World Tourism Blog

TO find the Kabak Valley, drive east along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Park your car when the pavement runs out, and walk (or hitch a ride on a truck) to a portal to another dimension.

Just be sure you have a ticket. At least that is what Emine Altindal, one of the proprietors of the Shambala, a spiritually inclined eco-resort that clings to a cliff above an impossibly blue-rimmed half-moon of beach here, told me during a recent visit.

“People who have a ticket come here,” she said.

“A ticket? What kind of ticket?” I asked.

“There is a protecting energy like wings of an angel over this place,” she said. This lush, secluded valley is a star gate, she explained, a door through which one leaves one form of consciousness and joins another.

Perhaps. But it may be more likely that, as my partner, Candy, and I discovered last month when we spent several blissful days there hiking, swimming and staring out at evergreen-clad mountains flanking azure waters, it is merely one of the wildest, most remote and peaceful corners of one of the world’s bluest seas.

Kabak Valley sits along the Lycian Way, a 300-mile-long hiking trail that snakes along a part of Turkey’s coast that was once Lycia, an important outpost of the Roman Empire.

The rugged mountains that hug the coastline have long drawn tourists, many of them British, to what package vacation marketers call the Turquoise Coast. Charter flights deposit sun seekers at Dalaman Airport in droves, disgorging them to beaches in the resort towns of Marmaris and Oludeniz, where the reliable availability of a full English breakfast and a surfeit of beach loungers keep them coming.

For these reasons this seemed an unlikely spot to find the kind of solitude we usually seek on vacation. Yet the combination of mountains and sea, especially that azure Mediterranean variety, had its own allure. After a bit of dissatisfied searching, we stumbled upon the quiet terrain of the Kabak.

The valley has been a hidden favorite with hikers on the Lycian Way since the trail, parts of which date back thousands of years, gained popularity in the late 1990s. Arriving there, you can see why. From the main road a signpost points down a rough dirt trail through thick pine forest toward the glinting sea.

In the last couple of years, getting to Kabak has gotten easier, with a road that leads down into the valley and several new and increasingly posh establishments bringing a touch of luxury to what might otherwise be a backpacker-only zone. We arrived the easy way, in a small white Hyundai sedan we had rented at Dalaman Airport. But the car couldn’t possibly make it down the rough road, so we called the Shambala, and they were kind enough to pick us up in a four-wheel-drive and take us halfway down the valley, to their resort.

One look at the view from our room, a wood and glass bungalow that fairly floated on the cliff wall, and I understood all the spiritual talk. The Kabak Valley is a stunning and remote slice of wilderness.

Ms. Altindal and her husband, Hulki Altug, built Shambala three years ago as an escape from their hectic life in Istanbul. “When we started to build this place it was something just for us and our friends,” she said.

They named it for the mythical Himalayan city of Shambala. In the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism it was a magical city hidden high in the mountains where everyone had attained enlightenment.

“We wanted to create our own version here,” Ms. Altindal said.

The people at Shambala (theshambala.com) have all kinds of explanations for why the Kabak Valley is so special. It is one of only three places that did not freeze in the last ice age, they say. There is an energy vortex here, they insist.

The good news is that mumbo jumbo is strictly optional. The slightly kooky spirituality, along with the peace-and-love vibe, is served up as a side dish, and you can take it or leave it. Even so, I was surprised to find it deliciously devoid of irony, and deeply endearing.

And while the folks who run the place might be hippies, they run a tight ship: peace, love and dinner promptly at 8.

Indeed, everything at the resort speaks to an exacting attention to detail, from the homemade organic olive oil soaps to the carefully designed bungalows and treehouses.

Beyond the Shambala, the valley’s lodgings have gotten an upgrade. Simple backpacker camps have refined their accommodations as new seekers make their way there. One afternoon we had a delightful lunch of grilled fish at Shanti Garden, one of several establishments on the valley floor, just behind the beach. Shanti Garden’s spotless but spartan bungalows are a less expensive alternative to the Shambala, and are much closer to the beach. Another nearby camp, Reflections, has a special focus on yoga.

All our meals in the valley were simple in the best Mediterranean way — fresh ingredients, many of them grown locally, requiring little embellishment. The breakfast spread at Shambala in particular made me swoon: plump tomatoes adorned in local olive oil and thyme plucked from a nearby bush; hunks of homemade cheese; a sesame seed version of Nutella; leek-stuffed pancakes cooked on a wide griddle by an Anatolian granny; yeasty bread right out of the oven.

