5 Tour Operators for Travelers Who Want to Travel Sustainably

Emerging industry intel suggests that more Americans are interested in exploring the outdoors this year. And, in recent years, research has purported that travelers are growing more caring and conscious about the footprints they leave after their journeys.

The following five outdoor tour operators will not only take clients on experiential and insightful tours in new environments, but also help protect the local communities and natural environments in which they operate.

Atlas Obscura

“We’re committed to visiting places few others do, not only because it leads to deeper experiences for our travelers, but also as a way to maximize our impact where it’s needed most,” said Mike Parker, general manager of trips at Atlas Obscura. “Our trips divert tourism dollars to communities, cultural sites and destinations that, too often, don’t get their share, all while supporting important conservation work and offsetting our carbon footprint.”

Our trips divert tourism dollars to communities, cultural sites and destinations that, too often, don’t get their share, all while supporting important conservation work and offsetting our carbon footprint.

When booking a trip with Atlas Obscura — from Bhutan’s mountaintop temples to the Peruvian Amazon — your clients can see exactly what kind of positive impact their trip will make. This can range from saving sites from ruin by raising their profile to directly supporting the ongoing protection of places by contributing to projects run by local organizations or co-operatives. 

RELATED: What Is the Real Definition of Sustainable Travel, Anyway?

Atlas Obscura has also signed Tomorrow’s Air Clean Up Pact, which represents the world’s first traveler collective to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it permanently.

G Adventures 

G Adventures has been taking travelers around the world for more than three decades.

"We are pioneers when it comes to community tourism, a term which, to us, means building meaningful relationships with the local communities that we visit — and ensuring that they benefit directly from that relationship,” said Jamie Sweeting, vice president of responsible travel and social enterprise.

We are pioneers when it comes to community tourism, a term which, to us, means building meaningful relationships with the local communities that we visit — and ensuring that they benefit directly from that relationship.

Some 200,000 guests travel with G Adventures every year to every continent, barring Antarctica. The company partners with the nonprofit Planeterra to support and develop “community tourism” experiences. Meanwhile, its G Values Fund provides opportunities for entrepreneurial tour leaders to explore socially conscious business ideas.

"We believe that travel can indeed be a force for good,” Sweeting said. “That’s why, in 2016, G Adventures introduced the Ripple Score metric that transparently shares with travelers what percentage of their money actually benefits the people and places they visit — and how.

Gondwana Ecotours

“Eco-conscious travel is at the core of who we are as a company,” said Eric Segalstad, vice president of Gondwana Ecotours. “It’s a commitment that’s reflected in our name."

In 2021, for example, Gondwana also became completely carbon neutral by collaborating with Cooler, which buys permits (away from polluters) in tightly regulated pollution markets. And, as a proud member of The International Ecotourism Society and Responsible Travel, the Green America- and Adventure Green Alaska-accredited company donates a portion of proceeds to carefully vetted local nonprofits.

Bringing dollars into the local economy is a known sustainable practice, and we think it’s the responsible thing to do.

“We make a point to support local businesses whenever possible, and especially those who champion environmental practices,” Segalstad said. “Bringing dollars into the local economy is a known sustainable practice, and we think it’s the responsible thing to do.”

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel, which is touted as the world’s largest purpose-led adventure travel brand and the world’s largest travel B Corporation, has been around for three decades. A signatory to the United Nationals Global Compact, Intrepid has been carbon neutral since 2010. 

The operator has carbon offset all of its trips thanks to its seven-point commitment plan to support its Climate Emergency declaration. In fact, Intrepid is the first global tour operator with “verifiable science-based targets” via the Science Based Targets initiative.

Intrepid offers more than 1,000 adventures in some 100 countries, with 38 new U.S. tours launching in April 2022.

"We’ve thought for a long time about the unique role Intrepid can play in the United States,” said James Thornton, CEO. “We felt compelled to not only offer sustainable and unique travel experiences for both domestic and international travelers, but to also ensure we use the power of tourism as a force for good.”

Intrepid’s not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has also been working to accelerate community-led sustainable development, partnering with locals and contributing millions to more than 130 community organizations since 2002.

Kimkim

For green-minded travelers curious about America’s national parks, Kimkim is a safe bet. All of Kimkim’s trips — many of which explore the deserts, canyons and mountains of the U.S. — are 100% climate neutral.

“Our vision is that independent travel can and should be a force for social impact,” said Chris McCarty, head of engineering. “Kimkim trips support economic growth in our destinations, promote cross-cultural exchange and understanding, and embrace sustainable tourism principles. We favor partnerships with small, local specialists and suppliers.”

The company partners with sustainability consulting firm SouthPole on regional projects that offset emissions. Moreover, kimkim’s specialists get involved in various initiatives within their own communities.