BikeHike Adventures Commitment to Sustainable Tourism Practices

Sustainable tourism is the banner under which BikeHike Adventures operates and is committed to. It's the kind of tourism that benefits local communities and travellers without compromising the enjoyment of future generations. Each year we look for different projects worldwide to support and help to raise social and cultural awareness. In 2007 we donated a percentage of every booking that came in for the year to the Manjari Sankurathri Memorial Foundation (MSMF). MSMF is a non-profit charitable organization to help the rural poor, needy and downtrodden. They operate a school for very poor children who would not have the opportunity for education because their families need them at home to work and also a hospital which performs cataract surgery for people who have lost their vision due to cataracts. $50 US will return one’s eyesight and protect it for a lifetime. For details on MSMF please visit www.msmf.ca. We are currently researching a project to support for 2008, we welcome any suggestions that you may have.

Since BikeHike Adventures Inc. was founded in 1994, we have worked to support sustainable tourism practices. Here are some of the specifics:

BikeHike Adventures have a maximum of 12 travellers per trip. More on average is 6 to 8 people.
We respect local cultures by operating sensitive adventures that view local communities as our partners.
We strive to reduce our environmental footprint by working with socially responsible suppliers who care about the impact of their operations.
We contribute to the conservation of the natural, welfare and cultural heritage of the areas we visit. For example, The Manjari Sankurathri Memorial Foundation in India. We donated school supplies to a remote village in Patachanca, Peru. We financially supported The Bicycles Crossing Borders program in Cuba, as well as a project to educate street kids in Nicaragua.
In our Granville Island, Vancouver, British Columbia headquarters, we employ best environmental practices in our daily work by supporting the ongoing efforts of the recycling industry, using recycled paper products and we all bike or walk to work every morning.
We actively communicate our values to our travellers and the local operators, educating them in sustainable tourism practices.
BikeHike is actually fairly unique in the tourism world as we are a multi-sport tour operator. This means that as much as possible our trips are ‘self-propelled adventures', so there is minimal time spent in carbon dioxide emitting vehicles (cars, buses, planes). The ways in which our travellers explore and experience a destination is very important to us. By being self-propelled we reduce our emissions of gases that contribute to climate change and to us that is a good thing! Anything we can do to reduce our footprint on the earth is good business and makes good sense!
BikeHike is a member of proud memeber of Sustainable Travel International:

There are so many amazing experiences to be had by exploring our planet and meeting other cultures, and if everyone does their part in traveling in a responsible manner, future generations worldwide will benefit and the overall experiences will be far richer for everyone.

TIPS FOR BEING A RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER

BEFORE YOU GO…

Educate yourself about the customs of the place you are visiting and the local people (eg: body language, eating habits, traditions, etc).
Learn a few phrases of the local language.
Read over the pre-departure information we send at time of booking, watch movies and read books related to the destination, search the internet, etc. The more you know about the place (history, politics, religion, etc) the more you will enjoy it while there.

ON TOUR…

Respect cultural differences and adhere to local dress codes.
Eat at local restaurants and sample the local grown food and specialties. Support local artisans and shop at local markets. Be careful when buying souvenirs and make sure they are not made from endangered species.
Be considerate when taking photos and always ask beforehand. We don’t recommend giving money for photos as it can encourage a begging culture.
Reduce your waste (use a reusable water bottle, bring your own shopping bag, bring or buy products with minimal packaging to avoid unnecessary garbage, etc). Don’t litter.
Be mindful of your energy consumption. Remember to turn off the lights when you leave your room. Be aware of your water consumption and use bio-degradable products for washing in rivers and lakes. If on a trip with snorkeling, avoid touching or standing on the coral reef.
Follow the motto “leave no trace”.
Do not hand out pens, candy, etc to local children as this can help contribute to a begging economy. If you wish to bring something, please contact us for advice before hand on what to bring and how to best distribute it.
When bargaining for goods try not to haggle aggressively, rather you should have fun with it. Think to yourself “Is it really important to save those extra few pennies”? Remember what you save can be someone else’s shortage.
When viewing wildlife, adhere to the park rules, never feed the wild animals, keep your distance from nests, and try to make as little noise as possible to not scare the animals. When trekking, stick to the local trails to prevent erosion.

UPON RETURN FROM YOUR TRIP...

Look for ways that you can help the community you have just visited or even the community where you live.