Responsible Travel

Since Adventure Center began 30 years ago, our philosophy has been rooted in immersing adventure travelers in the countries they visit by exposing them to local people, culture, wildlife and the delicate balance that sustains the environments in which these communities thrive.
Over the years, our trip operators have become increasingly pro-active about ensuring that trips foster positive relations with locals by maximizing the economic benefits for people and minimizing the environmental impact.

What it takes to achieve this

The economic, environmental and cultural effects of a trip are key considerations during the itinerary design process. Local suppliers distribute the economic benefits throughout their communities. Small groups lessen the environmental impact and allow travelers to be culturally unobtrusive. Everyone involved with the organization of a trip promotes and adheres to sustainable travel principles, which travelers cannot help but embrace.

Special projects

In addition to operating socially and ecologically responsible trips, our suppliers also contribute services and goods to the communities we visit, which remain long after the travelers have gone. One example of the many projects under taken is the Exodus solar cooker project. Exodus has started purchasing parabolic solar cookers for use in Nepal. These solar cookers help reduce the use of wood as fuel, which helps save forests, reduces air pollution that can lead to respiratory problems and reduces carbon emissions that ultimately harm the planet we live on. In the summer of 2008, ten cookers were transported to Lukla and porters were hired to carry the cookers to some of the lodges we use in the Everest region. You will see them in Lukla, Phakding, Monzo, Namche, Thyangboche, Dingboche, Lobuje and Gorak Shep. Twenty more solar cookers have been ordered and will be ready at the end of the year and early in 2009 these will be sent to the Everest region ready for use next season.

What you can do

By choosing to be a traveler with Adventure Center, you already do more than many people. While our suppliers take great care in creating trips that respect, protect and benefit all the communities they work with, certain environmental impacts of global travel are unavoidable. For example, the biggest environmental drawback of international travel is flying; airplanes release hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The good news is there's an easy way to offset some of the carbon emissions associated with your flights by purchasing AdventureOffsets which invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that reduce carbon emissions. With the proceeds from your AdventureOffset purchase, in collaboration with Sustainable Travel International, we help finance climate protection projects in different countries, thereby enabling you to compensate for the impact of your air travel. To purchase AdventureOffsets click here.

Adventure Center is also a sponsor of Sustainable Travel International.

Adventure Center Supports: