The growth of tourism throughout the world inevitably impacts upon the fragile environments and cultures that the tourist is actually there to see and experience. It is therefore very important that we understand the impacts that our operations may have, and to pro-actively seek to ensure that our operations are as locally sustainable as possible.
We aim to adhere to these principles and have therefore produced the following code of practice and environmental policy. This policy is designed to inform and guide both ourselves and our clients during all of our operations. We recommend that all of our clients read and digest this policy before booking or joining one of our tours.
Here at Uncover the World we benefit from being led by a team that is formally trained, both in various environmental sciences, and in economic and social issues in the developing world. This formal education together with our own personal convictions means that we take environmental and social issues very seriously when we work to create our tours and develop our operations abroad. To this end we have created, and strive to adhere to, the following code of practice.
As part of our code of practice, we're proud to support a range of local and international charities, NGOs, and organisations in the areas where we operate. Details of some of the organisations we support can be found below.
Sheroes Hangout Cafe
The cafe was set up by the Chhanv Foundation and is run by victims of acid attacks. The cafe works to raise awareness of acid attacks in India and to empower those who have sadly been the victims of these heinous crimes. Prior to gaining employment in the cafe, many of the 'Sheroes' led solitary lives, rarely going outside due to shame associated with their scars. At Encounters Travel we're proud to support such an organisation, which has the sole aim of helping these women find acceptance, a supportive community and a means of income.
Mughal Heritage Walk
Experience the vibrant life of Kachhpura on the Mughal Heritage Walk! Discover village homes, local farming, and the famous Agra shoemaking industry on this walk designed by a local NGO to support the local community. The Mughal Heritage Walk contributes to sustainable tourism by directly benefiting the local community through employment and revenue generation, fostering a sense of pride in cultural heritage, and promoting the preservation of historical sites. The walk goes beyond mass tourism by offering an exclusive, immersive experience, showcasing local crafts and culture, and providing a vital economic alternative to less sustainable development.
Kumarakom Village Experience
Enjoy an hour-long Shikara ride, a smaller, traditional boat offering an intimate connection to the surroundings. Explore the local village to see crafts like coir making, mat weaving, and toddy tapping (a process for making a mildly alcoholic drink from palm sap). Sample fresh coconut water in this community tourism initiative that supports local crafts. The Kumarakom village experience is a highly regarded example of sustainable tourism, recognised for its community-based approach. By directly involving local people in tourism activities—as guides, artisans, and hosts—the initiative ensures that the economic benefits of tourism stay within the community. This model not only supports traditional livelihoods like coir-making and organic farming but also provides visitors with an authentic and immersive cultural experience. It's a mutually beneficial relationship that preserves the local way of life while offering a unique and meaningful holiday for travellers.
The Mohanam Cultural Centre
Established in 2001, the Mohanam Cultural Centre empowers a rural Tamil Nadu village to preserve its heritage amidst globalization. The centre offers creative arts classes, a kindergarten, and community development programs focused on the environment and health. Its core mission is to revive endangered cultural practices like performing arts, crafts, and festival traditions through workshops and classes. Your visit to Mohanam will include a village tour, bamboo farm visit, Kolam lesson, traditional dance and music, and a Tamil-style lunch. Experience vibrant Tamil culture firsthand, knowing your visit directly supports the centre's vital work.
KOTO Van Mieu Restaurant
On many of our tours which pass through Hanoi, we'll eat at the KOTO Van Mieu restaurant. This isn't just a meal; it's an opportunity to support a great cause. The KOTO Foundation runs a vocational training program for disadvantaged young people in Vietnam, providing them with the theoretical and practical skills needed for a career in the hospitality industry, from cooking to front-of-house service and management.