But the main attraction here is nature. The valley spills out beneath Shambala. A short hike leads down to a beach of white sand and pebbles. During our visit, the water had a not unpleasant chilly edge, just enough to cut through the sweat of the hike down. A 15-minute swim led to a water-filled cave, where afternoon sunlight filtering through the blue sea illuminated a miniature cathedral of stone.

The Lycian Way leads deep into the valley as it follows its course toward the city of Antalya. One afternoon we followed it up from Kabak’s beach, along the valley wall, drinking in the panorama of the Mediterranean with each switchback. After a couple of hours of heavy slogging, punctuated by breaks to enjoy the sea breeze and view, we arrived at a small waterfall that spilled into an icy, limpid pool. Sweaty from the climb, we stripped down and jumped in. The first electric jolt of mountain water was refreshing, but we didn’t linger. It was a long walk back to the beach, then back up the valley, to get back to our portal to bliss.

By LYDIA POLGREEN

Mountains above the Kabak Valley fall to the Mediterranean.

Greece to Cover Costs of Tourists Stranded Due to Strikes and Natural Disasters

Greece on Monday promised to cover the extra costs of visitors stranded in the debt-ridden country in part of a bid to boost the vital tourism industry.

The pledge would apply to tourists whose visits are prolonged due to strikes, or even natural disasters, said Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos.

“We are guaranteeing to pay any extra room and board any visitor in Greece pays even if stuck here because of a volcano in Iceland,” he said at a press conference announcing a new Internet drive to advertise Greece as a tourist destination.

Greece is caught in a major budget and debt crisis, and avoided bankruptcy last month using the first installment of a (EURO)110 billion ($136.3 billion) European Union and International Monetary Fund bailout package. To secure the rescue loans, the center-left government slashed pensions and civil sector pay, while increasing consumer taxes.

Unions responded with a string of strikes, which canceled flights, ferry and rail services, and halted public transport.

Tourism is a vital source of revenue that accounts for more than 15 percent of gross domestic product, and one in five jobs. Industry experts say they are seeing a drop of about 10-12 percent in bookings this year, following deadly riots that left three dead last month in Athens when a protest against painful austerity measures turned violent.

Tourist arrivals had suffered earlier from the chaos in air transport caused by the explosion of a volcano in Iceland, which spewed vast quantities of ash into the sky for days, blocking air routes.

Geroulanos said the tourism industry seemed to be recovering, although it was too early to make accurate forecasts.

“The numbers are not really as gloomy as they were with the first cancellations,” he said. “Some destinations have suffered greatly due to the crisis, but others are doing better than before.”

By ABCNews

Greece on Monday promised to cover the extra costs of visitors stranded in the debt-ridden country in part of a bid to boost the vital tourism industry.

Although not widely discovered yet, Estonia is ideal country for observing one of the most spectacular natural shows – massive bird migration. This smallest and northernmost Baltic country lies on the crossroad of the Eastern Atlantic migratory flyway: Estonia is locked between the Finnish Gulf, eastern coast of Baltic Sea and Lake Peipsi near the Russian border.

In this respect, geographically the Estonian waters and coastline are the natural stepping-stones, the most natural flyway between breeding and wintering areas for millions of Arctic waterbirds, making birdwatching in Estonia fabulous at this time of year.

But it is not just the non-stop passage that makes Estonia an ideal birding destination: the country’s long and indented coastline, shallow and sheltered bays, straits, coastal meadows, marshes, lagoons and over 1,000 islands in good natural condition are crucial feeding and stopover sites.

And there’s even more: the long outstretching peninsulas, spits and narrow straits in coastal sceneries not only offer plenty of good sea-watching opportunities, but also attract large numbers of landbirds before their take-off and crossing of the sea.

Three-toed Woodpecker (Photo: Sven Zace)

Spring birdwatching in Estonia begins in late March when woodpeckers start their drumming, Capercaillies become very active under the old pine forests at dusk and all the swamps and bogs resound with Black Grouses at sunrise.

Steller’s Eider is easily observed in their wintering grounds and when it gets dark you can hear the calls of owls in the forest and observe Woodcocks flying above you. On shallow bays, their traditional feeding sites, there are thousands of Whooper and Bewick’s Swans and different duck species, on the fields gather tens of thousands of geese.

During the migration season, the crowds of southward-rushing birds can be seen in incredible numbers: several hundreds of thousands of waterfowl or passerine migrants can be seen passing per day at the best sites at the peak season. As many as one million of waterfowl and nearly three-quarters of passerines are observed per day as top figures.

