and itineraries are fully customisable to you !

10. Better Places Travel 

Better Places Travel

Better Places Travel is one of the best sustainable travel companies because it creates personalised travel experiences that are also carbon neutral. This Netherlands-based tour operator works to minimise the environmental impact not only on the destination you travel to but also by offsetting your flight emissions to get there.

It’s a social enterprise that is committed to making a positive impact above making a profit. Working with local tour guides and travel agents, the company offers their guests an authentic cultural experience. Accommodation is family-run and ecolodges are used whenever possible (you can read about the best ecolodges in the world here ).

Reducing plastic is a big part of their values and they are committed to running trips that are single-use plastic bottle-free. They encourage all travellers to pledge the same and only pack eco-friendly travel gear.

100% tailor-made tour operators, Better Places Travel allows you to create your perfect bespoke trip. Favourite trips include a 20-day Jordan Impact Trip and a 20-day Cuba Impact Trip. Contact a travel agent and receive a tailor-made proposal. 

11. Explore!

Explore is a small-group tour company that operates in 130 destinations across the globe. They work with the local community to create an authentic experience for their guests that is both ethical and eco-friendly.

Their passion for people and animal welfare has led them to support a number of charities including Cool Earth, Send a Cow, Water-to-Go and Toilet Twinning.

Proud recipients of The Responsible Tourism Awards, British Travel Awards and Travel Trade Awards, they’re deeply committed to proving that responsible travel is both a rich and rewarding experience for all. 

Explore offers a variety of trips and experiences including African Safari Holidays. Popular African safari tours feature a South Africa and Swaziland tour for 10 days from £1,260 GBP per person. 

12. Sumak Travel 

Sumak Travel

Sumak Travel is a social enterprise that puts people and the environment first. Specialising in community-based ecotourism trips (CBET) around Latin America, Sumak Travel’s mission is to establish a fair trade logic that benefits both guests and locals.

Guests pay a fair price to be given a tailored and high-quality experience while their hosts benefit from revenue and decent jobs.

Sumak works with grassroots organisations that offer accommodation, culture tours, authentic cooking and visits to local attractions. This business model provides communities with an additional source of revenue to complement their livelihoods. 

Trips include a 16-day Journey to the End of the World Patagonia Tour starting from £2,395 GBP per person. All Sumak Travel tours can be tailored to your time and requirements to create the perfect trip for you.  

Recap, how to find responsible travel companies (Video)

• How to Pick the Ultimate Ethical Activity
• An Easy Slow Travel Guide to Mastering the Art of Experiencing More

Pin me for later!

This post may contain affiliate / compensated links. As an Amazon Associate, I also earn from qualifying purchases. For full information, please see my disclaimer here .

About The Author

Francesca brooking.

Francesca Brooking is the Founder of Little Lost Travel. A travel expert with a passion for the planet, Francesca is on a mission to help you travel well. From Costa Rica to Jordan, she's travelled all over the world. When she's not off on an adventure, she's reviewing sustainable travel products and writing travel guides.

Fantastic post! Super helpful. I didn’t knew many of these companies. Good to have handy!

Thank you! Yep, there are some great ones 🙂

Hi Thank you for your great tips to choose Tour Operator, Find the Tour Trekking company on the Internet! it’s easy but choosing the right company is a little bit tricky! Now on the Internet, we can see thousands of companies but Every Company is not Legal, in our Contest. When you choose a company We have to Check Company Legal documents and review and so on.

That’s very true!

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Hello, I’m Francesca

My mission is to show you why sustainable travel is empowering, fulfilling and affordable.

Little Lost Travel is your complete guide to nature-based and sustainable travel. Here, you can discover the best ecolodges in the world, sustainable destination guides and so much more!

Memberships

Stay connected, get a free guide to sustainable travel.

 Become part of the Little Lost Travel community and get:

- a FREE quick guide to sustainable travel

- Monthly newsletter featuring the latest blog posts

No spam, just awesome travel content. 

Read our Privacy Policy  here. 

Thank you! Check your inbox to confirm your subscription.

Pin it on pinterest.

Last Updated on 29/12/2023

10 of the best ethical travel companies

One way travellers can make a positive contribution to their destination is by holidaying with a company that puts something back into the local community

Intrepid Travel

One of the first carbon-neutral tour operators, Intrepid has invested more than £2.5m into grassroots projects globally and donated 100% of profits from a season of trips to Nepal to help rebuild after the 2015 earthquake. The first company to drop elephant rides from its trips, Intrepid is a leader on child protection, uses local guides and aims to double female tour leader numbers by 2020. On its 15-day Kathmandu to Delhi trip, guests stay at Madi Valley homestay, which it helped set up with WWF (from £1,044). intrepidtravel.com

G Adventures

This Canadian adventure firm works with social enterprises and NGOs across the globe through the Planeterra Foundation . It uses small, locally owned companies , helps develop community-based rural tourism projects and has a “ripple score” for each trip, evaluating what percentage of expenditure stays in the local economy. In India it supports Women on Wheels (female-only chauffeurs) and last year partnered with Wiwa Tours in Colombia, the region’s first indigenous-run operator. gadventures.co.uk

Much Better Adventures

With a focus on short trips in Europe and a strong responsible travel ethic, this company ensures at least 80% of the cost of a trip goes into the local economy and conservation projects. It works with charity Cool Earth, a leader in addressing climate change and its Adventures for Good collection was developed with Tourism Concern. Options include a three-day Raft, Kayak and Hike Albania tour with local activists to help save the Vjosa, one of Europe’s last wild, free-flowing rivers (from £350). muchbetteradventures.com

Undiscovered Mountains

This small tour operator specialises in sustainable activity breaks in the Alps, taking guests to areas where tourism has a positive impact on local people. All guides and suppliers used are local. A tailor-made seven-night summer holiday in the French Alps with choice of activities costs from €390. undiscoveredmountains.com

The Blue Yonder

This Indian-owned company has long spearheaded immersive travel in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and South Africa, ensuring maximum local benefit. Initiatives range from preserving a climate change-resistant variety of rice to its Chekutty trail in Kerala, focused on empowering local weavers. Its signature tour is 12 days in northern Kerala (£2,000), starting on the banks of the Nila, with guides who formerly worked as illegal sand miners, and meeting artisans who practise traditional ways of working bell metal, and practitioners of the state’s own martial art, kalari . theblueyonder.com

Adventure Alternative

For more than 20 years, this Northern Ireland-based company has been building a worldwide network of responsible trekking and climbing companies, guiding treks up some of the world’s most iconic mountains. Its Annapurna Circuit (£1,595) crosses Thorong La, takes in the hot springs at Tatopani and ends in Nepal’s second city, Pokhara. The alternative in its name refers to its business model – not outsourcing but nurturing its own local operations, and running development initiatives through sister NGO Moving Mountains to improve livelihoods in remote villages. adventurealternative.com

Better Places Travel

Working until now in Africa, Asia and Latin America, this company publishes the full impact of every trip, including accommodation and experiences. It advises on the least environmentally damaging flight option and offsets every trip at its own cost, while maximising the positive impact of each holiday. A 13-day South Africa Highlights tour (from €1,052) takes in the best view in Kruger, stretching down the river from Olifants camp; the buzz of Johannesburg; and the pick of the Cape, with wine lands, whales and penguins on Boulders Beach. In 2019, it is planning to add destinations reachable from Europe without flying. betterplacestravel.com

Justice Travel

Trips to Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil and Sri Lanka turn traditional volunteering holidays on their head. Travellers go to the countries to learn and engage with activists and journalists, explore local history, culture and nature, and then return home as knowledgeable advocates for the causes they have seen. In Colombia, for example, visitors can see how street art brings people together on a day tour of Bogotá ($55pp). On a more immersive 14-day trip ($3,600pp) , participants meet with former Farc guerillas in the mountains, party at Barranquilla carnaval (the second-largest in the world), and marvel at Medellín’s renaissance. justice.travel

Global Himalayan Expedition

Participants on Global Himalayan Expedition’s Largyab Expedition ($2,600), get to travel on the world’s highest drivable road, at an altitude of more than 5,500 metres in the northern Indian region of Ladakh. But the purpose behind GHE’s expeditions is to send groups of travellers to remote off-grid mountain villages, taking with them the technology and expertise to build a working solar microgrid. Without a solution such as this, these villages would probably never be electrified. So far they have visited more than 50 villages, giving their inhabitants the chance to study after dark, run homestays, and get rid of kerosene lamps. ghe.co.in

European Safari Company

• Ethical holidays
• Green travel
• Volunteering holidays
• Ethical and green living

More on this story

Could you give up flying? Meet the no-plane pioneers

Changing travel: the sustainable startups boosted by awards from Booking.com

10 classic UK trips by public transport

Why I only take one holiday flight a year

Leave the car at home: see the UK coast without driving

10 great conservation-led places to stay around the UK

Tourism for Tomorrow awards 2019: winners and finalists

Most viewed.

