These Sustainable Tourism Certified businesses are leading the way to help you enjoy a greener travel experience. Now is the perfect time to book a tour or visit a winery with an incredible British Columbia tourism business who makes sustainability not only a priority, but a way of life.
The earth-loving team at GreenStep have ensured that each tourism business that achieves certification is meeting a high level of sustainability stewardship that rivals most others, through a detailed, one-on-one assessment process. By completing the steps necessary to become Sustainable Tourism Certified, these businesses are ahead of the game and ready to give you an incredible, sustainable experience. What are you waiting for? Book your next trip today!
Tour Operators
Campbell River Whale Watching & Adventure Tours – Campbell River, BC
Sustainable Tourism Silver Certified
Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours is a full service tour operator, specializing in whale and wildlife viewing, guided hikes, and brewery and winery tours. Experience some of the most spectacular whale watching, grizzly bear, and wildlife viewing in the world, sample locally crafted wines and spirits, or let their guides take you on an interpretive hike through Campbell River’s Iconic trails. Read our member spotlight for Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours here.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – North Vancouver, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Since 1889, there has been a suspended bridge over Capilano River, attracting visitors from all over the world. Take a walk on Vancouver’s wild side as you stand 70 metres above the waters of the Capilano River on a breath-taking suspension bridge. Appreciate nature from 3 beautiful perspectives at this sprawling urban park—the world-famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, the Treetops Adventure, and the thrilling Cliffwalk.
Discovery Marine Safaris – Campbell River, BC
Sustainable Tourism Silver Certified
Watch in awe, listen to the magical sounds of the wild and be dazzled by the scenic beauty of a coastal environment while Discovery Marine Safari’s crew keeps you safe and informed on their tours. They offer a diverse array of tours to suit your interests, from whale watching, grizzly expeditions and helicopter tours. Their mission is to make their passion for local wildlife yours.
Eagle Wing Tours – Victoria, BC
Sustainable Tourism Platinum Certified
Located at Victoria’s historic floating village Fisherman’s Wharf, Eagle Wing Tours is Canada’s 1st Carbon Neutral & 1% For the Planet eco adventure whale watching tour company. Travel the extra mile(s) with their minimum 3.5hr tours, faster boats which offers the largest viewing range and best potential for whale sightings. As local, passionate conservationists, they provide their guests with so much more than simply “a look at the whales”. Eagle Wing Tours is recognized as an industry leader in conservation, sustainable tourism and consistent quality of product. Read our member spotlight for Eagle Wing Tours here.
Maple Leaf Adventures – Victoria, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Maple Leaf Adventures has been offering natural and cultural history cruises aboard the classic schooner Maple Leaf and converted tugboat Swell since 1986. Their multi-day excursions offer guests the opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful places on the B.C. and Alaska coast, in the company of expert naturalists or historians, crew and chef. As a longtime practitioner of ecotourism, Maple Leaf pioneered travel in the Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island, and has made significant contributions to conservation on the coast. Read more about their conservation and plastic-clean up initiatives here.
Orca Spirit Adventures – Victoria, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Orca Spirit Adventures is Victoria’s largest whale watching company, offering you the city’s original and premier whale watching experience. Every Orca Spirit whale watching tour is lead by a certified marine naturalist, whose knowledge and passion for Vancouver Island’s marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry. All tours are three hours in length and run from May through October with additional dates available depending on weather, whale sightings, and demand, with marine wildlife tours throughout the colder months. Check out some of their sustainability initiatives here.
Outer Shores Expeditions – Victoria, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Outer Shores is a small-ship, niche adventure travel company operating wildlife, wilderness, and cultural expeditions throughout BC’s beautiful Haida Gwaii Archipelago, Great Bear Rainforest, and Vancouver Island. They combine pristine wilderness, amazing wildlife, luxurious accommodations, exceptional service, chef-prepared gourmet meals, expert guides, and freedom from roads and routes most travelled aboard their classic wooden sailing expedition vessel Passing Cloud. Read about Outer Shores Expeditions sustainability impacts in the region through a collaborative clean-up effort in 2020 here.
