Thoughtful Travel Initiatives

A vital part of our Charity Challenges

We recognise how important it is that our Charity Challenges do not diminish the natural values of the environment with sustainability as an integral part of our planning. The World Expeditions Travel Group is committed to responsible travel and true sustainability. It was a commitment formed when the company was established, and today, in the face of a multitude of threats to the environment, our commitment is stronger than ever. 

Our Charity Challenges always aim to benefit the local people, safeguard the ecosystems we explore and contribute to the sustainability of travel in the regions we experience. 


BIG Adventures. small footprint

Our Thoughtful Travel Charter & Initiative

 

  • Retracing the steps of the Stampeders route over the Chilkoot Pass. |  <i>Mark Daffey</i>

 

  • Ferns on the Franklin |  <i>Glenn Walker</i>
  • Arnhem Land Aboriginal culture, Northern Territory |  <i>Tourism NT</i>
  • Relaxed Mother and Son onlooking the streets of Cambodia |  <i>Peter Walton</i>
  • Beautiful gorilla in Rwanda |  <i>Ian Williams</i>
  • Trekking with a full pack through the Himalayas |  <i>Heike Krumm</i>
  • Help us keep the places that inspire us clean by taking part in our 10 Pieces litter initiative |  <i>Lachlan Gardiner</i>
  • The cultural conversation at Standley Chasm will teach you more about Arrente country |  Luke Tscharke

All Trips 100% Carbon Offset

Support sustainable projects on your next challenge

Leave an even bigger positive impact when joining our Charity Challenges. All our trips are 100% carbon offset and will directly support renewable energy and reforestation projects across the world.

Our active adventures often rely on our traveller’s own exertion to get from point A to point B; this is the case for many of our trekking itineraries, which are already low carbon emitting. When crafting our trips, we choose the least carbon intensive transport and accommodation available in the region, whilst taking into account traveller safety.

Notably, the cost of leaving a carbon offset footprint in the places we visit will not be passed onto travellers and instead will be absorbed by the World Expeditions Travel Group. Read more about how these carbon reduction projects work.

You will be directly benefiting the environment, communities and their economies from the carbon emissions offset from your land travel. Projects supported include a wind farm in Vietnam, a conservation project in Australiaand a hydropower plant in China.

The carbon credits invested into these projects therefore accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources for developing nations, as well as projects that benefit local communities and protect their biodiversity.

These projects support a range of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as alleviating poverty, providing clean water and sanitation and offering decent work and economic growth, all of which aim to achieve a better future for all.

Animal Welfare

 

Caring for both wild and domesticated animals is something we’re passionate about. We strongly stand against animal cruelty, exploitation, and suffering in any form in the travel industry. Our Animal Welfare Policy helps shape what we do and spreads awareness to ensure animals are treated with respect. 
 
We believe it’s our responsibility to look out for animal welfare because it helps create a kinder, more just world. By treating animals with care and respect, we’re working toward a future where all living beings are valued and protected. 
 
In 2015, World Expeditions Travel Group (WETG) aligned with World Animal Protection to develop our inaugural Animal Welfare Policy. This 2025 Animal Welfare Policy builds upon and expands our commitment to animal welfare. 
 

You won't find these animal experiences on our trips:

 > Elephant interactions and rides. 

 > Petting lion cubs, walking with lions, and canned hunts. 

 > Situations where animals are subjected to cruelty for the purpose of entertainment. 

  > Aquariums or marine parks where large mammals like dolphins and whales are captive. 

 > Souvenirs that involve animal cruelty or place animals at risk. 

 > Wildlife selfies.

 

You will find these animal experiences on our trips:

 > Viewing wild animals in their natural habitats. 

 > Itineraries that include pack-animals, carrying loads in accordance with The Five Domains. 

 > Itineraries include pack-animals, pulling loads in accordance with The Five Domains. 

 > Itineraries that include companion animals and pets, in accordance with The Five Domains. 

 > Itineraries that include visits to sanctuaries that abide by World Animal Protection's Genuine Sanctuary Checklist. 

