Responsible Travel Policy

Local partners: We operate our itineraries with destination partners who understand the places in which they work. When choosing and reviewing partners, we consider local ownership and employment; responsible operating practices; knowledge of local conditions; safety and service standards; treatment of workers, communities and animals; and willingness to address concerns.

Local guides and expedition teams: We aim to use appropriately qualified local guides, leaders, drivers, cooks, porters and support staff wherever suitable expertise is available. Local teams provide knowledge, employment and cultural insight that cannot be replicated by an overseas visitor. The composition of a team may include international specialists (such as our Tribal Tracks Leaders) when required for safety, technical expertise, or group support.

Accommodation, food and services: We favour locally owned accommodation, restaurants and service providers that meet the needs of the trip. We encourage the use of local food and supplies where they are safe, seasonal and appropriate.

Fair and timely payment: We agree on payment arrangements clearly and pay suppliers accurately and on time. We do not use our purchasing position to demand prices or terms that are likely to undermine safety, lawful employment or fair treatment.

Businesses working with us are expected to comply with applicable employment, health and safety, equality, anti-bribery, safeguarding, environmental, and human rights laws. We expect work to be freely chosen; workers to be treated with dignity and without unlawful discrimination or harassment; pay and working time to comply with local law; and concerns to be raised without retaliation.

We do not knowingly work with organisations involved in forced labour, human trafficking, child labour that breaches applicable law, sexual exploitation or other serious abuse. Where credible concerns arise, we will seek information, require improvement where appropriate, suspend an activity or relationship, or stop working with the supplier, depending on the seriousness and circumstances.

Porters and trekking crews: For trips using porters or trekking crews, we expect our local partners to apply appropriate load limits; provide or require suitable clothing and equipment for the conditions; arrange adequate food, drinking water, rest and accommodation; provide access to first aid and evacuation support; and comply with local requirements concerning pay, insurance and welfare. The appropriate arrangements vary by destination and activity, so they are reviewed with the local operator.

Our reviews are proportionate to the supplier's nature and the trip's risks. Small local businesses may not have formal written systems; in those cases, we may rely on discussions, references, operating observations, and corrective actions rather than on unnecessary paperwork.

Cultural guidance: Before departure and during the trip, Tribal Tracks provides relevant guidance on clothing, religious observance, photography, greetings, behaviour in homes and sacred places, alcohol, smoking and other local expectations. Participants must follow the lawful instructions of the local guide, particularly where conduct may affect safety, access or community relationships.

Religious observance: Where a trip coincides with Ramadan or another important religious period, we explain the practical and cultural implications. We ask participants to behave considerately in public while continuing to manage their own health, hydration and safety.

Community visits and homestays: They should be welcomed by the host and arranged with informed consent. The activity should respect privacy, daily life and cultural boundaries; the host should understand what will happen and how payment is arranged; and the visit should not turn people, poverty or cultural practices into a spectacle.

Photography and stories: Participants should ask before taking a recognisable photograph or recording, particularly in homes and places of worship, and when children are present. A person’s agreement to be photographed does not automatically include permission for commercial use or publication. We will seek suitable permission before using identifiable images or stories in our own marketing.

Gifts, donations and begging: We discourage giving money, sweets or gifts directly to children because this can create safeguarding risks and unintended harm. Where a group wishes to support a community or project, we will seek advice from a responsible local partner and favour a transparent, community-led approach.

Cultural heritage: We ask participants not to remove stones, plants, archaeological material or other objects from natural or heritage sites; not to touch or climb monuments unless permitted; and not to buy items that may have been obtained illegally or through damage to cultural heritage.

The safety, dignity and privacy of children and adults who may be at risk take priority over a visitor experience. We do not arrange orphanage tourism or unstructured access to children. Visits involving schools, community organisations or vulnerable people must have a legitimate purpose, be agreed with the responsible organisation and follow appropriate safeguarding arrangements.

Participants must not be alone with a child or an at-risk adult as part of a Tribal Tracks activity unless the arrangement has been specifically authorised and appropriately supervised. Concerns about exploitation, abuse, grooming, trafficking or inappropriate conduct must be reported promptly to the trip leader or Tribal Tracks. An immediate risk should also be reported to the relevant local emergency or safeguarding authority.