In total, over 50 million of waterbirds are estimated to pass the Estonian coast and marine territories annually. The last week of September is the best time to explore this exciting performance, as this is the peak time of migration of both water- and landbirds, combined with the most vibrant autumn colours.

Steller’s Eider (Photo: Jari Peltomaki)

Learn More About Estonia: Featured ecoDestination

Estonia is a small country, situated on the Baltic coast between Russia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden. Estonian territory is about same as the Netherlands, but the population (1.4 million) is eleven times less, which means that there is lot of space for nature. About 50% of country is covered by forests and woods, and is home to eagles, wolves, brown bears and lynx. People of Estonia often call themselves the “forest people”, and have lived on these lands since Stone Age.

HOW is it that Lerici, an undeniably beautiful seaside town just minutes from the Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera, has largely evaded the radar of foreign tourists?

On a recent sunny spring afternoon, Riccardo Morlini, owner of Gelateria Arcobaleno, a tiny gelato shop on Lerici’s main piazza, offered his explanation: marketing. “The Cinque Terre has been sold touristically everywhere for a long time,” he said. “People know Cinque Terre all over the world. But Lerici, it’s not so known.”

Not so known outside Italy, that is. Lerici (pronounced LEH-ree-chee) is a jumble of pastel buildings that jockey for attention with its beaches, crescent-shaped coves and rocky cliffs that melt into the sparkling sea. And in July and August, the town is bustling, the beaches filled with local residents, vacationing families from northern Italy and a loyal crowd of in-the-know Milanese.

Around town, young couples flirt at waterfront cafes, children kick soccer balls beneath palm trees, and groups of white-haired men stroll along the beachfront promenade. Very few are speaking English. In Lerici, unlike many other Riviera towns, the lingua franca is still poetic Italian.

Lerici is flanked by areas all too well-known to foreign travelers. To the south, the flashy Tuscan resort towns of Versilia boast miles of sandy beaches crammed with pasty northern Europeans and bronzed Italians alike. And a few miles to the north is the Cinque Terre, five cliff-clinging hamlets connected by narrow footpaths that are overrun with Americans.

In fact, Lerici holds much of the same appeal as its more popular neighbors, with beautiful swaths of beach and miles of hiking trails with photogenic vistas, minus the suffocating crowds. The imposing medieval castle that looms above Lerici’s main piazza is the town’s defining feature, but the scenic mile-and-a-half-long promenade that stretches along the waterfront is its most dazzling. After passing boats bobbing lazily in the harbor and tracts of enormous rocks where sunbathers lie like sea lions, the promenade winds past a string of beaches en route to a smaller stone castle that anchors the neighboring village of San Terenzo.

South of Lerici, a narrow serpentine road — convex mirrors at every turn — snakes above the coastline, past hillside olive groves and the tiny town of Fiascherino, before dead-ending in the charming village of Tellaro. The clifftop route is vaguely reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast, with stunning views of turquoise sea and rugged shoreline around each corner. Taken together, the four towns of Lerici, San Terenzo, Fiascherino and Tellaro — a Quattro Terre, if you must — form the eastern edge of the Gulf of La Spezia, also known as the Golfo dei Poeti, the Poets’ Gulf.

For centuries, this area has been a haven for Italian artists and authors seeking solitude and inspiration in the beautiful landscape. In the beginning of the 19th century, it also emerged as a destination for the European literati abroad — an enclave for poets and writers that, over the years, has included notables like Percy and Mary Shelley, Lord Byron and D. H. Lawrence. More recently, the Italian writers Mario Soldati and Attilio Bertolucci settled in the area, extending the literary tradition.

“We had a lot of painters, we had singers, we had a lot of artists who were looking for a spot to hide,” said Francesca Mozer, who, with her mother, Nicoletta, owns the exclusive Eco del Mare beach club in Lerici. The secluded property was just a modest strip of sand tucked between towering cliffs and the glittering sea when her father, François, bought it in 1952, but it eventually evolved into a glamorous retreat for wealthy Italians. For the past two years, however, the club has been closed as construction transforms it into a tiny, rustic resort with 19 cabanas, a beachside restaurant and a seven-room hotel, all scheduled to open this weekend.

The hotel will be the third in the area — Piccolo Hotel del Lido and Hotel San Terenzo are the others — to open within the last five years; all cater to an affluent clientele. Several new structures are under construction between Lerici and San Terenzo. But the prospect of more hotel rooms and short-stay apartments — and, inevitably, increased tourism — threatens the town’s subtle air of exclusivity, making some residents uneasy.

