Be There: With Odyssey World

Odyssey World has been creating tailor-made travel experiences for over 40 years and in that time, we have put responsible travel at the heart of our tours. But we have recognised that we can do even more.

Small changes can make a difference

We know that small changes add up. Which is why we are working closely with our global partners to make sure that our trips incorporate sustainability down to the smallest detail.

We assure that your holiday will…

Contribute to local economy – stay in family-run hotels, use local guides and shops
Protect the environment and wildlife – pay the entrance fees to national parks (included in your itinerary) and visit wildlife rehabilitation centres
Limit single use plastics, reduce water waste, recycle
Donate to local initiatives and charities

Small steps like using locally run hotels and restaurants and employing local guides can help generate income for communities and support local jobs. When you pay the entrance fees to a national park or a wildlife rehabilitation centre, you are funding the protection and preservation of animals. Where there are specific sustainable initiatives in place, like the reduction of single use plastics or water waste reduction, we will tell you about it.

Be there: for the planet

Choosing to travel as sustainably as possible benefits everyone – the people, environment, and wildlife of the country you are visiting. We know it can feel overwhelming to think that a simple holiday can have an impact, but small changes will add-up. Our aim is to help protect, preserve, and improve the world, and limit the damage being done to it.

The world is an amazing place. There is an abundance of culture, sights, and experiences to enjoy. We want you to make amazing memories, but we also want you to be confident that you have done it as sustainably and responsibly as possible.

Africa:

BOTSWANA

Famed for its incredible wildlife, Botswana is home to the diverse eco-system of the Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta. Travellers flock to see the Big 5 and stay in luxury lodges and 5-star camps. Now more than ever, the future of Botswana’s tourism lies in preserving its greatest asset – its wildlife. Our partners are working tirelessly to ensure that they are offering a low-impact visit which preserves the countries incredible animals and heritage. Their current focus is the sustainability of the lodges, and a roll-out program to convert to solar-powered energy and reduced carbon emissions, inline with Botswana’s Eco Tourism ratings.

Chobe Game lodge has introduced Africa’s first fleet of electric powered, CO2 emission free vehicles and safari boats. These offer lower carbon emissions, have reduced the fuel usage and are significantly quieter, causing far less distress and disruption to local wildlife.
Camp Okavango is a newly built camp relying solely on renewable energy. Camps are working toward being Eco-Tourism Rated – the highest eco-status recognised by Botswana Tourism for sustainable initiatives and covers objectives including water treatment plans, careful waste management, and sustainable materials for construction.
Our partners support the Polokong Elderly Care Centre – a facility which provides food, medical care, and therapeutic services for over 250 elderly people. Additionally, four schools in Maun receive financial support, and two schools in the villages of Kumaga and Nxamaseri.
$1 per night of travel (per person) is contributed to the Travel For Impact scheme, ensuring your safari has a meaningful impact on local people. TFI believes in changing lives through travel and provides the link between donors and beneficiaries.

EGYPT

Often referred to as the “Gift of the Nile”, Egypt is one of the world’s oldest civilisations, possessing a rich heritage shaped by centuries of cultures and societies. Combining modernity with its storied history: The Great Pyramids of Giza still stand proud, while the metropolis of Cairo, its bustling capital, showcases skyscrapers adorned by a backdrop of ancient treasures. In order to preserve and protect this esteemed heritage, our ground partners, Excel Travel, have enlisted a range of sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives that are advancing this agenda in a variety of unique ways.

“Learn and Earn” Program – fundraising designed to empower underprivileged women to earn their own living; by acquiring skills through training. The trained women are able to perform many handcraft jobs and produce small industry products such as; rug weaving, patchwork, paper crafts and handicrafts.
“Caring for the Future” Program – fundraising machines and materials to support recycling – the objectives of this project are to provide training and employment for marginalised youth from the garbage collecting community, and to manage the manufacturing of solid waste through environmentally friendly recycling processes.
Excel Travel is the first company in Egypt to have achieved the Travelife Partner Award – serving as a recognition of commitment towards social and environmental sustainability.
Included a bicycle tour to visit remotely located schools, in which guests participated in a street painting project of a rural poor area to embellish its streets, singing and dancing with the students, presenting gifts of stationary and school supplies and more.

