Travel With Care
Explore Washington with curiosity, respect, and a lighter footprint.
Washington’s forests, coastlines, rivers, mountains, wildlife, and communities make every trip possible. At Washington Tour Company, we believe memorable experiences and responsible travel should go hand in hand.
Our goal is not simply to visit remarkable places, it is to help guests understand them, respect them, and leave them in good condition for the people, wildlife, and future visitors who come after us.
What sustainability means to us
Sustainability is not one action or one promise. It is an ongoing approach to how we plan trips, choose routes, work with local communities, guide guests, and care for the places we visit.
For Washington Tour Company, that means focusing on:
Protecting natural places through thoughtful trip design and low-impact practices.
Respecting wildlife by observing from appropriate distances and minimizing disturbance.
Supporting local communities by prioritizing local guides, businesses, food, and experiences where possible.
Helping guests travel responsibly through clear expectations and practical education.
Continuing to improve as we learn from local communities, conservation organizations, land managers, and our guests.
Our commitments
Small groups, lighter impact
We believe smaller groups create better experiences and put less pressure on the places we visit. Small-group travel allows for more thoughtful pacing, less noise, easier wildlife and landscape observation, and more meaningful connections with guides, local businesses, and fellow travelers.
We design our trips to prioritize quality over volume.
Leave No Trace principles
We follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, a widely used framework for responsible outdoor recreation:
Plan ahead and prepare.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
Dispose of waste properly.
Leave what you find.
Minimize campfire impacts.
Respect wildlife.
Be considerate of other visitors.
These principles shape how we guide trips and what we ask of every guest.
Respect for wildlife
Wildlife encounters should happen on wildlife’s terms.
We observe animals quietly, give them space, and never feed, touch, chase, crowd, or disrupt them for a photograph. Our guides will adjust plans when necessary to avoid disturbing wildlife, protect sensitive habitats, and follow seasonal closures or site-specific rules.
A great wildlife encounter is one that leaves the animal undisturbed.
Stay on designated trails
Trails, boardwalks, and established routes exist to protect fragile vegetation, prevent erosion, and reduce disturbance to wildlife. We stay on designated paths, avoid trampling sensitive areas, and respect closures even when a detour or a better photo seems tempting.
Waste reduction
We aim to reduce unnecessary single-use items and encourage guests to bring reusable water bottles, snack containers, and other practical gear when appropriate.
On every trip, we follow a simple standard:
Pack it in. Pack it out.
We carry out everything we bring in, including food scraps, wrappers, tissues, and other waste.
Thoughtful transportation
Transportation is an important part of a tour’s environmental impact. When planning routes, we aim to minimize unnecessary driving, avoid excessive idling, group logistics efficiently, and select destinations that can be explored thoughtfully rather than rushed through.
Support for local communities
Responsible travel should benefit the communities that make a destination special.
When possible, we seek to support independently owned businesses, local food providers, guides, artists, outfitters, and accommodations. We encourage guests to approach each place with humility and curiosity and to remember that visitors are entering communities where people live, work, and care for the land year-round.
Respect for culture and place
Washington’s landscapes are connected to the histories, cultures, and living traditions of Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations. We encourage guests to learn about the places they visit, respect culturally sensitive areas, follow site-specific rules, and avoid treating landscapes as empty backdrops.
We are committed to continuing our own learning and to approaching interpretation with care, accuracy, and respect.
Organizations that guide and inspire us
Washington Tour Company is inspired by organizations doing the ongoing work of outdoor access, education, conservation, restoration, and responsible recreation.
Leave No Trace — Provides practical, research-informed guidance for reducing impacts in the outdoors.
Washington Trails Association — Supports trail maintenance, hiking education, public-land advocacy, and access to trails across Washington.
Outdoors for All — Creates adaptive outdoor recreation opportunities for children and adults with disabilities.
Conservation Northwest — Works to protect, connect, and restore wildlands and wildlife.
Washington Wild — Protects and restores Washington’s wild lands and waters through advocacy, education, and civic engagement.
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust — Connects communities, conservation, stewardship, and recreation across the region.
Progress, not perfection
We know sustainability is ongoing work. We do not believe responsible travel is achieved through a single policy, a reusable bottle, or a marketing label.
We are committed to making thoughtful choices, listening to local expertise, communicating honestly with guests, and improving our practices as Washington Tour Company grows.
We welcome feedback from guests, partners, land managers, and community members about how we can do better.
Explore deeply. Travel thoughtfully. Leave a positive mark.
The best trips change us—not the places we visit.
When you join Washington Tour Company, you become part of a community that values curiosity, care, responsible recreation, and the long-term health of Washington’s natural places.