Part of the TTC Family of Brands

GET A QUOTE

DESTINATIONS

WAYS TO TRAVEL

SPECIAL OFFERS

0800 533 5620

Sustainable Tours

OUR TRENDING SUSTAINABLE TOURS

Enchanting Canyonlands

9 Locations

Explore the Grand Canyon and Much More on a 1-Week Guided Tour in the U.S.

Save up to £707

Best of Eastern Canada and USA

13 Locations

2 Countries

Mix History With Pleasure During a 16-Day Guided Tour of Canada & the U.S.

Standard Price

Save up to £379

Peru With Machu Picchu

4 Locations

Experience the Incan Heritage and Ancient Archaeology of Peru on a 10-Day Guided Tour

Save up to £542

Spectacular Scandinavia & its Fjords

15 Locations

3 Countries

Explore Scandinavia's Fjords & Mountains on a 15-Day Guided Tour of Denmark, Sweden & Norway

Country Roads

Natural Wonders of Iceland

Iceland’s Iconic Volcanic Landscapes: A 9-Day Guided Tour

Save up to £375

Country Roads of Scotland

Explore Scotland’s Highlands, Islands and Culture Capitals on This 9-Day Guided Tour

Country Roads of Switzerland

19 Locations

Explore the Rural Wonders of Switzerland on a 2-Week Guided Tour

Save up to £382

Best of Morocco, a Women-Only Tour

Desert Delights: 11-Day Women-Only Tour of Morocco's Markets, Mosques & Cuisine

VIEW MORE TOURS

MEET ARTISANAL HAND WEAVERS IN PERUGIA

Meet Marta, a recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Learn how she offers employment opportunities for local women and, alongside her weavers, preserves the ancient craft of loom-weaving in an artisan workshop.

DESERT VIEW INTER-TRIBAL HERITAGE CENTER

Trace the scenic South Rim of the Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. See the historic Watchtower built by Mary Colter in the Puebloan style and track the Colorado River that leads you to the aptly named Painted Desert which extends towards Navajo and Hopi Indian lands.

VISIT THE COPMADAM WORKSHOP IN AYVALIK

Visit the vibrant Copmadam workshop which produces one-of-a-kind items made from recycled packaging, creating employment opportunities for local women.

EXPLORE A SELECTION OF SUSTAINABLE EXPERIENCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Our commitment.

Sustainability and conservation: We ensure that we’re protecting our invaluable landscapes and natural resources.

Cultural preservation: We ensure that the true economic benefit of travel is felt by local communities.

Protection of our world’s wildlife: We advocate for the highest standard of ethical wildlife experiences.

BROWSE TOURS

Explore your dream destination as a responsible tourist. Together, WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Get expert help booking your premium guided tour.

Find your perfect tour with Insight Vacations.

REQUEST A COMPLIMENTARY BROCHURE

Back to top

EXPLORE WITH INSIGHT

UK and Ireland

USA and Canada

Latin America

North Africa

TOUR STYLES

Discovery Journeys

Regional Journeys

Local Escapes

Special Interest Tours

Enquire Now

Request A Brochure

Newsletter Signup

Travel Insurance

The Insightful Blog

Privacy Policy

Booking Conditions

Tour Deposit Level

Travel Updates

My Personal Information

Selected Region

United States

New Zealand

South Africa

© Insight Vacations 2024. All Rights Reserved. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® is a trademark of The TreadRight Foundation, registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions, and is being used under license

Manage Cookies

Cookie Policy

11 Top Sustainable Travel Companies That Support Eco-Friendly Tourism

These sustainable tourism companies give you endless ethical wanderlust.

Updated by Francesca Brooking

Edited & Fact Checked By Amber McDaniel

Updated September 7, 2023

We independently research all featured brands and products. To avoid waste, we test products on an as needed basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about why we do this here .

We love to travel—but if you’re like us, the conflicting eco-anxieties and GHGs associated with globetrotting can cast a grey cloud over your grand adventure.

For a better way to see the world, discover our favorite sustainable travel companies that enrich not only your life, but the places you visit.

From conservation projects and off-grid lodges to all-inclusive safari tours, boutique hotels and bespoke luxury itineraries that really do help the local communities, the below eco-friendly tourism companies wear their green hearts on their sleeves.

Our Curated List Of The Best Eco Tour Companies For Responsible Roaming

How can the travel industry be sustainable.

It’s no secret that the tourism industry has its fair share of ethical and environmental issues. 

Carbon and fuel-intensive flights, over tourism, exploitation, animal cruelty—the list goes on.

Not to mention tourism leakage, a process in which most of the money generated by tourism goes into the pockets of billion-dollar travel companies rather than into local communities that need it. 

However, you don’t need to hang up your suitcase for good. If done responsibly, tourism can have a profoundly positive impact on both the traveler and the destinations they visit.

With the right planning or travel companies, sustainable travel supports livelihoods and funnels your money directly into the local economy. 

It allows small businesses to flourish, funds community projects, and helps protect the environment by showcasing its economic value if left intact. 

To us, the environment is already priceless, but what we mean here is that sustainable tourism (whether solo or with the assistance of eco travel agents and tour operators) can help conserve the natural world by preventing it from being turned into farmland or apartment buildings! 

While tourism still has a long way to go, sustainable travel companies are pioneering positive change in the industry. 

From employing local guides to offering flight-free holidays and measuring their environmental and cultural impact, these tour operators make sure they benefit every destination they facilitate trips to.

Keep reading to find our top recommended environmentally conscious trips and jump to the bottom to learn what we consider when planning a trip with eco-tourism and sustainable travel in mind.

11 Eco-Friendly Tourism Companies To Book Your Vacation With

1. responsible travel.

The clue is in the name with Responsible Travel . They’ve led the way in eco-friendly vacations and ecotourism tours since the turn of the century.

This eco travel agency has over 5,000 adventures on offer to destinations all over the world.

Choose from hiking, conservation, diving, kayaking, cycling tours or head off to track snow leopards, swim with the whales or cruise Antarctica.

Responsible Travel has a give-back program, which campaigns for positive change with NGOs and activists.

Its eco travel options focus on local culture and local people, making sure your money goes to independent businesses and supports animal conservation.

You won’t find any elephant rides or exploitative practices here. In fact, they’re an excellent resource for learning about the difference between ethical and unethical wildlife experiences. 

2. &Beyond

One of the top eco-friendly travel companies for luxury safaris, &Beyond goes above and beyond investing back into the local environment. They focus on small-group and tailor-made tours in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Indian Ocean.

If you’re keen to tick off the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino), you have plenty of ethical choices with their range of responsible luxury safaris in 11 African countries with 29 camps and lodges that all employ local guides.

Search for wildlife on the Serengeti, track the great migration, explore Masai Mara national park or glide in a hot air balloon over the Namib Desert.

One example is their Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp in Botswana which has a state-of-the-art Tesla solar power plant that gives them 80% of their energy.

They also have a responsible travel policy which looks after the land, people and animals. Environmental projects in Botswana include rhino conservation, supporting local isolated communities and providing them with access to safe drinking water. 

Kynder cuts to the chase.

This eco-travel platform brings together the best hotels, cafés, bars and restaurants in Europe and the USA that are eco-friendly, humane, kind and community loving.

We’re talking kind to the planet, to staff, their locality and kind to you, too. 

Find the off-the-beaten-track places that make your sustainable trip, from coffee shops hiring only refugees to the coolest eco hotels and holistic retreats.