SOUTH AFRICA

Stretching from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, South Africa offers some of the most impressive travel and luxury holiday experiences on Earth. From the iconic Table Mountain to tours of the Winelands, from witnessing the Big 5 in Kruger National Park, to soaking up the culture in Cape Town or ‘The Rainbow Nation’ as it has lovingly been called since Mandela’s time. This cultural hub is flourishing with beauty and opportunity, and to ensure it stays that way, our South African ground partners, Rovos Rail, have spearheaded an array of sustainability initiatives and charitable programs to preserve and uplift the local community.

Donating a range of canned food and essential equipment to impoverished communities, including pet food for the many hungry cats and dogs.
Implementing eco-friendly alternatives: from sugar cane toilet paper, plant-based (biodegradable) water bottles, seed-based paper that can be planted (and blossoms flowers), bamboo shower accessories and more.
Donating to a range of schools and education programs for underprivileged children, such as Thembelihle Primary School, The Good Work Foundation, LifeMatters and the Amy Foundation.
Making monthly cash donations to over 30 charities, including wildlife rehabilitation, blind citizens, domestic violence victims and many more. Some include the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Action for Blind and the Jess Foord Foundation.

TANZANIA

With the Zanzibar archipelago in the Indian Ocean to the East and Kenya to the North, Tanzania is perfectly situated as the central African safari, holiday and honeymoon destination. Boasting the eminently climbable Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the breathtaking safari’s at the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro crater and the Serengeti National Park – with its dramatic million-strong Wildebeest migration – Tanzania is accessible whilst remaining exotic and dramatic in equal measure. A country of such rich biodiversity has an obligation to protect it – our Tanzanian ground partner, Albatross, conduct a range of sustainability initiatives that help achieve this goal.

Supporting projects such as One Horizon, whose mission is to alleviate poverty, by various means such as feeding impoverished children and assisting local farmers.
Employing disadvantaged locals and supporting local ‘fundi’ tradesmen by utilising their services (producing all their welcome folders and other supplies).
Offering refillable aluminium bottles to all clients and carrying water containers on driving safaris.
Supporting a local school (Kilimatembo) by providing picnic lunches and educational materials.

ZAMBIA

Zambia’s appeal lies in its stunning natural wonders: from the thundering spectacle of Victoria Falls – one of the seven natural wonders of the world, to the sinuous Zambezi River offering a haven of adventure sports, not to mention the thrill of safaris and wildlife spotting across its myriad national parks. The imperative of conservation and responsible travel are so necessary to maintain the natural balance and ecosystems that have existed for millennia, and to advance this agenda, Zambian Ground Handlers, who we’ve partnered with, have instigated a range of sustainability initiatives to ensure this magnificent landscape remains untarnished and the local communities thriving.

Conservation South Luangwa: anti-poaching patrols (including aerial surveillance), detection dogs for ivory/bushmeat/firearms, rapid response for human-wildlife conflict, and strong local employment.
Project Luangwa: tourism-funded education and community development in Mfuwe, including school sponsorship/building, menstrual hygiene education and reusable pad programmes, women’s groups, and conservation clubs.
Zambian Carnivore Programme: research and monitoring of lions, wild dogs, leopards and more; collar tracking; support for snare removal and conflict mitigation; training for local scientists, DNPW officers and guides.
The Elephant Charge: annual off-road fundraiser raising funds for conservation education across Zambia, supporting projects including Chipembele and Conservation Lower Zambezi among others.

