The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia, rescues orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations, illegal hunting and the pet trade. Today, it has become Sabah's top nature-based and wildlife tourist destination. Photo courtesy of Flick/whl.travel

We’ve all visited neglected, underfunded and high-traffic tourist parks where wild and endangered animals have become almost tame. Sites such as these, where regulations are inadequately enforced, are unfortunately far too common. Visiting tour groups are frequently too large or too loud, acting in ways that threaten the local wildlife, disrupting delicate ecosystems and occasionally endangering themselves. Too often “ecotourism” is merely a catchphrase used by proprietors more interested in scoring revenue than in minimising the effects of travel and preserving native habitats.

On the sunny flip side of this is well-planned ecotourism, the kind that helps conserve many outdoor and wilderness spaces that may be a last hope for endangered species. Around the world, successful ecotourism programs are helping to spotlight animal conservation, promoting awareness and drawing dollars to the cause. Many such projects deserve far more attention than they get – which is why we should keep talking about them, spreading the word among friends or “liking” them on Facebook.

The best ecotourism initiatives also take a multi-pronged approach to establishing peaceful coexistence between the worlds of humans and beasts. Successful projects have helped two-legged outsiders understand what’s at stake in some of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, and have educated locals and visitors alike about how their actions can help preserve wild animal populations.

Beyond all this, of course, lies economic development. Well-practiced ecotourism brings a wide range of benefits to local communities and serves as a powerful incentive to support the conservation of wildlife. The best models work by linking community development with education and environmental stewardship, creating the right atmosphere for ecotours that protect endangered animals in the wild.

In light of all of this, here are some of our favourite ecotourism and endangered-species conservation programs, courtesy of the WHL Group.

Saving Orphan Orangutans in Sepilok, Northern Borneo, Malaysia

From its headquarters in Malaysian Sabah on the tropical island of Borneo, one local conservation centre has been working hard since 1964 to protect one of mankind’s closest relatives. Here in a local forest reserve is the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, a sanctuary and boarding school for around 25 orphan orangutans.

The centre houses young primates caught during logging operations and confiscated from illegal poachers. Working in close collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Orangutan Appeal, the organisation gives the fostered orangutans the training they need to survive in the wild. Babies are given daily meals of milk and bananas and are nurtured through a buddy system, which partners them with older apes. In this way, many youngsters learn skills, including tree-climbing, that are essential for life in the forest.

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre can be reached via a 45-minute flight from the city of Kota Kinabalu. At the Centre, a guided walking tour begins with a short informational video. Guests then have the chance to witness a feeding and explore the surrounding forest reserve, home to between 60 and 80 orangutans. All proceeds from the visitors’ entry fees help to run the program.

The magnificent breach of a humpback whale off the Morro de São Paulo coast of Brazil

Protecting the Humpback Whale in Morro de São Paulo, Brazil

Based in the fishing port of Caravelas in the Brazilian state of Bahia, the Instituto Baleia Jubarte works tirelessly to monitor and protect the habitats of humpback whales. The research taking place focuses on whale populations, whale behaviour and human threats to whale conservation. In the legal sphere, the institute has also been instrumental in putting a stop to offshore oil exploration during the humpback whale’s mating season.

One difficulty of studying whales stems from the amount of time they spend completely submerged. When spotted breaching, however, humpbacks put on quite a show. Weighing between 35 and 40 tons, these graceful acrobats nevertheless seem to hang in mid-air.

Humpbacks feed during the summer in polar waters off Antarctica, but when the season turns they migrate north in search of warmer seas in which to breed. From July to October, they are therefore often spotted close to the small village Morro de São Paulo, where a local whale-watching tour is run in partnership with the institute, a portion of the proceeds contributing to whale research. Each tour collects scientific information about the creatures as visitors learn more about whale migration patterns.

