Preserving the Planet

Continue to explore the Earth and protect it, too.

- SUSAN B. BARNES

HIKING ALONG A PATH THROUGH THE FOREST, the only sounds I heard were the wind rustling through the leaves, the flow of a distant waterfall and, from time to time, the soft sounds of chatter from the others in my group. Missing were the sounds of traffic rushing by, car horns and the din of the everyday world in which most of us live. On this part of the Japan Hiking – Kumano Kodo & Nakasendo trip with REI Adventures, just the eight of us were on the trail, not another human in sight. An eco-adventure at its best, and it was glorious.

Earlier this year, Impact Travel Alliance, the world’s largest community for impactfocused travelers, released its trends shaping sustainable travel in 2020, among them regenerative travel, conscious consumerism, offseason tourism and slow tourism. ITA aims to educate travelers on how to spend their money mindfully so their experiences empower locals and protect the environment.

Since its inception, REI Adventures has been committed to sustainable travel, designing its trips around human-powered activity. The co-op runs its business by following thoughtful practices, including committing to working with local operators in the destinations to which REI travels worldwide and assessing and auditing its operators and trip operations to minimize environmental impact and maximize the benefits to local communities.