Asia:

BALI

The ‘island of the gods’ offers everything from luxury holidays to rainforest adventures. Famous for its idyllic beaches, azure blue waters, volcanic mountains and rolling rice fields, the Indonesian island of Bali is synonymous with picturesque beauty. Bali’s culture is diverse and rich: Hinduism is an important part of daily life among the locals, with every village housing several ornately designed temples. In harmony with the spiritual ethos of ‘dharma,’ locals embrace the responsibility to preserve nature’s delicate equilibrium, and ‘ahimsa’ extends to avoiding harm to the environment, viewing nature as sacred.

Zero plastic use in resorts, instead opting for renewable alternatives.
World Clean Day: Every September, employees and guests join to clean up refuse on the beaches and in the rivers.
The hotel accepts students from disadvantaged backgrounds, training them in fields such as housekeeping, kitchen and office admin – in 2022, Spa Village Resort sent 50 trainees to work in Malaysia under YTL Hotels, the majority of them economically disadvantaged.
Dancers from Tembok receive sponsorship and training to practice the traditional Kecak Dance, and perform in the hotel twice a month.

BORNEO

Our best-selling and one of our most exciting destinations, Borneo is a paradise of lush rainforests, exceptional wildlife and effervescent hospitality. Visitors are enthused to witness the iconic orangutans in the flesh, cruise the diverse Kinabatangan River and bask in the serene beaches of Gaya Island. As the custodians of this treasured environment, our partners in Borneo are committed to the preservation of its natural splendour: from instilling the value of nature into children, initiating beach clean-up drives and swapping out plastic for renewable materials, its sustainability credentials are varied and impressive.

Gaya Island Resort is initiating a number of programmes in schools to encourage the appreciation of nature: ‘Young Explorer’ helps young children understand the wildlife behaviour around the resort, an internship programme for local universities provides a better research ground, as well as an outreach programme in local schools.
Collaborative beach clean-up drives alongside local universities, schools, NGOs and government bodies.
Implemented “say NO to plastic” policies – changed drinking plastic bottles to glass, introduced paper straws, biodegradable bin linings and toiletries, durable canvas laundry bags as well as compost generated by kitchen waste.
The Ulu Ai Conservancy has just embarked on two projects with WWF and WCS aiming to employ local women, advocating for conservation and improving livelihoods in local communities.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Established in 1964, Sepilok was the first centre in the world to dedicate itself to the rehabilitation of orangutans. The centre’s primary mission is to rehabilitate and provide a safe haven for orphaned and injured orangutans, one of the world’s most endangered primates. Odyssey World have been supporting the Orangutan Appeal UK foundation for many years, offering travellers to Borneo the chance to make their own adoption prior to visiting the sanctuary.

Rescue and Rehabilitation: Sepilok focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned, injured, and displaced orangutans, providing care to help them regain independence and eventually return to their natural habitats.
Habitat Conservation: The centre works to protect and preserve orangutans’ natural habitats in Borneo, aiming to ensure these ecosystems remain intact for future generations of wildlife.
Education and Outreach: Sepilok promotes global awareness of the threats facing orangutans through educational initiatives. These programmes are designed to engage communities and schools, helping sow a sense of environmental responsibility in the younger generation.
Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: The centre supports the Wildlife Rescue Unit, which responds to human-wildlife conflict, rescuing a variety of animals and ensuring their safety – this is part of a broader effort to protect Borneo’s biodiversity.
Reforestation and Ecosystem Restoration: Sepilok collaborates with organisations like Regrow Borneo and the Borneo Nature Foundation to restore degraded forests, ensuring the survival of orangutans and other species by creating interconnected habitats.

INDIA

India stretches across deserts, floodplains, high mountains and tropical shores, offering an immense variety of cultures and landscapes within a single nation. Travelling from Delhi’s historic neighbourhoods to Rajasthan’s fortified cities or the cool Himalayan foothills reveals how sharply the scenery and rhythm of life can shift, making movement through the country part of the experience itself. Behind the scenes, our partners champion rail and walking over flights, solar-powered and plastic-free stays, wildlife-rescue projects, and long-term support for schools and girls’ education – ensuring each journey gives back to the places you explore.