All hotels and hospitality establishments must pass a rigorous set of guidelines to be accepted onto their platform. 

That way, you can be confident that these small businesses are truly genuine. No greenwashing here. 

4. Undiscovered Mountains

Undiscovered Mountains is one of the top travel companies for sustainable tourism in the French Alps.

From skiing and snow-touring to building an igloo in winter to mountain biking, rock climbing and cycling in the summer, it’s all here. 

It’s possible to do horse riding, wildlife holidays, walks, kayaking and fishing holidays. Any active, outdoor adventure holiday you can think of, you will most likely find it. 

It has special packages for families and singles, so you can guarantee you’re always paying a fair price. 

Plus, Undiscovered Mountains only works with local guides, independent accommodation and responsible partners. 

Rest assured, all your hard-earned cash goes to the people who deserve it and those who help protect this stunning European mountain range.

5. Adventure Alternative

Among sustainable travel companies, UK-based Adventure Alternative is calling other mountain enthusiasts with sights set on remote, rugged adventures worldwide.

This responsible travel tour operator is based in Ireland but takes intrepid souls all over the world, from Borneo to East Africa. This is the company for you if you’re interested in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or making the trek to Everest Base Camp. 

For slightly more laid-back trips, there are also wildlife tours and safaris. 

As well as hiking and trekking, Adventure Alternative is a member of Fair Trade Volunteering. 

The sustainable travel company runs volunteering trips through Moving Mountains in various countries across the globe, which makes sure each project is needed and useful.

They also invest heavily in their whole supply chain, from local guides to community projects, and they works to a framework set by sustainable travel principles.

6. Intrepid Travel

While Intrepid Travel has been around for years, the eco-tourism operator is no slow coach when it comes to slow and sustainable trips. 

They’re not just a Certified B Corp , but the largest travel company in the world to become one.

They pride themselves on incorporating the principles of sustainable development in the way they provide travelers with authentic and real-life experiences.

Simply put, these are small group trips all over the world, from Greenland to Oman that get you up close and personal with wildlife and cultural highlights with local guides and specialist experts.

You can book cycling, sailing or wildlife trips with them, too. There are family-friendly tours, expedition cruises, women’s expeditions, tailor-made itineraries, National Geographic expeditions and budget-conscious tours for those aged 18-29. 

Whatever your travel style, you’ll find your perfect eco travel experience. 

The Intrepid Foundation also supports 50 community and conservation projects all over the world. Plus, they cover all administration costs so 100% of your donation goes directly to the project of your choosing. 

7. Kind Traveler

Kind Traveler is a socially conscious ‘Give + Get’ hotel booking platform that empowers travellers to be a force for good.

$10 goes to a local community or charity close to where you’re staying, and you’ll unlock an exclusive rate at that hotel or destination across the US and beyond.

Kind Traveler is one of a growing number of eco travel companies that want to harness the power of routine bookings we already make and use them to benefit the planet. It’s a simple yet effective way to give back when booking your trip. 

An example of one of the best traveler companies that have implemented sustainable tourism policies, Kind Traveler’s goals are aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): preventing poverty and hunger, protecting the planet, and promoting well-being for individuals and animals.

One of the top sustainable travel companies South America -bound travelers have, Aracari organizes eco-luxury holidays and boutique trips around Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador—including the Galapagos Islands.

In recognition of their ethical efforts, sustainable brand consultants Positive Luxury has awarded the tour operator the prestigious Butterfly Mark.

They’re also a favorite with Conde Nast Traveller, and their specialist guides are some of the best in the business.

They infuse all of their tours with environmental and social good, foster long-term relationships with local communities, help you reduce your environmental footprint, and ensure everyone gets paid a living wage.

Really experience Latin American culture with authentic homestays on Lake Titicaca or get access to exclusive local accommodation from Aracari’s black book of contacts that no one else has. 

For a more hands-on experience, spend time with community projects like Tierra de los Yachaqs, a philanthropic organization determined to preserve the history and traditions of local people in Peru’s Sacred Valley.

9. Rickshaw Travel

Rickshaw Travel has a whole host of independent and authentic trips that get under the skin of Southeast Asia.

Explore Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand with their ethical and impactful itineraries.

The global sustainable tour operator also offers trips to India, Japan, China, and Bhutan as well as destinations in Central and South America plus Europe and North America.

This company is all about meaningful travel experiences, meeting people and discovering unique local cultures and customs.

Choose to go trekking, discover landscapes by bike, tuck into amazing street food and meet the people that make an eco-travel trip an unforgettable experience.

Head out on a flight-free holiday with slow travel experts Byway .

This eco-friendly tour company arranges slow travel adventures across the UK and Europe by train, bike, ferry and foot – no planes in sight here. 

Their dynamic trip builder creates personal trips and tours based on your interests, while your virtual guide can assist with your journey via WhatsApp. 

Byway manages all your itinerary and bookings and comes up with the perfect sustainable tours for solo, couple, or family travelers.

We love their commitment to authentic travel without the carbon footprint of flying. 

All your accommodation is locally owned, too. Think: family-owned B&Bs and boutique hotels, all with the utmost comfort—and of course, fabulous breakfasts!

11. Earth Changers

Inspirational, transformative tourism is what’s on offer at Earth Changers , an online travel booking platform which features a list of environmental holidays whether it’s adventure, active breaks, or conservation trips. 

At the moment there are ten destinations which include the first-ever marine conservation reserve in Tanzania to Floreana, which is the smallest of the inhabited islands in the Galapagos archipelago.

You don’t have to book far-flung destinations either. Join an authentic mountain ranch in Croatia or do an adventure trip in Wales much closer to home. 

Earth Changers is a global eco-tourism project that truly has a positive impact, and you’ll get to meet world-changing pioneers along the way. 

How Did We Choose The Top Eco-Tourism Companies?

Eco-tourism and sustainable travel are often used interchangeably. 

So what is an eco-tourism company? And how does it differ from a sustainable travel company?

An eco-tourism operator tends to focus on low-impact, nature-based tours that conserve the environment through culture and education. 

Think gorilla trekking in Rwanda with Intrepid Travel, staying in an eco-lodge with Aracari or booking a conservation holiday with Earth Changers. 

Sustainable tourism is the umbrella term for eco-friendly travel. It’s based on the three pillars of sustainability: economic impact, sociocultural impact and environmental impact.

The idea is that travelers have the option to choose sustainable practices in all aspects of their trip. Kind Traveler’s hotel booking platform and Kynder are perfect examples of this. 

Let’s explore some of our essential criteria for evaluating each sustainable travel company.

Carbon Goals & Achievements: 

A truly eco travel company should prioritize carbon footprint reduction by offering flight-free alternatives, promoting train, bike, and ferry travel over flights.

If flights are part of the experience,they should be utilizing some of the best carbon offset programs to counteract the carbon footprint of those flights.

Sustainable Accommodations:

We want to explore with sustainable travel companies that curate experiences with eco-friendly hotels and restaurants, guaranteeing that your stay supports businesses that are kind to the planet and their communities.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: 

Respect for cultures being visited is an obvious essential, sustainable travel or not, but we also want companies that support local communities with meaningful cultural exchanges, fair employment of local guides, and additional investment in economic development in destination regions.

In other words, your money should be mostly staying in the community you’re visiting.

Pay It Forward:

We love to see charitable initiatives that give back to these communities in additional ways, such as supporting local conservation and social programs.

Closing Thoughts On Sustainable Tourism Companies

As you can see, eco-tourism and sustainable travel work towards creating an industry that gives back, uplifts local communities and protects fragile environments.

 They also provide you with much more authentic and rewarding travel experiences.

Have a green travel lover in your life?

Share this list of the top eco tour companies and spark their eco-friendly wanderlust.

Subscribe to the pebble mag Newsletter

Get weekly insights, guides and news to support our collective transition to a better, more sustainable future.

More from pebblemag...

5 Best Period Pants In The UK For A Leakproof Flow

By Francesca Brooking

13 Spring Animals In The UK & How To Spot Them

By Sophie Pavelle

How To Make Sustainable Shoes In 5 Simple Steps

By Georgina Wilson Powell

19 Wild Animals In The UK & Where To Find Them

Trying A Trobolo Toilet: Are Composting Toilets Sustainable?

