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Sustainability

In essence, traveling far and wide is not the best for the environment. Travelling can leave deep traces in the flora and fauna of a place. It can also impact the relationship and traditions between local people and their land.

At CultureRoad, we take responsibility for addressing the effects of global travel. That’s why we’re dedicated to reducing our ecological footprint and supporting local projects. Below, you’ll find details about our sustainability initiatives–hopefully they’ll inspire you to reflect on the impact of your own journeys around the world.

  • TreesForAll – 1 Tree per Traveller: Approximately 10 billion trees disappear worldwide every year. To combat this, we support TreesForAll–a Dutch organisation planting trees around the world. They have projects across five continents, improving the climate, air quality, and biodiversity in countries like in the Netherlands, Costa Rica and Uganda. For every CultureRoad traveller, we donate one tree to support global reforestation.
Local guide in Ayhaft Canyon National Park on Socotra, Yemen
  • Travelife – Partner Award in Sustainability: Travelife is a leading certification program for socially and environmentally responsible tourism. In 2023, we earned the Travelife Partner Award, recognising our commitment to sustainability. CultureRoad’s operations and travel offerings meet more than 100 Travelife criteria. These criteria integrate seven key international sustainability standards, such as the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility Guidelines. Download our policy & procedures handbook for sustainability here.
  • Minimising Plastic Use: In some of our destinations, awareness of the environmental impact of plastic is still developing. We try to spark this conversation by talking to our local guides and encouraging eco-friendlier alternatives for our tours. We also encourage our travellers to be mindful of their plastic usage by minimising waste and bringing sustainable and reusable products along for the trip.
  • Collaborating with Local Communities on Environmental Awareness: We actively support sustainable tourism in local communities through ongoing collaboration. By promoting environmentally conscious practices, we help ensure the long-term preservation of these places, benefiting both locals and future travellers. 
  • Sustainable Choices: Whenever possible, we favour sustainable alternatives on our itineraries. This could look like using trains over domestic flights within a country, for example. This approach not only reduces our environmental impact, but also offers a more immersive travel experience.
Women hanging out of a traditional steam train in Eritrea
  • Protecting Local Ecosystems and Curbing Illegal Souvenir Trade: We work closely with our partners on the ground to support local craftsmanship and ethical trade. We ensure that the souvenirs purchased by our travellers are responsibly sourced. By raising awareness on the trade of illegal souvenirs, we aim to reduce the demand for such goods. We also educate our travellers on the importance of not taking home any items that could harm the biodiversity of other countries. Let’s work together to protect the environment and local cultures through responsible travel choices.

Sustainability: A Shared Responsibility

When you travel with us, you’re not just exploring, you’re making a positive impact. From small changes like reducing plastic waste, to bigger commitments like volunteering to support local eco-friendly initiatives, every choice matters. We believe that sustainability in travel is not just about bringing along your reusable water bottle. It is also about supporting small businesses, respecting local customs, and being open to knowledge exchange. By travelling with this mindset, you’re helping us leave a lighter footprint while fostering meaningful connections across the globe. Together, we can make travel more sustainable!

Have more ideas?

We’d love to hear them! This is just the beginning of a larger journey towards a sustainable future in travel. If you have any suggestions on how we can make our tours more eco-friendly, we would love to hear them!