The country of Zambia is an important stronghold for the survival of the African lion, especially the 22,400-square-kilometre territory of Kafue National Park. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Liv Unni Sødem

Safeguarding the King of Cats in Countries Throughout Africa

Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the African lion has seen its numbers dwindle fast, plummeting by an estimated 30 percent in the last two decades alone. Some top threats to the cats include defensive killings by humans to protect their livestock, reductions in prey and loss of habitat. In the face of this, nongovernmental organisations across the African continent such as the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) are working to set responsible standards that will help in the conservation of these iconic creatures.

In Zambia, the low density of the human population combined with an immense tract of well-preserved parkland have made it a main refuge for the noble African lion. Roughly twice the size of Belgium, the territory of Kafue National Park plays host to the Kafue Lion Project, which helps to ensure the long-term sustainable management of the area by collecting information on the stability of the park’s lion populations. Such data will eventually be used in the development of a countrywide Lion Management Strategy.

Capitalising on this in a responsible fashion, many tours and experiences in Zambia now allow travellers to observe lions in their habitat. From the city of Livingstone, whl.travel local connection Wildside Tours’ lion encounter tour provides an opportunity for visitors to walk amongst the lions. For a bit more distance, a lion safari drive is a good way to watch lions hunt and play against the stunning backdrop of the nearby Dambwa Forest.

Supporting Snow Leopard Conservation in Nepal

Residing in the alpine regions of Central Asia and mountain ranges of the Himalayas, snow leopards survive in some of the world’s harshest climates. There may only be between 4,500 and 7,500 left in the world, although as solitary and elusive animals, they are famed for being difficult to count. Complicating conservation efforts are the hostile conflicts along the international borders where over a third of the animal’s territory falls.

Nepal is known to have a relatively dense snow leopard population, especially throughout the spectacular Annapurna trekking region. Due to their loss of habitat and the area’s omnipresent livestock, the cats have occasionally preyed upon villagers’ sheep and horses. To help stem the tide of retaliatory killings against snow leopards, organisations such as the WWF (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund) and the Snow Leopard Conservancy work to provide villagers with livestock insurance and other alternative income sources.

One current WWF project focuses on training villagers to set up camera traps that allow for surveying and monitor the cats. This is in additional to helping locals create treks, education initiatives, cultural shows and guided wildlife tours aimed at spotting the elusive snow leopard.

For volcano enthusiasts, and travelers interested in geology and natural history, Hawai’i is a unique destination offering one-of-a-kind encounters with Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s most massive volcano. At the recommendation of Annette Kaohelaulii of Hawai’i Ecotourism Association, I was fortunate to get to know one of the most reputable local ecotour providers, VolcanoDiscovery Hawai’i – the Hawai’i branch of VolcanoDiscovery, an international company offering customized volcano tours around the world – and to experience the Big Island differently: with an incredible amount of education and an eye-opening insights into the culture and history of the island.

Phil is the manager of VolcanoDiscovery Hawai'i, leading a five-person team of local specialist guides currently operating from an office in his off-grid house.

Local, Personalized and Mind-Blowing

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many destinations around the world, and one thing I’ve learned about myself through traveling is that the type of travel experiences I enjoy most is slow, local and personal. Whether I was backpacking in Europe or market-hopping in Asia, my favorite memories were always about the people from the local areas who shared with me slices of their lives.

Philip Ong, our private tour guide, offered exactly that. In addition to being an extraordinarily knowledgeable volcano specialist and passionate guide, he had the quality of a “local friend” that made the tour memorable beyond what’s included in the package. The eight-hour tour with Phil – focusing on natural and cultural interpretation and taking time to stop to contemplate and to exchange views about tourism in Hawai’i – for me made all of the rest of the days on the island more enjoyable and meaningful.

I’ll admit that, as valuable and educational as Phil’s interpretation was, I did not actually follow everything he said. A lot of scientific details about the volcanoes, which Phil was more than happy to share, repeat and elaborate on as needed, didn’t necessarily register with me (mostly because I was too amazed at the scenery or at Phil’s knowledge to try and digest a lot of information). “If you don’t remember these scientific terms, don’t worry, we’re not going to be testing you,” Phil joked, assuring me that learning in Hawai’i’s natural volcano laboratory is about finding connections with the land – in my own way, at my own pace.

