Appalachian Trail walking holiday in America

Environment

We are committed to offering low impact tours that benefit both the places and communities we visit as well as our travellers. It is important for us all to be aware of the delicate balance that exists in the variety of natural wonders you will visit. National Parks and monuments, archaeological sites and other sensitive areas should and must be treated with respect.

We have created a 'Travellers' Code of Conduct' to help prepare and inform our groups of the various positive or negative effects they could have on a destination. The code includes tips on everything from handling wildlife encounters to how you can help to conserve precious natural resources. Our tour leaders will explain this code of conduct during the first night’s orientation talk and encourage you to follow it throughout the tour.

This code includes following the ‘Leave No Trace’ ethic, this is an international campaign that is designed to help us minimise the impact on the National Parks and other wilderness areas that we visit. Some key guidelines we follow include keeping to existing trails, staying in official campgrounds and disposing of all waste responsibly and recycling whatever we can.

We are proud supporters of the American Hiking Society, which champions conservation issues in the United States and represents millions of hikers committed to preserving America’s vast network of hiking trails and their surrounding ecosystems.

All rubbish used on the trails in left at the huts and removed regularly to preserve this area of natural beauty. Meals included at the huts are cooked communally to save gas and waste.

This tour is conducted on foot primarily without the use of a vehicle – 95% of this tour is conducted by hiking the incredible trails and staying in multi-share accommodation to maximise cleared sections within the forest.

Community

Whenever possible, we use local accommodation and activity providers. We also shop locally for groceries, eat in small family-run restaurants and visit local shops whenever possible. This all brings economic benefit to the local communities that we visit.

On this tour we use qualified Appalachian Club mountain guides which maintains a level of training for younger people and future generations. They are wholly familiar with the White Mountains National Forest including wildlife, trails, weather and how to act in a responsible way to ensure travellers work in tune with all three. They encourage hikers to stick to the paths, not feed wildlife and how to keep at a safe and respectable distance.