Sustainable Travel

Your Trip Makes a Difference

We’re committed to a healthier planet, and to giving back to the destinations we explore.

Country Walkers has been a leader in responsible tourism for decades—sustainability is one of our core values. We stay in locally owned and operated hotels whenever possible and seek out environmentally and socially responsible accommodations—properties which create sustainable business through their efforts.

In all ways we strive to preserve indigenous cultures, support local economies, conserve wildlife, and protect the environment. We are ardent supporters of the Slow Food movement—an initiative designed to preserve culinary traditions and support biodiversity. When you travel with us, you’ll contribute to a more sustainable world too.

The Travelers Fund

Country Walkers makes a donation on behalf of every traveler to the Travelers Fund, which supports designated projects in the communities and habitats where we travel.

Limoncello: Italy’s Sweet and Sunny After-Dinner Drink 1

Mountain Rescue at Club Alpino Italiano

We put safety first on the Amalfi Coast by making a donation on behalf of every tour participant to the local mountain rescue team. Mainly relying on volunteers and donations, the rescue team depends on contributions to obtain and maintain equipment for rapid emergency response to visitors and locals alike.
Tour: Italy: Pompeii, Capri & the Amalfi Coast

Wildlife Conservation in the Rocky Mountains

The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative seeks to re-connect segments of land that have been separated by development, allowing animals to safely move from region to region on wildlife-friendly highway overpasses. Our contribution will be used towards constructing one of these wildlife crossing structures.
Tours: Montana: Glacier National Park

Six Unexpected Sights to Savor in Vermont 1

Maintaining the Long Trail in Vermont

A highlight of our Vermont tour is walking along one of the most spectacular portions of the legendary 270-mile Long Trail, the nation’s first long-distance hiking trail. Country Walkers supports the Green Mountain Club, the stewards of this “footpath through the wilderness,” who also promote conservation of and education about Vermont’s mountains and rural land.
Tour: Vermont: Fall Foliage

Advocacy for Small Businesses in Palermo

A grassroots coalition of over 850 shopkeepers in Palermo is standing up to institutional graft with the nonprofit Addiopizzo movement. Country Walkers is proud to support Addiopizzo’s efforts to squash corruption in Sicily and educate locals about ethical business practices.
Tour: Italy: Sicily

Conserving a Historic Chapel in Monterosso

The historic Convento dei Cappuccini chapel and monastery dates back to the 17th century. In 2013, severe landslides destroyed the convent’s beautiful grounds. Though the restoration cost was far beyond the modest means of the town or diocese, the project “Let’s Rebuild Monterosso’s Paradise” was soon created to raise the necessary funds.
Tour: Italy: Genoa & Cinque Terre

Cornwall Coastal Preservation

Cornwall’s Atlantic Coast is home to an astonishing array of aquatic species, from vivid coral reefs to sea turtles. However, this bounty is under constant threat from invasive species, fishermen’s nets, and an epidemic of dolphin stranding. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust seeks to protect the regions’ coast, on land and sea. They gather data on seabeds through diving surveys, collect sightings of larger animals through their Seaquest Southeast Project, and work to map intertidal habitats of the entire coastline from Bude to Land’s End.
Tour: England: The Cornwall Coast

5 Famous Writers Inspired by the Cotswolds

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Cotswolds, stretching over 790 square miles, is the largest recognized Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England due to its breathtaking scenery and rolling hills. Country Walkers is delighted to support the effort to keep this area well-preserved on behalf of every Cotswolds guest.
Tour: England: The Cotswolds

Partnerships

They say you are the company you keep. In that case, we’ve got a lot to be proud of. Here are some of the wonderful organizations with which Country Walkers is affiliated.

In Our Office

Our commitment to sustainability doesn’t end when we get back from an exciting trip abroad. The Country Walkers home team is dedicated to implementing eco-friendly policies right here in our Vermont office.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

We recycle paper, cardboard, and plastics; compost coffee grounds and tea leaves; and reduced our volume of paper usage by 16 tons this year. Our local waste management organization is currently helping us perform an audit to learn how we can generate even less waste at the office.

Sustainable Printing

Our catalogs are printed locally on FSC certified paper from responsible sources. Our office’s main color printer uses cartridge-free solid ink, which generates 90 percent less waste than typical laser toners. Even better, the minimal packaging is made from post-consumer waste and we are able to recycle 100 percent of it.

Need a Ride?

We have an active carpooling program, rewarding dedicated groups with occasional prizes and gas cards, thus reducing both fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Additionally, many members of our team choose to bike to work during the warmer months.

We Volunteer

Our staff have volunteered hours with the local food shelf, VT Food Bank, mentorship programs, local charity and fundraiser events supporting a variety of causes, Long Trail cleanup, and emergency assistance. We also participate in Green Up Vermont, an annual local cleanup day.

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