Our tour was planned based on the best way to “tell the stories of past eruptions and build an understanding of how the volcano actually erupts” (from one of pre-trip email exchanges with Phil) and to allow for the opportunity to discuss ecotourism, as well as experiencing the island’s unique wonders.

What struck me most as (to use a volcanic metaphor) mind-blowing was the glimpse into the world view of native Hawaiian islanders before Western contact. The scientific methods used today to record volcanic activities were, obviously, not part of Hawaiian way of life until Western science was introduced to the islands. However, this does not mean that Hawaiians in pre-Western contact periods did not record volcanic activities; they just took a very different approach.

“Instead of measuring the movements of volcanoes, as we do today,” Phil explained, “the native Hawaiians understood and communicated the changes in volcanoes by telling stories about Pele, the mystical goddess of fire, and other volcano and island spirits.” Every incident of volcanic activity in the ancient times was recorded through tales of Pele and her expressions of passion and rage, and her dramatic (to say the least) love life. On the Hawai’i island you will see the legend very much alive, for instance the famous sibling rivalry between Pele and her sister Hi’iaka, the goddess of nature, whose desires are manifested in the eternal cycle of destruction (Pele’s rage) and rebirth (Hi’iaka restoring the forests on the land ravaged by lava and rocks).

While it’s impossible to ‘undo’ the perspectives acquired through education and experience, and I would never truly see the world through the eyes of First Hawaiians, just trying to imagine the creativity and wisdom of a world where story-telling and “making sense” of nature’s drama were one and the same thing was a mesmerizing experience.

One of the skills required for small operators like Phil is to navigate around large tour groups on cruise ship days. Most of these groups, though, tend to spend very little time at each site, simply stopping to take pictures. In comparison, Phil generously allocated time to offer in-depth interpretation and to share stories.

Opening People’s Eyes to Ecotourism

Listening to Phil, I could tell how passionate he is not only about volcanoes, natural history, geology, and Hawaiian culture, but also about the possibilities of opening people’s eyes (and perhaps changing their attitudes) to the importance of protecting this amazing island. “I understand that there’s a need for every type of tourism,” he noted, “and that we fill a specific niche.” On the tourism spectrum on the island, companies like VolcanoDiscovery Hawai’i are on one end of the extreme: very small, very local and very customized. On the other end are the very large, very corporate and very generic mass tours.

Cruise ships, on the mass end of the spectrum, are inevitably a large part of life in Hawai’i, and have profound impact on local businesses. On “cruise ship days” in Hawai’i, parking lots in national parks fill up with tourist buses and sightseeing vans, and foot traffic is much higher at all of the iconic viewpoints and pathways. Our tour day, too, was one of those days and we saw the scene familiar to many: tour bus unloads, people take pictures in front of whatever the iconic sight they’ve come to see, and hurry back to the bus to carry on with their pre-scheduled itinerary.

Phil shared his experience – as one of the ‘little guys’ among the numerous Big Island tour providers. “At first I had a negative view of those passengers who settle for a superficial experience of the island, but I’ve come to realize that these are exactly the people that we need to be working with, if we want to promote ecotourism and effect change.” Unlike someone (like me) who is already ‘sold’ on the idea of a personal, educational and low-impact interpretive tour experience, people who usually choose mass tour experiences will likely have that aha! moment and may be inspired to be a little bit more conscious about their impact – the next time they travel, or at home.

“However small the change may be,” said Phil, “that’s what we try to do, to inspire people to experience Hawai’i differently and to become more conscious about their connection to the Earth and lifestyle in general.”

Pele, fortunately, was breathing very gently and remained calm during our visit. You can feel her ‘breath’ in the air, in the form of warm volcanic steam.

