Responsible Travel
Travel Differently was created with a mission to provide unforgettable travel experiences that also benefit the destinations we visit, leaving behind a positive legacy on every trip.
Our commitment to people, planet, and authentic experiences guides everything we do. We believe that being sustainable or responsible isn’t simply about carbon offsetting or making charitable donations. It’s about taking a holistic approach across every aspect of our operations, from the designing of tours to the local partners, hotels and lodges we work with, and how we then measure our impact.
”The ultimate goal is for our tours to have a regenerative impact. To not simply tread lightly, but to help protect and rebuild fragile environments, increase wildlife conservation, and support local communities in improving their own lives. Travelling with purpose is the DNA of Travel Differently and guided by our four principles”
Sam Gough, Founder of Travel Differently
Our Founding Principles
Travel Greener
✔ Preference for eco-lodges, responsible small hotels & community-run stays
✔ Low-impact itineraries: hiking, kayaking, wildlife watching, cycling, walking
✔ No wildlife exploitation or environmental harm
✔ Focus on Carbon reduction through each itinerary
Travel slower
✔ Encourage travelling less and taking longer holidays
✔ Minimise internal flights
✔ Offer public transport or trains where possible
✔ Get off-the-beaten track and explore lesser explored paths
Travel Fairer
✔ Work with local guides, local drivers, and encourage local food
✔ Community-based experiences & supporting rural tourism
✔ Supporting traditional crafts, culture, and heritage
✔ Ensuring money stays in the destination
Travel Better
✔ We work only with hand-picked local partners who share our values
✔ Fair labour, fair pay, and fair treatment
✔ Part of a community of sustainable travel businesses
✔ No harmful or exploitative practices
Passion and Experience
Our founder, Sam, is qualified in Sustainability Management and passionate about reconfiguring tourism from having a damaging impact to becoming a positive force. After the global pause in travel brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, it became clear that it was the time to act, and so Travel Differently was launched.
Today we have an inspiring and passionate team of travel experts, each with over a decade of experience in the industry, with a shared commitment to shaping tourism in a more thoughtful, responsible way. We understand the cultures, communities, and environments that make our destinations so spectacular. This experience and long-standing relationships with on the ground suppliers allow us to design itineraries that are not only enriching, but also logistically efficient and sensitive to local realities.
This is where being passionate experts is a powerful tool for sustainability. We understand how tourism affects people and places on the ground in Latin America. Because we work with boutique partners on the ground and prefer to work with community-led projects and conservation initiatives, we know where your travel choices can have a positive impact. We also know which routes reduce unnecessary transfers, how to minimise unnecessary domestic flights and how to explore lesser-known gems and support cultural preservation rather than disrupt it.
Our knowledge helps us steer our guests toward options that genuinely matter and keep responsible travel at the core of every trip design.
Our Partners
We work exclusively with boutique ground partners, that have been hand-picked for their high quality service and deep rooted ethics. These trusted partners share our values, champion responsible practices, and help ensure that guides, transfers and experiences remain local.
Travelling with Travel Differently, you can feel confident that each partner we work with has been carefully screened for their environmental and social standards. Together we are committed to safeguarding the future of Latin America while providing extraordinary travel experiences. From B Corp and Carbon neutral companies to working in close collaboration with local communities, you can be sure our partners are leading the way in offering a responsible way to travel.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to launch our Sustainable Hotel Collection as a collaboration with our partners. This portfolio highlights the properties in our network that are making meaningful strides toward sustainability. While every trip is tailored to our guests’ individual needs, we will always advocate for and prioritise accommodation that empowers guests to have a positive impact.
Carbon Curbing and Restoration
We don’t believe that traditional carbon offsetting is the answer to tackling the emissions created through travel. As part of our Climate Emergency Plan, our priority is to focus on carbon reduction through the creation of our trips and in collaboration with our partners on the ground.
For every itinerary we create, we ensure smart logistics, low impact activities, keeping services local and using energy-efficient accommodation. Before each departure, guests also receive simple, practical steps to help reduce their own emissions while travelling. From buying local food, avoiding single-use plastics, being mindful of energy use, and choosing low carbon activities- these small choices can really make a difference.
For Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos we can now confidently measure the true environmental impact of every tailor-made-trip, and we are working towards expanding this across other destinations in Latin America. By measuring the carbon footprint of every trip, we can use this data to measure, share publicly, and develop a long-term reduction plan.
For the emissions that cannot be reduced, such as those from flights, we commit to restoring the equivalent through the World Land Trust, an incredible organisation protecting some of the world’s most threatened habitats and species.
Part of a Sustainable community
The climate emergency is both very real and deeply concerning. One thing that we have found solace in is the growing network of like-minded businesses committed to driving meaningful change. Through joining communities like the below, it has opened up communication channels of support, best practices and accountability to be and do better. All of which help us continually improve, challenge ourselves, and do better for the planet.
Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency
We are a founding signatory to Tourism Declares, an initiative that supports tourism organisations and individuals in declaring a climate emergency and taking purposeful action to reduce our carbon emissions as per the advice from The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
As of 2026, we are proud members of the Long Run- a global community of purpose-driven tourism businesses that view sustainability holistically and allows our business to accelerate positive impact through the application of its sustainability model looking at conservation, community, culture, community and commerce.
Today, The Long Run, through its members have been able to:
- Protect more than 400 endangered species
- Safeguard over 23 million acres of irreplaceable ecosystems
- Improve the lives of over 750,000 people through nature-aligned enterprise
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to