Our Philosophy
Transformative Travel
It all started with that simple ideal. Travel gives
us the opportunity to enrich our lives and experience
something very personal and meaningful. For
some it is the opportunity to learn something new
and connect with a different culture, others are
moved by discovering and rediscovering their passions.
For many it is the thrill of setting and achieving
a personal goal or stretching themselves beyond
what is comfortable and familiar.
Our goal is to help you discover a more rewarding
way to travel. One that shines a light on
the world around you illuminating the places and
people you visit, helping to sustain fragile environments,
support local economies and celebrate the diverse
cultures of the earth. We wish you to be moved by
your encounters returning home with a deeper appreciation
for the diversity of our world and transformed in
ways you did not even imagine.
About Our Trips
Small Group and Custom Itineraries
Our travel style focuses on keeping our groups small
- typically 4-12 guests – allowing each
trip member to receive personal attention from
their local guides and support staff as well as
from our medically trained US team leader. Small
group travel allows our guests access to many
areas and sights unknown or unavailable to larger
more traditional tours as well as minimizing the
impact upon the people we encounter and on the
wilderness areas we explore. By limiting
the number of guests, you have the option for
private time and the opportunity to share your
experiences and form lasting bonds with like-minded
travelers from all over the globe.
Over half of our clients elect to customize their
trips. You can choose from any of the trips featured
on this site as the basis for your private holiday.
Select a date that suits you and we will provide
a detailed itinerary for any size party–some
trips can be arranged for as few as two people.
If none of our existing itineraries works for you,
we can create one that does.
Variety
Different trips are meaningful at different times
in our lives. One person’s Kilimanjaro
is another’s Grand Canyon. Sometimes a challenging
trek to Everest Base Camp is necessary to revitalize
the spirit; other times Scuba diving with Whale
Sharks in the Maldives or Galapagos to replenish
the soul. Always you should have fun. This is
why we offer a wide variety of trips featuring
differing activities, regions of the world, fitness
levels and duration. We are constantly searching
out new adventures and finding ways to improve
established trips in an effort to exceed your
expectations.
Safety
“Adventure” should never require sacrificing
safety. All of our guides and outfitters are fully trained
and use modern equipment. We constantly monitor the political
and social climate in the countries we visit and will
advise you accordingly. Prior to confirming of your reservation,
we require all travelers to fill out a Health and Fitness
questionnaire to determine if they are fully able to enjoy
and participate in the listed activities.
Environmental Responsibility at Home and Abroad
Everything we do has the potential to leave either
a positive or negative impact on the world around
us. At Blue Planet Adventures we believe that
we have an obligation to operate in a conscientious,
responsible and sustainable manner both at home
and abroad. Whether a trip to the local store
or the other side of the world, we have an effect
on the environment and the people we visit. By
traveling responsibly we can have minimal negative
impact, and can often actually help conserve the
environment, celebrate indigenous cultures and
most likely learn a thing or two.
Our Office
Reduce the paper trail
On-line invoicing, electronic
data transfer and opting-out of the endless stream
of junk mail has reduced the amount of paper we
receive and produce by over 50%.
Recycle and use recycled materials whenever
possible
All of the paper products purchased for
office use are made from recycled material as well
as all of our office stationary and letterhead.
100% of all waste paper (it does have two sides)
and cardboard is also recycled.
Use energy efficient heating and lighting
We have
been able to reduce our energy usage by almost 30%
by installing low-e glass in all our windows, adding
extra insulation and switching to halogen and compact
fluorescent light bulbs. It
saved money too!
Support local conservation efforts
Being located
in Northern Michigan we are fortunate to be able
to enjoy the deep forests, clear waters and endless
beaches that this area provides. We are also aware
of the negative effects of mass tourism, poor land
use decisions and pollution. As
a result, we contribute both time and financial
resources to organizations that are green-spacing
urban areas, protecting and increasing the woodland
and waterfront areas held in trust for the public
and clean up and restoration of the rivers and Great
Lakes shoreline.
Volunteer
The best way to encourage volunteerism
is to allow people to follow their interests. Each
member of our staff generously donates their time
to projects that they feel passionate about. Some
are involved in clean up and conservation efforts,
some choose to speak at schools about the people
and places we meet while traveling, still others
choose to focus on larger social issues like literacy
and poverty, volunteering at adult education programs
and homeless shelters.
Going Brochure-less
We love the glossy photos too,
but we can provide far more information on this
site allowing you to choose if and what to print.
After considering the environmental impact of paper
production, by-products of the printing process
and transportation (to us then to you) and then
do it all again next year, we made the bold (some say foolish) decision
to ‘walk the walk’. The feedback has
been positive and we hope to set an industry standard.
When on Tour
Minimize environmental impact.
Limiting the number of travelers causes less stress
on the communities and natural areas that we visit.
When camping, we use only established trails and
campsites where they exist and leave no evidence
of our visit behind. When available, we choose
lodging that is compatible with local traditions
and that minimize negative impact by effective
waste treatment systems, recycling and disposal
of non-recyclable garbage appropriately.
Limit energy use including
use of heat and hot water. Many of the areas that we visit have extremely
limited supplies of firewood and/or electricity. It
is better to limit the use of these resources to
necessity rather than unnecessary comfort or “atmosphere” leaving
more available for the local population and preserving
the natural environment.
Support the preservation of
wilderness and wildlife. By supporting wildlife conservation programs and
projects we are recognizing that many of the planet’s
undeveloped areas have a unique value to us as travelers
and the wildlife that call them home. It is important
to be knowledgeable of the local wildlife and its
behavior. Staying out of restricted areas
and viewing wildlife from a distance helps insure
our safety and places less stress on the natural
environment and its inhabitants.
Increase cultural awareness
and respect. All visitors are
given a thorough cultural briefing before visiting
local communities including information on local
customs, traditions and on appropriate behavior
for travelers in the area. Respecting historic
and religious sites by obtaining permission before
visiting and behaving in a respectful manner.
Contribute time and money
to local organizations that improve the quality of life of the local population
through direct donation of money and supplies as
well as through established volunteer programs.
Provide financial incentive
for conservation. We hire only guides and outfitters that practice
the highest standards. By choosing to work with
individuals and companies that are committed to
preserving their natural environment we are rewarding
their efforts and send a clear message to their
competition that does not have the same environmental
ethic.
Contribute time and money to conservation organizations
and projects.
Provide direct financial benefits
to local people and communities. By employing local guides, support staff, staying
at locally owned lodges and buying trade goods and
handicrafts directly, you help insure that your
money is staying in the communities that you visit
and directly impacting the people that you meet.
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