Sustainability of Running a Tourism Business Sustainably

VolcanoDiscovery Hawai’i is one of the 14 companies in Hawai’i that have received the Hawai’i Ecotourism Association’s first-ever green certification program (and among them, one of the three to have achieved the highest GOLD level), recognized for their responsible use of natural and cultural resources, support for conservation and sustainability practices, and efforts to raise awareness among visitors.

Will the certification help Phil’s business? Will it help boost ecotourism in Hawai’i – which in turn would also help small operators like VolcanoDiscovery Hawai’i?

Phil is under no illusion that mass tourism would completely change its nature, nor that the politics in the state’s tourism industry (which tends to favor those with money) would revolutionize to support the ‘little guys’ any time soon. But he is also practically optimistic. By winning support of repeat customers and taking advantage of word-of-mouth referrals, his business is growing (traveler review sites such as TripAdvisor has been a great asset to the business), which shows that there is an increasing demand for local and sustainable tour experience, and that his approach focusing on story-telling and personal connections is winning the hearts of those who experience it.

His challenge now is to convert those travelers into contributors (whether they are volunteering their time, or donating money) supporting conservation. VolcanoDiscovery Hawai’i guides work on native rainforest restoration projects during the off-season, and in order for professionally-trained personal interpretative guides’ jobs to be sustainable year-round, there needs to be a way to fund their off-season work, which in turn will ensure that travelers can continue to experience Hawai’i’s living landscapes without destroying them.

The kind of personal encounter with Pele that I had, I feel, would be the only convincing that’s needed to convert any traveler into a passionate supporter.

As conservation tourism becomes more and more popular, how can travelers be certain of exactly where and how their money is being spent? One wildlife conservation group is leading by example by clearly outlining exactly how travelers’ dollars contribute to the sustainability of conservation projects and surrounding communities.

The Los Roques Scientific Foundation of Venezuela never ceases to educate visitors by allowing them to observing one of the on-site hatcheries. These baby turtles are growing strong so they will have a better chance of survival once they are placed back in their natural environment.

Conservation tourism – considered to be a “sub-niche” of sorts of geotourism, in line with voluntourism and “local travel” – is booming.

Travelers continue to seek meaningful opportunities to immerse in and support the natural environments and communities they visit, while destinations proliferate the means to capitalize as a way to boost their economies and increase ecological and even cultural awareness.

By supporting efforts to protect endangered species through fees and donations, conservation tourism aims to benefits local communities; increasing awareness and appreciation for our planet’s environmental and ecological concerns while delivering a much-needed sustainable source of revenue for conservation efforts.

These tours also provide a viable economic development alternative for local communities that have few other income-generating options.

However, it can be difficult for travelers to accurately determine just how much of their financial commitment directly benefits conservation projects and the local economies of their destinations, as opposed to benefiting the travel purveyors themselves – as is unfortunately sometimes the case.

No More Guesswork

However, one travel/tour group is looking to negate that stigma by placing a layer of absolute transparency between the travelers’ wallets and the communities they help to flourish – a worthy model for the conservation tourism as well as the entire geo/eco-tourism spectrum to follow.

Turtles are curious creatures that have walked (and swum) this earth since the time of the dinosaurs. Little is known about this migratory animal that often will swim thousands of miles across oceans to return to the very beaches where they were born to lay their eggs. This green turtle was photographed in Seychelles, an image courtesy of Flickr/whl.travel

SEE Turtles, a well-known wildlife conservation tourism project, has eliminated the “guessing game” by establishing a unique and completely transparent pricing model that clearly lays out the economic impact of conservation tourism dollars on environmental sustainability and responsible community development.

The new pricing allows conscientious travelers to engage in meaningful wildlife conservation initiatives alongside local sea turtle researchers, while fully aware of exactly where their money is going and how it directly benefits the cause.

The company puts it all out there: demonstrating exactly how their tour guests’ financial contributions contribute to the sustainability of turtle conservation projects and the surrounding communities.

Right on their website for the world to see, SEE Turtles outlines each tour’s estimated per person amount – in dollars and percentages – that gets allocated to two key areas: Conservation and Turtle Communities.

