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About YellowWood Adventures

Travelling sustainably by supporting local communities, charities and ecosystems, we are small enough to tread lightly, but big enough to make a difference.

Small group & private bespoke adventures to exceptional destinations. We offer a mixture of trekking holidays and cultural tours, always using local guides and teams. For every client ....more

Reasons to tour with YellowWood Adventures

We believe that sustainable tourism has a vital role to play in the world by positively contributing to the well-being and prosperity of our clients, and the local communities and ecosystems through which they travel.

Working with and supporting local guides, suppliers, businesses and charities, we make sure that adventure funds stay local and are shared widely and fairly in all of our destinations.

We believe in a Build Back Better model known as Regenerative Tourism, the focus of which lies on helping local communities to prosper, share their love of place, and sustain their efforts to protect the natural environment.

We seek to create life-affirming experiences for hosts and guests alike.

The communities and places we visit are living systems, embedded within wider ecosystems and cultures, all of which are constantly evolving and adapting to one another, and which can be greatly enriched through these encounters.

We are small enough to tread lightly, but big enough to make a difference.

What We Offer

We believe that sustainable tourism has a vital role to play in the world by positively contributing to the well-being and prosperity of our clients, and the local communities and ecosystems through which they travel. Working with and supporting local guides, suppliers, businesses and charities, we make sure that adventure ....more

Cultural Preservation

We believe that sustainable tourism has a vital role to play in the world by positively contributing to the well-being and prosperity of our clients, and the local communities and ecosystems through which they travel. Working with and supporting local guides, suppliers, businesses and charities, we make sure that adventure ....more

Environmental Sustainability

2020 saw the start of a new decade and focus for us all on the realities of Climate Change and the devastating results of our impact, as a species, on the planet. At YellowWood Adventures, we want to be a driver for behavioural change through setting a good example, promoting ....more

Accreditations and Associations

Responsible Travel, WeForest, Travel Trust Association

Social Responsibility

As a visitor to a foreign country, we inevitably leave our mark. At YellowWood Adventures, we are determined that this ‘mark’ will be a positive one. Tourism is not always beneficial and we are conscious of treading lightly in the lands we explore. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) ....more

Our Story

In 2015, founder Sam McManus quit his city job in London and spent three months solo hiking around Ethiopia. He bought eight tents which he left with local guide Gebre in the Gheralta Mountains in Tigray, built a website to organise small hiking groups to share with people the amazing ....more

Economic Impact

Economic Sustainable Tourism should: Ensure viable long term economic operations, fairly distributing economic benefits, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

We stay local, using local service providers and generating income for locals. These services vary greatly but may include;

locally-owned hotels,
local mountain guides,
porters,
cooks,
horsemen,
drivers,
restaurants,
home-owners/families who show us traditional customs/cooking/ceremonies,
dancers & musicians,
guards,
messengers
farmers who can provide ....more

Responsible Tourism

Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.

For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we ....more

Covid Policies

Please contact us for our latest Covid-19 policies


YellowWood Adventures Reviews

Ruth  

FANTASTIC TRIP TO EITHIOPIA!!

2020

From guiding us through the crowded alleys of Lalibela at Genna to clambering up the dizzy heights of Abuna Yemata this was a trip that surpassed all expectations! Yellowwood hits the right balance of organised small group travel with adventurous, 'off the beaten track' experiences all the while making you feel as if you've travelling with a small group of your friends. Ethiopia is truly a beautiful country with wonderful friendly and generous people throughout. I highly recommend this trip and am already planning for my next Yellowwood adventure!

Sophie  

Absolute trip of a lifetime

2019

This trip was one of the best I've ever done. Getting into the Tian Shan mountains was really quite magical; experiencing the scenery and feeling isolated from the rest of the world, thanks to the personalised feel of the trek, was unrivalled. The quality of the food was also a highlight, and I was catered for as a vegetarian (in a very non-vegetarian place!). Kyrgyzstan is a relatively undiscovered gem, and it was lovely to do a road-less-travelled style trip. Thanks to Sam and YellowWood for taking us on a genuine adventure with a fantastic itinerary. I look forward to joining some more non-traditional trips when possible!"

Ken  

People and Landscapes of Oman Adventure

2022

Every day was a highlight for me, no specific favourite. Oman deserves all the superlatives it gets -magnificent scenery, safe, friendly environment, welcoming and engaging people. YellowWood delivers a winner on this trip! Kudos to all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has the tour company been trading?

Since 2015

Risk Assessment

YellowWood operates a Safety Management System which encompasses a planned, researched, implemented and reviewed approach to your Health & Safety. A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm (hazards) and the assessment of likelihood of hazards occuring, as well as the severity of the outcome of a hazard.

What policies are in place for Covid-19?

Please contact us for our latest Covid-19 policies

Experienced Leaders

On all of our adventures you will benefit from the daily presence of an experienced, English speaking local guide. You will also have additional guides at various points during the trip (see itineraries for details).

What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

As a visitor to a foreign country, we inevitably leave our mark. At YellowWood Adventures, we are determined that this ‘mark’ will be a positive one. Tourism is not always beneficial and we are conscious of treading lightly in the lands we explore.

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