23 Best Nature Reserves In The UK For Walks & Wildlife

By Tenielle Jordison

9 Sustainable UK Clothing Brands Betting Against Fast Fashion

9 Sustainable Clothing Brands For Planet-Friendly Wardrobe

By Mariah Feria

pebble magazine is a member of the Sustainable Jungle Network and a member of One Percent For The Planet. Learn more here .  

pebble magazine acknowledges the Bunurong / BoonWurrung people as the Traditional Owners of this country, pays tribute to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this land, and gives respect to the Elders past, present and emerging. 

© 2024 pebble magazine | All rights reserved

Travel Differently

Luxury responsible travel, designed by experts

View our Example Holidays

“We design tailormade private adventures, with a commitment to people, planet, and the perfect holiday”

Sam Gough, Founder, Travel Differently

Example Holidays

Peru, Ecuador & Galapagos Adventure

22 days from £5950 pp.

See Detailed Itinerary

Brazil Wildlife, Waterfalls & Beach

16 days from £3950 pp.

Slow Travel: Ecuador in-depth

23 days from £6400 pp.

Pantanal, Amazon & Rio Luxury Adventure

15 days from £6500 pp.

Peru Active Adventure

14 days from £3900 pp, our destinations.

Ecuador & Galapagos

Uganda & Rwanda

Explore by Travel Style

Luxury journeys.

Glide across some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes while staying in luxurious lodges, elegant hotels, and wilderness cruises.

Slow Travel

Discover hidden gems and real life-affirming experiences by going beyond the bucket list, exploring your destination more thoroughly, slower, and more authentically.

Active Adventures

Great for families or friends who prefer trekking, cycling, rafting, and other outdoor pursuits as part of their adventure holiday. Travel Greener. Travel Slower. Travel Fairer. Travel Better.

Wilderness Escapes

This is your ultimate escape from everyday life. Experience mesmerizing views and true nature in some of the world’s harder-to-reach corners in our wilderness lodges.

Sabbatical Holidays

Do you have an extended period of time off work, or a career break? Planning your family adventure holiday to South America for several weeks or months, or have a solo extended holiday planned?

Wildlife Cruises

Set sail on an unforgettable journey to see some of the most magnificent creatures on the planet with a wildlife cruise.

Our Reviews

Eco-Friendly Ethical Travel

At Travel Differently, we’re not your typical sustainable travel agency. Our trips go far beyond the ordinary adventure holiday. We offer eco-friendly travel and holidays that are not only kinder to the planet but more immersive, exciting and authentic.

As a sustainable travel company, you can rest assured that every destination, activity and accommodation included in our trips has been carefully considered to operate in harmony with its local environment.

Firm believers in the importance of eco-friendly travel, we go the extra mile to ensure travellers are treated to exceptional experiences on our trips. Our bespoke private trips veer off the beaten path, uncovering hidden gems and the least-explored corners of some of the world’s most legendary destinations. Along the journey, you’ll engage with local communities, learning about the traditions and cultures of the regions we visit.

We are an eco-travel company driven by a passion for the positive impact that travel can have, both for travellers and those living in the areas we visit. We believe this vision is made possible through our four founding pillars : Travel Greener, Travel Slower, Travel Fairer and Travel Better.

Speak to our experts

Our country specialists really know their stuff. From their top lodges, favourite treks, foodie recommendations and wildlife spotting tips… they will design your bespoke holiday based on your exact tastes and wish-list.

Enquire Now

The Travel Differently Blog

How To Travel Better

Travel Differently was set-up in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic to help people travel…

Responsible Travel In South America

Is it really possible to travel responsibly in South America? Our aim is make all…

Can you visit Patagonia in the Autumn?

A lot of our guests ask us, when is the best time to visit Chile?…

The 9 Best Cruises in the Galapagos Islands

Cruises are the best way to explore the wild and remote landmasses of the Galapagos…

The best wildlife spotting in Chile

Planning an adventure holiday to Chile and want to tick off as much incredible wildlife…

The 10 Best Things to Do in Brazil

Whether you're drawn to exploring lush rainforests, soaking in the charm of colonial towns, or…

Our Story: Travelling Differently

With 20 years experience in the industry, Travel Differently was born during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world ground to a halt, borders shut down and countries were brought to a standstill, we could reflect. We made the promise that when things got back to “normal”, we were going to do things differently.

Of course, we were dreaming of exploring new landscapes and interacting with other cultures again, but we wanted to do so in a way that was not only conscious of those living in these areas and their environment but actively benefited them. We wanted to offer Eco-friendly travel and holidays that did this.

And so, we created Travel Differently: an eco-friendly travel company that not only minimises the negative impact of tourism but transforms it into a force for good. We guide travellers on unforgettable adventures to some of the world’s most remarkable and untouched landscapes, leaving a positive impact in our wake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of eco-friendly holidays.

Eco-friendly holidays are trips that have been designed to minimise the negative effects of tourism on the environment, local communities and cultures, while also maximising its potential for positive impact. Eco-friendly travel often involves selecting accommodations, activities, transportation and practices that are environmentally responsible and socially conscious.

Does eco-tourism work?

Eco-tourism can absolutely work. Eco-friendly travel and holidays play a crucial role in supporting local economies by creating jobs and income opportunities for residents, thereby helping to alleviate poverty and empowering locals to participate in sustainable development initiatives.

Eco-friendly travel can also contribute to conservation efforts by offering financial incentives for the preservation of natural habitats and wildlife. It also promotes cultural exchange and appreciation which encourages those in the area to maintain local traditions, customs or lifestyles, thereby supporting the preservation of their knowledge and heritage.

Why Travel Eco-Friendly?

Eco-friendly travel is more important than ever, amidst the current climate emergency. Taking a more sustainable approach to exploring the world can help protect the environment, support local communities and preserve natural sites, ensuring they remain for many more years to come.

Working with an eco-travel company makes sustainable travel easy. We sort all of the logistics for you, leaving you to relax and enjoy the adventure in the comfort of knowing your journey is not only creating sensational personal memories but benefitting the landscapes, people and cultures you encounter along the way.

Let's Start Planning Your Holiday

What are your interests? (e.g. wildlife, landscapes, culture, food, wine, cycling, horse riding, hiking, mountains, lakes, beaches, luxury...)

We fully comply with GDPR policy and we do not utilise or distribute your personal details for any purpose other than to send you requested correspondence. For more details, please click here .

Please leave this field empty.

Top 10...environmentally friendly travel companies

Valentina jovanovski.

Next week marks the first ever Green Tourism Week; an initiative launched by the Green Tourism Business Scheme last October. But Green Tourism Week isn’t alone in its drive to promote a greener way to travel. Nominations are currently being gathered for the Responsible Tourism Awards , which will be presented on 9th November - World Responsible Tourism Day. Even the UN’s World Environment Day (5th June) is getting in on the act, with a host of initiatives aimed at boosting environmentally conscious travel scheduled in.

It’s not all awards and world days though. Ethical travel company, Gap Year for Grown Ups , estimates that more than 100,000 of us choose trips that involve volunteering or conservation each year. While it doesn’t compare to the numbers heading off on package trips to Magaluf and Faliraki, it’s a positive start. So what does eco-tourism really mean? The International Eco-tourism Society defines eco-tourism as being ‘responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.’ Although it sounds straightforward, some less scrupulous companies call their activities eco-tourism when in reality, all they offer is a carbon offsetting scheme - even though this has become standard practice for many travel companies. If that’s left you unsure of where to look: read on for the 10 responsible travel companies that are putting Thomas Cook and co to shame.

Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis.

The Ecologist meets… UNESCO's Kishore Rao

How to… pitch a tent (and make it stay put)

The hot list: 10 hip, green UK destinations for 2012

More from this author.

Ten of the best…ways to reuse your rubbish

Review: K West Hotel and Spa

How to...throw an eco-friendly stag or hen party

• Editors’ Picks
• Ecologist Writers' Fund
• Biodiversity
• Climate Breakdown
• Economics and policy
• Food and Farming
• Brendan Montague
• Yasmin Dahnoun
• Catherine Early
• Simon Pirani
• Gareth Dale
• Marianne Brown
• Resurgence & Ecologist
• Ecologist recycled
• Movement Power
• Megamorphosis

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Tips
• Responsible Travel
• Global Vision Awards

These Travel Companies Created Tools to Help You Travel More Sustainably

The Global Visions Awards honorees in this category can help you build more sustainable travel habits right from the moment you book a trip.