Conservation includes fees and donations given to local conservation organizations to protect turtle habitat, hire local residents, and support scientific research and to SEE Turtles to promote our educational programs. For volunteer trips, this also includes the value of donated time.

Communities represents the direct and indirect spending by tour guests to support locally-owned businesses near sea turtle hotspots including hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. Such income helps communities recognize the value of sea turtles as an important resource to protect and inspires local support for conservation.

Turtles are natural seafaring creatures that can measure up to 51 inches (130 centimetres) in length and weigh 660 pounds (300 kilograms). They are the earth's oldest living reptiles. Known for their shy defensive mechanisms, turtles actually have some of the best night vision in the animal kingdom. This loggerhead turtle was is off the coast of Turkey near Kas. Photo courtesy of Flickr/whltravel

According to SEE Turtles, at least 30% of each SEE Turtles trip goes towards support of conservation and communities. The average across all trips is 48%, with 16% directly supporting conservation and 32% spent in local communities.

The $150 per person average supporting conservation efforts is the equivalent of hiring a researcher to patrol a nesting beach in Costa Rica for two weeks.

“Travelers are becoming increasingly aware of their responsibility to help protect nature and local cultures,” said Jim Dion, Associate Director, Center for Sustainable Destinations at National Geographic. “SEE Turtles’ Conservation Pricing Model sets a new standard for transparency that will help travelers to evaluate tourism options and feel confident their travel dollars are benefiting local communities and conservation efforts.”

As more and more conservation-geared companies move toward this or a similar model of pricing transparency, it will be interesting to see how traveler numbers fare.

As recent reports have suggested, money is of course still a factor in travel decisions – especially in such trying economic times. Even responsible travelers can be skeptical, and often with good reason.

Still, if you’re new to eco-travel, ecolodges are a great place to start. Frame your trip around an ecolodge that stands out. Look for places that have gained international recognition and awards for the conservation and community work they are doing. Look for places that meet third-party green certification standards. Find your fantasy ecolodge, then make it the centrepiece of your trip.

Here are a few ideas for inspiration.

An eco-chic lodge at Ecohotel, one of the three 'ecohabs' near Santa Marta, Colombia. Photo courtesy of Ecohabs Santa Marta

Ecohabs Santa Marta in Colombia

Think outside the resort box and opt for one of the three ‘ecohabs’ at Ecohabs Santa Marta, a chic addition to one of Colombia’s most prized natural areas, Tayrona National Park, where lush green forests and stunning coast are just waiting for exploration near the popular beach town of Santa Marta.

If you go with Ecohabs Tayrona or Ecohotel, you get a beachfront spot without any high-rise interference. Or venture a little farther inland to Ecohabs Minca, and you’ll be immersed in thick vegetation against a mountain backdrop.

The #1 reasons to stay at Ecohabs Santa Marta: they’re designed to be visually integrated into their surroundings, built primarily with local materials and include ethnic aspects inspired by the huts of Tayrona’s indigenous tribes.

Click here to learn more about Ecohabs Santa Marta.

San Miguel del Bala in Bolivia

When people think Bolivia, they often imagine jagged snowcapped mountains, dizzying altitudes and a vast white plain of salt. But to the northeast of La Paz, Bolivia shares the low-lying Amazon basin with Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Here you can visit Rurrenabaque, Bolivia’s gateway to Madidi National Park in the Amazon jungle, where you’ll find some of the most lauded ecotourism projects in South America.

One great example is San Miguel del Bala, a lodge owned and operated by an indigenous Tacana community. With help from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a few large nongovernmental organisations, the group of 35 families built the lodge and provided themselves an alternative to traditional extractive trades like logging and hunting.

The #1 reason to stay at San Miguel del Bala: after taking in the incredible biodiversity of Madidi National Park, you can relax with a weaving class with women from the local community.

Click here to learn more about San Miguel del Bala.