Mekong Delta Experience
In the Mekong Delta, we design our activities to promote sustainable tourism by directly supporting local communities and providing authentic cultural interactions. We focus on small-scale, immersive experiences rather than large-scale tourism. We arrange for our travellers to visit local families to learn traditional crafts like making rice paper and hammocks from banana rope, ensuring that the financial benefits go directly to the people who are preserving these skills. Additionally, we include hands-on activities like a cooking class and "ditch slapping" to catch fish, which fosters a deeper connection between our guests and the community. This approach helps to protect the local culture and environment by encouraging responsible behaviour and supporting the rural economy.
Spoons Restaurant
On many of our tours which pass through Siem Reap, we dine at Spoons Restaurant. This isn't just a place to eat; it's a social enterprise that supports underprivileged Cambodian youth by providing them with valuable hospitality training. By dining here, you're not only enjoying fantastic food but also directly contributing to a positive social mission.
Kampong Kleang & Tbeng Community visits
In Kampong Kleang, we take you to one of the largest and least-visited floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. Here, we cruise through the unique village, providing direct financial support to the community through the use of local boats and by visiting local homes and pagodas. In the Tbeng community, we work with local people to provide an authentic home visit. This allows us to provide a memorable and immersive cultural exchange for our guests while ensuring the money from your stay goes directly to the families who are our hosts. Our goal is to protect the local way of life and give you a deeper understanding of Cambodian culture.
Phobjikha Valley Homestay
During our tour, our homestay in the Phobjikha Valley is a key part of our responsible tourism initiative. By choosing to stay with a local family instead of a large hotel, we ensure that our money directly benefits the host family and the wider community. This helps to provide an alternative source of income beyond traditional farming, strengthening the local economy. In turn, this helps to preserve the unique local culture and traditional way of life. For us, it’s not just about a place to sleep; it’s a chance to build a genuine connection with the people, share their daily life, and understand their deep-rooted commitment to environmental conservation, particularly their efforts to protect the endangered black-necked cranes that migrate to the valley each winter.
Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee
Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a key pillar of its "high-value, low-impact" tourism strategy, designed to ensure that the country benefits from tourism while preserving its unique cultural identity and pristine environment. Instead of attracting a large number of budget tourists, Bhutan's policy and the SDF encourage a smaller number of visitors who are willing to contribute significantly to the country's development. The revenue generated from the fee is channelled directly into funding a wide range of sustainability initiatives, including the provision of free healthcare and education for all citizens, which is a major social benefit. . The funds also support extensive environmental conservation efforts, such as reforestation projects, waste management programmes, and the protection of national parks and wildlife habitats. Furthermore, the SDF is used for the preservation and restoration of ancient monasteries, temples, and cultural sites, helping to maintain Bhutan's rich heritage for future generations. This holistic approach ensures that tourism is a tool for national progress and cultural preservation, rather than a force for environmental degradation or cultural erosion, making the SDF a powerful mechanism for promoting truly sustainable tourism.
Bardia Eco Lodge Project
Bardia National Park is one of Nepal's seven national parks and is the most westerly. It is a haven for wildlife and in particular endangered species such as Rhinoceros, Wild elephant, Tiger, Swamp deer, Gharial crocodile, Gangetic dolphin, Bengal florican and Sarus crane. We were involved in the building of a carbon neutral wildlife lodge with the aim of providing an environmentally sympathetic and sustainable destination for tourists, which will also benefit the local community. The lodge is featured in many of our itineraries which visit Bardia National Park.
IPPG (International Porter Protection Group)
IPPG's aim is to improve health and safety for the trekking porter at work in the mountains and reduce the incidence of avoidable illness injury and death. This is done by raising awareness of the issue among trekking and travel companies, leaders, sirdars, and trekkers.
Beach Cleanups
On most of our tours in the Maldives, we're proud to offer our guests a chance to give back to the stunning environment they're exploring. Through partnerships with organisations such as Parley for the Oceans, we provide the opportunity to participate in a beach clean-up, which is a tangible way to help protect these beautiful islands. During this activity, our guests also learn about the vital work Parley is doing to combat marine plastic pollution and get insights into how they can continue to reduce plastic waste in their daily lives, making their contribution last far beyond their holiday.
