Many companies claim to offer transformational travel, but at Root Adventures, transformation is at the heart of everything we do—and sustainability is woven into the journey from start to finish.

Transformation begins the moment a client signs up for a trip. We’re the first travel company to offer subsidies for repairing existing gear. By supporting local cobblers, tailors, and gear shops, our clients start rethinking their relationship with material goods. On departure day, we reimburse those who take public transportation to the airport, encouraging sustainable habits that extend beyond “vacation mode.”

At the destination, we uphold all the standard best practices—from getting off the beaten path to carefully vetting local operators. Yet in our decades of experience, we’ve seen that awareness alone—even in the face of breathtaking, fragile ecosystems—rarely leads to meaningful changes back home.

Actions That Set Us Apart

• $50 subsidy for pre-trip gear repair

• Full reimbursement for public transit to the airport

• 8-week pre-trip preparation program to help travelers embody sustainability

• 6-week post-trip integration program to help the changes stick

• Anti-bucket list, slow travel itineraries

• Packing guides designed to reduce new purchases

• All gear rentals included in the trip price

• Forest bathing experiences

• Guided meditation sessions

What we don’t do:

• Carbon Offset Credits: We believe carbon credits are, at best, of little value at best when implemented correctly. Typically, the projects can even be detrimental! Worse, they enable an “easy out” to assuage our carbon emissions guilt. We believe they are an obstacle to true progress.

• Bucket-List Itineraries: Travel is a crucial source of funds and incentive to protect precious areas. Unfortunately, Over Tourism is a serious threat to fragile sites - think insufficient infrastructure (eroded trails and overflowing toilets!) and overwhelmed locals.

• Multi-Stop Flights: It’s tempting to bounce from destination to destination thanks to cheap flights. However, we believe the travel experience is enhanced by slowing down and fully embracing one location.

In an industry where outsourcing of sustainability via carbon credits is the default, at Root Adventures we tailor our entire client experience, from trip preparation to in-destination experiences to post-trip debriefings, to ensure lasting transformation.

Just as we continually strive to improve the experience of our travelers, we are constantly enhancing our sustainability program based on research, local efforts in the communities we visit, and new tools. Not only do we want to operate as culturally and environmentally sustainably as possible, but we want to inspire others in the industry to follow our lead.

We're happy to share our experiences and resources as you develop your own sustainability program. Contact Dave, our Director of Operations to learn more.