In recent years, there’s been a lot of conversation about the impacts of tourism on fragile destinations, particularly destinations most affected by climate change. Climate change itself has never been more at the forefront of our collective minds; all around the world, beautiful locations and local communities are being affected by the impacts of global warming in complex and interconnected ways that range from shifting weather patterns to socio-economic pressures.
It’s more important than ever to make choices that positively impact the planet. At Stride, we believe that travel has the power to open people’s eyes to both the beauty of the world and the realities of climate change, and aids in galvanizing people to make actionable eco-friendly changes in their own lives.
In keeping with that belief, the Stride Gives Back program offers an opportunity to travel responsibly and give back to the planet. During the month of April, we will donate 10% of our net revenue from any trip booked through Stride to organizations dedicated to helping mitigate climate change around the world. Enroll in Stride Gives Back here (it’s free!)
The tour companies on Stride offer hundreds of trips to locations affected by climate change, and many are focused on ensuring their trips have a positive environmental impact on the destinations they visit.
These tour operators range in size from smaller local organizations to large global operators, and they offer trips on nearly every continent. Without further ado, here’s the top tour operators we’d like to give a round of applause for their environmentally conscious efforts.
Top Eco-Friendly Tour Operators
1. G Adventures
Established in 1990, G Adventures is a global operator offering guided tours on all seven continents. They have options for everything from group tours to smaller independent or self-guided tours, and specialize in small ship expeditions, river cruises, trekking & camping, safaris, and other types of adventure travel.
The company is known for its sustainable travel practices, and works hard to craft engaging trips that give back to the communities they visit. Itineraries are focused around cultural connection and active, no-frills travel often to off-the-beaten path destinations.
For a truly life-changing experience that offers the opportunity to travel responsible without a huge price tag, G Adventures is the way to go.
2. Exodus
Since 1974, Exodus has been providing active, adventure-oriented trips in South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, and Africa for people of all ages. They offer both small group tours and self-guided packages, and focus on cycling, walking, trekking, wildlife and cultural tours with an overarching emphasis on responsible travel.
As much as possible, Exodus trains and employs local experts with an eye to giving back to local communities and bringing unique insights and experience to their trips. With professional guides and painstakingly crafted itineraries, Exodus is a fantastic choice for adventurous travelers looking to travel mindfully.
3. World Expeditions
World Expeditions’ central focus is providing travelers with options for responsible, small group adventure trips. They emphasize the “path less traveled”, and make sure the trips they provide have a small environmental footprint.
World Expeditions is a global operator, and they offer hundreds of trips to all seven continents for adventurous travelers interested in trekking, camping, cycling, and authentic cultural experiences. They offer expertly trained local group leaders, and their trips are all-inclusive (meaning no extra or hidden local costs).
Finally, World Expeditions offers a “Community Project Travel Program”, where travelers can spend four to five days of their tour volunteering to give back to local communities. For those interested in traveling adventurously and leaving a positive impact on the places you visit, World Expeditions is the way to go.
4. ROW Adventures
Originally a white water rafting company, ROW Adventures now offers active tours for all ages throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and both the Arctic and Antarctic. They focus on building local connections to help their small groups experience local history and culture, and aim to make their outdoor adventure tours accessible to all ― not just “hard core” adventure travelers.
Most trips involve water-focused activities such as kayaking or rafting, but there are also safari, hiking, and biking options. ROW is dedicated to helping people enjoy and appreciate nature, and takes the environmental impact of their trips seriously, abiding by the “Leave No Trace” policy on wilderness adventures and supporting conservation efforts around the world.
ROW Adventures is truly customer-experience focused, and if you’re looking to experience the beauty of nature with the support of expert guides and local leaders, then ROW is the perfect choice.
5. Lost World Adventures
Founded in 1987, Lost World Adventures specializes in guided trips to South America and Central America as well as Antarctica. Their trips are private and highly customized, and this is the operator to choose if you’re looking for both luxury and adventure.
