•GSTC CertifiedSince 1991
Sustainability · For guests

Sustainable Travel Code of Conduct.

Travel better. Travel mindfully. As an adventure and culture operator, we are committed to protecting nature, preserving culture and supporting local communities — and we ask the same of the people who travel with us.

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None of this is difficult, and none of it costs you anything. It is simply the difference between a place being better or worse for having had you in it.

Kruja bazaar. Buying here — rather than at the airport on the way home — is the single easiest thing a traveller can do for a local economy.
Kruja bazaar. Buying here — rather than at the airport on the way home — is the single easiest thing a traveller can do for a local economy.

Before and during your journey

  • Bring reusable water bottles, bags and lunch containers.
  • Switch off lights and air conditioning when they aren't in use.
  • Read up on local traditions, history and the natural environment before you arrive.

In nature

  • Stick to marked trails — shortcuts cause erosion and habitat damage.
  • Do not touch, feed or disturb animals.
  • Leave no waste behind. Pack out what you bring in.

Cultural respect

  • Always ask before photographing people or entering sacred places.
  • Dress appropriately in villages and at religious sites.
  • Be open, patient and respectful when engaging with local people.

Support the local economy

  • Buy local, handmade products — and avoid anything made from endangered species.
  • Please refrain from giving handouts. Ask us instead about ways to support meaningful causes.
  • Tip fairly and shop at locally owned businesses.

Stay engaged

  • Ask your guide questions — they know these places better than any guidebook.
  • Share your feedback with us. It is how these tours keep improving.
Wild strawberries, gathered on the walk. The mountains give this freely; the code is simply about leaving them able to keep doing so.
Wild strawberries, gathered on the walk. The mountains give this freely; the code is simply about leaving them able to keep doing so.
Why it matters

Your choices matter.

By travelling with Sondor you help protect the places we love and support the people who call them home. The villages, guesthouses and trails on our itineraries are not a backdrop — they are somebody's home and somebody's livelihood, and how guests behave in them shapes whether tourism here stays worth having.

Read next

Our other commitments.

Wildlife Interaction Code

How we protect animals and habitats on every tour we operate.

Our Commitment to Ethical Tourism

Protecting human dignity and the rights of vulnerable people on tour.

Sustainability at Sondor

GSTC certification, our four pillars, and how your trip supports local communities.