Tree Planting
On our tours which visit Maafushi, we’ll participate in a meaningful project that leaves a lasting, positive impact on the local environment. For every guest and your tour leader, we’ll each plant a coconut palm. This hands-on activity isn't just a memorable experience; it's a tangible way for us to contribute to the island's ecosystem and help with its reforestation efforts.
Renee's Coral Garden
On many of our tours we take our guests to see vital coral reef conservation efforts firsthand. We believe it is important to not only show the natural beauty of the destination but also to educate our travellers on how to protect it. Our tour leaders provide a detailed explanation of local initiatives, such as Renee's Coral Garden, highlighting the crucial work being done to rehabilitate coral reefs. We also give our guests the opportunity to snorkel the seagrass beds, allowing them to gain a hands-on appreciation for the importance of this part of the marine ecosystem. This approach provides a deeper understanding of the destination's fragile environment and the efforts being made to ensure its longevity.
Daily Life Trail - As Salt
The Daily Life Trail in As-Salt is a key part of our sustainable tourism commitment. The walking tour takes our guests along Hammam Street, the town's commercial centre, allowing them to experience the local lifestyle firsthand. By visiting small, independent shops and observing artisans, our guests are able to engage directly with the community and support the local economy. This is further enhanced by an included lunch with a local family, which provides an authentic cultural exchange and ensures that tourism directly benefits the residents. This approach allows our tours to provide a deeper, more meaningful experience while helping to preserve the town's traditions and ensure its prosperity.
Wild Jordan Centre
The Wild Jordan Centre, run by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), promotes sustainable tourism by directly linking tourism to conservation and community development. The RSCN is an NGO with a national mandate to protect Jordan's biodiversity. The Wild Jordan Centre serves as its business arm, which means that revenue generated from visitors directly funds the management of Jordan's nature reserves and their conservation programmes. The centre also helps local communities by selling unique, nature-inspired handicrafts made by villagers in and around the nature reserves. This provides an alternative source of income and empowers local people, especially women, to benefit from tourism without putting pressure on natural resources. The centre's mission is 'Helping Nature... Helping People' a philosophy that ensures that every visitor's money contributes to the preservation of Jordan's natural heritage and the well-being of its residents.
Missionvale Care Centre
On our Garden Route tours, we are proud to support the Missionvale Care Centre, an organisation providing life-changing services to one of South Africa’s most under-resourced communities. As part of our commitment to responsible tourism, a small donation is made on behalf of every passenger who joins the tour, directly contributing to the Centre’s holistic mission. The funds support a wide range of vital programmes, including the provision of health services, education at Normoyle Primary School, and skills development through food gardens and women’s craft projects. The Centre also offers essential youth support with academic and arts-based activities and runs important community programmes such as the clothing warehouse and recycling ‘Swop Shop’.
Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment
On our Garden Route tours, we are proud to support Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment, a dynamic community centre in the Kayamandi Township of Stellenbosch that focuses on uplifting orphaned and vulnerable Xhosa youth. A small donation is made on behalf of every passenger, directly contributing to the centre's work. The funds support a range of vital programmes that benefit over 1,000 individuals each month. These include social work and family support services, early childhood education, and a daily feeding scheme. The centre also offers performing arts, sports, and leadership development, along with vocational training in areas like fashion design, to provide young people with essential life skills and opportunities for the future.
African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary
As part of our commitment to conservation on our tours along the Garden Route, a small donation is made on behalf of every passenger to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary. Located in Gansbaai in the Western Cape, this centre plays a crucial role in the survival of the African penguin, a species whose population has declined by nearly 90% in just three decades. The sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and ill seabirds from the nearby Dyer Island colony, giving these endangered animals a second chance at life and directly contributing to the conservation of this vulnerable species.
