Skip Navigation Links Home Responsible Tourism

Discover Adventure Nominated for 2008 Responsible Tourism Award

We're very proud to have been nominated for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage category of 2008's Responsible Tourism Awards. This follows being shortlisted in the Best Tour Operator category in 2006.

We are grateful to be recognised for the efforts we make to run safe, enjoyable trips for our clients AND to put as much as we can back into the local communities we work with.

We continually work to improve what we put back into local communities and the environment, and welcome any feedback.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ... our policies

Freddy, one of our regular porters, Inca Trail

Yak support, Everest Base Camp trek

Aiding the Local Economy
Discover Adventure operates a policy of working very closely with the local communities through which we pass. Usually the guides, cooks, porters, drivers etc employed for our trips come from the surrounding villages, as does much of our food and supplies. We aim to aid the local economy at a direct level as much as possible.

'Leave no Trace' Tourism
We understand the potential harm that can come from taking groups through many of the delicate environments in which we operate and insist on a policy of 'leave no trace' tourism. We go to great lengths to ensure that we do not harm the areas we pass through and therefore help to promote responsible, sustainable tourism. We put a lot of effort into informing our participants, both before and during their trip, about the impact they can have on a community and environment.

Welfare of Porters and local crew
Issues surrounding the welfare of porters in developing countries is a topic which has attracted a considerable amount of media attention in recent years. The general welfare of porters - and guides, drivers, cooks and any other local personnel employed on our trips - as well as the standard of their equipment and level of pay, is very important to us and to our ground crew, who generally recruit local staff for our groups. They have a good understanding of these issues and consider them vital to long-term tourism in their local regions - that is one of the reasons we choose to work with them.

Responsible Ground Operators
Our choice of who to work with locally is influenced by such quality-related approaches; while price is important to us (and you), we do not always work with the cheapest supplier. We have long-standing relationships and a good repport with all our ground crew teams, which involves a strong mutual trust and respect. Many of our ground handlers have been actively involved in setting up schemes for local people and porters, such as clothing banks and educations schemes, and are very committed to ensuring that the local people benefit through tourism.

Actively Supporting Community Projects

Community project Chacan, Peru

African orphanage, Moshi

In recent years we have become more actively involved in supporting local community projects, usually working alongside our ground operators. We always ensure that our help goes to a worthwhile, long-term project and is managed fairly and with sustainable development in mind.

As well as our own help - whether that's in the form of money, goods, practical help or raising awareness - we encourage many of our groups to bring unwanted books and clothing to be distributed if they wish to do so. 

Our Community Projects - click here for more information > > >

Get hands-on with our Volunteer Challenges > > >

Responsible Tourism Advice for our Trip Participants > > >

Click here for useful links on environmental awareness > > >

Information on Offsetting your Flight Emissions > > >

Download Brochure Brochure by Mail