Jeff Chu is an editor-at-large at Travel + Leisure .

The Travel + Leisure Global Vision Awards aim to identify and honor companies, individuals, destinations, and organizations taking strides to develop more sustainable and responsible travel products, practices, and experiences. Not only are they demonstrating thought leadership and creative problem-solving, they are taking actionable, quantifiable steps to protect communities and environments around the world. What's more, they are inspiring their industry colleagues and travelers to do their part.

Adopting more sustainable travel habits is easier than you might think, and it can start with the simple act of booking a trip. It's especially simple if you support one of the Global Vision Awards honorees in this category. The three companies — one online travel agency and two tour operators — give travelers near effortless ways to give back to communities and causes around the world. With a booking platform that incentivizes charitable giving, a subscription model for carbon offsets, and a diagnostic tool that measures the socioeconomic impact of a trip, the honorees on this list nudge travelers — and the industry at large — in a more responsible, conscious direction. — T+L Editors

Kind Traveler

Jessica Blotter and Sean Krejci, the founders of Kind Traveler , have created a travel-booking platform that offers a clever, easy-to-use system for both seeing the world and investing in making that world better. Make a donation to one of their vetted charities, and you unlock special rates for their hundreds of partner hotels. For example, if you're planning a trip to the Maldives and animal welfare is a cause close to your heart, a contribution of as little as $10 to the Manta Trust — which researches and protects threatened manta rays in the region — will discount your booking at Hurawalhi Island Resort by an average of $275 per night. One hundred percent of donations go to the chosen cause.

Intrepid Travel x Offset Earth

Going carbon-neutral may be a present-day preoccupation for many companies — but for the Australian tour operator Intrepid Travel , which takes tens of thousands of travelers on small-group escorted tours annually, it's very last decade. Intrepid achieved carbon-neutral status in 2010. By the end of 2020, it plans to become the world's first "climate positive" travel company through its partnership with carbon offsetting startup Offset Earth . Through this program, Intrepid hopes to remove more carbon dioxide from the environment than it produces.

But Intrepid's responsible-travel roots run even deeper: The company operates as a certified B corporation, which means it measures its success not just by its financial profits but also by social and environmental outcomes and public transparency. In 2014, it became the first tour operator to eliminate all elephant rides on its itineraries; more than 100 other travel companies have since followed suit. It also invests in more than two dozen projects in the locales where it runs tours, including an educational initiative for girls in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains, reforestation efforts in Kenya, and kelp-forest conservation in Australia.

These Travel Accessories Make Sleeping on Airplanes Way Easier

The ripple score by g adventures.

Done right, tourism "creates financial opportunities for women, youth, and indigenous communities, and empowers local people to protect their environment for future generations," Canadian entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip says. This vision is at the heart of G Adventures , the tour operator Poon Tip founded in 1990, which strives to maximize the positive economic impact of travel on communities around the world. Today, some 200,000 travelers take a G Adventures trip each year; the company organizes itineraries to every continent except Antarctica. Last year, it introduced the Ripple Score , a metric that tells travelers exactly how (and how much of) the money spent on a G Adventures package benefits the people and places they visit. In the cacao-growing Ecuadorian village of Shandia, for instance, local youths lead visitors on cycling tours. On Malaysia's Libaran Island, residents have received training in traditional craft and cookery, skills that enable them to benefit from the steady, lucrative market of visitors drawn by the island's nesting sea turtles. (The trips that feature these excursions earn a 98 and a perfect 100, respectively.) The Ripple Score lets travelers see how their presence in these places affects the people they meet — and thanks to a new program, Project 100 , 2020 will see 100 new tourism-related community initiatives that tour groups can support on the ground. Poon Tip says, "tourism can be a force for good — if we approach it in a responsible and inclusive way."

Related Articles

• You are in:
• Ethical Money

Ethical Travel Insurance

In this guide we investigate, rate and score the ethical and environmental record of 15 travel insurance underwriters..

We also ask if your travel insurance company is funding climate change, spotlight the green and eco insurance companies and give our Best Buy recommendations.

About Ethical Consumer

This is a shopping guide from Ethical Consumer, the UK's leading alternative consumer organisation. Since 1989 we've been researching and recording the social and environmental records of companies, and making the results available to you in a simple format.

Learn more about us   →

What to buy

What to look for when buying travel insurance:

Does it have ethical restrictions on its investments? Insurance companies can be essentially thought of as investment companies. Without restrictions insurers may invest in companies that damage the environment and the climate, or abuse animals.

Is it transparent about its investments? A responsible company's investment policy should be combined with transparency.

Does it have decent climate commitments? An insurance company's major climate impacts are its investments and underwriting. Some are making an attempt to address that, although others are still just talking about changing lightbulbs to LED.

What not to buy

What to avoid when buying ethical travel insurance:

Is it avoiding paying taxes? Many insurance companies have family trees that look very likely to be structured to facilitate tax avoidance.

Is it investing in arms and military supply? Several insurance companies fund arms companies, including nuclear weapons manufacturers.

Score table

Updated live from our research database, you are missing out.

The full score table for this report is only available for subscribers.

To access all of our tools and data - and get the Ethical Consumer print magazine - start your subscription today.

Our Analysis

Ethical travel insurance companies.

Brexit and the Covid-19 global pandemic have highlighted the importance of taking out travel insurance. We have become more savvy at reading the small print and looking for exclusion clauses to maximise our chances of a successful claim, should it come to that.

But are we shrewd enough to also find out about the ethical practices of travel insurance companies?

Buying ethical travel insurance

In this guide we look at travel insurance companies’ investment and climate policies, what their tax arrangements are, and if they have connections to weapons and the military.

With some very low scoring big-name brands, and one Best Buys in the guide, there are clear differences between the least and most ethical providers, with many of the companies we reviewed clumping in the middle of our score table.

Why is eco-friendly travel insurance important?

The insurance industry is huge. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the industry in the UK is managing £1.8 trillion of investments . This is equivalent to around 25% of the UK's total net worth. While this figure includes life, health and general insurance too, as you can see from the table, most household names have a finger in the travel insurance pie as well.

Given the monetary value of the insurance industry, and its links to climate change, our choice of which company to go with has global implications.

What's the difference between underwriters and brokers?

There are two main types of company that sell insurance – underwriters and brokers.

Brokers sell policies on behalf of underwriters, and include well known brands such as Sainsburys, the Post Office or the Co-op. They make money by receiving a commission from the underwriter, once a policy is sold.

In this guide we are mainly rating underwriters. These are the companies that take most of the money from an insurance premium (but which also pay out when something goes wrong) and therefore have the most impact. Several underwriters also sell directly to the public, or belong to the same company group as the broker itself. We have included two brokers that have underwriter companies in their family trees: Naturesave, underwritten by sister company Ecclesiastical and part of the Benefact Group, and Saga whose in-house insurer is Acromas.

To complicate matters, brokers can sell policies from a variety of underwriters. And underwriters selling directly to the public can sometimes use different underwriters for other specific policies and risks. 

You should be able to find out the underwriter from the 'Key facts' or policy wording documents which must be provided when you’re considering buying a policy. Comparison websites will also sometimes tell you. If your broker or website won't say who is underwriting a policy proposal, it's best to try another broker.

Travel insurance and transparency of investments

An insurer's investment policies are of crucial importance to ethical consumers. Without scrutiny, you may inadvertently be funding unethical activities like Arctic oil drilling, coal mines or unsustainable palm plantations with your premiums.

We describe how we rate investment transparency in our home insurance guide .

Most insurance companies have some kind of ethical investment or exclusion policy.

For example, apart from esure , Saga , NFU Mutual and Tesco all companies we reviewed placed a restriction on investing in coal mining. But most stop here.

Of all the companies, only Naturesave's sister company Edentree (also under the Benefact Group ) discussed restrictions on deforestation, human rights and animal abuse.

Are travel insurance companies addressing climate change?