Ait Ouham Association for Development
Our local partner is proud to be working with the Ait Ouham Association for Development, a local grassroots organisation based in the Atlas Mountains. One of the association's main goals is to help alleviate the poor infrastructure in the school and around the village. For the past 11 years, our local partner and its School Tours have donated £10 per passenger per booking to help the association achieve its goals. By booking one of our Morocco tours, a donation of £10 per person will be made on your behalf.
One major project we are incredibly proud of is the building of a bridge over the river running through the village. In the past, the water would rise in the winter months and cut off the villagers from each other. Our local partner and the Ait Ouham Association approached the local council and government and successfully convinced them to contribute 75% of the cost to build the bridge. Our local partner contributed the other 25% (the total budget of the project was 210,000 dhs) then worked with the association to project manage the bridge construction. Now, in the winter months, life is easier as access is maintained between families and villagers.
Our support of the association has also helped to build much-needed bathrooms for the village school, provide food supplies to all 110 families of the village during the harsh winters of 2015 and 2016. The association was also able to dedicate a room within its offices specifically for first aid and emergency medical supplies. We helped create a library at the headquarters of the association for the students of the village, a pre-school was started for 4-6 year olds and all books were provided and a teacher was given a salary. Most recently, the association was able to help the Nomads vaccinate their flocks after a difficult year. Our local partner is also the proud sponsor of the village football team, which was able to participate in the local centre valley tournament.
TEMA Foundation
Our local partner in Turkey contributes to environmental sustainability by donating seedlings to the TEMA Foundation for each traveller. The TEMA Foundation, or The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats, is a well-regarded Turkish non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting natural resources and raising public awareness of environmental issues. This initiative helps to support reforestation efforts and combat soil erosion in Turkey.
Pan Animalia Foundation
The Pan Animalia Galápagos Animal Doctors Clinic was established by Dr. Benjamin Howitt and Dr. Erika Medrano to provide accessible veterinary care and address the conflict between introduced domestic animals and the islands' fragile native wildlife. The project's core objectives include promoting sterilisation and vaccination, community engagement, education, and training the next generation of veterinarians.
The team's work is crucial for managing the animal population and protecting the endemic species of the Galapagos. They support and collaborate with existing government programmes to achieve this.
Pan Animalia Galápagos is in the process of being registered as a local foundation, which will oversee the clinic's operations. This foundation will be supported by us, as the first local operator to do so, alongside two international organisations: Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) and Pan Animalia UK.
Environmental, Social and Economic Issues
Many of our tours, by definition, travel through a variety of different environments and cultures. We try to cause as little negative impact as possible during our journeys and where possible to act in such a way to benefit the local communities and environment.
Flights
We understand that CO2 emissions from air travel are a contributory factor (2-3% globally) in global climate change and their impact should be taken very seriously, especially as air travel is on the increase. Here are a few ways in which you can reduce the effect your air travel has on the world's climate.
- Reduce the number of domestic/business flights you make each year or replace them entirely with other forms of public transport.
- Where flights are included, take one longer holiday each year rather than several shorter ones.
- Use train or bus journeys instead of internal flights where this is an option during the tour itself.
- Consider carbon offsetting your flight – please read below for our opinion on Carbon Offsets.
- Use public transport for your journey to the airport as this not only reduces carbon emissions but also reduces vehicle congestion in and around airports.
Carbon Offsets: In theory carbon offsetting sounds like a great idea, and can be when done properly. However, we believe it should not be seen as a substitute for personally reducing your carbon emissions, using methods such as those outline in the Energy section below. All too often carbon offsetting is used as an "easy way" to be seen to be fixing the problem by shifting the pressure and responsibility onto developing countries when actually the problem is caused by the rich industrial countries. So if you don't try to reduce your own carbon footprint first, is it ethical to expect the developing countries to take on your burden, whether by forcing good practices on developing countries or securing large areas of land in developing counties for the planting of trees? On could easily say "why not plant them in your own back garden". We therefore strongly believe that carbon offsetting should only be used as a part of a wider carbon friendly lifestyle.