By INGRID K. WILLIAMS

A medieval castle looms over Lerici’s tidy harbor. The town, unlike nearby Cinque Terre, attracts mainly Italians to its beaches and popular promenade.

Well, are you always ready to take the first road out? Do you love outdoor adventure and thrills: Rock –climbing, Trekking Expeditions, White Water Rafting, Skiing, Nature Trails, Wildlife Safaris and more. Do you believe that there’s an exciting new world waiting to be explored? If, yes, than, you definitely are an ardent traveler and nature lover. But, wait; does that make you an eco-tourist? Read this and find out for yourself!

Just joining tour operators, who promise eco-tourism does not make one an eco-tourist. This is a concept which has to be believed and felt from within.

says Aloke Bajpai, CEO, The Explorers, a Mumbai based Adventure tour outlet.
Going on nature trails and exploring natures’ unexplored and virgin beauty is not enough, practicing eco-friendliness is equally important. Many travellers litter garbage, plastic bags and bottles on the way without giving it a second thought. Keeping the surroundings clean and pure is an important part of eco-tourism.

Besides, paying up a huge some of money to a travel outlet which takes care of all your needs and also plans your trip, it sometimes bars you from a lot of amazing experience. According to the Kiwi travel writer, Heather Hapeta, ‘Eco-tourism is an activity that has minimum impact while providing maximum benefits to the locals.’ He opines that independent travellers are most likely the closest to being real eco-travellers. By staying in cheaper, locally-owned accommodation, eating at small food outlets and using local transport, they leave much of their travel money in the country. Not only this. By doing so, they also get to visit places that are not on the tourist trail and can get to know people and absorb the local flavours. So, are you ready for an actual eco-tour?

Gov. Lingle goes over Legislature’s head, establishes 2 surfing reserves on Oahu.

Gov. Linda Lingle on Wednesday established two surfing reserves on Oahu, weeks after state House Democrats killed legislation to do the same thing.

The governor’s executive order created the Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Reserve in Waikiki and the North Shore Surfing Reserve that stretches from Alii Beach to Sunset Beach.

The order is similar to legislation pushed by retiring GOP Sen. Fred Hemmings of Lanikai that the Democrat-controlled House killed on April 29, the last day of the legislative session. GOP lawmakers were furious at the time.

Lingle, a Republican, alluded to the action at a press conference Wednesday. “There are a variety of ways we can approach an issue” if the Legislature refuses, she said. The order “does what Sen. Hemmings was trying to achieve.”

In a statement, House Speaker Calvin Say, a Democrat, said no slight at Hemmings was intended. But House members heard from surfers and others with concerns about the actual impact of the reserves, such as whether they would give commercial surfing operations an advantage over recreational surfers, he said.

“My suggestion was that the governor hold a public meeting in the affected communities before designating surfing reserves by executive order,” Say added.

Hemmings on Wednesday voiced no anger about his bill, calling its demise a combination of miscommunication and politics.

Hemmings, who in 1968 won the world amateur surfing championship and a lifelong surfer, called the sport “Hawaii’s gift to the world.”

When surfers are waiting for a wave and looking back at the shore, “you think we’re the richest people in the world,” said Hemmings, 64. “Money can’t buy the blessings that we’re given here.”

Hemmings said the two reserves will help Hawaii regain some prominence in professional surfing, which he said has been lost to Australia and California, even though the North Shore remains a prime location for competitions.

By HERBERT A.

Gov. Linda Lingle on Wednesday established two surfing reserves on Oahu, weeks after state House Democrats killed legislation to do the same thing.

Millions descend upon these spots each year.

Though New York City’s Statue of Liberty invokes awe, and the Hollywood sign looming over Los Angeles is arguably its most iconic sight, neither are their cities’ most visited. Times Square and the Hollywood Walk of Fame draw more tourists respectively, according to 2009 visitor numbers.

When it comes to travel, the role a tourist attraction plays can vary greatly — a monument might be one stop along the way or a national park the destination.

San Francisco is the 15th most-visited city out of 20 measured, but two of its attractions — the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Fisherman’s Wharf — are among the country’s most popular. There are fewer images as stunning as the Golden Gate Bridge. What’s more, the surrounding park’s size and prominence ensure that visitors travel for miles to spend time there. Even though many people dismiss Fisherman’s Wharf as tacky, its seafood restaurants, rich history, sea lion viewing and various events offer much for families to explore.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of three National-Park-Service-administered attractions that rank among the country’s most popular. It is joined by the National Mall and Memorial Parks, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the only list-maker outside a major city.