The water catchment system on the Chumbe Island bungalows near Zanzibar, Tanzania, demonstrate the green technology that makes it a certified long-run destination. Photo courtesy of Chumbe Island Coral Park Lodge

Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Off the coast of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania is the hypnotic Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar. Although officially part of Tanzania, the island is very much its own place, with a strong cultural identity and amazing natural assets.

A short boat ride from Zanzibar takes you to Chumbe Island, a coral sanctuary. Here you’ll find the Chumbe Island Coral Park lodge that is using the latest in eco-technology. For example, each eco bungalow has a water catchment system that allows it to capture its own freshwater supply during the rainy season. The water is then filtered and pumped for use.

The #1 reason to stay at Chumbe Island Coral Park: It meets the standards of Global Ecosphere Retreats, which certifies it as a long-run destination.

Click here to learn more about Chumbe Island Coral Park.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge in Borneo, Malaysia

Go wild in Malaysia with a visit to Borneo’s most prestigious ecolodge, the Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Getting there takes some doing – the last leg of the trip involves a short boat ride down the Kinabatangan River and into the depths of the Sukau Rainforest. It’s ideally located as a jungle trekking adventure home base.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge has been turning heads since 1997, when it won its first award: the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award. Since then, it has gained distinction from major players like Trip Advisor, Ecoclub.com and most recently the World Travel Awards.

The #1 reason to stay at Sukau Rainforest Lodge: guests can join its reforestation campaign by taking a moment to plant their own rainforest tree.

Click here to learn more about Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

The walls of Adrère Amellal near Cairo, Egypt, blend seamlessly into the surrounding desert landscape. Photo courtesy of Adrère Amellal

Adrère Amellal in Cairo, Egypt

In the deserts surrounding Cairo, Egypt, a desert ecolodge called Adrère Amellal has the fantastical beauty of a nomad’s weary hallucination. The handcrafted buildings of stone and clay blend into the natural landscape surrounding them, as if they could disappear at any moment. This is an upscale retreat with top-notch culinary options.

The #1 reason to stay at Adrère Amellal: with no electricity, the rooms are softly lit with a dozen beeswax candles and the starry desert sky.

Click here to learn more about Adrère Amellal.

Visiting a rainforest is a unique nature experience. During the day, these unique biomes burst with a busy buzz and bright flashes of colour. At night, the air comes alive with the shrieks and calls of the forest’s many nocturnal creatures. Cicadas drone, bats flap beneath the canopy, a monkey howls in the distance.

Amidst all this natural beauty, it’s important to tread lightly. Remember that rainforests today cover just six percent of the earth, yet they are home to an estimated 40 to 75 percent of all the world’s plants and animals, including many still just being discovered. Sadly, despite efforts to protect them, many habitats are continue to be endangered by logging and overdevelopment.

The tropical rainforest habitat is home to between 40 to 75 percent of the world’s plants and animals. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Tatters

Well-planned ecotourism is one key to rainforests’ continued survival. It places value on preservation of nature as a commercial resource. Reputable tour outfits offer employment opportunities for locals as leaders and wildlife guides, enabling them to earn their money through sustainable and environmentally responsible forms of income. Travellers’ passion for traditional culture encourages locals to continue ancient forest-friendly practices.

Before your next escape to the rainforest, do some research in advance. The right tour operator and a great local guide can help you spot wildlife and make the most of any adventure.

Get Up Close to the Real Rainforest in Corcovado, Costa Rica

Away from the crowds of much-visited Monteverde, another sort of park awaits visitors in Costa Rica. National Geographic once labelled Corcovado National Park as “the most biologically intense place on earth,” and you’d be hard pressed to prove them wrong. Accessible via Puerto Jimenez along the Osa Penninsula, the  425-square-kilometre park is one of the last places to spot jaguars in Central America. It is also home to endangered species such as the Baird’s tapir, Harpy eagle, ocelots and more. Staying overnight in the park is strongly recommended, possible in a basic, budget and rustic eco-lodge or one of several ranger stations.

