Regenerative Travel Practices

re·​gen·​er·​a·​tion | \ ri-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən : renewal or restoration of a body, bodily part, or biological system (such as a forest) after injury or as a normal process

The Challenge

We face an interesting conundrum in the tourism industry today. On the one hand, the tourism industry now accounts for a whopping 8% of greenhouse gas emissions and is having a detrimental effect on our global environment. On the other hand, when done with integrity, travel can be an important vessel to spread appreciation for and support conservation efforts around the world.

It’s time we do our part to reverse our contribution to this statistic. It is our responsibility to support travelers with ways to not only offset carbon emissions during travel, but to take it a step further and foster replenishing and restorative environmental practices in an effort to reverse climate change.

Our Solutions

At Explorer X, we believe part of our mission is to guide our travelers in becoming more empathetic global citizens and stewards. With this in mind, a few things we prioritize when planning travel experiences for our Explorers include:

  • Reducing the number of places visited, staying longer in each. (An added benefit of this is a more immersive experience.)

  • Choosing locally-owned properties that use eco-friendly practices such as eliminating (or reducing) single use-plastics, incorporating solar power, and growing their own herbs, fruits, and vegetables.

  • Ensuring the wages and working conditions of local guides and staff that are hired are fair and safe. Equitable treatment of workers ultimately improves the health and quality of life of the community.

  • Choosing areas that are less traveled to ... Places where the locals are engaged, and see the benefit in eco-tourism, giving back to the land we tread on.

  • Making sure activities and experiences planned do not interfere with or handle wildlife unless for rehabilitation or research purposes.

  • Including a $100 /pp carbon offset donation, giving travelers the option to contribute more if they so choose. The funds are donated directly to a variety of projects and organizations dedicated to combating climate change: Regeneration, Forterra, Sustainable Travel International, and more.

We hope that our travelers see us as a resource to help our planet thrive.


WHAT YOU CAN DO

We are inviting you to take a stand and do your part to incorporate some or all of the following eco-friendly habits into life before, during, and after travel to ultimately be a more sustainable and environmentally regenerative member of your community. Up to the task? Here’s how to get started:

Before You Travel

  • Support locally-owned retail shops for travel gear, or better yet, repurpose items you already own or that you can borrow from friends and family.

  • When purchasing new items, ensure that they are ethically made and high quality, choosing non-plastic materials like bamboo or stainless steel when possible. 

  • Opt-in to our carbon offsetting donation to Sustainable Travel International, and better yet, ask us to increase the amount if your budget allows.

During Your Journey

  • Use public transportation or a ride-sharing service (like Uber) to get around town while traveling.

  • Throw some reusable cutlery and straws in your carry-on for grab-and-go airport food.

  • Bring a reusable water bottle with a filtration system.

    Robyn’s pick: Grayl Ultralight Compact Purifier, which she used to safely drink questionable water straight from the tap in South America with no gastrointestinal issues to report.

  • Pack biodegradable soap to hand-wash clothes during travel.

  • During COVID times, pack a washable fabric face mask rather than stocking up on disposable single-use varieties.

When You Get Home

Spread the word about your trip – leave appreciative feedback for companies, properties, or guides that prioritize eco-friendly practices, which encourages them and others to continue doing so.

  • Consider charitable donations and support to local and legitimate on-the-ground non-profit organizations in the places visited as well as efforts back home.

  • Sign up for a composting and/or recycling service in your neighborhood. You may find that composting is cheap and easy with curbside pickups!

  • Start a fresh fruit and/or vegetable garden.

  • When you have the opportunity, bike instead of drive.

  • For groceries, try re-usable produce bags, silicone ziplock bags like the Stasher brand, beeswax wraps, and use mason jars for grocery shopping in the bulk section or for travel snacks. Small reusable containers are great for refilling with a travel-sized amount of shampoo/conditioner, too!

  • Consider when possible purchasing sustainably raised meat or consuming less meat in general.

  • Pick earth-friendly health and home products for yourself and your family to rid toxins from your household. Try the Think Dirty or Skin Deep websites.

    Bonus tip: Load their apps on your phone for quick barcode scanning ability at the store.

  • And if you want to make an even greater impact, invest in solar power for your home.

Here you can watch our Wisdom & Wanderlust webinar with Court Whelan on Sustainable Travel. From heading up carbon offsetting strategies for large scale companies for over a decade, to guiding travelers on epic photographic adventures across the globe, Court's range of interests and expertise ranges far and wide. For our team at Explorer X, Court has been a mentor and guiding light when it comes to building our own regenerative travel practices.

 
 

Adopting and incorporating these practices in life and travel not only reduces our carbon footprint but goes beyond, resulting in environmental regeneration. Now let’s get out there and travel with integrity — feeling assured that we are benefiting the regions we visit and ultimately contributing to a healthier and thriving planet for generations to come.