Uncover the World: We use only local guides and operators thus removing the need to fly foreign guides into and out of our destinations. Also, on the occasions it is necessary to fly staff to destinations; we calculate and use the carbon debt produced to introduce new carbon reducing measures to our UK and local offices, donate to environmental charities or buy carbon offsets. In our set tour itineraries, we try to use train and coach journeys as the standard option instead of internal flights where this is realistic (upgrades to flights are normally still available on request).
Energy
Whether you are at home or on holiday you can take many steps to conserve energy and reduce your personal carbon footprint. A few simple measures can go a long way:
- Turn off the air conditioning or heating in your hotel room when you go out.
- Try to minimise the amount of air conditioning you use as this will better help you acclimatise to hot countries. Your body will learn very quickly to cope well with heat if you give it a chance.
- Turn the lights out and the TV off when you leave your hotel room.
- Try to walk or hire a bike rather than use taxis, trains and buses, as this will also allow you to better appreciate your surrounding and give you more chance to interact with local people.
- Ask for your room towels to be washed every other day, rather than every day.
Uncover the World: We operate a fully integrated recycling policy in our UK office, including paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, and print cartridges/toners. We also have in place a number of energy saving measures, including low energy light bulbs, double glazed windows, and thermostatically controlled heating.
Waste
Even when travelling abroad in what we consider to be a simple fashion, we produce a large amount of daily waste. We make every effort to ensure that all of this waste is disposed of responsibly. Your appropriate tour leader will explain our standard procedures for carrying this out.
- Food waste: All biodegradable rubbish should be buried, paper items should be burnt, containers should be reused, returned or given away.
- Toilet stops: Toilet facilities should be used wherever possible. When they are not available, all toilet waste should be properly buried. Toilet paper should be burnt and then buried. Care should be taken to choose spots away from water supplies, food crops and paths.
- Shopping: Sturdy shopping bags or your daypacks should be used whenever possible to reduce the waste of plastic bags.
- Packaging: As little packaging as possible should be brought on our trips, instead removed and disposed of before departure.
- Smokers: Smokers should take care to dispose of their cigarette buts etc. carefully. We operate a no-smoking policy on all of our tours when on a private means of transport.
Water
In many developing countries water is considered a precious resource that should never be wasted. It is also often the case that outside major cities the purity of tap water can be unreliable.
- On other tours we recommend that our clients use water purification methods rather than buying bottled water (Over 200,000 plastic water bottles were dumped by trekkers per year in the Annapurna Region of Nepal in the late 1990's). We have partnered with Water to Go to offer an alternate to single use plastic bottles.
- We encourage the economic use of environmentally friendly washing detergents to minimise water pollution.
- You should always check before using local water supplies such as pumps or wells and should avoid washing at these locations unless local people encourage you to do so.
Traveling responsibly means minimizing plastic waste, but staying hydrated on the go is essential. At Encounters Travel we are committed to reducing single-use plastics, which is why we've partnered with Water-to-Go. Their portable filtration system removes over 99.9% of contaminants from any non-saltwater source, turning even questionable water sources into safe drinking water.
Given that tap water is un-safe to drink in many of the countries in which we operate, we recommend purchasing a Water-to-Go bottle prior to departure. This will help you avoid the use of single use plastic bottles and keep you hydrated on the go.
Save big! Get a huge 25% off your Water-to-Go bottle and other Water-to-Go products (such as filters, lids, and carriers). Use code ENCOUNTERS25 at checkout (valid in the UK, USA and Canada).
How Water-to-Go Technology works:
- Their reusable, BPA free water bottles contain their own unique 3-in-1 filtration technology effectively providing clean safe drinking water from any non-salt water source around the world.
- Three different (1 traditional and 2 nano) technologies are combined in one filter cartridge to remove up to 99.9999% of microbiological contaminants in water.
The three technologies used in a Water-to-Go filter are:
- Mechanical filtration – A tiny pore size, so small contaminants can’t fit through.