Climate and transport: Flights and ground transport can form a significant part of a trip’s environmental impact. When designing itineraries, we consider route efficiency, group transport, practical rail or public transport options, and avoiding unnecessary internal flights where safe and feasible.

Carbon claims and offsetting: Reducing avoidable emissions comes before offsetting. If we offer or describe a carbon contribution or offset, we will explain what it covers, the calculation used, the project or standard involved and any important limitations. We will not imply that an offset makes a flight or trip impact-free. 

We contribute to reforestation through our Ecologi account, helping fund tree planting and other carbon-avoidance projects carried out by Ecologi’s project partners. Our public Ecologi profile provides details of the projects supported and the current number of trees funded. We regard this as a contribution towards nature restoration and wider climate action. We do not treat tree planting as an offset for the emissions generated by our trips or claim that it makes Tribal Tracks, our expeditions or participants’ flights carbon neutral.

Waste and single-use plastic: We aim to prevent waste. Depending on destination conditions, this may include using refill points or larger water containers; encouraging participants to carry a refillable bottle and reusable bag; avoiding unnecessary single-use items; minimising printed material; separating waste where suitable facilities exist; and ensuring expedition waste is removed or disposed of responsibly. Safe drinking water and participant health take priority where reliable refill systems are unavailable.

Water and energy: We ask participants and suppliers to use water and energy carefully, especially in places experiencing scarcity. This includes taking appropriately short showers; reusing towels where hygienic; switching off lights, heating and air conditioning when not needed; and following local advice. We will not ask accommodation providers or communities to compromise hygiene, health or safety.

Land, trails and camps: Groups should follow marked routes and local access rules; use established campsites where appropriate; avoid unnecessary disturbance, erosion and noise; keep an appropriate distance from wildlife and livestock; and leave natural and historic objects where they are. Human waste and washing must be managed in accordance with local rules and conditions and away from water sources.

Wildlife and biodiversity: We do not support the collection, purchase or transport of protected wildlife, plants, coral, shells or products derived from endangered species. Wildlife viewing should follow local regulations and responsible guidance; avoid feeding, baiting, touching, or chasing wild animals; maintain appropriate distances; and avoid interfering with breeding, nesting, or natural behaviour.

Animal welfare: Activities involving animals are assessed separately under our Animal Welfare Policy. We do not knowingly offer activities that involve cruelty, coercive handling, harmful training, or unacceptable visitor contact. Where an animal-welfare concern is identified, we will investigate it with the supplier and may remove the activity or supplier.

Responsible travel is a shared commitment. We ask every participant to: read the trip information and country-specific guidance; respect local people, laws, customs, dress expectations and religious practices; follow guide instructions relating to safety, access and environmental protection; ask permission before photographing people; avoid exploitative wildlife or human interactions; reduce waste and conserve water and energy; use refillable items where practical; avoid buying illegal wildlife or heritage products; report safeguarding, welfare or environmental concerns; and leave places as they would wish to find them.

Behaviour that is abusive, discriminatory, exploitative, seriously disruptive or likely to place people, animals, communities or the environment at unacceptable risk may be addressed under our booking conditions.

Adventure travel may involve physical, environmental and infrastructure barriers. We aim to provide clear information about a trip’s activities, terrain, accommodation, transport and facilities so that travellers can make informed decisions.

We invite participants to discuss access requirements with us as early as possible. We will consider reasonable and safe adjustments with our local partners, while being honest where a particular route, activity or destination cannot meet an individual requirement. We aim to treat participants, workers and host communities fairly and without unlawful discrimination.

Within our UK business, we aim to reduce unnecessary resource use through digital booking information and communications; limited printing; responsible purchasing; reuse and recycling where facilities exist; efficient use of office energy; and careful selection of technology and professional-service suppliers.

Online activity also has an environmental footprint. We will make proportionate choices about website files, data storage, equipment life and digital services, while maintaining the security, accessibility and reliability needed to operate the business.

If you have a question, suggestion or concern about responsible travel, please contact Tribal Tracks at info@tribaltracks.co.uk. During a trip, concerns should be raised promptly with the trip leader so that they can be considered while the group is still in the destination.

We will take concerns seriously and handle them proportionately. Where an issue involves a supplier, community or worker, we will seek to understand the local context and avoid action that could expose a person raising a concern to retaliation or unnecessary risk.