Green Earth Travel

What Green Earth Travel does

Green Earth Travel LLC is a privately held, founder-owned US travel agency founded in 1997 and headquartered in Cabin John, Maryland. The company is positioned as the nation's first and longest-running vegetarian/vegan/eco-travel agency, serving vegan and vegetarian travelers, eco-conscious travelers, solo travelers, couples, and small groups who want dietary requirements and sustainability preferences guaranteed throughout their trip. Founder and President Donna Zeigfinger personally leads customer engagements and supplier curation.

The agency operates two service lines: (1) customized vacation planning, billed via fixed research/planning fees ($200/booking), rebooking fees ($150), group research fees ($250), and per-ticket airline booking fees ($35-$75), and (2) a portfolio of roughly eight pre-packaged small-group vegan tours spanning Vietnam ($6,495/pp), Bhutan ($6,495/pp), Laos ($3,695/pp), Cambodia ($3,595/pp), Nepal ($3,495/pp), Sumatra ($3,895/pp), an Alaska cruise (from $3,346/cabin via Virgin Voyages), and a Civil Rights Movement themed tour (launched February 2026 via Mejdi Tours). Ireland travel is sold as a destination specialty through Sceptre Tours. Tours include 100% plant-based meals, eco-friendly lodging, and visits to conservation partners such as Free the Bears, Orangutan Haven, Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, and Animals Asia.

The business model combines fee-for-service planning income with commissions from tour operators and cruise lines (Virgin Voyages, Sceptre Tours, Mejdi Tours) plus a small affiliate stream via Airfare Snacks. Distribution is direct (website contact form, +1 (888) 246-8343 phone line, email to Donna) and partner-mediated; marketing relies on an owned 2,500+ member Facebook community, an email newsletter, earned media, and word-of-mouth referrals. The company carries no external funding, has no disclosed headcount, operates without a mobile app or platform technology layer, and reports no financial statements.

Name

Green Earth Travel

Legal name

Green Earth Travel LLC

Website

https://www.greenearthtravel.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Green Earth Travel is a US-based, founder-owned travel agency founded in 1997 that plans customized vacations and operates small-group vegan tours across Asia, Europe, and North America for vegetarian, vegan, and eco-conscious travelers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (561510), Travel Agencies (56151)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eco-Tours & Sustainable Nature Travel (THAJAIAD), Eco-Cruises & Small-Ship Nature Cruises (Expedition Cruising) (THAAAEAK), Rainforest & Jungle Ecotourism Tours (THAAAEAF)

Keywords

• Vegan travel agency
• Vegetarian travel planning
• Eco-friendly group tours
• Customized vacation planning
• Plant-based tour packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Cabin John

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Service Fees: The company charges service fees for travel planning and booking services including research and planning fees, rebooking fees, and group research fees. These are charged per booking or revision.
2. Group Tour Commissions: Green Earth Travel organizes and sells group tours to destinations including Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam, Sumatra, Laos, Cambodia, Alaska, and Ireland, earning commissions from tour operators such as Virgin Voyages and Sceptre Tours.
3. Customized Vacation Planning: The company creates bespoke travel itineraries for individual clients, charging planning fees for personalized vacation arrangements.
4. Airline Ticket Booking: The company books airline tickets for clients, charging $35-75 per ticket depending on destination.
5. Affiliate Commissions: The company earns affiliate commissions from recommending travel snacks (Airfare Snacks) through referral links on their website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Green Earth Travel is a vegetarian/vegan/eco-travel agency that sells customized vacation planning (research, itinerary preparation, booking, travel insurance coordination) and pre-packaged group vegan tours to destinations including Vietnam, Sumatra, Nepal, Laos, Cambodia, Bhutan, Alaska, Ireland, and Civil Rights-themed U.S. routes. All tours include 100% plant-based meals and eco-friendly accommodations. The company earns service fees for planning/bookings and commissions from partner tour operators and cruise lines.

