environment

Awareness of the world and what it takes to be a responsible and ethical traveller is becoming more and more widespread.

Here at Wind Sand & Stars we are doing all we can, both at home and overseas to ensure that everything we do has as small an impact as possible on the environment and communities we work with.

No area of our work is so unimportant or so humble that we cannot try to do it more responsibly. We recycle paper, plastic, glass and cardboard, banana skins, and even staff! Asking permission first, we have managed to salvage wood and additional shelving units for the office, and a rather handsome filing cabinet.

We use paper that is manufactured from 100% wood free ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) pulp sourced from sustainable managed forests. This paper is totally recyclable and manufactured within an ISO 14001 accredited mill, also conforming to EMAS (Eco-management and Audit Scheme), and is one of the first papers to carry the FCS (Forest Stewardship council) certification.

We give small sponsorship to local and international charities. This mostly involves huge hardship on behalf of our staff – one has run the 250km Atacama Marathon to raise money for Water Aid, and one staff member has rowed across the Atlantic and cycled the route of the Tour de France to raise money for cancer charities.

Responsible Travel

Wind Sand & Stars is committed to ensuring that we are responsible, ethical and environmentally aware in all of our activities, both in the UK and overseas.

We are especially proud of the trading friendships we have established with the Bedouin of South Sinai. All of our journeys bring work and income to the local people, as well as bringing fun and learning to those who journey with us. The partnerships they involve add to the understanding of different peoples, and they cross gender, race and religious divides.

This unique relationship with the local communities in their home environment brings with it responsibility. In all our journeys, we endeavour to:

  • ensure all people who work for us are treated fairly and paid a fair wage;
  • encourage awareness and respect for the local customs, culture and environment;
  • minimise our impact on the environment by travelling in small groups, using lower impact forms of travel eg camels and trekking, and reducing waste;
  • adhere to the Young Explorers’ Trust and British Biological Society’s guidelines on Environmental Responsibility for Expeditions.

Get in touch

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A unique experience and a privilege to share the Bedouin’s way of life, for a short time.

Guest, Sinai Summits, April 2019

It was the most wonderful trip, so glad I took up this opportunity. All beautifully organised – well done.

Icons of St Catherine’s Guest November 2022

Enthralling and beyond my hopes, it was a deeply spiritual experience at many levels. I am still raving about it all to anyone who crosses my path!

Icons of St Catherine’s Guest November 2022

“The whole trip was AMAZING – thank you so much.”

Francis Burkitt, St Catherine tailor made, August 2017

We got more out of our adventure than we had ever hoped for, thanks to a country of huge diversity and historical interest and to a very special guide.

Cunningham family, Jordan, April 2017

So many thoughts about our wonderful trip to St Catherine’s; the fantastic warmth of welcome from the Egyptians, Fathers Justin and Nilus, and the unique history which we felt privileged to be given access to. In my book, how could one not enjoy and be inspired!

Julia Palmer, St Catherine’s Retreat, February 2017

“Huge thanks to all at Wind, Sand & Stars for an amazing trip. John’s passion for Ethiopia fires his erudition and he gave us more insights into the country, past and present, than we could ever have gained from local guides.”

Christine Dunmow, Exploring Ethiopia’s Orthodox History with John Binns 2016

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