Long-term educational support for under-privileged children and girls via Vidya Bhawan School in Srinagar (12+ years of support, art workshops, and English classes).
Strategic partnerships with leading sustainable accommodation providers (e.g. CGH Earth, Pugdundee, Xandari River Escape) that integrate renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, habitat restoration, and low-impact operations into core guest experiences.
Development of Srinagar heritage walking-tour trails with INTACH (six heritage walks) to reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion while promoting cultural preservation.
Wildlife and animal-welfare support through ethical wildlife-interaction guidelines and promotion of organisations such as Charity Birds Hospital (Old Delhi) and Wildlife SOS’s Agra Bear and Elephant Rescue Facility.

JAPAN

Japan conjures up dreamy images of snow-capped mountains, beautiful pink cherry blossoms, genteel geisha girls and iconic temples, starkly contrasted by efficient and modern neon-lit cities and futuristic technologies. Modern it may be, but Japan still retains plenty of its long and proud history and mystical oriental charm – from the ancient temples peppered around urban centres, to its ancient shrines and peaceful hot springs. Such an acute blend of modern and traditional requires a delicate balance to ensure its heritage is protected while its cities flourish. Our ground suppliers, Destination Asia, have incorporated a range of sustainability initiatives to ensure that need is met.

Measuring their carbon footprint each month and reducing where excessive.
Cutting down plastic use – implementing reusable shopping bags, coffee cups and cutlery.
Supporting and giving preference to local suppliers and local communities.
Leaving free time during itineraries for travellers to discover locally-run restaurants and shops and contribute to the economy.

MALAYSIA

Modern Kuala Lumpur, ancient rainforests, white sand beaches and a wealth of ethnic, cultural and culinary diversity – Malaysia offers the true travel experience. Like most areas of exceptional scenic and cultural richness, a balance must be struck between grandeur and mindfulness. Luckily, many of our chosen accommodations have a wealth of eco-friendly initiatives, with Tanjong Jara Resort and Pangkor Laut Resort leading the march towards a more sustainable future.

Supporting ‘Lang Tengah Turtle Watch’ through conservation and education tours.
Over 70% of land around the resort is forest, and the resort has taken steps to regularly replant trees.
Working on installing solar panels for energy – currently 80 lights and streetlamps rely on solar energy with further improvements planned.
Undertaking beach clean-ups with local communities.

KAZAKHSTAN

From wide, open steppe and big-sky horizons to the mountain landscapes around Almaty, Kazakhstan is built for travel that leans into nature, heritage, and space. To keep that experience low-impact, our ground partner, Global Air DMC Kazakhstan & Central Asia, designs tours to minimise disruption to natural and cultural landmarks, works with local communities to help support folk traditions and local culture, and runs guest briefings on responsible behaviour in nature and around local customs. Practical on-the-ground measures include reducing waste through reusable bottles and lower-plastic packaging, stronger recycling practices with partners, and participation in conservation actions such as tree planting and clean-ups, alongside a growing focus on accessibility planning and renewable-energy partners where available.

Tours are designed to minimise impact on natural and cultural landmarks, with active collaboration with local communities to support folk traditions and cultural preservation.
Reusable water bottles are provided on arrival and refilled throughout the tour, alongside efforts to cut packaging and reduce single-use items (including reusable plates and cutlery where possible).
Renewable-energy progress through partners using solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and water-saving systems, plus increasing use of electric transport in city locations (including Shymbulak Ski Resort and Big Almaty Lake)
Waste and conservation actions include a waste recycling programme within offices and operations, “Green Office” participation, and charity initiatives such as tree planting and cleaning up natural areas.

