Elevate Destinations

Experts in socially responsible luxury travel. We design travel experiences that support conservation and local communities without skimping on comfort.

Conservation Trips & Wildlife Vacations

Protect the wildlife and landscapes you visit

Marvel at a lioness lounging in the tall grasses with her cubs beside her from your safari vehicle. Feel the waves rippling beneath your boat as a whale leaps into the sky right in front of you. Witness a family of elephants taking a dip in the river while hearing about their stories of resilience at an elephant sanctuary.

Our conservation trips support wildlife so that future generations can experience these special moments too. Stay at immersive boutique properties that bring you closer to wildlife while supporting their protection. Meet rangers and other professionals working on the frontlines to conserve and protect endangered species and the habitats they call home. Support wildlife conservation tourism initiatives that provide non-extractive livelihoods for local people, offering an economic incentive to keep wildlife alive and habitats intact.

We work with partners and lodges that share our commitment to sustainability and environmental protection, so that you leave your conservation vacation having immersed yourself in untamed landscapes, encountered animals in their daily routines, and supported the communities working to keep them safe for your children and grandchildren.

Explore our conservation trips below, and speak with an award-winning travel designer.

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Sample Itineraries

Inspiration for your custom adventure

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What our travelers are saying

  • “It was just an amazing adventure offering an experience unequalled and something that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. I’d recommend Elevate for the personal service, the wonderful itinerary, and their intimate knowledge of each lodge and conservancy.”

    –Lisa Warren, Kenya

  • Six people in outdoor clothing and hats stand in a row on a dirt path beside a rhinoceros in Kenya, with trees and bushes in the background under a blue sky with clouds.

    “Lana, Emily, and the Elevate team provided extraordinary service from the planning through the execution. Every question or concern was answered promptly with great attention to detail. The trip firmly placed Kenya in our hearts and souls.”

    –The Patterson Family, Kenya

  • Rwanda: Two people wearing masks and outdoor gear take a selfie in a lush, green forest with a group of gorillas sitting on the ground in the background.

    “Thanks for planning such an amazing journey for us! Visiting chimps, gorillas, and monkeys was thrilling. The chimpanzee experience was fantastic—we were able to watch a baby and family playing on the ground for quite some time. Overall one of our best trips yet!”

    –Ben Kahrl and Connie Mao, Rwanda

  • “For the second time in my life, I found inspiration whilst visiting Africa. The last time, it was Kenya, this time it was Uganda and Rwanda. Both times it was extraordinary and led to unimaginable personal growth; where I can connect with how strength works with gentleness in urban, rural, and wild places. I will endeavor to continually express the gratitude I feel going forward, like the 400 elephants I inexplicably stumbled upon striding across the savannah at sundown, they will forever be on repeat in my mind and in my heart.”

    –Stephanie Brownell, Rwanda

  • “We would recommend Elevate Destinations 10000000%. What I’ve been expressing to people is how much you all listen to what we wanted to do and how perfectly it was executed. We traveled with a 15-year-old and 12-year-old girls. They loved the evening sleep out and the breakfast in the morning over the open fire. They also truly enjoyed visiting the local communities, playing soccer with the girls soccer club, and riding in a plane around Victoria Falls. We recommend Elevate Destinations for anybody looking for an amazing travel agency. ”

    –Timothy Burke, Zambia

  • “We have worked with other planners and now place you at the very top! From our first introduction you listened well and created a very responsive and perfect journey. Thank you Elevate for designing a non-touristy, authentic exploration of the amazing culture, people, cuisine and many colors of Morocco. Our 70th birthday adventure was beyond expectation!”

    –Lisa Kohler, Morocco

  • “The entire Elevate Destinations team is such a pleasure to work with! Travel traveling with our grandchildren means that we have a need for stress-free, safe, and dependable logistics. And these guys certainly achieved that for us! Thank you so much to the entire team for giving our family one of the best trips in Greece that we could possibly have ever imagined!”

    –Robin Giddings, Greece

  • “Elevate Destinations planned our summer family vacation to Belize and it was the perfect combination of adventure, relaxation, and service. It was such a perfect adventure for our family. I think everyone appreciated the time together and the ability to give back as well. Highly recommend for their thoughtful itinerary and personal touch. This trip made some lasting memories for our family!”

    –Colleen Lee, Belize

  • Norway: Several people in yellow kayaks paddle near a glacier and floating ice in calm, cold water under a cloudy sky.

    “Elevate Destinations is responsive, communicative, and thoughtful. The itinerary was designed beautifully, allowing us to enter a new country with a thorough introduction then complemented with unique and tailored experiences. The trip was immersive and pushed our limits, which really enabled a shared family experience.”

    –The Keenan Family, Norway

  • “Elevate Destinations is not a travel agency but rather a creator of luxury travel experiences. Trip design/seamless integration of travel, accommodations, activities, and attention to detail are extraordinary. Perfect for families or groups of friends traveling together.”

    –David Mainman, Switzerland

  • “An amazing journey with wonderful guides and exceptional accommodations, Elevate Destinations understood our vision for this special trip and architected an adventure filled with lifelong memories.”