Whatever level of activity and style of travel you prefer, Lost World Adventures’ guides will work closely with you to build your perfect trip. Whether it’s exploring Buenos Aires, Argentina, hiking to Machu Picchu, or taking a cruise to the Antarctic or the Galapagos Islands, you’ll be well taken care of on these trips.
Finally, Lost World Adventures makes sure to accommodate guests’ needs while still remaining socially and environmentally conscious ― so you never have to choose between caring for the Earth and having a fantastic travel experience.
6. 50 Degrees North
50 Degrees North is a specialized, independently owned local operator offering trips in Scandinavia, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Russia, and the Arctic (hence the name!). All guides, sales staff, and company owners are local, and truly offer and insider’s perspective to traveling in the Nordic, Russian, or Arctic regions.
50 Degrees North works with local suppliers, guides, and hotels, and goes above and beyond to make sure every single trip is crafted with care and a personal touch. They offer over 200 trips, which include small ship and expedition cruises, rail trips, photography trips, and other types of adventure travel; there are also options for both self-guided/independent trips, private guided tours, and group trips.
If you’re looking to travel with a company that has strong roots in its region and truly cares about the destinations it visits, then 50 Degrees North is a fantastic choice.
7. Say Hueque
Established in 1999, Say Hueque is another incredible local operator offering tours throughout Argentina and the surrounding region. They focus on adventure travel for all ages, and specialize in trekking and camping in Argentina and Chile’s stunning national parks. They offer options for group tours and private tours, as well as self-guided trips and customized itineraries.
Similar to 50 Degrees North in Scandinavia. Say Hueque prides itself on its local ties, and makes an effort not only to partner with local communities but also to visit each destination prior to running a trip there.
Say Hueque is truly detail-oriented, and you’re sure to have a wonderful experience exploring local landscapes and cultures with a company that cares about both its customers and the communities it visits.
8. Trafalgar
Established in 1947, Trafalgar is a well-established and well-known global operator offering large group tours in North, South, and Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia & the Pacific region. They provide comfortable, less physically demanding tours that are generally catered to travelers over 50. T
rafalagar focuses on cultural immersion on all of their tours, and tailors their accommodation style to specific destinations; you can enjoy local food, learn about local history and culture, and stay in comfortable and well-located accommodations each night.
Trafalgar is also a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, which aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and aims to have a positive impact on tourist destinations while also protecting oceans and wildlife.
With its focus on comfortable and responsible travel, Trafalgar is a great choice for those interested in seeing the world sustainably and authentically without focusing solely on outdoor or adventure tourism.
9. Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global operator offering group tours and cruises on all seven continents, geared largely towards younger travelers between the ages of 18-35 (though with their wide variety of trip options, there’s something for everyone!). They focus on cultural immersion and adventure travel with small group sizes and expert guides. Intrepid offers the opportunity to get “off the beaten path”, and uses local accommodation and lodging on its trips.
Their tours offer plenty of time for independent exploration while still providing the benefits of organized travel, and gives you the opportunity to strike out on your own and learn from your guides as you travel.
Finally, because of its local focus, Intrepid is a strong supporter of local economies in the destinations it visits by forging strong partnerships with local suppliers; they’ve also made a concentrated effort to reduce their carbon footprint, and have introduced carbon offset trips into their programs. Fun, adventurous, and immersive trips with an eye to environmental responsibility sound like a big win to us!
10. Collette
Established in 1918 (making this one of the oldest operators on this list!), Collette offers safari and adventure focused group tours throughout the Americas, Europe, Australia & the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and both the Arctic and Antarctic.
True industry experts, Collette’s guided tours allow you to see some of the world’s most beautiful destinations with comfort and ease. They balance cultural immersion with well-known highlights, and also offer private and customizable trip options. They’re a higher-end luxury provider, and their trips are well-planned from top to bottom with every detail taken care of.
