It is important to us that when we travel to different parts of our amazing planet that our exchange is always a mutual one. It is our responsibility to take time to think about how our actions can benefit or how they impact the people, communities, economies, environments and ecosystems we visit. We always consider how we can make a difference (or sometimes more appropriately – NOT make a difference)

Escape Adventures’ goal is to be fully honest with ourselves and with you about any possible negative impacts of travel or our cycle tours. Our mission is to fill our tours with as many positive outcomes as possible, to put it simply we choose to be good humans with wholesome values. We have small business values and you can trust us to be open and honest with you and to carefully consider the way we operate every part of our business. If you have suggestions about how we can do better please let us know!

We love diversity!

Our Escape Adventures crew and bikers come from a huge variety of backgrounds. We celebrate this diversity and welcome all cyclists regardless of their education, culture, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, the nation of origin, age, languages spoken, colouring, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs. We believe that the more diverse our groups are the more interesting and fun your tour will be! 

The environment is our home, caring for billions of animal and plant species, its the home of our future generations – it is a delicate and highly threatened foundation. Today it is essential that we change our habits at home and in the way that we live and travel and adopt a more caring attitude towards the environment.

There is no denying that the tourism industry is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions. A 2018 study found that tourism accounts for around 8% of the world’s carbon emissions, and nearly half of that comes from transport (flying, driving, buses, taxis, ferries etc).

The flip side of this is that travel and tourism account for one in four of all new jobs created around the world and over 10% of all jobs worldwide. Reference: WTTC.  So the big question is: How can we reduce the negative environmental impact of our travel and do something to help mitigate or even better, turn those negatives into positives?

Firstly, we can significantly reduce our carbon emissions by:

• When possible travel by bus, train or ride a bike rather than drive. At home and at the travel destination
• Fly Less.  When travelling by air – combine multiple shorter journeys into one longer trip. 
• Book flights with fewer stop-overs. Reduce flying distance. Less take-off and landing (when planes release the most carbon)
• Fly economy: more people in a plane means fewer carbon emissions per person.
• Pack light: Less luggage weight = less carbon emissions.
• When possible slow down and stay longer

We can also reduce our carbon footprint by:

• Accommodations: Turn off the air conditioning: AC uses nearly 50% of the energy
• Accommodations: Put up the “Do not disturb” sign: Cleaning rooms/towels every day is wasting energy and valuable water.
• Eat local and avoid imported foods. Buy the food grown on local farms. Support local jobs and economy and keep food miles down.
• Reduce food waste: Ask for smaller portions and avoid all-you-can-eat buffets. Support local eateries
• Buy locally-made souvenirs that you will use. Find out what it’s made from and check it’s locally made.
• Use accommodations, operators, and services that are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Do something positive

• Support Native Forest Regeneration both at home and in the country.
• Support Accredited Wildlife Parks
• Seek out and support the local wildlife protection, environment and reforestation projects.
• PLANT TREES! We all know that trees are good, they suck up carbon, produce oxygen and make us feel good. Plant trees, in our back yard, and on our travels.