    –Thane Kreiner, Japan

  • “It was so inspiring to learn about the history and culture of Japan. I grew in heart, spirit and mind from the experience. The variety of experiences from the busy energy of Tokyo to the peaceful countryside. I loved meditating with a monk in the temple, the kids loved the snow monkeys, my husband loved seeing the minkas and meeting the families that lived in them.”

    –Kathy Sharpe, Japan

Your Questions Answered

What to know about Conservation Travel

Where can I go on a conservation trip?

We offer conservation trips in many countries around the world. Elect to head deep into the Indian jungle to witness Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, and Indian leopards in their natural habitat, explore the Peruvian Amazon while assisting scientists with conservation research projects, embark on a luxury safari in Africa, or head somewhere entirely different. Whatever you choose, we’ll select eco-luxury lodges that match your travel style and suggest immersive, hands-on experiences showcasing meaningful environmental initiatives in action.

What can I expect from a conservation adventure?

Our conservation adventures are customized trips that seamlessly incorporate our sustainable ethos into your luxury vacation. No matter where you choose to travel, we’ll book lodges that work to make a positive impact on the environment and local communities. If you’re interested, you can visit our local partners and learn more about their conservation projects during your travels. Meet community members making a positive environmental impact and witness the natural landscapes and wildlife that benefit from these efforts. Along the way, take time for rest, rejuvenation, and exploration, just as you would during a typical luxury vacation. Experience top luxury that gives back.

How does conservation tourism benefit local communities?

For a trip to truly make a positive environmental impact, it must also support local communities. Many practices that negatively influence conservation initiatives, such as illegal hunting, deforestation, mining, logging, and poaching, are driven by a lack of employment and development opportunities for community members. Local conservation tourism provides an alternative way to earn a living that depends upon protecting the wildlife and habitats people want to visit, creating a mutually beneficial solution.

At Elevate Destinations, we seek out lodges that pay fair wages, uphold fair employment practices, and are welcomed by the community. We work with local partners equally committed to empowering indigenous communities, hiring women, and providing training and professional development opportunities. This way, our conservation tours benefit both local communities and the environment.

Can a conservation vacation include luxury accommodations and experiences?

Absolutely! Luxury hotels and experience providers are leading the way in conservation tourism. Our trips embody the idea of luxury with a purpose. We select local boutique-style lodges that are committed to both sustainability and indulging guests in all the finer details. You might find yourself soaking in an infinity pool, a cocktail in hand, as you gaze out at an exclusive private conservancy dedicated to sustainable tourism and community development in Kenya. In Chile, spend a morning hiking through Torres del Paine with a private guide, then return to your hotel for a rejuvenating spa treatment and a delightful dinner, watching the sun set behind carved granite mountains while sipping on a glass of premium Chilean wine. Wherever you choose to go, we’ll make sure your vacation supports conservation without compromising on luxury.

What kinds of conservation tours and experiences can I include in my trip?

There’s no shortage of conservation tours and experiences to choose from. We suggest speaking with a travel designer to discuss the possibilities that best suit your travel group. If you’re looking for an adventure that’s a short flight away from the United States, you might wish to embark on an ocean safari in Baja, with opportunities to witness gray whale mothers and calves up close and participate in a hands-on coral restoration project. If you have your sights set on a destination farther south, consider visiting Chilean Patagonia, where you can hike through untamed landscapes and discover conservation projects underway to protect pumas and Huemul deer. If you’re ready for a safari, we’ll select the top eco-camps that take you closer to the wildlife in destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia. The choice is yours!

Are luxury conservation vacations suitable for families and multigenerational travelers?

Yes, our luxury conservation vacations are an ideal choice for families and multigenerational travelers. Our experiences are flexible, and most can be tailored to different activity levels and travel preferences. Our luxury conservation vacations include experiential activities that encourage kids to learn about the world around them in a hands-on, exciting way. Many of the families we work with find that these experiences inform their children’s perspectives long after they return home. With built-in time for both relaxation and exploration, our customized trips are a wonderful opportunity to connect as a family.

What does a typical day on a conservation tour look like?

A typical day on a conservation tour depends on the country you are visiting and your customized itinerary. Often, wildlife experiences begin early in the morning, when animals are most active. Our experiences are intimate and take you away from the crowds to quiet moments of immersion and wildlife viewing in natural landscapes. We can curate your conservation tour to be as active as you’d like. Whether you’d like more time to unwind at your luxurious eco-lodge or a more active adventure, with opportunities for cycling, hiking, kayaking, and more, we’re happy to help.

Are conservation vacations hands-on, or can I support conservation without volunteering?

You can absolutely support conservation without volunteering. At Elevate Destinations, we are passionate about making a positive social and environmental impact with our trips, and this commitment begins with the lodges we choose and the ground partners we collaborate with. The lodges you stay at often use a portion of their funds to give back to the local community and environment, with sustainability initiatives such as conserving habitats conducive to species protection, researching and monitoring wildlife with the local community, and hiring local community members, especially indigenous community members and women.

For those interested in a safari, we work with ground partners who actively protect the natural environment and the species you see. Safaris also provide an alternative source of income for people who might otherwise be drawn to extractive industries to make a living, so traditional luxury safari experiences support conservation without a volunteering component.

If you are interested in volunteering, we do offer opportunities for this as well. Your experience is completely up to you, and we’ll customize your itinerary to fit your interests and preferences!
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