The less a company restricts its investments, the higher the possibility that it will be investing in climate damaging companies.  

All of the companies in this guide scored worst for our climate change rating and lost a whole mark in this category. The are several reasons for this.

One aspect that all companies failed on was fully reporting on their indirect (Scope 3) CO2 emissions. This includes for example, emissions from supply chains and business travel, but crucially, also investments. Calculating emissions from investment portfolios is not easy but certainly not impossible either.

Companies are also still very willing to invest in fossil fuels, although we can see a trend for divesting. Although most companies that bothered to set a threshold for their coal related investments set it at around 30%, some went lower.

Aviva and Direct Line for example, committed to divest from companies which make more than 5% of their revenue from coal, but they both left a loophole saying “unless they have signed up to Science Based Targets”.

Naturesave is only willing to invest in a company if its revenue from coal was less than 10%. But they went further and apart from checking for the percentage they are also incorporating other considerations reflecting ESG risk (Environmental, Social and Governance factors).

Insure our future against fossil fuels

Insure Our Future is an international campaign calling on insurance companies to exit coal, oil and gas in line with a pathway limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

In October 2022 it published a scorecard assessing and scoring 30 global insurance companies based on the effectiveness of their policies to phase out the provision of insurance and investment to coal, oil and gas companies.

The scorecard only covered two companies in this guide – Allianz and Aviva . They both scored relatively well for their policies on underwriting fossil fuels but they both scored better on restricting investments in coal (9.0 and 5.8 out of 10 points respectively) than the other two fossil fuels (2.9 and 4.0).

Indeed, this seemed like a trend, as on average, the insurers assessed for the Insure Our Future report scored 3.3 out of 10 points for their coal underwriting policies but only 1.1 out of 10 points for their oil and gas policies.

Read the full report on the Insure Our Future website .

How do some of the travel insurance providers rate for different ethical issues?

Below we focus on a few of the categories where we have reviewed and rated the home insurance providers.

Tax avoidance

Tax avoidance strategies appear to be prevalent in the industry.

Apart from Admiral , Churchill , Direct Line , Naturesave , NFU Mutual , and Virgin Money , all the other companies in our guide showed signs of likely use of tax avoidance.

We have a separate article about the finance industry and tax avoidance .

Anti-social finance

Some of the money companies save on taxes goes towards their management remuneration. All of the companies lost a whole mark for paying (well) over £1 million a year to their directors.

We have a separate article about excessive high pay in the financial sector .

Arms and military supply

With war raging just a couple of thousand miles away you may be more interested in/sensitive to knowing which companies finance arms.

Aviva and Allianz were named in the ‘Don’t Bank on the Bomb’ report highlighting investments in nuclear weapons.

Allianz was also included in the Dirty Profits 7 report which named companies with some of the highest investments in 11 global arms companies exporting to countries in conflict.

We have a separate article which looks at banks and military spending .

Positive scores

NFU Mutual received half a mark for being owned by a mutual organisation while Naturesave received a whole mark for being owned by a registered charity.

Naturesave also received an extra Product Sustainability score for being a green insurer. Naturesave's ultimate aim is to "sell insurance that is 100% fossil fuel free".

Although NFU Mutual receives a positive half mark, it has numerous less helpful policies which are explored in a feature on the home insurance guide .

Thinking of booking a holiday?

Read our guide to ethical travel booking companies first!

The guide not only rates and reviews 29 travel companies, it also looks at the carbon impact of flying and alternative travel options, accommodation eco-labels, the impact of holiday homes (including Airbnb), and alternative sustainable holiday options.

This includes alternatives to AirBnB, alternative package holidays and working/volunteer holidays.

Company profile

Saga is a company specialising in insurance, holidays and cruises for those over 50. It says that part of its strategy is “to challenge misperceptions about ageing”.

While this is admirable and very much needed, it is a shame that it only managed to reach the middle of our table, scoring less than half of our Best Buy.

It is unexceptional with regards to its approach to investment transparency, the climate or the environment, it scored worst in all three categories. Its underwriting arm is incorporated in Gibraltar – a tax haven .

Want to know more?

If you want to find out detailed information about a company and more about its ethical rating, then click on a brand name in the score table.

This information is reserved for subscribers only. Don't miss out, become a subscriber today .

Subscribe to Ethical Consumer

All the information and inspiration you need to join thousands of others and revolutionise the way you shop, save and live. Full online access to our unique shopping guides, ethical rankings and company profiles. The essential ethical print magazine.

• 6 issues of Ethical Consumer Magazine in print and/or digital format
• 12 months full access to all Shopping Guides and Company Profiles
• Special discount offers from selected Best Buy companies.
• Digital versions of our entire catalogue of back issues.

Related links

• How to use Ethical Consumer
• Travel booking companies
• Ethical guide to home insurance
• Ethical guide to car insurance
• Ethical guide to bank accounts

We always check the ethics of our advertisers

Sign up now to our email newsletter for a free digital copy of Ethical Consumer magazine.

20 Sustainable and Ethical Travel Companies You Should Know About!

If you’re like us, you’re conscious about the footprint you leave as you travel around the world. Over the years, we have come across SO MANY unethical travel companies that exploited people, animals, nature, and culture, and we’ve made it a point to only support companies that leave a positive impact around them.

We’ve taken so many tours with various companies around the world, and we’re happy to reveal 20 sustainable and ethical travel companies you absolutely should know about! We hope that this list helps you on your adventure to become an ethical and conscious traveler.

Before we jump right in , here’s a very fitting quote by David Attenborough that succinctly summarizes why you should travel as sustainably and ethically as possible:

“Since tourists are a source of income, and a very good one, there will always be pressure to increase their numbers. But there comes a point when the wildlife and the environment begin to suffer, and the tourists destroy the very thing that attracted them in the first place.” – David Attenborough.

For some more tips on traveling ethically head over to our post on the top sustainable travel tips .

Table of Contents

1. G Adventures

Of course, the first company that comes to mind when you want to list sustainable and ethical travel companies is G Adventures . G Adventures is one of the biggest travel companies in the world, but they’ve always stayed true to their roots. When crafting their tours, they do so in a manner that directly benefits the locals . They build relationships with the local communities in order to help the Indigenous peoples (instead of exploiting or bypassing them) as travelers pass through. G Adventures organizes amazing tours all over the world in literally every continent (yep – including Antarctica!).

2. Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is another one of our favorite sustainable travel companies. Of course, at their core, they create unique tours that really help you to learn more about the world around you. But more than that, Intrepid is aware of the negative impacts tourism can have on the environment and local communities . So, they work hard to offset that. In fact, Intrepid has been carbon-neutral since 2010 ! Furthermore, they joined the B Corp to show their commitment to using their business for good. And finally, they give back to the locals by hiring local guides and supporting Indigenous communities.

It’s no secret that booking Airbnbs can have a negative impact on the locals due to rising rent and cost of living. In order to offset that, the best thing for you to do is to book more ethical forms of accommodation. This is where FairBnB comes in.

FairBnB directly benefits the local community with the help of tourism by donating half of all booking fees to local groups and charities . While FairBnB may not be as widespread as Airbnb at the moment, they have a growing list of destinations in Europe you may want to check out! Plus, FairBnB screens all hosts and has a one host, one house rule . So, you won’t find companies overrunning the entire site like you will on websites like Airbnb.

Click here if you want to check out more ethical alternatives to Airbnb !

4. Responsible Travel

It’s not surprising that a company named Reponsible Travel is all about sustainable and ethical travel! Founded in 2001, Responsible Travel believes that your trip and travel experiences are only enhanced when the trip benefits others , most notably the local communities and surrounding nature. They create holidays that maximize any benefits tourism has while reducing any negative impacts on the communities and our planet. One thing we love about Responsible Travel is that they specifically mention what benefits each holiday has when you click on the Responsible Travel tab underneath the Reviews tab. They have destinations and holidays all around the world!

5. Adventure Alternative

Started by a mountaineer in 1991, Adventure Alternative has been a leading travel company organizing and guiding expeditions on every corner of the earth! This is the sustainable travel company you want to go with if you’re interested in crazy adventures, such as hiking Mount Everest, going on a wildlife safari, and trekking Borneo or the Sahara Desert .