The Bolaven Plateau in the Champasak Province of southern Laos is known for its many scenic waterfalls. Photo courtesy of Miranda Siu

Climb High in the Champasak Province of Laos

Well known for its collection of ancient Khmer ruins, Champasak Province of southern Laos contains a wealth of natural thrills in the form of beautiful jungles and raging waterfalls. Wildlife enthusiasts can try to spot rare and endangered species like yellow-cheeked gibbons, Asian elephants and Irrawaddy dolphins, while other adventures await thrill seekers who head high above the treetops. Two- and three-day zip line treks allow travellers to unleash their inner Tarzan in the canopy of this semi-evergreen forest.

Become Better Acquainted with the Jungle in Borneo

The tropical island of Borneo is home to some of the world’s oldest rainforest. As a nature lover’s paradise, it is also one of the last natural habitats for endangered animals such as the Bornean orangutan, Clouded leopard and several native bat species. Guided trips can be booked from cities such as Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan on the Malaysian side, or Banjarmasin on the Indonesia side.  In addition to being thrilling, night-time jungle treks are probably the best way to spot nocturnal wildlife.

Encounter a City Lost in the Jungles of Colombia

The dense jungles that constitute Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains are the historic domain of the early Tayrona civilisation. Among the ancient chiefdom’s best known archaeological sites is Ciudad Perdida (the “Lost City”), accessible via a six-day guided trek through a dense tropical forest. Hikers depart from Santa Marta, the city along Colombia’s Caribbean coast. The trek includes lots of opportunities to learn about the area’s indigenous people – descendants of the Tayrona – and plenty of time for spotting wildlife such as tapirs, deer and endemic hummingbirds.

Observe Life in the Amazing Amazon of Brazil

Capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas, the city of Manaus is a popular point of departure for ecotourists visiting the Amazon region.  From this gateway city, visitors can easily arrange regional cruises that visit remote communities along the Amazon River or schedule boat transfers to jungle lodges and resorts with river-view bungalows. The Brazilian Amazon famously encompasses 33 percent of all the world’s surviving tropical rainforests and its biodiversity is unparalleled. One in five of the world’s fish species is found in its waters, while the jungle itself boasts 2.5 million recorded insect species and is home to a wide collection of endangered animals like spider monkeys, jaguars and poison dart frogs. Enjoy the best of the river and the surrounding rainforest.

The port city of Manaus, Brazil, is a gateway to the incredible Amazon region. Photo by Rodolpho Emanuel

Revel in the Natural Beauty of Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest

Extending for over 1,000 kilometres, Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park is the largest protected area of high-altitude montane rainforest in Africa. Nestled in the heart of one of the continent’s most biodiverse regions – the Albertine Rift – Nyungwe boasts an exotic collection of rare orchids and endemic birds, as well as a large concentration of primates. Anyone looking to track chimps, however, will need to spend some time here. For the best chance at sighting mankind’s closest relative, consider booking a guided trip in the forests of Nyungwe.

To learn more about about jungle adventures on The Travel Word, read about travellers’ hiking and trekking experiences in some of the planet’s most exciting jungles.

Kyabobo (pronounced CHAY-a-bobo) may not be easy to reach, via rough roads from either the north or the south, but travellers note it is well worth the effort. Get there and you will be rewarded: chances are that you won’t cross paths with another tourist the entire time.

In Ghana, Kyabobo National Park is set against the unmistakable twin peaks knowns locally as the Breast Mountains. Photo courtesy of Leif Ryman

Covering New Terrain

Kyabobo is Ghana’s newest national park, stretching over 360 square kilometres and contiguous with Fazao National Park, just across the border in Togo. Seen from a distance, Kyabobo’s Breast Mountains, so named for the distinctive shape of two adjacent hills, are at its front door. The rest of the park is surrounded by dry plains that rise into hilly terrain covered in semi-deciduous forest.

