Scotland's Wilderness
Sustainability at Highland Explorer Tours
Travel has the ability to broaden our perspective, open our hearts, and connect us with rich cultures and astonishing beauty of our world. However, travel also comes with the responsibility of conserving and protecting our surroundings and pass them on to future generations with as little negative impact as possible.
To ensure that the environment and communities we visit remain welcoming and intact in the future, we developed How We Tread Right (HWTR), our new 5-year Sustainability Strategy as a joint initiative with the TreadRight Foundation, caring for our planet, our people, and our wildlife. Our strategy includes a comprehensive Climate Action Plan, including verified science-based targets, to reduce our emissions and reach net zero by 2050.
Environmental Charity Offering (Eco) Scheme
We are committed to sustainable tourism and to preserving Scotland's natural wildlife, environment and unique cultures for future generations to enjoy. We have pioneered an Eco Scheme where you can make an optional £2 donation when booking any tour. We will match every £1 you donate, with proceeds going to a leading Scottish environmental charity, Trees for Life.
Trees for Life
Trees for Life are an award-wining charity working to restore the Caledonian Forest in the Highlands of Scotland. The charity has funded the protection of a number of existing forest remnants and have so far planted over half a million trees. Read more about the Trees for Life and their work.
Alan Watson, Executive Director and Founder of Trees for Life said: “We are delighted that Highland Explorer Tours has chosen Trees for Life as a beneficiary of their new Environmental Charity Offering Scheme. The scheme makes helping the environment easy for their customers, and by matching the donations, Highland Explorer Tours are showing their commitment to Trees for Life’s work. We have pledged to plant 100,000 trees this year as part of the United Nations Environment Programmes ‘Billion Tree’ campaign, and continued support from Highland Explorer tours will help us to make it a reality.”
Green Tourism Business Scheme
Highland Explorer Tours are delighted to have achieved gold status in the Green Tourism Business Scheme. This scheme recognises our company's ongoing commitment towards sustainability. Find out more about Green Tourism Business.
Local Festival Donation
Scotland prides itself on amazing Festivals which celebrate the national Spirit and History. Each year thousands of visitors take part in various Festivals which leave them with great memories. Some of these events like the Up Helly Aa Viking Fire Festival in Shetland are locally run and rely on the donations of local businesses.
Highland Explorer Tours are committed to sustainable tourism and preserving the unique spirit of Scotland. Over the last ten years of our visits to Shetland with the Up Helly Aa tour we have been contributing to the local economy. We are also delighted to announce that we have recently become donors for this Festival to ensure its continuity. We hope that Up Helly Aa will continue to flourish and amaze people from around the world.
Responsible Visitor Charter