Adventure Alternative understands that tourism can be an exploitative business. So, they work hard to reduce any negative impacts they may have on destinations by benefiting local staff and companies. They also give profits back to the local communities and businesses.

6. Earthwatch Expeditions

Earthwatch is an environmental nonprofit organization that’s been pairing volunteers with researchers all across the world . They offer more than 40 types of expeditions, including those that don’t have any experience in field research expeditions. Earthwatch aims to safeguard critical habitats, conserve biodiversity, and promote sustainability. These 40+ research projects produce meaningful research in order to solve the Earth’s environmental issues . So, if you’re passionate about the environment and nature, one of Earthwatch’s expeditions could be a life-changing experience for you.

7. Seacology

If you’re on the lookout for an ecotourism adventure, check out Seacology . Seacology offers expeditions on islands around the world from Fiji to Borneo and beyond. Through their expeditions, you’ll not only travel to these amazing islands but also meet locals and really see the difference Seacology is making in conserving island habitats and helping the local communities as well. Beyond that, you’ll still be able to enjoy yourself immensely on their trips by seeing cultural sites, staying in luxurious resorts, and partaking in various activities like snorkeling and hiking.

8. Lokal Travel

As evidenced by their name, Lokal Travel is all about local tourism. The company is passionate about empowering local communities and leaving as much of a positive impact as possible. They create itineraries that not only make a memorable trip but also a meaningful one by purposefully connecting with local companies and accommodations owned by indigenous communities . They aim for 80% of the dollars you spend to stay local. When you travel with Lokal, you’re guaranteed to stay away from the inauthentic giant hotel chains but instead, help curate an itinerary for you that best supports the local culture and community while also protecting the environment.

9. Operation Groundswell

Operation Groundswell , or OG, is built with ethical tourism in mind. This is a great sustainable travel company if you are on more of a budget but still looking to make a positive impact on the world as you travel. OG partners with local organizations wherever they go and creates trips that are made up of local sleeping arrangements, local food, and local forms of transportation. All of this creates an incredibly meaningful trip you wouldn’t be able to plan on your own! Plus, you’ll really get to know the local and global issues during your trip.

10. Off Season Adventures

Looking for a sustainable safari in Africa ? Off Season Adventures uses many different methods to become a more ethical travel company every day. First of all, the whole crux of their company is that they promote travel in the off-season . This means their trips are often unique, with a better opportunity to directly connect with the locals without the bustling crowds. 

Furthermore, Off Season Adventures understands the local and environmental impact of travel, so the company operates completely paperless and recycles all plastic bottles. They also invest a percentage of your money to invest straight back into the local communities and wildlife.

11. Joro Experiences

Joro Experiences became the world’s first luxury travel company to be considered a certified B corporation in 2021. The company provides amazing adventures all around the world with a sustainable vision for the future of travel. By prioritizing conservation and inspiring tourists to take responsibility , Joro Experiences leads by example. The company has also founded The Conscious Travel Foundation, a community of sustainable and ethically-minded travel companies helping to improve the travel industry’s impact on the world. Joro Experiences crafts custom trips for high-budget and ethically-conscious travelers.

12. Earth Changers

An easy way to make a positive impact when you travel is to book with a sustainable travel company like Earth Changers . This company focuses on crafting tourism experiences for travelers who want to travel the world but leave a positive impact while doing so. Earth Changes specializes in sustainable tourism, engages with local communities, and educates themselves and others on local and environmental issues .

With this company, you can travel from Costa Rica and the Galapagos to Nepal and even the world’s oceans with their awesome sailing expeditions!

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry has been a pretty volatile place. Many travel companies have seen massive ups and downs. And many had to shut their doors after the pandemic, which essentially barred all travel for a couple of years. This not only affected standard tourism but also many sustainability and environmental organizations and Weeva aims to address this. 

Weeva is a sustainability platform for travel businesses that helps track and manage their ecological impacts . The company’s goal is to educate people about the massive amount of emissions created by the tourism industry (around 9% of total emissions!) and provide resources and solutions to lessen this impact. If you run a tourism business and are looking for ways to track and optimize your ecological impact, Weeva is an excellent choice.

14. Regenerative Travel

One of the coolest sustainable travel companies out there, Regenerative Travel is a company that I think we will hear a lot more of as sustainable travel becomes more of a necessity. The company is working to influence and educate both travelers and travel providers to shift to a more environmentally sustainable form of travel . This will not only be healthier for the planet, but it will also be beneficial to the communities in the countries we visit.

Regenerative Travel started out as a booking platform connecting tourists with regenerative hotels around the world. Now, they offer experiences and special memberships for businesses, industry professionals, and travelers. You can sign up for their traveler membership for free, which gives you a $99 credit on all regenerative hotels booked through the Regenerative Travel portal .

15.  Gondwana Ecotours

Gondwana Ecotours is a travel company that offers tours to several destinations around the world, including Patagonia, Alaska, Rwanda, Norway, Costa Rica, and more. The ethos of Gondwana is to provide a travel solution that leaves a smaller carbon footprint and less negative impacts on the local communities . In fact, ALL of Gonwana tours are carbon neutral, even offsetting the emissions from flights Gondwana guests take to get to tour locations. This is not an easy feat! They are one of the few verifiable carbon neutral travel companies, so Gondwana sets an awesome example!

Beyond their environmental efforts, Gondwana Ecotours also supports local businesses and family-owned hotels and lodging . They strive to bring money into the local economy of the countries they operate in rather than supporting large hotel corporations. Gondwana definitely gets a gold star from us!

16. Byway Travel

Thinking about lessening your carbon emissions by going flight-free ? Then, Byway is the travel company you should check out! Byway is the first-ever 100% flight-free travel platform. So, they create travel and accommodation packages that use just trains, buses, and ferries . They hope that travel will eventually become more flight-free as sustainable travel becomes crucial in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges the world is facing.

Byway definitely has the right idea, so we highly recommend checking out their services if heading on a trip to Europe somewhere.

17. Contiki Tours

Contiki Tours is one of the biggest travel companies on this list. It may be a surprise that such a massive name in the tourism industry is also a leader in sustainability and ethical practices. However, for such a huge company, Contiki Tours does a good job of prioritizing sustainability. The company has a climate action plan with hopes to cut its carbon emissions by up to 90% in the next few decades. They also prioritize bus travel over plane travel and use public transportation when possible.

Contiki invests in conservation and nature restoration in an effort to offset their carbon emissions and even urges tour-goers to eat vegetarian meals!

18. Kind Traveler

Something we always preach is to leave a positive impact on the communities you visit . It happens too often that tourists visit a country and harm the communities there more than they benefit them. Kind Traveler is a tourism company with a great cause that supports sustainable and ethical travel practices that we just love to see! 

The company has a Give+Get hotel booking system that supports various charitable causes in the same location as your booking. This system is ingenious, as you can see exactly what your money is supporting when making the booking. For example, if you book a certain hotel in Paris, your donation supports a French animal rescue center.

19. Charitable Travel

As you would expect from the company’s name, Charitable Travel is a travel agency that gives its profits to charity instead of pocketing the extra money . Charitable Travel has partnered with companies all over the world and acts like a third-party search engine of sorts to link travelers with ethical tour companies—all in the name of charity!

The company offers luxury travel, volunteer opportunities, and just about everything in between, so if you want to book a vacation and give a bit of money to a noble cause in the process, we highly recommend checking out Charitable Travel!

20. Food. Stories. Travel.

An Italy-based tour company that focuses on cycling, good food, and unique experiences Food. Stories. Travel. is a company we couldn’t leave off this list. The small tour company offers everything from food tours and cooking classes to cycling tours and cultural experiences .

Italy is an extremely touristy country, so finding a unique tour company that aims to get visitors off the beaten path is very reassuring. The company steers clear of the obvious and over visited sites, instead offering visitors unique experiences in less-trodden areas . Additionally, Food. Stories. Travel is a carbon-neutral company and does its best to minimize the environmental impact of its tours.

Make a Positive Impact on Your Travel Destinations!

The reality is that no matter how physically small your footprint is, you make an impact when you travel. Historically, travel has always been exploitative of the local communities and the nature around us. So, the best thing to do to minimize the negative impacts you have is to book your trips with the help of sustainable and ethical travel companies.