Product overview

Green Earth Travel is a vegetarian/vegan/eco-travel agency founded in 1997 offering two main service lines: customized vacation planning and pre-packaged group vegan tours. The customized planning includes personalized travel arrangement services for individuals and groups. The group tour portfolio includes eight distinct destination-based tours spanning Vietnam, Sumatra, Nepal, Laos, Cambodia, Bhutan, Alaska (via cruise partnership), and Civil Rights destinations. Additional services include Ireland-specific travel planning through Sceptre Tours partnerships, and fee-based travel planning services ranging from $200-$250 for research and planning plus airline ticket booking fees of $35-75.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Customized Vacation Planning Personalized travel planning services for vegan and vegetarian travelers, including research, custom itinerary preparation, booking management, and travel insurance coordination, delivered from initial consultation through departure.
• Vietnam Vegan Food Tour 10-day/9-night vegan luxury food tour in North and Central Vietnam including a Halong Bay cruise, cooking classes, and visits to the Animals Asia Moon & Sun Bear Sanctuary. Priced US$6,495 per person (double-occupancy) with single supplement of US$1,150.
• Sumatra Vegan Tour 12-day vegan group tour in Sumatra, Indonesia featuring orangutan conservation volunteering at Orangutan Haven, the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, rainforest trekking, Lake Toba, and cultural immersion with Batak and Minangkabau peoples. Priced US$3,895 per person (double-occupancy) with single supplement of US$595; carbon offsets included.
• Nepal Vegan Tour 14-day vegan tour in Nepal covering Kathmandu, Himalayan villages, Chitwan National Park, and Lumbini (Buddha's birthplace), with meditation, yoga, and wildlife experiences. Priced US$3,495 per person (double-occupancy) with single supplement of US$685.
• Laos Vegan Tour 14-day vegan tour in Laos featuring Mekong River exploration, Plain of Jars, COPE Visitor Centre, elephant conservation at the Sayaboury Elephant Rescue Program, Free the Bears sanctuary visits, and Luang Prabang UNESCO heritage site. Priced US$3,695 per person (double-occupancy) with single supplement of US$600.
• Cambodia Vegan Tour 14-day vegan tour in Cambodia covering Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap with Angkor temple exploration, Free the Bears Cambodia sanctuary visits, and Khmer cultural experiences. Priced US$3,595 per person (double-occupancy) with single supplement of US$775.
• Bhutan Vegan Tour 13-day vegan tour in the Himalayas of Bhutan featuring remote valley villages, Buddhist monasteries, Gross National Happiness philosophy, and Vajrayana Buddhist cultural immersion. Priced US$6,495 per person (double-occupancy) with single supplement of US$895; includes Bhutan Government SDF (US$1,500) and visa fee (US$40).
• Vegan-friendly Alaska Cruise 7-night adult-only Alaska cruise with Virgin Voyages on the Brilliant Lady, departing Seattle and visiting Ketchikan, Sitka, Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, and Prince Rupert. Includes special vegan shore excursions. From US$3,346 per cabin (based on 2 sailors, includes taxes & fees).
• Civil Rights Movement Tour Civil rights-themed travel tour combining visits to historical civil rights landmarks with vegan Southern cuisine experiences, operated in partnership with Mejdi Tours.
• Ireland Travel Specialist Services Specialized Ireland travel planning services delivered through a partnership with Sceptre Tours, offering packages covering luxurious adventures, cruises, honeymoons, and getaways tailored to vegan travelers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% plant-based meals included in all group tours
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sceptre TourscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Sceptre Tours for Ireland travel packages. Green Earth Travel connects customers with Sceptre Tours' broad variety of packages, while Sceptre Tours handles the actual tour delivery and operations. Donna at Green Earth Travel serves as the specialist contact for planning Ireland trips.
• Mejdi TourscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Mejdi Tours for themed tours including the Civil Rights Movement Tour. Green Earth Travel offers these tours as part of their group tour specials, providing access to culturally themed travel experiences with vegan food options.
• Virgin VoyagescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Virgin Voyages for Alaska cruise offerings. Green Earth Travel sells and books the 7-night vegan-friendly Alaska cruise on the Brilliant Lady, providing special vegan shore excursions and coordinating cruise logistics for vegan travelers.
• Sofitel Metropole HanoiminorOthersLuxury hotel partner in Hanoi, Vietnam for the Vegan Food Tour Vietnam. 5-star accommodation included in tour packages.
• Anantara Hoi An ResortminorOthersLuxury resort partner in Hoi An, Vietnam for the Vegan Food Tour Vietnam. 5-star accommodation included in tour packages.
• Pilgrimage Village HueminorOthersBoutique resort partner in Hue, Vietnam for the Vegan Food Tour Vietnam. 4-star accommodation included in tour packages.
• Animal Asia - Moon & Sun Bear SanctuarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Animals Asia's Moon & Sun Bear Sanctuary in Vietnam. Tour includes private visits to the sanctuary where travelers learn about bear conservation efforts and meet resident bears.
• Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme for Sumatra tours. Includes presentations from frontline activists, educational jungle hikes, and donations to conservation programs.
• Orangutan HavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Orangutan Haven Sanctuary for Sumatra tours. Tour includes 3 days of volunteering at the sanctuary, tree planting, and donations to the sanctuary.
• Free the BearscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Free the Bears for Laos tours. Travelers spend time at the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary helping with conservation efforts and learning about bear protection.
• Free the Bears CambodiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Free the Bears for Cambodia tours. Behind-the-scenes tours at the sun bear and moon bear sanctuary in Cambodia.
• COPE Visitor CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with COPE (Cooperative Orthotic & Prosthetic Enterprise) Visitor Centre in Vientiane, Laos for educational visits about their important work.
• Elephant Rescue Protection & Conservation Program - SayabourycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with elephant rescue program in Sayaboury, Laos. Tours include observing elephants, meeting with elephant vet team, and learning about elephant conservation.
• Airfare SnacksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate marketing partnership with Airfare Snacks. Green Earth Travel earns commission when customers purchase travel snacks through their referral link.
• Co-op AmericaminorOthersMember since 2001 of Co-op America (now Business for Social Responsibility), demonstrating commitment to ethical and social business practices.
• The International Eco Tourism SocietyminorOthersMember for more than 5 years of the International Eco Tourism Society, supporting sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Wild Frontiers Travel: Wild Frontiers is an adventure-tour operator specializing in off-the-beaten-path destinations including Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, and Sumatra — all destinations featured in Green Earth Travel's portfolio. The two compete for travelers seeking authentic, culturally immersive experiences in similar geographies, though Wild Frontiers is not vegan-specific.
• Responsible Travel: Responsible Travel is a UK-based travel company and marketplace curating holidays with verified sustainability and ethical criteria. It is comparable because both companies market to the same values-driven traveler and emphasize supplier vetting, though Responsible Travel operates more as an aggregator of small operators.
• Mejdi Tours: Mejdi Tours is a culturally immersive tour operator focused on themed journeys (e.g., Civil Rights Movement, religious heritage). It is a channel partner of Green Earth Travel for the Civil Rights Movement tour, and is comparable because both companies curate content-led, values-driven group experiences.

