Green Journeys are Good for You and Good for the Environment
Special Journeys promotes green journeys, often called sustainable tourism. Whenever possible, when we are planning your journey, we'll recommend tour operators, carriers, hotels, etc. that are friendly to the environment.
Want more? We can help you plan a special Eco-Journey or recommend special Eco-Tours. For example, see:
CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE: MT. KILIMANJARO MISSION
For the active-minded, eco-friendly tourist, a wonderful list of tours that include hiking, horseback riding, rafting, antiquities, meet the people, etc. can be found at the following website:
Simply click on the destination or activity links and and choose from the drop-down menu located in each. You will be amazed at what you can do! Your special tour will be planned, with your specifications, for one to fifty people.
Some other tour operators that are promoting what they do for the environment include:
1. Collette Tours, on many of their programs, donates money to advance the cause of safe water in Africa. Those of us that have been to Africa can tell you that clean water is a major problem throughout the continent. So we applaud Collette Tours! They also finance an orphanage in Beijing. Their tours cover many parts of the world, and they have recently added some small-group tours of 24 or less. They also provide the tours for the Smithsonian.
2. International Expeditions prides itself on ecotourism, taking you on environmentally responsible expeditions. It even prints its brochures on recycled paper. Think about them for such exotic destinations as Costa Rica, Belize, the Amazon, Brazil, Galapagos, Peru, Greenland, southern and eastern Africa, Egypt, India, and New Guinea. Their naturalist guides focus on conservation. The groups are small on land, and they travel in small ships at sea. In addition, they provide for family vacations and for photography expeditions.
3. Country Walkers specializes in walking vacations in Europe - Ireland, Tuscany, etc. What a great way to actually meet people!
4. Western River Expeditions provides white-water rafting trips down many rivers in our own western states. It's not for the faint-hearted, but these are truly exciting and eco-friendly vacations.
5. Sea Cloud has two ultra luxurious square-rigged sailing vessels. Some of the cabins even have working fireplaces! They sail in the Caribbean in the winter and in the Mediterranean in the summer. My great grandfather, who was in the Swedish navy many, many years ago, sailed on a square-rigged vessel, but I can guarantee you that it was nothing like these! The original Sea Cloud was built for the Merriweather Post family and still exudes the finer things in life. The two ships, Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II are powered more than 90% of the time by the sails. By the way, guests are not allowed to help sail the ships.
6. Abercrombie and Kent, a luxury tour operator with its beginnings in Africa, works with the Nature Conservancy to create some wonderful eco-friendly tours. New this year are tours to Brazil, New Guinea, and Peru and the Amazon. A & K donates about 7% of the trip proceeds to the Nature Conservancy to aid A & K also visits its conservation efforts in those areas visited. A & K also visits many countries throughout the world and, even if they are not under the Nature Conservancy banner, you can be certain that these tours will be eco-friendly. They also provide family vacations, private jet vacations, and travel on the Royal Scotsman train. Think about them also for Antarctica (remember the March of the Penguins?), Australia, China, and Europe.
7. Lindblad Expeditions has been one of the pioneers of eco-tourism. The following statement from them is very telling. "We believe that respectful adventure tourism can be a key factor in helping to sustain a region and, in some cases, even repair it. Our own efforts to encourage greater awareness and participation in conservation projects have included the following: Galapagos Conservation Fund, Galapagos Teachers Aboard Program, and the Gulf of California Conservation Fund - Baja Forever! Campaign". The Galapagos Conservation fund affords guests an opportunity to contribute directly to local conservation projects that will preserve the islands for generations to come. As of October 2007, the GCF has raised more than four million dollars. The Gulf of California Conservation Fund (GCCF), created in 2004, channels support to some of the most pressing conservation priorities in the region. As of October 2007, Lindblad guests had contributed more than $443,000 to the fund. Because these are matched by partnering organizations, the donations total more than one million dollars.
8. Classic Journeys gave me the biggest surprise of all! Mainly because they actually found and read our blog but, secondly, because they followed through and mailed me some wonderful brochures. These brochures, like those of International Expeditions, are published on recycled paper. OK, great, but then you look inside and what is there takes your breath away and makes me believe in the world again! They do only three types of travel: cultural walking adventures, culinary tours, and very exciting family journeys. Now there is a difference between walking tours and hiking tours. (Even I could do a walking tour!). Classic Journeys creates walking days that are actually divided into two or more optional walks. These might take up three or four hours a day. Nearby is a minivan, ready to take you in comfort, in case you have a change of heart. You don't need any fancy gear - just good walking shoes, a water bottle, and maybe a camera. Accommodations are all first class, but ones that reflect the culture of the region. Local expert guides immerse you in the character, culture, and history of the region. Their trips include such destinations as Italy, Sardinia and Corsica, Normandy and Brittany, Provence, Greek Isles, Spain, Croatia, the Cotswalds, Scottish Highlands, Ireland, Morocco, Turkey, India, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Peru, Patagonia, Costa Rica, Montana, Alaska, Canada, and our own canyons - Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon.
9. Royal Carbbean and Celebrity Cruises, this year, have contributed over $800,000 to 19 marine cnservation and environmental organizations. These non-profit organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, the Blue Ocean Institute, Galapagos Conservancy and others, from 17 cities and four different countries have received grants ranging from $10,000 to $60,000. Since this project began in 1996, over $10,000,000 has been given out in grants. It's a good reason to choose these lines when deciding on a cruise!
Give us a call at 800-878-9321 and we will tell you more about these exciting happenings in the world of ecotourism. Please remember, as you read this or even think about ecologically responsible travel, there is a tried and true saying: Take away with you only pictures, and leave behind only footprints. If we do nothing more, we can each do a little to protect our planet Earth!