- Electrical – A positive charge reduces the pore size even further and attracts contaminants like a magnet, trapping them inside the filter.
- Activated Carbon – Unlike most carbon based filters, instead of using adhesives to glue the carbon particles together, (which vastly reduces the carbon’s efficiency) it is contained within the membrane, helping to reduce contaminants whilst eliminating bad tastes and odours. Try filtering water from your tap at home and taste the difference!
Water-to-Go filter bottles deliver safe, healthy water worldwide
- Water-to-Go filters remove bacteria, viruses, waterborne disease, protozoa, heavy metals such as lead as well as harmful chemicals.
- Their filters remove Chlorine and Fluoride from tap water.
- The filter will eliminate harmful contaminants from the water but allow beneficial minerals such as sodium and magnesium to pass through leaving you with the healthiest water possible.
- Water-to-Go filters have been independently tested against internationally recognised standards by industry specialists including The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (UK), BCS Laboratories (USA), Bangalore Test House (India) and IMI (China).
Use Water-to-Go products and you’ll be healthier, wealthier and helping to make the world a better place!
- Depending on filter size, each Water-to-Go filter is able to replace 260 or 400 single-use plastic water bottles!
- They ensure you have access to safe water anywhere in the world without ever having to buy environmentally damaging bottled water.
- Their water bottles deliver safe, clean drinking water at just 5p per litre.
- The filter membrane is biodegradable and the shrouds are recyclable.
- The water bottles are used and approved by everyone from backpackers to commuters, gym users to expecting mums. Perfect for everyday, outdoor and trave
Local Economies
Our presence as a tour operator bringing tourists into foreign destinations has a significant impact on these locations. We have a great opportunity, and responsibility, to make sure that the money that we, and our clients, spend, goes to those who can benefit most from it. To this end we:
- Use local operatives and organisations as much as possible in the day to day running of our tours.
- Encourage our clients to use the services of local people and organisations during their tour (eg. washing clothes).
- Try to advise on alternatives to donations to beggars. Many people in the developing world have no alternative but to beg (and in these cases of course any donations are down to personal discretion) but many others are cashing in on the tourist. It is often of more benefit to a community for clients on one of our tours to communally give a donation to a local charity or school. Your leader will be able to advise or arrange for this.
- Understand the important place that bargaining holds in local cultures and economies. We do discourage agressive bargaining as what may seem a small amount to us that is fun to obtain through bargaining often makes a big difference to the vendor. However, not bargaining at all can also have detrimental effects on the local economy as the extra money you pay invariably does not go to the local producer.
- Respect the fact that tipping (and commission) is an integral part of a local economy and advise our clients accordingly.
- When shopping for food, we aim to buy as much as possible from local vendors and markets, and to try to ensure that we are buying local produce.
Natural Resources
The highlight of many of our tours is the environment through which we travel. We aim to leave this environment and its ecology in the same state that we found it, if not better. We encourage this by:
- Ensuring minimal use of water where it is in short supply (see also water above).
- Making responsible choices of locations for toilet stops and washing (away from water sources).
- Making minimal use of firewood, especially in areas where this resource is in short supply.
- Carrying out responsible disposal of waste (see above).
- Avoiding buying souvenirs made from coral, ivory, rare animal hides, bones or shells. Also ancient pottery or other antique artefacts whose sale can encourage further looting of sites of immense local cultural and historical importance.
- Suggesting the buying of souvenirs from places such as official shops in National Parks that return funding to the running and preservation of such locations.
- Driving on only the recognised trails in National Parks. Also ensuring that our viewing of animals causes as little disruption to the park as possible.
- Using only main trails while trekking to minimise erosion.
- Supporting the National Parks that we visit by making donations to various programs/organisations that help to preserve these unique habitats (see below)
Additional Information
For more information related to local customs and laws, please check our detailed tour notes, which can be accessed from each individual tour page.
