Many adventure travel companies have built conservation into their business model. But what Backroads discovered through their membership with the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund is that this work becomes exponentially more powerful when connected to a broader industry movement.

In 2025, Backroads launched their Give Back Program, supporting 20 projects across 16 countries with over 500 volunteer hours and $32,000 in donations. Yet they recognized an important truth: no single company can solve the conservation challenges facing travel destinations alone.

The global adventure travel market was valued at $1.16 trillion in 2024, with travelers spending a median of $3,000 per trip. That's not just impressive scale—it's untapped conservation potential. World Nomads has proven what's possible when companies make conservation giving effortless: over 20 years, nearly 1.4 million travelers have contributed micro-donations, raising $2.5 million for grassroots conservation projects. Learn how ATCF members can turn everyday customer transactions into meaningful conservation funding.

For over 30 years, Aurora Expeditions has navigated a fundamental tension in polar travel: how do you bring people to fragile ecosystems without contributing to their decline? The Douglas Mawson, their newest ship, is built on a simple principle: responsible exploration starts with the details. From microplastic filtration systems to AI-driven routing technology, this vessel represents what's possible when environmental responsibility is designed into every decision, even the ones passengers will never see.

This year, the ATCF community funded high-impact, community-led conservation work across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. From restoring coral reefs and protecting lions to combating plastic pollution and strengthening local livelihoods, these projects reflect what’s possible when adventure travel becomes a force for conservation.

We’re proud to share the progress, stories, and collective impact that our community helped make possible.

If there’s one thing Flickr understands better than anyone, it’s the power of an image to spark connection, curiosity, and care. As one of the world’s most iconic photo-sharing communities, Flickr brings together millions of people who document the natural wonders of our planet (from remote alpine ridges to vibrant coral reefs) and use visual storytelling to inspire global appreciation.

As an ATCF Adventure Leader, Flickr directly supports our backbone, enabling us to secure donor dollars to flow straight to community-led conservation projects around the world.

The World’s Largest Adventure Travel & Gear Auction Benefiting Conservation Kicks Off September 27, 2025, World Tourism Day

With two outstanding auction promotional sponsors, AFAR Media and Flickr, bidding is expected to be competitive! Discover a few helpful tips for successful bidding in this post.

The World’s Largest Adventure Travel & Gear Auction Benefiting Conservation Kicks Off September 27, 2025, World Tourism Day

With two outstanding auction promotional sponsors, AFAR Media and Flickr, bidding is expected to be competitive!

The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) is proud to announce the 2025 Conservation Grant winners — six inspiring, community-driven projects from around the globe that are leading the way in protecting our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems and cultural heritage. Selected through a highly competitive process by our members, these projects represent the heart of our mission: empowering local communities to drive lasting conservation impact. From safeguarding biodiversity and restoring habitats to strengthening climate resilience and cultural preservation, this year’s grantees showcase the power of collaboration between the global travel community and grassroots changemakers.  

Save the Date! The 2025 Adventure Travel Conservation Travel Fund Auction is coming soon!

We’re thrilled to announce that nearly 90 new Associate Members have joined the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund — the largest membership increase in our history!  

This incredible momentum stems from a new initiative with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), which aims to connect mission-aligned companies with ATCF’s global conservation community. Together, we’re expanding our reach and strengthening our impact to protect the wild places we all love to explore.