At Norrøna Adventure, we consider ourselves to be part of nature. Without it we would not exist. We love what we do and want to be able to do it for a long time, which is why we aim to build a sustainable tourism industry. We commit to minimizing all adverse impacts on nature and the local communities we visit, while also fostering awareness of sustainable practices.
Over the forty years we have been doing expeditions and adventure travel, we have done what we can to ensure that our trips contribute to positive development in the places we visit. We have always done what we can to use smaller, locally run hotels and local partners. By doing so we help in generating important income and employment opportunities for the local communities.
Adventure Travel Inc. (one of the predecessors to Norrøna Adventure) was conceived on the African High Plain, after Ulf Prytz and Odd Eliassen completed their collaboration in the construction of Kilimanjaro National Park. The result of this work has created many jobs linked to mountain tourism on the 5895 meter high mountain.
The Cairn Foundation (Stiftelsen Varde)
In 2011, we began fundraising for various aid projects in Kenya, Nepal and Ethiopia. Then, in the autumn of 2013, we went one step further and established The Cairn Foundation. The foundation is run under the auspices of Norrøna Adventure and has at its most given between 100,000 and 200,000 Norwegian kroner (NOK) a year to various aid projects. When you sign up for a trip with Norrøna Adventure, you can choose whether you would like to donate money to The Cairn Foundation.
Our travel rules
Whether it's adventure travel or expeditions, it's important to respect the culture and environment where you travel. Never forget that you are a guest in any destination you visit. These "rules" are worth taking with you:
- Travel with humility and an open mind. Try to acquire knowledge about the people and the culture you are visiting.
- Do not leave trash behind, rather take it to places where it can be handled properly.
- Show respect for other people's religion, traditions and feelings.
- Practice patience. Remember that other cultures have completely different concepts of time and thought patterns than we do. Try to see life through their eyes.
- Prepare for your travels to avoid straining local infrastructure or resources.
- Ask permission before photographing other people.
- Avoid making commitments you cannot fulfill, such as promising to send photos if you are unable to do so.
- Support the local community by purchasing locally made products.
- Refrain from giving money to individuals begging on the streets. Instead, donate to reputable humanitarian organizations that are equipped to assist those in need effectively. Similarly, avoid distributing items to children you encounter during your travels, as this may discourage their attendance in school. For further guidance, please reach out to us as we can offer advice on organizations, local schools, orphanages, or other institutions that would benefit from your support and generosity.
- Bring lots of humor and a twinkle in your eye. Laughing is universal!
Committed member of Travelife
We work actively with sustainability and want to be transparent about our processes. We are proud to say that Norrøna Adventure is a committed member of Travelife for tour operators and travel agencies. Travelife is an internationally recognized, GSTC-Global Sustainable Tourism Council accredited training, management and certification program for sustainability in tourism.
Travelife is a three-stage certification program for tour operators and travel agencies:
- Travelife Engaged
- Travelife Partner
- Travelife Certified
We are at stage 2 – Travelife Partner. This means that we have met standards for 100 sustainability criteria that can be grouped into five key areas: office operations, product development, work with suppliers, customer relations and destinations. We are working towards achieving stage 3 – Travelife Certified. To achieve Travelife Certified status we must meet standards in line with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Criteria and be evaluated by an independent auditor.
We're currently in the early stages of our work, with many exciting developments on the horizon. Alongside our efforts to attain Travelife certification, we're actively crafting our sustainability policy and roadmap for 2029, enhancing existing journeys, and creating new, more sustainable ones. Sustainability is a key focus for us, and we're enthusiastic about the progress ahead. Stay tuned for updates on our journey!
Here, you can explore our policy, outlining our objectives and aspirations.
If you have questions regarding our work with sustainability? Feel free to contact us at hvitserk@norrona.com.