From our inception, Cosmos has cast a light on the world’s most fascinating places and people – inviting wayfarers and wanderers like you to bask in their glory, intrigue and wonder. Along the way, we’ve helped travellers uncover ancient traditions while meeting the locals dedicated to preserving them; to meander historic hallways while giving back to the societies that safeguard them; and to put down the guidebooks and pick up a greater understanding of the world and its people.
Immersed in enlightening experiences, we naturally gain a deeper appreciation – one that leads to greater compassion, consideration and curiosity as we ask ourselves, what else can we do to protect our planet, preserve our sacred places, and help humankind?
Enter the Cosmos® Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Cosmos, along with sister companies Globus and Avalon Waterways, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
Additionally, Cosmos team members take pride in being active participants in the travel community, spearheading and participating in dozens of volunteer programs and events.
In the Spotlight: Trees4Travel
We’re Branching Out.
Trees4Travel encourages travelers to explore and experience the globe with a slower, more thoughtful approach while simultaneously planting trees and forests to remove CO2 from the air. Planting trees for travel is a simple but powerful act dedicated to reversing climate change while creating a safe, sustainable planet for future generations to enjoy.
According to Trees4Travel, the first 10 years of each tree’s life will supplement travel while the next 140 years of the lifespan of each tree will simply benefit the Earth. By planting trees for travel, we’re doing our part to create and maintain forests to remove CO2 from the air while restoring ecosystems.
Keeping the world in its best light.
While nothing is more exciting than tracing the paths of historic legends, doing so with the most minimal footprint excites us even more. We make every effort to conserve and preserve in each destination we visit by helping to protect the waterways, wild places, and wildlife by supporting and shining a light on organizations that do the same.
Keeping the blue planet green.
We love caring for the world just as much as we love sharing it with you! By booking an Avalon river cruise, you’re helping us do just that! When you book a cruise with Avalon Waterways, we contribute to environmental organizations that work to improve the health of our planet. Cruise easy knowing we’ve made a donation to The Ocean CleanUp and Trees4Travel—two leading champions of cleaner water and air. And on behalf of every guest, Avalon purchases trees via Trees4Travel to offset your cruise’s carbon emissions, ensuring together that we’re keeping our promise to Mother Earth to be the most sustainable cruise option available. Enjoy the anticipation and excitement of your upcoming adventure as you review your travel documents, while making a difference in the world we discover together. You can also make an additional donation of your own to Trees4Travel or The Ocean Cleanup to help make the world even greener!
A Cleaner Planet is the Best Reward.
Avalon Waterways has been honoured by Europe’s Green Award—recognized for our [$suiteship] fleet's high safety and environmental standards. This prestigious award is given to river cruise ships based on the environmental impact of engines, fuel consumption, waste and maintenance, pollution prevention, and more.
The planet-focused initiatives we support include:
- The Ocean Cleanup
- Trees4Travel
- Wildland Firefighter Association
- Vital Ground Foundation – Grizzly Bear Recovery*
- Wildlife Conservation Network, Lion Recovery Fund
- South African Parks Honorary Rangers
*visited on trip
Additionally, we shine a light on the following organizations through a combination of vacation visits and donations:
- Monkey Rehabilitation Center, Brazil
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Baby Elephant & Rhino Rescue, Kenya
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China
- National Kiwi Conservation Project, New Zealand
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Australia
- The Kangaroo Sanctuary, Australia
- Elephant Nature Park, Thailand
Helping the communities of the world shine.
It’s not just the splendid landscapes and landmarks that make travel so rewarding – it’s the unique people we meet along the way and the cultures they hold dear. We are dedicated to protecting, respecting and supporting the extraordinary communities of the world as well as improving the individual lives within them. The measure of the Lighthouse Project’s success? – The megawatt smiles we see along the way.
The people-focused organizations we support include:
- Landmine Design
- UNICEF
- Rural Aid
Additionally, we shine a light on the following organizations through a combination of vacation visits and donations:
- Local orphanage, Cambodia
- Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity
- KOTO Hospitality Training Center, Vietnam
- Local school English class, Cambodia
- Local school, Tanzania
- Indigenous Amazon communities (via lodge stays), Ecuador and Peru
- Home visits, Peru
- Ladli Child Vocational Program, India
Reflecting on the past; Brightening the future.
The parks, palaces, museums and monuments we enjoy today are the result of previous generations passionately committed to preservation. By way of the Lighthouse Project, we aim to pay it forward – staying light years ahead of preservation – so that future generations can enjoy the same glorious places to relax, renew and reflect.
While every one of our destinations is precious to us, here are some of the sights and attractions we have supported – many of which we also visit on trip:
- National Civil Rights Museum, Tennessee*
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho*
- Yosemite National Park, Nevada, California*
- Squamish Lil’Wat Centre, British Columbia*
- USS Arizona Memorial, Hawaii*
*Visit on trip
- World War II Memorial Museum, Louisiana
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, New Mexico*
- Alaska Native American Heritage Center, Alaska*
- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, Alberta*
- Museum of the Cherokee Indian, North Carolina*
Additionally, the Globus family of brands team members take pride in being active participants in the travel community, spearheading and participating in dozens of volunteer programs and events.