“One thing that has the most potential is the national park,” says Dr. Kristin Lamoureux, director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies at George Washington University. She points to the just-passed Travel Promotion Act, which will create a nonprofit Department of Commerce agency to market America’s tourism industry abroad. “The lesser-known parks and places — not the Disneys or Vegas — that don’t have a budget of their own will benefit. We don’t currently have a branch that does that.”

Methodology
In defining a tourist attraction, we considered sites of historical or cultural interest; natural phenomena and landmarks; and officially designated entertainment and recreation centers.

Also included are places with commercial areas, such as Times Square and the Las Vegas Strip; however we’ve excluded shopping malls and casinos. Well-known roads and walks were considered, but long stretches of highway did not meet our definition of a tourist attraction.

Visitor numbers from 2009 were provided by the tourist attractions.

By Msnbc

Times Square has a grandstand for visitors to take in the circus of billboards, news tickers, street performers and excellent people watching.

Adventure travel in the Amazon rainforest attracts tourists looking to explore exotic lands and primitive cultures. Stretching from the Andes Mountains in Peru to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil, the Amazon rainforest comprises roughly half of the world’s biodiversity. With so much natural beauty and myriad indigenous cultures, it’s no wonder the Amazon has emerged as a premier ecotourism destination.

Tribal Visits

Witness the ways of life practiced by Amazonian tribes as a highlight of a trip to the region. Numerous indigenous communities exist throughout the dense jungles and snaking rivers of the Amazon. According to Fodor’s Travel Guide, the largest groups include the Korubo and Yanomami clans of Brazil as well as the Matsés of Peru. Some tribes have adapted slightly to better accommodate tourists, but the primitive means of survival and ancient customs remain intact for the most part. Adventure travelers can see how locals have managed to live in harmony with the rainforest over the centuries, free from the development and distractions of the outside world. However, it is not advisable to visit tribes on your own. Fodor’s recommends using a trusted tour company, such as Amazon Adventures of Brazil, if you plan on going to any of the remote indigenous villages in the region. A professional guide will facilitate transportation and cross-cultural communication while taking appropriate safety precautions.

Wildlife

Wildlife abounds in the Amazon rainforest. Tourists will find national parks and nature reserves in many of the countries spread across the Amazon Basin. Professional guides take visitors to popular spots where large concentrations of exotic animals live in their natural habitats. From monkeys and frogs to jaguars and parrots, the Amazon boasts an immense array of wildlife for tourists to discover. Jaú National Park in Brazil and Manú National Park in Peru are two of the best-known places for ecotourism and wildlife observation. Fodor’s suggests wearing boots and pants if you plan on trekking to see wildlife in a park or nature reserve. This will help protect you from bites, stings and rashes.

Canopy Tours

Canopy tours are one way to see the jungle from a new perspective. Travelers move across rough terrain via treetops connected by rope bridges and zip lines. This elevated approach to trekking allows you to spot animals from above and quickly traverse dense patches of the jungle. Canopy tours are also an eco-friendly way of traveling. Much of the environmental impact that would be caused by cutting paths or roads through the forest is eliminated thanks to the raised networks of bridges and zip lines in canopy tour zones. This is an exhilarating way to see the Amazon for adventurous individuals that don’t mind heights. The Canopy Walkway, operated by Explorama, is a prominent option located in the CONAPAC Biological Reserve near Iquitos, Peru. Brazil also has many ecolodges that offer canopy tours, including the well-known Ariaú Jungle Towers resort facility.

Boat Trips

Boats provide the primary means of transportation in the Amazon. The massive Amazon River and hundreds of tributaries connect the various cities and villages in the region. A lack of roads and airports due to the dense jungle makes it necessary for most travelers and residents to get around by boat. Tour companies offering short cruises and long-distance river transportation can be found in most cities. You can take quick trips on smaller vessels or go between villages on larger ships. The G.A.P (Great Adventure People) tour company offers comfortable cruise services out of the Amazonian village of Nauta in Peru. According to Fodor’s, some oceangoing cruise ships also ferry passengers to the Brazilian cities of Manaus and Belém with most trips taking place between October and May. Fodor’s recommends companies such as Princess Cruises and Royal Olympic Cruises for tourists who want to travel with oceangoing ships along the Brazilian portion of the Amazon River.

by David Thyberg

rainforest motorboat image by Sophia Hendrick.