Arabia:

JORDAN

Jordan is a land steeped in history with remnants of ancient civilisations; from Crusader castles and ruined Roman cities Jerash and Ajloun, to undeniably the Middle East’s most unmissable sight; Jordan’s national treasure of Petra. With biblical history and the map of The Holy Land at Madaba, and Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land, Jordan is the culture enthusiast’s mecca. With such a pristine and sacred heritage, travelling responsibly is paramount. Our Jordanian ground supplier, Discovery Circle, have gone above and beyond to enlist a range of steadfast sustainability initiatives to preserve these cultural treasures.

Scent of Colour initiative – teaching blind children to paint by putting scents in the paints, allowing them to identify colours by smell. In 2022, one of their paintings was auctioned, raising money for charity.
Using hybrid/electric vehicles to transport guests.
Advising guests to shop in locally-owned businesses or organisations who produce their goods in Jordan.
Supporting a range of local charities, such as the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, Holy Land Institute for the Deaf, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Jordan River Foundation and many more.

OMAN

With its secure, clean cities, dramatic scenery consisting of magnificent empty beaches, lush emerald green oases and soaring mountains, as well as the unconditional hospitality to all visitors, Oman makes a wonderful travel destination. Boasting cultural significance and ancient architecture, its timeless intrigue is a huge draw – promising the curious traveller a dip into history preserved for posterity. It’s for this reason – and many more – that travelling responsibly and sustainably is of utmost imperative. Thankfully, our ground supplier, Zahara, have an expansive and in-depth sustainability program to ensure the longevity of Oman’s heritage. Some of the many initiatives include:

Choosing accommodations that employ members of the local community.
Cut down on the use of plastic water bottles by offering hotel members a reusable branded bottle, adding water-bottle filling stations and increasing recycling options.
Supporting local community projects/initiatives that promote environmental protection, conservation, or cultural heritage.
Supporting initiatives for social and community participation and development, including infrastructure, education, health, and sanitation.

Rest of World:

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica sets the benchmark for sustainable travel and eco-tourism, making it a role model for other countries and a go-to destination for travellers who want to give something back. The country has set itself ambitious targets to become carbon neutral using methods like reforestation, changing to renewable energy sources, and implementing sustainable agricultural practices. Our partners in Costa Rica take their commitment very seriously. They hold the Certification for Sustainable Tourism, a sought-after but challenging accolade to achieve which turns the commitment towards sustainability into more than just greenwashing, but to proving and quantifying where and how changes are being made. It also encourages competitiveness among the tourist industry to keep making those changes bigger and better.

Education – young girls and women are given an education which includes being taught English. Local schools are given assistance with general maintenance.
Plastic bottles have been replaced with recyclable glass bottles. Guests are informed about the change and encouraged to continue this practice in their travels.
Supports Great Green Macaw reintroduction via the Ara Manzanillo (Ara Project) tour, and offers conservation-focused volunteering with Toucan Rescue Ranch and Proyecto Asis, including animal care routines, cleaning, and enrichment-toy making using recycled materials.
Guest families will host you in their homes, cook you a traditional meal and share their culture with you.

SRI LANKA

India’s teardrop is a fertile paradise of tropical forest, diverse landscapes and high biodiversity. Home to many national parks teaming with birdlife and wildlife, boasting seven World Heritage Sites, and thriving with history and culture spanning close to 3,000 years, it’s little wonder this island has big shoes to fill in regards to its preservation. Luckily, one of our main ground partners, Butterfly, is hard at work generating eco-friendly alternatives and sustainable initiatives to make sure the Pearl of the Indian Ocean doesn’t lose its glow.

Long-term support for Diyakepilla Primary School near Sigiriya: library, music equipment, solar power, waterlines and storage tanks, toilets, playground equipment, and ongoing supplies.
Diyakepilla village walk with lunch: built and rebuilt a thatched lunch hut and kitchen so a local family can earn directly from tourism, using farm-grown ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
Negombo Dutch canals boat experience: uses local fishermen’s boats (free in the afternoon) and provides additional income linked to lagoon and canal exploration.
Champ Cricket Academy (Moratuwa): fully funded by Butterflies since 2010, providing structured coaching and pathways for young players, including progression to national levels.