It's B Corp month
JORO EXPERIENCES HAS BECOME THE FIRST LUXURY ADVENTURE TRAVEL COMPANY IN THE UK TO ACHIEVE COVETED B CORP STATUS
We are delighted to share news that pioneering boutique travel company Joro Experiences has become the first small luxury adventure travel company in the UK to achieve coveted B Corp status, demonstrating its commitment to reducing its carbon output and working with responsible partners and suppliers. The certification means that customers looking to make responsible holiday choices can be assured of Joro's social and environmental credentials.
Headed by explorer and philanthropist Justin Packshaw, serial traveller Henry Comyn, and Duncan Over – who cut his teeth in the British Army before managing luxury safari camps in Africa – Joro Experiences crafts rare, immersive trips that you won’t find elsewhere. Its unique offering combines the founders' backgrounds in intrepid exploration with a 21st-century outlook: In a marked departure from traditional luxury travel, Joro is committed to making each of its journeys as sustainable as possible.
UNIQUELY RESPONSIBLE HOLIDAYS From short trips close to home to extended expeditions to far-flung destinations, each Joro Experience is carefully crafted over a series of conversations with a client. Much more than just adventure holidays, Joro’s journeys are designed to reflect the passions of their guests and often involve months of planning and background work. Among the sustainable journeys that the company can offer are: Island foraging in Scotland Stay off-grid on a flight-free trip to the remote Scottish island of Eilean Shona, where you’ll forage for local delicacies including lobster and scallops, then cook them over an open fire. Alongside an adventure guide, you’ll also spot whales and dolphins by RIB and tour the coast by electric bike, stopping off at secret wild swimming spots and private distilleries.
Mountain climbing in Switzerland
Tackle Mont Blanc on the ultimate mountain climber’s adventure. You’ll use Switzerland’s excellent rail network to access Mont Blanc’s incredible landscape, walking between traditional mountain refuges with hand-picked local guides until you reach the summit at 4,810m. It’s not just the calibre of its guides that set this Joro Experience apart: novice climbers can embark on a detailed plan to get ready for their big ascent in the months beforehand, tackling everything from diet and training plans and shopping trips for expedition gear to fortnightly UK training weekends, trips up Ben Nevis and ice-climbing and crampon experience.
Expedition to Papua New Guinea’s Bosavi Crater
Join a pioneering group of eco-tourists to explore the pristine rainforest of the Bosavi Crater in 2022 (timings dependent on the coronavirus pandemic). A long-extinct volcano, the crater was first visited by foreigners in 2009 during the filming of the BBC documentary series The Lost Land of the Volcano, when 40 new species were discovered. Few have ever set foot in its unique ecosystem and this is the second organised expedition to the area – even the local Kosua people consider it too difficult to reach. Joro’s clients will join world-renowned zoologists and biologists in a mobile camp to discover the local wildlife, spotting birds of paradise, giant woolly rats, tree kangaroos and cuscus, as well as learning the myths and legends of the area from the Kosua tribe.
AN EYE TO THE FUTURE In order to attain B Corp status, the company was subject to a lengthy and rigorous audit in which it was tasked with providing evidence of its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible practices. Joro Experiences continues to find new and impactful ways to travel for its clients – from restoring vintage Land Rovers with the help of local communities ready for overland trips in Africa to designing no-fly journeys along the Silk Road. Its founders are advocates for slow travel, sustainable accommodation and smart volunteering (where the opportunity is linked to the skills of the traveller). Managing Director Henry Comyn is also a founding member of new not-for-profit organisation, The Conscious Travel Foundation which was set up to guide operators towards more responsible practices.
“All of us at Joro Experiences are thrilled to have gained B Corp certification, as this has been one of our goals since the company’s inception,” says Comyn. “Clients can now be assured that we will always strive to make the best social and environmental choices when devising their trips, and we hope that other small travel companies will be inspired to follow suit. Our aim is to become a leading example of how travel can be a force for good in the communities and environments we are privileged to take our clients to."