Broad incumbents

• G Adventures: G Adventures is a major small-group adventure-tour operator with a global footprint emphasizing local culture, wildlife, and sustainable travel. It overlaps directly with Green Earth Travel on multi-country Asia itineraries (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand) and competes for the value-conscious experiential traveler segment.
• Audley Travel: Audley Travel is a UK-based tailor-made travel company that designs bespoke international itineraries through country specialists, mirroring Green Earth Travel's customized vacation planning model. Comparable because both sell high-touch, consultant-led customized trips rather than packaged tours.
• Tucan Travel: Tucan Travel is an adventure-tour operator with a global itinerary catalog including many of Green Earth Travel's signature destinations (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Bhutan). It competes for the budget-to-mid-tier adventure-traveler segment and represents how larger incumbents cover similar geographies without a dietary specialization.
• Intrepid Travel: Intrepid Travel is a large, established sustainable-tour operator offering small-group trips worldwide with a strong focus on responsible travel and local experiences. While not vegan-specific, it competes for the same conscious-traveler customer with overlapping destinations (Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal) and a broader product portfolio.

Regional players

• Sceptre Tours: Sceptre Tours is a US-based Ireland-specialist tour operator and an active channel partner of Green Earth Travel for Ireland packages. While not a direct competitor (Green Earth refers customers to Sceptre), Sceptre is relevant because it represents how a destination-specialist operator scales in a single market versus Green Earth's broader multi-destination niche.

Others

• TourRadar: TourRadar is an online marketplace aggregating multi-day tours from hundreds of operators worldwide, including sustainable and experiential categories. It is comparable as a distribution channel that competes with boutique agencies like Green Earth Travel for tour-booking mindshare, particularly among digitally native travelers.

Direct peers

• VegVoyages: VegVoyages is a Montreal-based tour operator that, like Green Earth Travel, curates international group trips built entirely around plant-based dining and ethical tourism. It is the closest direct competitor in the vegan group-tour niche, targeting a similar demographic with comparable itinerary structures and price points.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/459971921672351

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green Earth Travel