If you’re a digital nomad, you might also want to check out our guide on how to be an ethical digital nomad .

About the Author

I have been traveling the world for the past 8 years and have visited more than 40 countries. Now I prefer to slow travel, and love spending at least a few months in each place I visit so I can really get to know the place. For me, travel is about trying new foods, meeting locals, and having experiences you’d otherwise never have the opportunity to do!

See author's posts

Love this post? You should check out:

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Climate 100
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Wine Offers
• Betting Sites

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.  

How Thailand’s elephant camps are transitioning to a cruelty-free future

From a life of forced labour in the logging industry to performing in exploitative circus shows, thailand’s captive elephants have had it tough. but lauren jarvis finds a new breed of sustainable, ethical tourism camps are putting the animals first, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email.

“This herb is excellent at clearing up haemorrhoids,” explains Atichart Chatpisitchaikul, or “Tong”, my guide at the ChangChill elephant camp in the hill country outside of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand .

My fellow trekkers and I glance down at the mountainous pile of poop at our feet and wrinkle our noses in unison before Tong pushes on up the hill and we follow behind, bamboo trekking poles helping to speed our ascent to the top of the slippery slope.

Eating around 10 per cent of their body weight in food every day, it’s no surprise that a four-ton elephant processing 400kg of bamboo, sugar cane, leaves and bananas may need a little anorectal assistance now and then.

Here at ChangChill, the camp’s four resident elephants are visited fortnightly by a vet, with 24/7 interim care provided by their own PA: a local mahout , or elephant buddy, who keeps them content and leaves the visiting guests safe. The name ChangChill is an appropriate one: in Thai, ‘chang’ means elephant and ‘chill’ means relaxed.

Read more: Thailand travel guide – Everything you need to know before you go

ChangChill is one of three elephant camps I experience on a two-week journey through Thailand with the Experience Travel Group, which offers immersive adventures across Asia. It’s also one of a new breed of ethical camps working to tempt travellers away from the exploitative elephant shows and elephant riding experiences which still operate in Thailand. In the eight-acre forest at ChangChill, there’s no riding, no touching, and the sharp bull hooks traditionally used by mahouts to exert control over their animals are nowhere in sight. Instead, we trek into the forest to watch elephants foraging from 10–15 metres away, chop sugar cane which they eat while we watch from an observation deck, and make energy balls of banana, tamarind, rice husks and the all-important medicinal herbs, which are fed to them by their mahouts, rather than us.

“The elephants roam free around the property: they live well and eat well,” says the camp’s chief mahout, Chira Pongpathapee. “When I was young, I always saw elephants working hard logging or carrying tourists, but now they live in a different world. Here, they are happy.”

Like the majority of the 2,798 captive elephants kept in the country’s 246 tourism camps, the four mid-life female elephants at ChangChill – Mae Korn, Mae Too, Mae Mayura and Mae Gohgae (’mae’ means mother in Thai) – started their lives hauling heavy trees in the forests of Thailand. When the government banned the use of elephants for logging in natural forests in 1989, thousands of animals were suddenly jobless and their desperate owners – largely members of the Karen indigenous communities, who live in the hills to the north of the country – had to find new ways to pay for their elephants’ keep, with most of them transitioning into tourism.

“Tourists pay to visit commercialised elephant camps, which are designed as entertainment attractions,” explains Hatai Limprayoonyong, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection Thailand, a leading welfare organisation working to end animal exploitation. “Here, they can pet, feed, take photographs, ride and wash elephants, or watch them perform in circus-like shows. Unfortunately, almost all of these elephants experience cruelty and poor welfare conditions at these venues.”

Read more: The best time to visit Thailand to avoid crowds

Hailing from a family that has worked with and cared for elephants for generations, ChangChill owner, Supakorn Tananseth, allowed visitors to ride and bathe the elephants in his care until World Animal Protection started working with the camp in 2017, guiding its transformation into an operation which puts the elephants’ needs first.

“The initiative stemmed from the Elephant Friendly Conference, where elephant camp owners were invited to explore transitioning their traditional tourism business, which often exploited elephants for entertainment , into more humane, welfare-centred models,” says Hatai.

In partnership with World Animal Protection, Supakorn expanded and redesigned his camp to accommodate elephants’ natural behaviours, creating separate areas for tourists and elephants to ensure the safety of both and avoid any direct contact. The mahouts also received support, including improved living conditions and training on how to manage elephants ethically. ChangChill became the first elephant-friendly venue in northern Thailand, meeting the criteria set by World Animal Protection’s Elephant Friendly standards, and offering observation-only experiences.

“By 2023, ChangChill’s business was thriving, demonstrating financial viability, and they’re now working on a project to open their second location. This serves as an example of an elephant-friendly business model that not only improves elephant welfare, but also ensures the sustainability of the business and livelihoods of the local people involved,” says Hatai.

Read more: The best beaches in Thailand

While efforts have been made by the Thai government to address the welfare of captive elephants, such as introducing Guidelines for Elephant Welfare Management in 2020 and guidance on Good Practices for Elephant Facilities in 2021, as yet there are no plans to ban the remaining circus shows or elephant riding that keep so many elephants trapped in a cycle of abuse.

World Animal Protection is now advocating for an Elephant Protection Bill to prohibit breeding elephants for commercial purposes, using cruel training methods and forcing elephants to perform unnatural behaviours.

“Thailand’s captive elephants have never had the chance to live free in nature,” says Tong, as we leave the feeding observation deck at ChangChill and the elephants wind their way back into the forest. “Our mission here is to give them happy lives, where they can do what they want to do, free from work and stress.”

Until the circus shows are legally shut down, it’s the important choices of travellers that can break the chains and ensure a kinder future for Thailand’s captive elephants: luckily for us, we have the freedom to choose.

Where to book it

See elephants ethically in Thailand with Asia specialist Experience Travel Group . A two-week tailor-made trip, including two nights at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp , three nights at Tamarind Village and three nights at Mahouts Elephant Foundation starts at £4,950 per person. Price is based on two people travelling and includes B&B accommodation, transport, activities and international flights.

The best ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand

“Tourism can have positive benefits for elephants in Thailand,” says Sam Clark, co-founder and managing director at Experience Travel Group. “Without tourism, as we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic, elephants can suffer badly without the tourist revenues to support them and their upkeep. In recent years, demand from tourists for high-quality and ethical practices has driven an improvement in conditions at a majority of camps in Thailand. Doing your research on the camp, booking with a reputable tour operator and asking questions will help this process to continue.”

Mahouts Elephant Foundation, Mae Sot

Mahouts Elephant Foundation works in partnership with Karen indigenous communities to develop community-based tourism models for observation-only elephant encounters. The projects are in vast areas of forest, enabling elephants to live naturally, while tourists observe from a safe and respectful distance. The foundation is currently fundraising to save six more elephants from entering the tourist industry.

Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai

Established by elephant advocate Lek Chaillert in 2003, Elephant Nature Park in Northern Thailand now looks after more than 100 elephants, rescued from abuse in the tourism and entertainment industries. Lek’s Save Elephant Foundation educates elephant owners and raises awareness of the plight of captive and wild elephants in Thailand and throughout Asia.

Samui Elephant Sanctuary, Koh Samui

Inspired by Lek Chaillert’s work, Wittaya Sala-Ngam founded Samui Elephant Sanctuary in 2018 and now has two venues on the island of Koh Samui in Bophut and Chaweng Noi. Recognised by World Animal Protection as a Best Practice Elephant Venue , visitors can feed, walk with and observe the elephants as they forage, socialise and play.

Following Giants, Krabi and Koh Lanta

Elephants rescued from the logging and tourism industries have found greater freedom and room to roam at Following Giants’ two “no-touch” sanctuaries in southern Thailand. Supported by World Animal Protection, Charae “Ray” Sangkaow was able to open his first ethical elephant sanctuary on the island of Koh Lanta, with a second venue opening in Krabi this year.

Read more about ethical elephant tourism in Thailand with these guides from World Animal Protection and Experience Travel Group . Discover more about Thailand at Tourism Authority of Thailand

Find out more about ethical and sustainable travel options, and other ways to support local communities and protect the environment during your stay at Responsible Thailand

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies