Voyageur Quest is committed to issues of sustainability and being a responsible Algonquin Park Adventure tourism supplier.
Voyageur Quest has undergone a comprehensive sustainability assessment. The process included a one-on-one evidence-based review of our business practices with a GreenStep Assessor to measure our performance against a set of 87 Globally recognized Sustainable Tourism Council criteria. This is an important distinction, as the assessment and certification that were applied are themselves certified according to international criteria and standards, which have been verified by a third-party audit from GSTC. Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) pillars include sustainable management, socioeconomic impacts, cultural impacts, and environmental impacts. Find out more about GreenStep Sustainable Tourism.
We are very proud to inform you that following these audited assessments we were awarded a SILVER grading certification for our sustainability initiatives. The process included a comprehensive one-on-one review of our business practices with a GreenStep Assessor to see how we’re doing against Global Sustainable Tourism Council-recognized criteria.
We practice and teach our guests to follow leave no trace - minimum impact camping in order to preserve the nature of Algoquin Park. For example, soap use in freshwater lakes and streams is not permitted, our ‘footprint’ is made as small as possible by following established portages, trails and camping on designated tent sites, and our food is stored out of the reach of animals so as to not alter their natural feeding behavior.
We respect the wildlife that we may be lucky enough to catch sight of while travelling and believe in their right to exist without harassment. We maintain a healthy distance and try not to disturb their natural behavior and habitat. We educate ourselves and our customers and follow best practices for responsible wildlife viewing standards for tourism operators.
Our clean energy solar system of photovoltaic panels and storage batteries allows us to use and store power derived from the sun for our electricity needs. A backup generator is used only when sunshine is limited, or occasionally when infrastructure projects or repairs demand more power than is available.
We offer human-powered adventures in and around Algonquin Park. Our guided Canoe and Log Cabin eco-adventures celebrate low-impact adventures powered by humans such as canoeing, hiking, and snowshoeing - all leaving a minimal carbon footprint. We encourage our customers to offset their travel through Offset Travel – a reputable company referred to us by our environmental sustainability assessor.
The work continues and the overarching goal remains - to reduce our carbon footprint and to use sustainable business practices whenever possible. Voyageur Quest will continue to undergo evidence-based assessments to measure and improve our sustainability performance. We have highlighted areas where we still have opportunities for improvement and have formed an action plan for continued success on our sustainability journey. We will be reassessed every two years to maintain our certification and our momentum. We comit to the work and will be focusing on several areas: increasing communication and engagement on issues of sustainability both with our staff and guests, reducing and optimizing efficiency around waste outputs, implementing an offestting plan to address travel and fuel consumption, and ensuring coverage on mulitple areas of sustainability in our management system and policies. Additionally, we will be working with our Regional Tourism Association - RTO12 to build a business case for greater participation in the program across the region, by tracking year over year improvements and Return on Investment with aggregate findings to be presented at RTO12's Regional Tourism Summit.
Voyageur Quest has signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge, to demonstrate our commitment to improving the sustainability performance of our business between now and 2030. The Sutstainable Tourism 2030 Pledge is a movement of individuals, business and organizations within the tourism and hospitality industry that believe tourism has a tremendous opportunity to become a force for good. In Canada, the pledge was developed by GreenStep, and launched in 2021 together with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to help tourism businesses and destinations measure and improve their sustainability performance by creating a common framework and benchmark for the industry, offering best practices support and guidance, and ensuring progress is measured and tracked through ongoing assessments. The UN World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities".
As we aim to hold ourselves accountable to the benchmarks we have set out with the support of GreenStep, we are encouraged by the collaboration that education and tourism can play in the fostering of positive action and responsibility. This Code of Conduct, invites our organization, our staff, and our guests to all work together to be Responsbile Travellers.
Each Cottage Outpost exclusive booking is customized to the needs of the party. Call our office today to plan your next adventure vacation!
“What a perfect weekend at the Algonquin cottages. The whole experience was fantastic. Not only is the setting absolutely beautiful, but the cottages themselves are comfortable and well-integrated into the natural environment. My family has been coming to this spot for many years and we have yet to be tired of it.”
Kate
“Visiting from England, we stayed in the Nahma at the cottage outpost, and it was the perfect way to unwind. The cottage itself is so cosy and the double bed is the most comfortable bed in the world, we slept so well! Algonquin park is the perfect place to take time to just breathe in nature at it’s best. I absolutely love the fact there is no phone signal, it truly lets you disconnect in a way that you never realised you needed to”
Hollie
Check out more photos of our Algonquin Cottages
We'd be happy to answer your questions during regular office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm 416-486-3605 or toll free at 1 800-794-9660
Send us an email and we'll happily get back to you as soon as possible. Inquiries after 5:00pm will be addressed the following business day. Additionally, feel free to use this form to get in touch. [email protected]
Voyageur Quest operates across our three main locations, all in Algonquin's North West. When checking in for a trip, visit our Outfitter at Algonquin Park Access Point #1. GPS Co-Ordinates: Outfitter: 45.922151, -79.184819 Log Cabin: 45.956722, -79.233316 Cottage Outpost: 45.915361, -79.185695