Planet Bee Honey Farm & Honeymoon Meadery – Vernon, BC
Sustainable Tourism Silver Certified
Family-owned and operated in the beautiful Okanagan Valley for over 20 years, Planet Bee offers visitors the chance to discover and experience the amazing world of the honeybee. Through educational tours and their selection of all-natural health and beauty products, customers will leave with new knowledge of and respect for the amazing honeybee. Every batch of hand-crafted Honeymoon Mead begins with the fermentation of local B.C honey and water, and tastings are available on-site. Read more about Planet Bee on our member spotlight here.
Spirit of the West Adventures – Heriot Bay, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Spirit of the West Adventures has been offering superb kayaking and wildlife watching tours in British Columbia since 1996. Witnessing majestic killer whales from a kayak or hearing their blow from the comfort of your tent is truly a unique and special way to enjoy the beauty and wilds of Vancouver Island. Spirit of the West Adventures prides itself on providing environmentally sound, educational, safe and fun adventures for people of all ages and experience levels. A portion of your tour cost goes to various conservation initiatives in British Columbia. Read Spirit of the West Adventures member spotlight here.
Wicked Tours – Kelowna, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Wicked Tours has a reputation for offering some of the best wine tours across the Okanagan Valley. For beautiful backdrops, fascinating stories, and a wide variety of wines, check out their range of tour packages, which includes craft, food and cannabis tour options.
Whitewater Ski Resort – Nelson, BC
Sustainable Tourism Silver Certified
Whitewater offers terrain for every rider including family-friendly slopes, remarkable steeps, tree-skiing and endless backcountry. Aside from the powder, Whitewater Ski Resort’s other hidden gem is the food. With an eclectic menu and fresh housemade ingredients, it’s no wonder they are frequently rated as having one of the best resort cafeterias in North America. When the lifts aren’t spinning, Nelson’s bars, restaurants, and thriving arts and culture scene offer a truly authentic British Columbia ski town experience.
Wineries
40 Knots Winery – Comox, BC
Sustainable Tourism Platinum Certified
Located in beautiful Comox, BC on Vancouver Island, 40 Knots Winery embraces their unique microclimate on the slopes of their vineyard that face the Georgia Straight. They farm and craft wines based on sustainability, taking the best of traditional, vegan, organic and biodynamic methods to their vineyard and cellar. Read more about 40 Knots Winery over on our member spotlight blog.
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery – Oliver, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is located near the north end of Osoyoos Lake, one of the most highly rated grape-growing locations in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and throughout Canada. Their wine making facility combines state-of-the-art technologies with proven, classic winemaking traditions. Adjacent to the winery is The Guest House with 11 guest rooms and 25 meter outdoor swimming pool, a Wine Shop offering wine tasting and sales, and the Sonora Room Restaurant – a fine dining restaurant featuring local cuisine and Burrowing Owl’s library wines. Read more about how Burrowing Owl is incorporating sustainability into their business practices here.
Red Rooster Winery – Penticton, BC
Sustainable Tourism Silver Certified
Award-winning wines have made a name for Red Rooster Winery, who have also become known for a certain style of hospitality that wasn’t quite like the other wineries in the area. Located on Naramata Bench Road, salvaged wood from the original Naramata Train Dock was used to build the large arched doorways that form the entrances to our tasting room. The art displays, large patio and open grounds encourage visitors to stay awhile.
Sandhill Wines – Kelowna, BC
Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified
Sandhill single vineyard wines are made with grapes grown exclusively at one distinct vineyard. Each and every vineyard possesses its own magical combination of soil type, microclimate, exposure, drainage and other geographical idiosyncrasies. Taste the Sandhill experience with the purchase of any Estate, Soon Series, Small Lots, or Ice Wine varietals, a membership in the Sandhill Wine Club, or visit the winery’s Okanagan Urban Winery located in downtown Kelowna.