Tourism can be a catalyst for conservation, community development, and climate awareness. High-quality carbon offsets help make this possible by funding the protection of critical wildlife habitats, advancing Indigenous rights, and supporting livelihoods and social programs that address poverty.
Tourism experiences connected to carbon offset projects can deepen travelers’ understanding of their impact and foster deeper connections to the landscapes and communities involved. These immersive experiences offer a firsthand opportunity to participate in project activities, explore local challenges, and see the real-world results on the ground. Whether spotting endangered species protected by carbon revenue, helping distribute cleaner energy technologies, learning about traditional resource use, or seeing how community-led ecotourism sustains conservation efforts, these moments make the value of offsets more visible and personal.
Tour operators who invest in carbon offsets can bring their impact to life by incorporating these experiences into their itineraries, helping travelers understand how their trip supports environmental and community-based solutions. By connecting guests with the people and places linked to these projects, operators can deepen awareness, spark meaningful conversation, and meet the growing demand for purposeful, lower-impact travel.
In this blog post, we highlight four tourism experiences—from the drylands of Tanzania to the jungles of Cambodia—that give travelers a chance to engage with the people and places our Climate Impact Portfolio supports.
Cambodia: Wildlife Encounters and Forest Conservation
The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia is a biodiversity hotspot, home to endangered species such as wild elephants and gibbons. The ecosystem also holds profound cultural and economic value for the Indigenous Bunong people. However, the sanctuary faces growing threats from illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and land grabbing. These activities have led to the displacement and impoverishment of the Bunong, driving them to engage in ecosystem destruction for economic security. The Keo Seima carbon offset project helps protect the forest sanctuary while benefiting the Bunong.
Two tourism initiatives are closely linked to this project: Jahoo Gibbon Camp and the Elephant Valley Project. These tourism experiences play a key role in the project’s efforts by helping finance conservation and providing local communities with alternative livelihoods.
Jahoo Gibbon Camp
Jahoo Gibbon Camp offers exclusive Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary tours, where visitors can spot wild gibbons, black-shanked doucs, and other rare species. The Keo Seima project established the camp to provide a sustainable income stream rooted in conservation. The area is home to more than 25% of the endangered yellow-cheeked crested gibbon population.
Visitors can trek with Bunong guides and researchers who share their knowledge about forest conservation, wildlife, and the local culture. In addition to gibbon tracking, visitors can swim in natural pools and explore the jungle at night to observe nocturnal wildlife. Another highlight includes visiting a ranger outpost where guests can learn how their patrols, supported by offset revenues, help protect the forest. The camp also offers immersion in Indigenous forest traditions through activities like cooking, storytelling, and resin tapping.
Visitors stay in a simple eco-camp constructed from sustainably sourced bamboo materials and inspired by traditional Bunong architectural design. By providing alternative livelihoods in eco-tourism, the camp provides wildlife-friendly employment, supports social improvements, and fosters community-driven conservation. This reduces reliance on illegal logging and hunting, helping to protect the Bunong’s ancestral forests and the biodiversity within.
Elephant Valley Project
Located just outside the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, the Elephant Valley Project (EVP) is the largest captive elephant sanctuary in the region. It provides a safe refuge where captive elephants can roam and graze freely in their natural habitat, free from rides, performances, or exploitation.
Visitors who come to EVP can trek through the jungles to learn about the elephants’ unique stories and the role of the Bunong people who care for them. Guests can stay in jungle bungalows, where they will wake up to the sounds of gibbons calling across the valley. For those seeking a deeper connection, volunteer opportunities allow participants to assist with trail maintenance, reforestation, and other conservation projects. In addition, visitors contribute directly to conservation efforts and elephant welfare by participating in workshops, retreats, and multi-week placements offered.
EVP borders Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, providing a forested buffer zone that has remained intact thanks to the presence of tourists and staff. EVP’s visitor fees further aid conservation efforts, supporting patrols that fend off illegal loggers and poachers in Keo Seima. EVP is the largest non-agricultural employer of Bunong in the area, providing sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on the forest.
The relationship between EVP and the Keo Seima project is mutually reinforcing: while EVP supports forest protection through on-the-ground presence and community engagement, it also benefits from project revenues. During the tourism shutdown, carbon offset income from Keo Seima became an essential source of funding for continued care of the elephants at EVP.
India: Clean Energy Access and Community Immersion
The Garo Hills region of India is known for its lush forests, wildlife, and rich cultural heritage, which hold significant tourism potential for the Indigenous communities residing there. However, deforestation and health risks from inefficient wood-fired cookstoves pose a challenge. The Garo Clean Cookstoves carbon offset project aims to solve this by providing improved cookstoves to rural households that burn fuel more efficiently and emit less pollution, creating a healthier environment.
Garo Impact Expedition
The project’s Impact Expedition Itinerary offers travelers an immersive experience in the Garo Hills. Participants will explore limestone caves, waterfalls, and scenic canyons, and trek to highland peaks known for birdwatching. They can observe diverse bird species and experience Khasi traditions in a sacred forest along the way.
The experience also includes a hands-on opportunity to see how carbon offsets contribute to a cleaner planet and improved living conditions. Travelers help deploy cookstoves in local villages, enjoy traditional meals with families, and witness cultural performances. The trip deepens travelers’ connection to the region’s communities and heritage by immersing themselves in the local way of life.
Tanzania: Discovering and Preserving Hunter-Gatherer Culture
In northern Tanzania lies the Yaeda Valley, home to the Hadza—one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes on the planet. Over time, as much as 90% of their former homeland has been lost due to settlement expansion. The Yaeda Eyasi Landscape carbon offset project aims to protect drylands forest in and around the valley, which serves as a critical wildlife corridor while safeguarding the Hadza’s traditional land rights and resources.
Hadza Immersion
Travelers who want to learn more about this region and the Hadza’s cultural heritage can embark on the Hadza Immersion trip. On this journey, visitors gain firsthand knowledge of the Hadza’s ancient bush skills and daily life by spending time at their camp, digging for tubers, and harvesting honey. Afternoons bring lessons in crafting arrows and gathering around the fire to hear ancestral legends. The journey also takes guests through the stunning valley landscape and provides a deeper understanding of the Hadza’s deep ecological knowledge. This trip is thoughtfully planned in close collaboration with the Hadza, ensuring it respects their cultural heritage and offers travelers an authentic experience.
Turn Climate Action Into a Meaningful Travel Experience
Each of these experiences shows that carbon offsets are more than just numbers—they’re a gateway to real-world impact. High-quality offset projects not only reduce emissions but also protect endangered species, empower Indigenous cultures, and create meaningful change in local communities.
By participating in tourism experiences related to carbon offsets, travelers can learn about the projects they support and understand how carbon finance protects landscapes and supports sustainable livelihoods. For tour operators, integrating carbon offsets into travel offerings helps turn abstract metrics into something tangible and relatable.
Whether you’re a traveler looking to make your journey count or a tour company ready to align with impactful projects, carbon offsets can help you shape a more sustainable future. Contact our Climate Team to learn more about partnering on climate-conscious travel. Use our carbon offset calculator to offset your trip and ensure your next trip contributes to a healthier planet.