The PinIt Explorer Pledge
PinIt exists to connect people with places that are extraordinary precisely because they've been left unspoiled. Every explorer who uses this platform shares a responsibility to keep it that way.
Adventure with responsibility
The secluded waterfalls, clifftop viewpoints and ancient ruins that PinIt celebrates are remarkable precisely because they haven't been loved to death. They exist in a delicate balance between being discovered and being protected.
That balance depends entirely on us. Not on governments, not on park rangers, not on someone else. On every single explorer who turns up, takes in the view and leaves. The way we behave in these places determines whether they survive for the next generation to find.
Responsible travel isn't a constraint on adventure — it's what makes adventure sustainable. The Explorer Pledge is PinIt's commitment to ensuring that the spirit of discovery we celebrate never comes at the cost of the world we love to explore.
The six pillars
Every explorer who gets directions through PinIt commits to these principles
Leave No Trace
The places PinIt celebrates exist because people have left them untouched. Keep it that way.
- Pack out everything you bring in, including wrappers, bottles and cigarette butts
- Stay on established paths and avoid trampling vegetation off-trail
- Never pick, damage or disturb plants, wildlife, rock formations or natural features
- Leave fire pits, cairns and structures exactly as you found them
- If you find litter left by others, consider picking it up
Stay Within Legal Access Areas
Accessing private or restricted land puts you, landowners and future explorers at risk.
- Research access rights before you visit, as they vary significantly by country and region
- Respect fencing, gates, closures and signage. If it says no entry, that means no entry.
- Never trespass onto private land, regardless of how spectacular the view looks
- Be aware that seasonal closures often protect nesting wildlife or fragile ecosystems
- No location on PinIt is worth a criminal record or putting others in danger
Respect Local Communities
Some of the places on PinIt sit in the heart of living communities. Show up as a respectful guest.
- Keep noise to a minimum, especially near homes, farms and villages
- Park responsibly — never block gates, passing places or emergency access routes
- Support local businesses: buy locally, eat locally, stay locally where you can
- Honour the customs, traditions and cultural sensitivities of the places you visit
- Be mindful at sacred sites, memorials and historically significant locations
Be Prepared
Remote and wild places can be unforgiving. Good preparation keeps you and rescue teams safe.
- Check weather forecasts and local conditions before you leave, and always have a backup plan
- Carry appropriate clothing, navigation, food, water and a first aid kit
- Tell someone your plans, route and expected return time before heading out
- Know your own fitness and experience level — turn back when conditions require it
- Have emergency contact numbers saved and ensure your phone is charged
Protect Sensitive Locations
Visibility can be a double-edged sword. Some places need protection as much as they need discovery.
- Avoid trampling or disturbing fragile ecosystems such as wetlands, sand dunes and alpine meadows
- Think carefully before sharing precise coordinates of locations with rare wildlife
- Be conscious of the cumulative impact. Even light footfall adds up across thousands of visitors.
- Don't light fires in dry or ecologically sensitive areas, even where technically permitted
- If a location shows signs of visitor stress, spread the word to tread extra carefully
Follow Local Laws & Regulations
Rules around protected places exist to safeguard what makes them special in the first place.
- Obtain any required permits before entering protected areas, national parks or reserves
- Observe fire bans, seasonal closures and wildlife protection orders without exception
- Follow water access, swimming safety and cliff edge guidance issued by local authorities
- Comply immediately with instructions from rangers, wardens and emergency services
- If you're unsure whether access is permitted, assume it isn't until you've confirmed
The world's hidden gems belong to everyone — and no one
They belong to everyone in that they are there to be discovered, shared and celebrated. They belong to no one in that no single person has the right to damage, exploit or exhaust them. When you explore with PinIt, you carry the responsibility of a steward — someone who leaves behind nothing but footprints and takes away nothing but memories.
Ready to explore responsibly?
When you get directions to any location on PinIt for the first time, you'll be asked to commit — because every visit counts, and every explorer matters.