Help plant the world’s first travel-powered forest. 

As travellers, we all have a big responsibility to play when it comes to looking after our planet. We want to help everyone do their part, which is why we’ve partnered with Ecologi to bring carbon offsetting to our community of responsible travellers. Ecologi work to reduce the impacts of climate change in two ways: through planting trees to help draw down carbon from the atmosphere naturally and through investing in Gold Standard carbon offsetting projects. With your help, we’re planting our very own Intrepid Forest in Kenya – for every tree you plant, Intrepid will plant one too.

Find out more

How Ecologi works

The climate crisis may feel overwhelming. But there’s good news: we can do something about it together. 

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1. Sign up to offset your carbon footprint.

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2. Every time you plant a tree in our forest, we’ll plant one too. 

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3. Pledge to reduce your footprint for the planet.

Sign up now

FAQs

Reforestation isn’t the only solution for reducing greenhouse gases that we have, but it is a natural and valuable one. Trees planted today can draw down massive amounts of carbon in the long-term, and there are a whole range of other benefits from reforesting areas with native flora.

It’s good for the environment

Planting trees helps restore animal habitats, from the insects on leaves to the monkeys swinging from the branches. With increased biodiversity, ecosystems become more resilient. Trees also contribute to the natural water cycle and the presence of hardy root systems helps prevent landslides and flooding, slows soil erosion and improves soil quality.

It’s good for humans too

With better soil, communities can increase their agricultural yield to support their health and livelihoods. Seed collection and tree planting provide fair and decent employment for local people, especially women who may have limited employment opportunities in the area. It also creates jobs for rangers who protect from illegal activities and ensure long-term sustainability for the forest, both during the planting stage and for years afterwards.

With the help of Eden Reforestation Projects, we’re planting our very own Intrepid forest in Kenya. Just a short drive northwest from Nairobi is the Kijabe Forest, which covers 5,500 hectares in the country’s central highlands. Our trees will be planted in a dedicated section of the forest so that we can watch our impact grow.  

While the cost of tree planting varies from country to country, trees in our Kijabe Forest cost US $0.10 each. Included in this price is a fair wage for local employees to collect and plant seeds, the necessary materials and a forest ranger to look after the site. The surrounding communities have relied on the forest for firewood, building materials, charcoal, and grazing for their animals over the years. With the help of Kijabe Forest Trust, they’re seeing the importance of forests and playing an active role in restoring them.

As a leader in the travel industry, we have a big responsibility for carbon emissions. We’ve been carbon neutral since 2010, offsetting everything from our trips to our offices. As part of our journey to become climate positive by 2020, we continue to consider the footprint of our trips: removing unnecessary flights, taking public transit where possible, and opting for less convenient – but lower impact – transport options. Learn more about Intrepid’s carbon management principles.

Offsetting your emissions and planting trees aren’t the only answers to the climate crisis – but they’re part of the solution. For our unavoidable emissions, we can offset them while we transition to new technologies. But we also have to reduce our footprints, and for most of us, that means making some pretty inconvenient changes. From air drying your laundry to composting your food waste, there are plenty of small steps to take. If we work together, we can create change on a much larger scale. Carbon offsetting isn’t a replacement for action, but it’s a powerful way to vote with your wallet. Read some of our tips for reducing your footprint below.

We believe in the power of travel to open minds and inspire people, but there’s no denying the other effects: the travel industry accounts for about eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We’ve been carbon offsetting our trips since 2010 and starting next year, we’ll be offsetting flights to and from destinations for travellers that book with us. Offsetting isn’t enough, so we’re also focusing on reducing the impact of our trips by removing flights when possible, opting for local public transport, tweaking our routes and exploring innovative technologies like electric overland vehicles.

As an individual, there are travel choices you can make to help reduce your footprint too. You can travel with a responsible tour company or explore somewhere closer to home. You can see a destination by bike or take a long hike. You can stay in local communities or sustainable accommodation. If you’re flying, non-stop is better than multiple legs, but consider other options like trains and buses where possible.

 

How you can reduce your carbon emissions

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Vote with your wallet

  • Choose a bank that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels. 

  • Switch your superannuation or retirement savings into a fund that makes ethical investments.  

  • Find your everyday products from B Corps.

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Shop responsibly

  • Opt for secondhand or vintage clothes instead of fast fashion. Sell or donate the pieces hiding in your closet when you’ve found new loves. 

  • Try stitching the hole in your shirt to make it last. 

  • Make the switch to cold water and air drying for your laundry

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Go green with energy

  • Turn your cooling system up – or your heating system down – by at least 1 degree Celsius (or 2 degrees Fahrenheit). 

  • Switch off your appliances while you’re out, especially while travelling. 

  • Select an electricity provider that uses renewable energy. 

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Transport smart

  • Swap the car for a bicycle, public transit or a pair of walking shoes for your morning commute. 

  • You still deserve a holiday. Choose one that’s low-impact and closer to home. 

  • If you need to fly, opt for the direct flight – even if it’s a bit pricier.  

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Eat for the earth

  • Design your weekly menus around fruit and vegetables that are local, organic and in season, including at least one meat-free meal a week. 

  • Purchase Fairtrade (or B Corp) products that are good for the environment and people. 

  • Skip the food delivery and add a homecooked meal to the rotation.  

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Sort it out

  • Turn your organic waste into compost. It reduces what goes into landfill and methane emissions. 

  • Make sure soft plastics or broken glass go into the correct bins. Contamination can keep recyclable items from being processed.  

  • Think again before tossing away your old phone or camera. Recycling e-waste saves valuable resources.  

Read more about climate change