However, their tours are still active and engaging, with different levels of physical fitness that you can choose from. In 2017, Collette also launched a program called Impact Travel Tours, which (like World Expeditions similar program) allows travelers to spend half of their tour visiting projects focused on community-based improvement.
For travelers looking for an expert, well-established tour company that’s making an effort to give back to local communities and support sustainable travel initiatives, Collette is a great choice.
11. SmarTours
SmarTours offers a wide range cruises, group tours, and custom itineraries for all ages and budgets throughout South and Central America, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and Africa. On these affordable trips (that include airfare!) you can enjoy learning from local guides, first-class hotels, and sightseeing in beautiful destinations around the world.
SmarTours does a fantastic job of offering high-quality, engaging tours at a low price point’ they’re popular amongst older travelers or families, and have a strong base of repeat customers.
SmarTours also has a history of supporting non-profits focused on community improvement or environmental issues ― such as Water for People, an organization dedicated to improving access to water and sanitation across the world. If you’re on a budget but still want to enjoy a high-quality group tour with an established company that gives back to the planet, consider booking a trip with SmarTours!
12. Discover Corps
With headquarters in sunny California, Discover Corps offers both group trips and private guided tours for all ages in South America, Central America & the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and Australia & the Pacific region. They focus on volunteer vacations, where travelers can experience the world with a humanitarian perspective.
Trips most often focus on education or animals & wildlife conservation issues. Discover Corps is truly focused on creating a sense of global awareness and giving back to communities; to ensure that their projects have a long-term impact despite the typical two-week length of their trips, they partner with established organizations that have built ongoing relationships with local communities.
They’re also a certified B Corporation, which means they’ve undergone extremely rigorous independent audits to ensure that their social, environmental, and legal practices are up to par and genuinely providing a social good. In the complicated world of “voluntourism”, Discover Corps provides an established and trustworthy way for travelers to really give back to the world on their next vacation.
13. Explore!
Offering both group and self-guided tours in all seven continents, Explore! is a well-established operator perfect for anyone looking for high-quality active adventure travel. Group sizes are generally smaller (around 14-16 people), and tours rely on local accommodation and leaders to provide a more nuanced and authentic experience.
Since Explore! specializes in active travel, you’ll want to make sure you select a trip and tour pace that’s appropriate for your level of physical fitness ― information which Explore! helpfully provides pre-booking. Explore! also supports responsible tourism by working with local charities in destinations around the world.
Explore! was founded by passionate and experienced travelers, and retains a spirit of adventure and sense of social responsibility that will appeal to anyone interested in active, engaged, and mindful world travel.
14. Moser Active
Founded in 1990 by Christian Moser, Moser Active offers intensive adventure trips in the Patagonia and Atacama regions of Chile and Argentina. They do offer some “soft” adventure tours, but specialize mainly in hard-core adventure trekking. All ages are welcome, provided that travelers have a good level of physical fitness and comfortable sleeping in wilderness lodges or in tents.
Experienced trip guides and the relatively small group sizes (between 4-10 people) help foster a sense of camaraderie and an adventurous outdoor spirit. All of Moser Active’s trips have been personally scouted by Christian Moser himself, who is also the company’s main mountain guide.
The trips are off the beaten path, and offer the chance to truly get to know the region’s way of life and local communities first-hand. Moser Active works with local organizations, and ― in line with its focus on outdoor travel ― maintains extremely high standards in regard to the ethical and environmental impact of each trip. For true adventure travel, Moser Active is the way to go.
15. Qwerty Travel
With headquarters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Qwerty Travel offers trips throughout Argentina for active travelers. They have options for trekking, camping, sailing, and photography tours, as well as travel styles ranging from budget to luxury.
They focus on providing unique experiences, and have group tours as well as private or self-guided tours ― you can choose to focus on anything from wine tasting to more active outdoor experiences.
If you’re looking for a trip to South America that you can build on your own terms, Qwerty Travel is a great choice and will support you in building a custom itinerary that suits your tastes and travel style!
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