Beyond the reach of any normal travel map

I found these stunning maps while doing research for an upcoming trip and it made me think about the extent to which travel planning used to be about time and precision, a slow and intentional process- both a skill and an artform. 

Today, we have the ability to travel almost anywhere in the world at the click of a button. While there is beauty and freedom in the possibility of such spontaneity, we often travel “fast” without taking the time to learn more about the place we are going, about the people and stories woven into its history, or about the impact we have by being there. We live in a world where we see, all too often, the deeply negative impacts that this kind of accessibility has had on popular destinations, and the devastating effects that mass tourism can have both on the environment, and local communities. 

In recent years there has been a global push for more sustainable travel, the emergence of a “slow travel” movement that recognizes humankind’s collective responsibility to travel in a way that is more meaningful, more responsible, and more locally impactful - rather than in a way that focuses purely on the generation of positive experiences for us, as the travelers. 

At its very core Röam was born out of this desire to slow travel down, to re-infuse intention and meaning into the way we see and experience places, and to make sure that what we leave behind as travelers, is just as positive as we take away. But what does it actually mean to travel in this way? “Slow”, “responsible” and “sustainable” have become fads in the travel industry in recent years. And while these concepts, at their core, have the potential to catalyze real change and generate positive impacts on and for travel destinations and local communities, too often they are simply labels that allow both travel companies and travelers to feel they are doing something good for the world (and themselves) without much thought or strategy around what it means to generate positive impacts from travel. 

I will not pretend to have all the answers to this problem, nor claim that Röam has mastered the art of sustainable travel more than any other travel provider who says they operate in this way. What I can do is to offer complete openness and transparency about what this concept means to us, and how it lies at the heart of everything that we do. We must never forget that travel is a privilege, and with it comes the responsibility to carefully consider how we do it. In exploring places that make a deep and meaningful impact on our lives, we strive to make sure that what we leave behind is just as positive as what we take away. 

Röam offers its clients the chance to travel to places that are far beyond the reach of any normal travel map, venturing to the very heart of some of world’s most remote and pristine ecosystems. And while these places are a source or immense beauty, wonder and fascination for us, they also represent the foundations of ancient cultures, traditions, and livelihood systems on which local communities rely. Most of our destinations also exist within fragile of peripheral contexts, in areas that have been cut off from visitation because of complex historic and/or geo-political factors.  The history of these areas means that the natural ecosystems that communities rely on are often particularly delicate and important, as is the need to protect and conserve them. 

So, as we venture to some of the worlds most untouched corner’s we are acutely aware of the delicate balance that exists between local people and the natural environment, and we think very carefully about both our physical footprint, and the wider socio-economic impacts – both positive and negative- that travel to these places brings. 

To us, ensuring positive-impact travel to these areas means fostering travel experiences that ensure the preservation and conservation of important natural ecosystems, generate tangible benefits for local communities, and promote sustainable long-term visitation. These goals are at the heart of everything we do - from the destinations we choose, to the partnerships that we pursue, and the way that we plan and implement our trips on the ground. 

To read more about our sustainability approach, please visit the sustainability page on our website. Here you will see how we think about sustainability from the moment we begin planning each and every trip. Our core pillars include steps like offsetting the carbon footprint we create through travel, planning our trips based on deep local and ecological knowledge, with absolute attention to the conscious use of local and natural resources, and ensuring that local people experience direct benefits from visitation, either through the use of local guides, and/or by identifying opportunities for Röam and our clients to support core community needs through long-term engagement and local initiatives. 

You can also check back regularly on our blog posts. Here we will be sharing stories and experiences from our travels so that you can see what sustainability means to us, in practice, and to the people and communities that we visit.