Visitors Will Soon Be Allowed to See the Monument’s Underground Chambers.

Come this summer, visitors to Rome will be able to see parts of the Roman Colosseum never before open to the public. They will descend to the dank depths under the world’s biggest ancient amphitheater, and climb the steep steps to its highest (existing) level to admire the majestic views over the arena and the magnificent ruins of the Roman Forum and Arch of Constantine next door.

Thanks to special government funds, conservation projects are underway at what is arguably the world’s most famous monument to shore up areas that have been closed for decades, and allow access to visitors. Particularly fascinating is the warren of underground chambers and passageways that housed the animals, gladiators, machines and scenery that made up the greatest show on earth two-thousand years ago.

Soon, small groups of visitors with a guide will enter the Colosseum through the back entrance known as the Porta Libidinaria — where in Roman times the gladiators made their grand entrance into the arena — and take a glass elevator down into the bowels of the arena. There, with some imagination, you can picture the noisy, smelly chaos of animals and men preparing for showy battle.

The area opening to the public is under a modern reconstruction of the floor of the Colosseum that was built with steel beams in the year 2000. The original was built of wood, and covered with sand. Under this roof visitors get a feel for what it was like to be in the underground area where wild animals and gladiators waited their turn in what was the backstage of the biggest spectacle in the world at the time.

“The public will be able to visit this area for the first time in August or September,” says Barbara Nazzaro, the architect in charge of the still-to-be completed restoration under the Colosseum, “and they will see the area under the arena where people worked all day to put on the show.”

Lions, tigers, buffalo, gazelles, ostriches and more were brought into the Colosseum through an underground tunnel and locked in cells before being hoisted up in one of the 80 elevators to the stage above, appearing as if by magic in different corners of the arena (elephants used the ground-level entrance) .

By ANN WISE

Come this summer, visitors to Rome will be able to see parts of the Roman Colosseum never before open to the public. They will descend to the dank depths under the world?s biggest ancient amphitheater, and climb the steep steps to it?s highest (existing) level to admire the majestic views over the arena and the magnificent ruins of the Roman Forum and Arch of Constantine next-door.

Overview
Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing travel industries in the United States. The aim of ecotourism is to provide a fun, relaxing vacation while protecting the surrounding ecosystem. Ecotourism also often works to educate and immerse the participants in an eco-friendly lifestyle and has brought thousands of people to some of the most beautiful regions of the United States, while preserving and protecting these natural wonders.
Definition
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as a system of travel and tourism that promotes ecological preservation while educating the travelers about sustainable living. There are no mandatory certifications, but there are several national and international voluntary certifications. The major factors to consider when planning an eco-friendly vacation are these: The hotel or resort must adhere to all local and national safety standards, there must be a high degree of quality service, and the environment must be sustainable and all efforts should be made to maintain ecologically responsible protocol.
What to Look For
Because of the lack of US regulation, the ecotourism industry is left to police itself. Travelers should be pro-active in researching and asking questions. Ask the tour agency or resort what steps it takes to sustain the local environment. At a minimum, it should recycle as much as possible, use local resources and organic foods when possible and offer an educational program. The traveler should expect to find simple policies, such as washing linens and towels only between guest visits, offering filtered water instead of bottled, and encouraging walking and bicycling instead of automobiles. Most responsible US eco-tours also will focus the agenda around outdoor activities and education of the region.
Interaction with Nature
US ecotourism activities vary depending on region, but most will focus on interacting with natural surroundings. Florida EcoSafaris offers nighttime horseback riding and canopy zip-line tours that educate as well entertain. Bison Quest, on the Wild Echo Bison Reserve in Montana, strives to give guests an interactive experience with bison to promote their preservation. Interweaving Native American bison tradition with contemporary scientific conservation methods, Bison Quest provides a balance of education and fun.
Family Fun
A number of eco-tour providers cater to family vacations. Deep Creek Lake Tours in western Maryland will custom-design an eco-friendly vacation for family members of all ages, including offering farm tours, Toddler Tuesdays and guided hikes. Natural Habitat Adventures features a Family Glacier Adventure tour that includes rafting, hiking and camping in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Extreme Ecotours
For those looking for more adventure and a challenging tour, there are many options. Arctic Wild provides eco-tours to the arctic of northern Alaska that include backpacking and rafting in remote areas. Bike Hawaii, near Honolulu, offers biking trips through the mountains and coasts of Hawaii to give travelers a unique perspective of the island.

By Catherine Rayburn

hike scene image by Galyna Andrushko