Vacations that give back to the local community and help preserve the environment are more environmentally responsible and more personally satisfying. Here are some eco-friendly travel options worldwide that will give you an unforgettable experience without sacrificing your moral compass.
Tasmania's traditional owners, Australia
The Bay of Fires in northeastern Tasmania is one of Australia's most breathtaking settings, with its red lichen-stained granite headlands, white sandy beaches, and lovely blue sea.
In 2018, the Wukalina Walk opened, allowing visitors to explore the region with a Palawa guide while learning about the region's Aboriginal history and culture, which dates back at least 10,000 years.
Exploring the Larapuna and Wukalina regions over three days and four nights will provide visitors with a genuine cultural experience that will expand their awareness of Palawa culture and community history.
Aid Europe's brown bears, Romania
Romania, which has more brown bears than any other European country, is an ideal location for Europe's largest bear sanctuary. Liberty Bear Sanctuary, located near the town of Zărnesţi in Transylvania, is dedicated to providing a safe, compassionate home for bears rescued from brutal confined conditions and is the closest thing to seeing these majestic animals in their native habitat.
More than a hundred bears have made a home in a 69-hectare oak forest, and visitors may see it on a guided tour. There is a seven-day volunteer program at the sanctuary for people who want to spend more time with the bears. Responsible Travel is situated in the United Kingdom.
Local bed, Bhutan
Bhutan is the world's last Buddhist kingdom, and its citizens' happiness gauges the country's prosperity. Such a philosophy contributes to maintaining a protected cultural and natural setting.
The tourism sector in Bhutan is based on the idea of preservation. Visiting ancient temples and trekking through yak meadows in the Himalayas are just two of the highlights of a tour with a licensed operator that is required.
Experiencing local life as a guest in someone's house is a great way to learn about the culture and customs of the area, and programs like Bhutan Homestay assist in counteracting the damage that park wildlife does to crops and livestock.
Fiji Reef Planting
What better way to see Fiji's beautiful coral reefs up close and personal than by doing your part to keep them that way? More and more hotels in the Pacific island nation include coral gardening among their amenities for visitors.
Coral gardening, often called coral aquaculture, involves rearing juvenile corals in a controlled environment until they reach reproductive maturity. They are taken out of captivity and "placed" back into the wild, usually on artificial reefs.
Castaway Island Fiji, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort on Vanua Levu, Fiji's second-largest island, and the Makaira Resort on Taveuni are just a few places you can try hand at this environmentally friendly underwater pastime.
New Zealand: low-impact whale-watching
On the South Island of New Zealand, Kaikoura is home to the Indigenous Ngai Tahu people, and the Maori who own and manage Whale Watch Kaikoura do their best to help them out. The boats run year-round, and visitors can see orca pods, humpback, blue, and sperm whales, depending on the time of year.
Tour boats avoid getting too close to the star attractions, and the guides give informative talks about preservation efforts and local traditions. Taking the local bus service along State Highway 1 for around two hours will take you to Kaikoura, which is roughly halfway between Picton and Christchurch.
Relax At An Amazon Eco-Lodge In Bolivia
In the heart of the Bolivian Amazon, tucked away from the outside world, lies a collection of rustic cabins surrounded by verdant terrain that supports an astounding eleven per cent of all plant and animal species in the world.
The Quechua-Tacano Indigenous peoples run the show at the Chalalán Ecolodge, and a portion of the business's profits go toward supporting local healthcare and education initiatives. 14 nature trails surround the lodge, and most visitors opt to spend their mornings hiking through the jungle before relaxing in a hammock for the rest of the day.
The dry months of May through October are the best time to visit Madidi National Park, located about 30 kilometres west of Rurrenabaque.
Sustainability in Costa Rica
Rancho Margot is one of the most environmentally friendly hotels in Costa Rica. This verdant off-grid retreat doubles as a sustainable learning centre and is ideally located among the hiking trails, bubbling hot springs, and picturesque lake of adjacent Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal.
Visitors can tour the resort's sustainable processes or enrol in a weeklong sustainability immersion program to gain the knowledge they can apply in their own lives.
All accommodations at the ranch include two yoga lessons per day and farm-to-table meals prepared with produce from the ranch's garden. Volunteering is an alternative if you can spare four weeks of your time.
