At Embark, we think of travel as an adventure. But we also want to do it right: that is, we want to visit cultures but not affect them negatively; we want to explore natural environments without contributing to their demise; and we want to see the world while leaving behind a world worth seeing.

That’s why we enjoyed this article from a Filipino newspaper (thank you, Internet!) from an Adventure and Responsible Tourism Conference in, appropriately enough, Bhutan. The article quotes the keynote speaker as offering these seven tips for moving from “gawking tourist” to responsible traveler.

1. Make careful choices about the frequency, length and location of your trip

2. Learn to explore by foot

3. Select suppliers whose actions show that they run “places that care” for the environment, the employees, the host community as well as for the guest and investor.

4. Use transport modes that run on alternative energy

5. Buy food and souvenirs that are sourced and made by local residents, preferably using skills at risk of disappearing, and the services of local guides

6. Demonstrate humble curiosity—a conscious traveler will take the time to learn more about the community, the people and issues before, during and after their trips

7. Learn and respect local customs and traditions

What a great list! We aspire to live by all of those, whether it’s trekking in the Himalayas, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or going a cultural tour of Nepal. We also believe in paying fair wages and supporting the people and the environments where we travel. We believe in the places we travel, and invest money back into these communities, supporting local nongovernmental organizations such as the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project in Tanzania.

As we like to say, Embark is not just a company – it is a philosophy.