Adventure Alternative 
Offers trekking, teaching and medical electives, mountaineering expeditions and safaris, to various countries. “We emphasize pro-poor tourism, putting profits back into local communities and promoting long- term employment in developing countries.” The company has offices in Belfast (HQ), Nairobi, Moshi, Moscow and Kathmandu and is linked to and supports the registered charity and NGO Moving Mountains which works in Nepal, Niger and Kenya. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

Baobab Travel
BAOBAB is a specialist eco-tour operator offering trips mainly to Africa. Destinations include Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia as well as Egypt/Sinai and Jordan. They can provide themed trips from scuba-diving to wildlife safaris and yoga retreats. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

Cazenove & Lloyd
Based in London this firm describes itself as “destination experts” and focuses on the luxury end of the market with tailor made trips to Latin America, Africa, and Indian Ocean and India. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

Dragoman Overland

Runs truck-based adventure travel trips with exotic destinations and authentic experiences throughout the world.   It has a responsible tourism policy and a strong commitment to local community projects and says at least 55% of passengers’ money stays in the destination country to benefit its hosts. Winner of the AITO Responsible Tourism Company of the Year award in 2006.

Eurocamp calls itself the market-leader in self-catering holidays to Europe, offering the widest choice of camping options in over 180 parcs in 9 countries with facilities for couples and families and activities ranging from canoeing, cycling, horse riding, windsurfing and diving to simply playing in the pools and water features. Its Green Team aims to protect the environment, conserve natural resources and minimise pollution and parent company Holidaybreak has received the prestigious AITO 5-star award for responsible tourism. 

Expert Africa
Formerly called Sunvil Africa this company offers safaris and trips to the southern part of the continent. Its staff are experts who spend at least a month there every year. The website includes details of its commitment to responsible travel. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

Explore Worldwide
Part of the international HolidayBreak group, this Hampshire based adventure travel firm was founded in 1981 and now operates over 300 trips ranging from walking and trekking to cycling, family holidays and short breaks. Travelmole (the online community for the travel and tourism industry) named Explore the best responsible tourism website in 2006. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

First Choice +

Part of the leading international TUI Travel group, First Choice launched its brand new online Greener Holidays brochure in April 2009. Its award winning airline is changing the way it flies to reduce carbon emissions and all the hotels featured have been recognised for doing their bit to be more sustainable by reducing energy and water usage, sourcing locally produced food and making sure their employees have fair working conditions. The best performing hotels are given a bronze, silver or gold Travelife award.

Gane & Marshall
This small specialist London company with a strong interest in ethical and environmental issues provides tailor made itineraries to southern and eastern Africa, South America, and the Indian Ocean ranging from safaris to beach holidays and honeymoons. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

G.A.P. Adventures +

Calling themselves "the great adventure people" this company has specialised in sustainable travel since 1990 with a focus on cultural journeys and wildlife encounters. Its commitment to socially conscious, grassroots style travel has earned numerous ecotourism awards. It offers a wide selection of over 1250 small group adventure tours, family vacations, and small ship cruises in 100 countries on every continent. Groups typically comprise people aged 18 – 80 and trips can last from a few days or a couple of weeks to six months.

Haven Holidays +

Haven Holidays owns and operates 35 award-winning family holiday parks throughout England, Scotland and Wales - close to some of Britain’s most beautiful beaches and brightest resorts. Accommodation ranges from caravans, chalets, apartments, tents and yurts. There are pools, kids clubs, sports facilities, and family entertainment. Environmental concerns are taken seriously and measures include water conservation, recycling and reducing energy consumption. Four Parks have prestigious Green Tourism Business Scheme awards, one with Gold status. 

The Imaginative Traveller +

Provides more than 300 small group tours and treks in a variety of styles and comfort levels. These are experience led rather than activity based going to the heart of a destination, getting off the tourist trail, meeting the locals, and spending time with them in their natural environment. Destinations include Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Central and South America, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. It says it has been committed to sustainable tourism since its launch in 1991 with local partnerships, suppliers and staff.   

Intrepid Travel +

The company has over 300 different small group adventure trips in over 50 different destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, the Middle East, Antarctica and Australia, and many different styles of travel.   Notable for its responsible tourism policy, its aim is that travellers become a part of country and not just tourists looking in.   It has submitted itself to rigorous external audit and established the  Intrepid Foundation to aid local causes. Winner in the tour operator category of the 2006 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards.

Specialises in trekking and climbing holidays and stresses its good treatment of local staff, respect for indigenous cultures and aim to make a positive contribution wherever it goes.    It offers exciting experiences in mountain ranges in over 40 countries. Winner of the AITO Responsible Tourism Company of the Year award in 2007.

Keycamp Holidays +

Mobile home and camping holidays on over 100 sites, in 7 European countries. They’re ideal for all age groups from families (with children’s clubs for tots to teenagers) or couples seeking an activity holiday – from scuba diving to sailing, cycling to horse riding, windsurfing to canoeing. The firm’s environmentally friendly practices have been recognized with the Five Star Award for Responsible Tourism by AITO. 

