Here’s just a few of the things we've spearheaded in recent years...

• Considered waste, power, and water usage at all of our global premises, and implemented processes to measure and reduce.
• Achieved a Qualmark Gold award.
• Replaced office lighting with efficient LEDs.
• Introduced recycling schemes for glass, plastic, paper and aluminum in our offices and on our buses.
• All staff and guides have their own ‘keep cups’ for coffee.
• All office staff are issued with reusable lunch containers.
• We work with our suppliers (of activities and accommodation) to reduce their carbon footprints - or find new suppliers who will engage with us on this.
• We print our highest quality collateral on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper, and use recycled paper for printing day-to-day in-house items.
• We promote e-brochures over printed ones.
• Our guides use reusable boxes/bags for food shopping, and reusable containers for guests’ lunches.
• Green waste from our offices and on trips is composted and used to feed our vegetable gardens.
• Our guides are trained in best practice for sustainability, so they can pass this on to our guests.

We are proud of our sustainability initiatives and we intend for them to pave the way for improvements across our entire global operation.

We are very aware of how easy it is to come up with a list of initiatives and awards we have as a business, and claim to be doing our bit for the planet. Realistically though, we understand that our presence as an adventure tour operator in Central & South America inevitably has an impact on the environment and the local communities we interact with. With that in mind, we do our best to educate our guests about ways they can contribute positively, rather than negatively, during their visit.

On our Galapagos Islands adventures, for example, our trips are 'land-based', which means our dollars will be spent within the local communities, rather than with a foreign boat cruise operator. The Galapagos Islands is famed for its wildlife, and the conservation efforts there are central to our adventures. Our highly trained conservation guides are certified leaders who go through years of training to be allowed to show you these amazing places, and most volunteer in conservation programs in their down time. We’re very lucky to have so many selfless individuals taking responsibility for the quality of our adventures in Ecuador.

Our commitment to small group travel also helps to reduce our impact on the natural environment in all of our destinations, not just Central and South America. Aside from this, it means you’ll get to know the whole group and make some friends for life!

And empowering others when we can't.

Active Hearts Foundation is based in Nepal and was started by Active Adventures guide Dan 'DK' Keys. What began as a small token of appreciation to the Nepalese people for their kindness, welcoming, and generosity, grew into something much more quantifiable after the devastating earthquake of 2015.

Immediately following the earthquake all resources were channelled into relief efforts and rebuilding in the rural communities, and today, Dan and his team of volunteers have built numerous libraries for schools in rural regions of the Himalayas, built a clean water supply high in the Himalayan foothills, and provided emergency healthcare to rural communities!

Dan and the team have plans to continue in the same vein, and we’re delighted to be able to support this fantastic cause, and give something back to the communities which make our Himalayas adventures so special.
If you want to know more about the Foundation, head to this page. or check out the documentary video below. If you'd like to donate to Active Hearts Foundation, or go on a discovery trip with them to see the amazing work they’re doing, head to their website here.