Since 2012 we’ve focused on making travel safe and easy for our guests; with our double carbon offset standard, we’re pleased to make our trips as sustainable as they are memorable.

Travel has a carbon footprint. There’s no way around that, especially with long-distance flights.

You may have heard that you can “offset” those emissions. In theory, that means funding projects that reduce or remove the same amount of carbon somewhere else.

In reality, it’s not that simple.

Some carbon offset projects don’t deliver what they promise. Some offsets would have happened anyway. Others overestimate their impact. Other projects aren’t permanent. Because of this, many experts now question how well offsets work.

We take those concerns seriously.

We do not see carbon offsets as a perfect solution, and we do not claim that travel becomes impact-free because of them.

But we do believe offsets can be done more responsibly if they are approached carefully, conservatively, and transparently.

Here’s how we do it.

1. We focus on what’s measurable

We prioritize projects that are easier to verify, especially methane capture and destruction.

When methane is captured and destroyed, it is permanently removed from the atmosphere. The impact is direct and measurable, which avoids many of the uncertainties found in other types of offsets.

We also support projects with clear community benefits, such as cleaner air and reduced reliance on wood for fuel.

2. We count the full journey

Most travel companies only offset emissions during the tour itself.

We go further.

We include the entire journey, from your home to the destination and back again. For most trips, this is by far the largest part of the footprint.

3. We offset more than we emit

Instead of trying to match emissions exactly, we double the total.

Why?

Because carbon accounting is not perfect, and some offset projects may overstate their impact.

Doubling the offset is our way of building in a margin of error.

4. We pay for it ourselves

We do not pass this cost on to our guests.

We fund it because we believe it’s part of running a responsible travel company.

5. We choose vetted, science-based partners

We work with organizations like Cool Effect, which carefully review and monitor the projects they support.

Our offsets are verified by leading standards such as Verra (VCS), Gold Standard, and Climate Action Reserve.

6. We are fully transparent

We publish every carbon offset certificate we purchase. You can see them RetreaTours.com/carboncertificates

You can see exactly which projects we support, how much we’ve offset, and when.

This kind of transparency doesn’t solve all the challenges in the carbon offset system, but it does mean our claims are fully visible and open to scrutiny.

7. Our track record

Since 2020, we’ve spent over $56,000 of our own money on carbon offset projects, covering more than 6,300 metric tonnes of emissions.

We share this not as a claim that the problem is solved, but to be transparent about the level of commitment behind our approach.

What this means (and what it doesn’t)

This does not mean your trip has no impact.

It does mean we are taking responsibility in a way that is:

• conservative
• measurable
• grounded in the best available evidence

We are not claiming to have solved the problem. But we are committed to doing this better than most.

Want to learn more?

We encourage you to explore the projects we support, or even offset your own emissions beyond your trip if you’d like.

The key is to look for projects that are:

• measurable
• permanent
• additional
• independently verified
• transparent