Audley Travel launches guide to sustainable travel
Published: 04/13/2022 / Updated: 04/13/2022
Bespoke travel operator Audley Travel is marking Earth Day with the launch of a sustainable travel guide (featuring sustainable travel tips from Audley’s specialists), to help clients leave a positive impact when traveling.
As well as highlighting recommendations for interacting with local communities and protecting the environment, the guide also includes tips on individual behavior changes which can make a difference.
Audley’s recommendations include:
Interacting with local communities
- Respect local cultural sensitives.
- Ask permission before taking photos and don’t photograph children.
- Support the local economy by eating and shopping in community run and locally owned businesses.
- Take a light-hearted approach to bartering and remember that small amounts can mean a lot to the vendor.
- Give back in a considered way — supporting a charity or local project will have a wider and more positive impact than giving a few dollars to an individual, or make a donation through Audley’s new community engagement fund — the Audley Travel for Good Fund (developed with CAF America).
Protecting the environment
- Preserve nature — as well as sticking to paths when visiting nature reserves and national parks, take notice of destination specific recommendations such as rinsing hiking boots to avoid the transfer of invasive species, or taking care not to step on centuries-old moss.
- Animal encounters — use local guides who adhere to strict animal welfare guidelines to avoid disrupting wildlife’s natural habitats.
Behavior changes
- Pack with plastic reduction in mind — take items like reusable cutlery sets and water bottles to aid the refusal of single use plastic once in the destination. Recycle packaging before traveling and taking items that can’t be recycled locally (for example batteries) back home.
- Turn off lights, air conditioning and electrical equipment when not in use and keep water usage to a minimum.
- Select food carefully — where possible choose locally sourced food and if meals are buffets, try small samples first to reduce waste.
- Avoid peak season travel — not only does this mean fewer crowds, shorter wait times and better availability of the top accommodation it also supports the employment of local guides ensuring they have work year-round.
Heather Magnussen, Responsible Travel & Sustainability Manager at Audley Travel, says: “The very nature of our bespoke trips enables clients to easily make sustainable choices. Travelers can work with their country specialist to design an itinerary that focuses on hotels and other accommodation choices with the highest sustainability credentials or utilizes the most sustainable forms of transport within a destination and on excursions.”
Audley’s suggestions for more sustainable travel
Cambodia’s nature and communities — a 12-day trip where clients learn to be an elephant keeper with the Wildlife Alliance in Phnom Penh, see the temples of Angkor by bike with an expert guide, stay in a safari-style tent in the remote Cardamom Mountains and explore a local community working to preserve Cambodia's wildlife. The trip costs from $5,995 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, accommodation and excursions. 866-346-2701 / www.audleytravel.com/us/cambodia.
Green season safari in the Okavango Delta — a 10-day trip visiting the remote Central Kalahari National Park which is at its best for game viewing in the green season, as well as providing economic support for local communities when they need it most. Clients explore by boat and enjoy safari drives away from the crowds of peak travel times. The trip costs from $10,725 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, accommodation, excursions and safari fees. 866-346-3175 / www.audleytravel.com/us/botswana.
Coast, Outback and Reef – the eco-friendly way — a 22-day trip bringing together some of Audley’s strongest responsible travel offerings in Australia This stays away from the tourist hot-spots and is designed to operate with a minimal impact on the environment, for example promoting travel from Adelaide to Sydney via the lower carbon footprint option of the Indian Pacific train exploring local boutique wineries by e-bike and kayaking to see dolphins. Accommodation choices include properties made from recycled materials or powered by renewable energy. The trip costs from $8,315 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, train travel, accommodation and excursions. 866-580-9849 / www.audleytravel.com/us/australia.
Audley’s sustainable travel guide is part of its firm, ongoing commitment to responsible travel. More information on its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Framework and achievements to date can be found here. The client guide to sustainable travel is here.