Climate Action

Taking responsibility for the future of travel

As a global adventure travel company, we recognise our responsibility to understand and reduce the environmental impacts associated with our operations and the trips we offer.

From melting glaciers and rising sea levels to shifting weather patterns and biodiversity loss, climate change threatens not only the places you want to explore but also the wellbeing of our teams worldwide, the guides, porters and other vital local partners.

Our approach to climate action focuses on measuring emissions, identifying opportunities for reduction and transparently reporting our progress.

Our Approach to Climate Action

Walking and cycling are at the heart of many of our journeys, providing a human-powered way to experience a destination. We recognise, however, that every trip generates emissions through components including accommodation, meals and transport.

Our approach to climate action focuses on:

measuring emissions associated with our trips and operations
publishing estimated trip emissions through our Carbon Labels
identifying and implementing opportunities to reduce emissions
prioritising emissions reduction rather than relying on carbon offsetting

Our Climate Action Plan sets out our approach to measuring, reporting and reducing emissions.

Where our Trip Emissions Come From

Understanding where emissions occur helps us identify where reductions can be made.

Across our trips, emissions are primarily associated with accommodation, meals, ground transport and trip activities. The contribution of each varies considerably depending on the destination and itinerary.

Our Carbon Labels help us identify these emissions at trip level and provide a baseline against which we can assess future changes.

Carbon Labelling in Action

Understanding our emissions starts with measurement.

We've placed Carbon Labels on every trip, so you can see the estimated emissions associated with your journey before you travel..

Like a nutrition label on food, our Carbon Labels provide an estimate of the emissions associated with the trip components we measure, helping travellers understand where emissions arise and helping us identify opportunities for reduction.

Putting the Numbers in Perspective

For comparison, below is the estimated daily carbon footprint per person, based on national averages. They provide a baseline to help you see how your travel footprint compares.

Australia: 38.9 kg CO2e
New Zealand: 19.8 kg CO2e
USA: 37.8 kg CO2e
Canada: 40.8 kg CO2e
UK: 12.1 kg CO2e

These figures are based on each country’s annual per-person emissions divided across 365 days.

What We Measure

Our trip emissions calculations cover the main components included in the trip price, including accommodation, meals, ground transport, activities and guiding.

For self-guided trips, we calculate emissions associated with the elements we directly facilitate. Each trip also includes a pro-rata allocation of emissions associated with our wider operations, including offices, staff travel and digital infrastructure.

International flights to and from the destination are not included in the trip Carbon Label.

Your Flights and Carbon Impact

EXAMPLE: A return economy-class flight from Sydney to Kathmandu produces approximately 1.6 to 2.2 tonnes of CO2e, depending on aircraft type and routing.

When booking flights, these choices can help reduce flight-related emissions: