Our Philosophy

We’re committed to helping the communities in which we walk, continually seeking to preserve each region’s timeless traditions, cultural heritage, and fragile habitats. Now we invite you to share in our work by acknowledging the local and international organizations we support. Here are just some of our efforts:

Preserving Global Relationships

A closely held part of the Country Walkers mission is to give something back to the communities in which we walk. We invite you to share in our endeavor as we support the goals and tireless dedication of the following:

Organizations
Adventure Travel Trade Association—Promotes natural resource sustainability, economic viability, and cultural integrity through responsible tourism.
Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development—Designs, monitors, evaluates, and improves ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices and principles.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)—Promotes responsible travel that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.
Traveler’s Philanthropy—Provides an online portal for travelers to make a difference.

International/National Community Efforts
Associazione Giraffa Onlus, Bari, Italy
Taylor Family Foundation, Camp Arroyo, Livermore, CA
Yellowstone Business Partnership, Yellowstone and Tetons, Wyoming
Oxfam International, Peru Earthquake Relief Fund

Cooperative Feminine de Fer Forgé, Fès, Morocco
Cyclone Nargis Relief Efforts, Yangon, Myanmar
Patacancha School Dormitory, Patacancha, Peru

Vermont groups
Green Mountain Club, Waterbury, Vermont
Mentoring Program, Waterbury, Vermont, elementary & middle schools
Waterbury Downtown Partnership, Waterbury, Vermont

Past Community Efforts

• Charles Darwin Research Station oil cleanup: Galapagos Islands, 2001
• Peruvian Andean Village Community Funds, 2000
• Turkish Earthquake Relief Fund, 1999

At Country Walkers we are proud of the choices we have made and continue to make toward responsible travel.  Our commitment ranges from our efforts in our Vermont office and local community all the way to the worldwide trails.

We Renew Our Commitment to Sustainable Tourism
We have always prided ourselves on traveling responsibly, but this year we have taken our passion even further with two special 30th anniversary trips; one focuses on responsible tourism here in our home state of Vermont, and the other showcases our new Egypt: The Legendary Nile à la Carte trip. 100% of the proceeds from both trips will be donated to specially designated, local organizations.

Being Green in Vermont
 Responsible travel starts here in our home office in the heart of the Green Mountains. The paper we use is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, and we are extremely proud to print all our marketing materials in the United States.

Local Guides, Local Hotels, Local Partnerships
We’re grateful to the communities and individuals around the world that have helped us lead the way in active travel. Local guides from the regions in which we walk accompany and lead the way on every one of our tours, 24/7. We choose and support locally owned hotels and restaurants, and, whenever possible, feature fresh, organic foods and ecologically responsible hotels. And we even incorporate fun with this commitment—during our annual worldwide guide trainings, we share responsible travel “best practices,” acknowledging guides with the most creative efforts.

The Walk...and the Talk
Of course our small tour groups (never more than 18) explore on foot, reducing our carbon footprint and minimizing the impact on the environment and local cultures. Walking “off the beaten path” brings you to amazing, out-of-the-way places that most travelers never experience.

Travel Philanthropy is a movement within the travel industry to support community projects in countries in which they travel.  Country Walkers is pleased to embrace the stance our parent company, First Choice Holidays has taken on responsible travel:

"We understand that the holiday destinations and the natural resources they depend on are finite and as such must be protected.  We also recognize that leisure travel brings the pleasure of discovering new places and cultures to millions of people every year, as well as the potential for new jobs and revenue to local communities, and a clean and safe natural environment.  We recognize that we must play our part in protecting holiday destinations for the generations of people who live there, and who wish to visit.  We cannot do it on our own, and we realize we have a long way to go."

We pledge that our commitment is ongoing, and, that we continually evaluate our tour itineraries to ensure that each is socially, economically, and environmentally sound and responsible.