Regenerative Travel

A lasting impact

For a changing world

Introduction

Because travel means the world

At Black Tomato, we know you’re seeking travel experiences that will leave a lasting, positive impact on our planet and the communities who call it home. This is a belief we also share, and it has been since our founding in 2005.

Together, we embrace our responsibility toward people and planet, and are serious about working toward a better world. For all.

People and planet

What does “regenerative travel” mean to us?

When we talk about regenerative travel, we’re talking about creating a lasting, positive impact for local communities and the environments they depend on – and the places they call home.

It’s about working with community projects, conservation programs and sustainability initiatives around the world. It’s also about working with locals (from guides to chefs and everything in between) who produce remarkable experiences for you to enjoy that bring much-needed income and support into their community. Ultimately, it’s about people and planet.

Regenerative Travel

Giving back in Morocco

Lending a helping hand in the Atlas Mountains

Morocco has always held a special place in our hearts. In the wake of the devastating earthquake in 2023, we wanted to support the people and communities that have been remarkable partners – and close friends – for years. That’s why we travelled to the effected region; lending our support to Afoulki pour les Femmes, a women-led association undertaking vital relief and education efforts in the mountains.

Find out more

Taking a holistic approach

Driving positive outcomes for communities

We believe that the planet we share should be livable, equitable and sustainable, and that travel can play a positive role in bringing this about.

It’s why we take a holistic approach to regenerative travel. This means that, around the world, we work with partners who share our attitude, and support local communities to minimize the impacts of tourism. This includes:

  • Working with partners who focus on employing and training locals – from hotel staff to guides
  • Sourcing local, grassroots experiences, including sustainable farms, reforestation projects, and wildlife conservation
  • Offering opportunities for our clients to contribute to local economies, ateliers and artisans
  • Curating dining experiences where local ingredients, recipes and produce are put front and center
  • Learning about indigenous lifeways and intangible cultural practices from the people who live them

The world we share

Driving positive outcomes for the environment

Acknowledging our responsibility toward climate change and its impact on the destinations we operate in, we’re taking proactive steps across our business. Including:

  • Purchasing carbon offsets for our corporate operations – including staff flights
  • Contributing to reforestation initiatives in Australia in the wake of 2020’s bushfires
  • Since 2023, we’ve been supporting the Solar Lighting Project in Zambia, providing solar lamps to households living without electricity
  • Working with partners who implement planet-friendly policies in the destinations where they operate, including plastic waste reduction, minimizing carbon emissions, providing ethical wildlife experiences and the sourcing of local ingredients, supplies and resources

Stories of regeneration

Where we’ve been…

…and what we’ve been doing

In Peru, we’ve funded the construction of a playground and internet installation at the Juan Velazco Alvarado school.
Alister and Ronan worked to rebuild a floating home for one of the most in-need families in Tonlé Sap, Cambodia.
In Sri Lanka, Christie – one of our Travel Experts – helped out at a local community school near Colombo.
During her sabbatical in Zambia, Jos volunteered at the Elephant Nursery in Lusaka and a Release Facility in Kafue National Park.
In the UK, we’ve been supporting a food bank initiative in North London.

Get Involved

How you can help

And how to get involved

We don’t see regenerative travel as an isolated “extracurricular” added on to your trip, but as an essential ingredient in your Black Tomato experience. Accordingly, we’ve curated countless ways for you to give back – from the hotels where you stay and the meals you eat to the things you get up to. For example:

  • Spending time with inspiring, community-focused missions, like Nairobi’s Empowering Mothers project
  • Planting coral in the Panama’s Portobelo Bay and the coastlines of Costa Rica
  • Visiting artisans and communities who’re keeping historic traditions and intangible cultural practices alive, including sake breweries in Japan and the Sámi in Sweden
  • Exploring regenerative farms and agricultural initiatives in the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
  • Spending time at an elephant orphanage and sanctuary in Botswana

A spotlight on our partners

Around the world, we work with local partners who share our attitude toward regenerative travel, from hotels with sustainable practices to projects who specialize in regenerative travel experiences. This is just a handful:

Farm to Table at Borgo Pignano, Italy
Borgo Pignano, Italy, which pursues a “living with nature” program, from which it draws many of the ingredients used in its wines, botanicals and cooking.
Sol y Luna Association in Peru, an example of regenerative travel
Sol y Luna - an inspirational hotel in Peru’s Sacred Valley – was set up to fund a foundation that has educated some of the region’s most underprivileged children, in addition to a disability center and orphanage.
Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand, which has a dedicated sustainability project dedicated to preserving and regenerating the island’s tropical flora and fauna.
Nayara Tented Camp, Costa Rica, which operates its own sloth sanctuary.
Borana Lodge, Kenya is “all about conservation”, and works to have a positive impact on community, culture, conservation and commerce.
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador is located in a rare UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and has its own team of biologists who are working to preserve and better understand local biodiversity.
Sanctuary Baines’ Camp, Botswana takes the protection of its local flora and fauna seriously, as well as the residents of the surrounding Chiawa Chiefdom villages (many of whom are employed by the Camp).
We've worked with partners all over the world to create Field Trip - a series of educational travel experiences - many of which focus on sustainability and conservation.

The world is waiting

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