Sustainable Tourism

In deciding to travel with Wilderness Ireland, you’ll be travelling with an adventure travel company that believes in the development of Ireland’s sustainable tourism sector. We focus on developing sustainable operational practices as well as support the local tourism economy in the small, often remote communities in which we work.

Through our Conservation Contribution Scheme, we provide financial support to a range of environmental and nature conservation charities, with a particular focus on our collaboration with the Burrenbeo Trust on the Burren Pine Project (more below). Our office and guiding teams continue to innovate in order to improve our environmental performance in the communities and habitats in which we work and in implementing best-practice standards both in our office and in the field.

We see tourism as a key player in helping people to enjoy, understand and experience the amazing landscapes and habitats which we are lucky enough to call home. It is our hope that our Irish adventure vacations will open up a more sustainable travel experience to our clients while allowing them to appreciate the value of the natural world.

Support Local Communities & Economy

A key focus of Wilderness Ireland is interaction with the local community.

• We commit to working with local people and businesses for all aspects of our trips.
• As best as possible, we ensure that economic benefits are distributed in a fair and meaningful way throughout the communities in which we work.
• We prioritise working with local businesses based in small communities, such as owner-run and Irish-owned hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and activities.
• We provide authentic experiences, as well as ensuring a genuine and warm reception wherever we go.
• To avoid overtourism, we promote tours in places that generally see less tourism.
• Where possible, we try to work with accommodation providers that are accredited by the Green Hospitality.ie Eco-label & Awards.

Protecting Local Traditions & Irish Language

• We work with small communities to help to ensure that local traditions, culture, cuisine and most importantly, the Irish language, are protected and passed down.
• Many of our guides and office staff speak Gaeilge, the Irish national language. Our guides are proud to share the language, customs and beliefs of the Irish people with visitors. We ensure that we use some Gaeilge in communications in the office, with suppliers and even our visitors.
• Many tours visit the Gaeltacht regions (Irish-language-only communities found in remote areas of the country). We aim to responsibly bring tourism to these small communities in order to assist them with the continuation of their way of life and to teach travellers about the Irish language as well as ways of life.
• Our tours provide meaningful and genuine opportunities for visitors to meet and interact with local people to learn their customs, traditions, language and beliefs, including traditions like tweed weaving, farming, traditional Irish music, sports such as hurling & GAA, sharing stories and folklore attached to the landscapes and more.

Lowering Our Carbon Footprint

We do our best to ensure that our business activities and logistics are planned to minimise environmental impact.

• We encourage all clients to arrive at the start of the trip via public transport.
• Limiting each departure to cover a maximum of 1,000 km, and less when possible
• We aim to keep the use of vehicles to a minimum and encouraging human power (i.e., on foot, bike or kayak).
• Limiting our tours to 8 people and avoid the use of large coaches.
• In the office, we encourage the use of green transport whenever possible, such as carpooling, using public transport, on foot or by bike or working from home.
• In the future, we aim to change to electric vehicles as soon as viable (currently not possible due to lack of charge points in Ireland).
• Providing a carbon label for all of our trips to allow visitors to make an informed decision on your trip choice.  Learn more here.

Reducing Use of Plastics

At the office, our entire team has decided to make an effort to reduce our use of plastic.

• We have eliminated single-use plastic water bottles on all trips.
• We always ask guests bring a reusable bottle.
• We provide locally-sourced Glencar spring water to guests to refill their bottles from large refillable containers. Fresh potable tap water is also available and easily provided in refillable jugs.
• We are committed to encouraging guests to reduce single-use plastic and plastic bottled water by providing the above alternatives, and by having our guides lead by example by not using them either
• In the office, we have made a conscious effort to avoid purchasing supplies made of plastic, and instead choosing other materials, from soap dispensers to storage containers.

Leave No Trace

• Wilderness Ireland is an active, participating member of Leave No Trace Ireland, an outdoor ethics programme designed to inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships.
• Many of our guides & staff are Leave No Trace trained or Leave No Trace trainers, and we actively practice their seven principles to reduce the impact and damage caused by outdoor activities on all of our trips.

Animal Conservation

All of our guides are trained in the principles of Leave No Trace, and one of the pillars of LNT is to respect farm animals and wildlife.

• It is important to observe wild animals and birds from a distance and avoid disturbing them, particularly at sensitive times: mating, nesting and raising young (mostly between spring and early summer)
• Keeping wildlife wild by not feeding wild animals or birds – human foods damage their health and leave them vulnerable to predators
• Remembering that farm animals are not pets; remain at a safe distance.