HIGHLANDER happens out there - in real nature, not filtered, not staged. The same mountains, rivers, and trails we explore are the reason people sign up in the first place.

These landscapes aren’t just our backdrop - they’re the whole point.

We believe every step out there comes with responsibility. We don’t just move through nature - we build our entire experience around it. And if we want those places to stay wild, beautiful, and accessible, we all need to show up the right way.

Sustainability for us isn’t a side initiative. It’s part of how we design events, how we show up on the trail, and how our community connects with nature before, during, and after the hike.

Because the goal isn’t just to finish the journey.

It’s to make sure it’s just as epic for everyone coming after us.😀

For the third year in a row, our team is taking on this challenge with one clear goal - reducing waste at our events to an absolute minimum.

This initiative is designed to test how the ZERO WASTE concept can be applied to full-scale HIGHLANDER events.

This year, our Croatian team of 20 HIGHLANDER organizers, ambassadors, long-distance hikers, and eco-activists are stepping into the HIGHLANDER 5DAY format across Istria’s 100 km trail, using it to test the concept in real conditions. This is a closed event, taking place in Istria at the beginning of June.

The mission is simple - no waste along the route.

Everything is planned around that. Reusable containers for meals, all food and water carried in multi-use systems, and a mindset focused on minimizing impact every step of the way.

Along the trail, we educate and share - showing that small changes in how we pack, consume, and move through nature can make a big difference.

Each year, we share the challenges, the learnings, and the changes we take into future events.

Because this isn’t just an idea.

It’s something we test, improve, and build into every HIGHLANDER experience.