Kuoni +

Award winning tour operator specialising in long haul and tailor made holidays to hundreds of exotic destinations worldwide. Its selection of experiences includes exploring, well-being, activity, luxury beach retreats and family friendly holidays. It says it is committed to sustainable tourism and has launched over 30 social, community and environmental projects. In early 2009 it signed up to the Travelife system and will now assess all the hotels it features for sustainability.

Neilson Active Holidays +
Activity holidays for adventure seeking solo travellers, groups, and families in beautiful locations year-round.  Including skiing, snowboarding, dinghy sailing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, windsurfing, tennis, mountain biking, yachting, scuba diving and kite surfing.  It has an ethical travel policy and aims to lower the use of non-renewable resources and implement the Three R's where possible, by Reducing, Re-using and Recycling.

Parkdean Holidays +

Operates 24 Holiday Parks in the UK. Accommodation ranges from caravan holiday homes, lodges, apartments and chalets, available for short breaks and longer holidays throughout the year. Caravan and camping pitches are also available at many locations. 12 holiday parks have been given the David Bellamy Conservation gold award for protecting the environment, 10 have silver awards and 1 bronze.  

Radical Travel +

Radical Travel offers budget trips for 18-35 year olds. These include Shamrocker Adventures: cheap, exciting and fun budget tours of Ireland in midi-coaches; Busabout Explorer: flexible travel for backpackers and independent travellers with a hop-on hop-off network covering 30 destinations in 10 European countries; Busabout Adventures: a collection of trips around Europe and North Africa ranging from sailing in Croatia to truck trips round Morocco; and Haggis Adventures: tours in England, Scotland and Wales – and the first ever tour operator in Scotland to receive a Green Tourism Business Scheme environmental award.

Rainbow Tours
Rainbow Tours is a specialist travel company based in London providing tailor-made holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean. It creates individual safaris, honeymoons, bush and beach holidays, preferring owner-run accommodation in unusual and interesting destinations. It includes lodges certified by FTTSA, the South African fair trade in tourism body, and says it aims “to turn the rhetoric of ecotourism into reality” through its code of practice. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

A renowned online travel directory which claims to have been the first to talk about responsible travel and tourism and the first business dedicated to promoting eco, green or responsible’ holidays on one site.  It offers thousands of adventure and family holidays, ecotourism and responsible travel from hundreds of tour operators and accommodation providers which it has screened to meet its environmental, social and economic criteria and explains how each holiday actually makes a difference. The firm says it has arranged travel for over 25,000 clients since 2001. You can’t book directly online: you have to send your trip enquiry using their online form and the tour operator calls you back. A co-sponsor of the Responsible Tourism Awards.

Simply Tanzania
The company provides holiday experiences taking in the wildlife and scenic delights of this East African country away from the regular tourist routes as well as giving visitors the chance to meet local people and to gain some understanding of the culture and development issues. Its website says it supports sustainable tourism where possible using locally owned and run tour companies, hotels and lodges.

The Adventure Travel Company +

Runs over 230 exciting small group trips to every continent including family and teenage adventures, wildlife encounters, treks, and cultural and activity holidays. Top destinations include Jordan, Nepal, China, Namibia, Brazil, Italy, Botswana, Mexico and New Zealand. It has a responsible tourism policy and over half the trips support a local project, for instance a school in India or a community centre in Tanzania through its Adventure Company Foundation funded by the company and clients’ voluntary donations. It also donates a small sum per passenger to offset carbon emissions.

The Co-operative Travel +

The UK’s largest independent travel agent and part of the world’s largest consumer co-operative with strong values and principles on ethics and sustainability. According to a 2008 NOP survey the group is viewed as the most ethical brand in the UK. A full member of ABTA and ATOL protected it sells holidays worldwide from all the top travel companies. 

Thomas Cook +

The UK’s oldest tour operator, established for over 160 years and still inspired by its founder’s values. The company has a huge choice of holidays to destinations near and far and says its mission is to perfect the personal leisure experience and to manage its activities in a morally and socially responsible manner. It supports the Travel Foundation’s Make Travel Greener campaign and the Travelife awards scheme. It also now offers web chat assistance to customers booking online. 

Tribes Travel
Describing itself as “the Fair Trade Travel company”, it offers high quality tailor made holidays which benefit local people, wildlife and the environment. It offers holidays in 14 countries worldwide and activities including bird watching, safaris, trekking, cultural or just lazing on a beach. Tribes is based in Suffolk and was the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards winner in 2005. Ethical Tour Operators Group member. 

Specialises in independent or small group walking holidays in traditional hamlets, villages and towns, in spectacular undiscovered upland scenery in Europe. In 2007 Upland Escapes won Travel Trade Gazette’s “Scream if You’re Green” Travel Award, and in November 2008, was highly commended by the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards in the Best in a Mountain Environment category for helping to protect mountain village lifestyles.

Wilderness Scotland

This firm runs guided walking, sailing and adventure holidays throughout the highlands and islands of Scotland. Its website features detailed descriptions of its responsible tourism policy and how it puts this into practice. Highly commended at the Respnsible Tourism Awards, 2006.