 

The Core Model 

The WETG advocates for the use of the ‘Five Domains’ model of animal welfare, addressing both the physical and mental state of animals: 

  1. Nutrition: ensure animals have access to clean water and enough food in a balanced diet. Available food is nutritious, appropriate for the species and individual animal, and varied. 

  1. Environment: ensure animals are comfortable and safe and provided with opportunities and choices to engage in natural and rewarding behaviour. 

  1. Health: ensure animals are fit and healthy and injuries and illnesses are prevented or immediately and appropriately treated. 

  1. Behaviour: ensure animals can express natural and rewarding behaviour and are able to engage in free movement and play and have positive contact with animals and people to form social bonds. 

  1. Mental state: provide safe, species-appropriate opportunities to have pleasurable experiences. Nutrition, the environment, health and the opportunity for expression of natural behaviour all influence an animal’s mental state. 

Industry leading animal advocacy 

In 2014, World Expeditions signed World Animal Protection's Elephant Friendly Tourism Pledge to:

 > Audit our entire product offering to assess if we directly or indirectly use wild animals for the entertainment of travellers, e.g., elephant rides. 

 > Remove all such instances from our product offering. 

 > Promote responsible tourism among our customers to enable them to be animal-friendly travellers. 

This led us to remove all instances of elephant rides and interactions from our product offering, as well as produce our inaugural Animal Welfare Policy. 

WETG offers elephant-friendly experiences, where travellers can observe elephants from a distance, either in the wild or in a genuine high-care elephant sanctuary. 

Learn about the cruelty behind elephant rides.

10 Steps to Being an Animal-Friendly Traveller

  1. The best animal encounter is a wild one. View animals in their natural habitat exhibiting natural behaviours and do not initiate contact with them.

  2. Do not ride on the back of an elephant. To ‘train’ an elephant to accept riders, they are taken from their mothers at an early age and physically and psychologically abused.

  3. Avoid aquariums or marine parks where large mammals like dolphins or whales are kept in captivity. These environments are very unnatural and cause stress to these intelligent and far-ranging animals.

  4. Do not purchase souvenirs made from wild animals such as fur, ivory, shells, seahorses, teeth, rhino horns and turtle shells.

  5. Never participate in lion cub petting and lion walking experiences; many of them breed the lions for the ‘Canned Lion Hunting’ industry, to be shot in captivity.

  6. Do not attend festivals or attractions that subject animals to cruelty for entertainment, such as animal circuses, dancing bears, dog or cockerel fights, running of the bulls, and any festival that causes suffering to animals.

  7. Don't take a wildlife selfie if the animal is being held, hugged, or restrained, if you are baiting the animal with food or if the animal could harm you.

  8. Before riding on the back of a horse, mule or donkey, match your size to that of the animal and ensure that your weight is evenly balanced when riding.

  9. Only visit and support animal sanctuaries and shelters involving wild animals in captivity if the objectives of the organisation are in the animals’ best interests (e.g. rehoming, rehabilitation or release into the wild).

  10. Speak up! If you see an animal in distress, please tell your World Expeditions guide. Make a note of the date, time and location, as well as the type and number of animals involved. Take photos and/or videos as proof. Alternatively, if you see an animal that is well looked after, offer praise to the owner and tell him/her why you have chosen to give them your business.

 


The Responsible Travel Guidebook

Our Responsible Travel Guidebook has been written as an educational tool to ensure that our travellers and partners are aware if the role they play in our Responsible Travel efforts. The booklet sets out our environmental objectives and practices, provides examples of responsible tourism initiatives we put in place in the field and outlines how travellers can play a part in reducing the impact on environments and cultures around the world. Every Huma Charity Challenge traveller receives a copy of this guidebook. Please enjoy reading our award winning Responsible Travel Guidebook.

Ways to be a Thoughtful Traveller

Conserving environments and cultures requires a united front with our industry partners, travellers, guides and staff and the World Expeditions Travel Group's comprehensive policies on Thoughtful Travel continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing landscape of sustainable and responsible travel.

View the Thoughtful Traveller booklet that empowers travellers with ideas on how they can be part of the solution and collectively make the world a better place when they travel.