Nkwanta is the nearest town and the gateway to Kyabobo. About four kilometres from the park headquarters, it is on the main north-south road running from the Volta region to northern Ghana in the area between Lake Volta and Togo. Since Kyabobo is really the only tourist draw in the area and well off Ghana’s tourist circuits, not many travellers make it Nkwanta. There are a couple of good reasons why, the main being how long and dusty the road is. By public transport, it can take two days to reach Nkwanta from Tamale with at least one transfer. There is also direct transportation from Accra that takes around eight hours.

Given the challenges of getting to Kyabobo, it is well worth staying a few days. Fortunately there are some good options for accommodation in the area. The Gateway and Kilimanjaro are good hotels in Nkwanta. At the park headquarters there are two nicely equipped guesthouses, each with a kitchen and bathroom, and camping sites. There are a number of other camps within the park, including a platform on top of a mountain ridge overlooking the shrine of the village of Kue.

A bridged trailhead leads the way into Ghana's Kyabobo National Park and toward a waterfall. Photo courtesy of Leif Ryman

Nature and Culture in Kyabobo

Everyone who enjoys the outdoors will find something exciting at Kyabobo, especially the network of trails for hiking, waterfalls to visit, biking, camping, canoeing, wildlife viewing and inner tubing on the Kue River. Hiking is the best way to explore the park. While there are some great trails only a couple of hours long or day hikes to waterfalls, others span the entire park and can take several days to complete involving some solitary camping. To get a good feel for the park, try the four-hour round-trip trek to Laboum Falls. You can extend it with another hour or two of hiking to the upper falls.

During any activity, animals to be spotted in the park include elephants, leopards, buffalo, waterbuck and several primate species. Unfortunately, due to the density of the forest and the steep hilly terrain, not everyone will be lucky enough to spy much large wildlife, although there are smaller more visible species bushbuck and duikers. You can also count on seeing butterflies and birds. Recent park surveys indicate the presence of at least 500 species of butterflies and 235 birds.

The symbol for the park is the rock hyrax, which is a large and very common rodent in Ghana, sometimes called a grass cutter. Roadside merchants often sell them… in the form of kabobs. In the wild, they are often seen on rocky outcroppings within the park.

For culture buffs, surrounding the park are a number of small communities called the Hanging Villages. They are said to resemble villages in the Himalayas that hug the sides of the mountains. Some even have shrines and hikes around the villages that guests can experience after visiting and drinking local gin with the chief. They’re accessible on foot or by bicycle. Travellers can even enjoy settling into village life with an overnight homestay.

A staff guide from the Wildlife Division of Ghana in Kyabobo National Park demonstrates how a leaf can be used as a cup to drink water. Photo courtesy of Leif Ryman

An Ecotourism Future

The park represents a very interesting attempt to balance the goals of environmental protection, ecotourism and the preservation of endangered communities. It is an ongoing experiment with high stakes – the survival of the area’s natural and human environment.

Organisation at Kyabobo is still in its early stages, however, so be patient and persistent when seeking information. Right now, a new visitors’ area definitely serves as an essential part of the learning experience – you can at least count on finding brochures at the park entrance – and the proceeds help the surrounding communities.

Additionally, for the host communities, ecotourism means “improved livelihood activities” or jobs as guides, cooks and craftspeople. The income generated from the park is used for local development projects, like bringing electricity to nearby communities and providing materials for the construction of schools and toilets.

If you are looking for an active vacation to a naturally beautiful and undiscovered part of Ghana, and if you are interested in contributing to a vital and ongoing real-world learning experience, Kyabobo Park is well worth the dusty road trip it takes to get there and back.

Perhaps no other continent encompasses such a diverse collection of countries and cultures as Europe. From the beautiful forests and medieval towns of the Balkan and Baltic states to the splendid scenery of the Alps, the eternal allure of the Mediterranean and Atlantic seaboards, and the cultural heritage and stylish character of its urban spaces, Europe has an obvious appeal that attracts travellers from all around the world. In fact, more than 480 million international tourists per year have been visiting the continent lately, thanks in part to its open borders and well-established tourism infrastructure.

Given the size and scope of Europe, though, visitors often only see what’s presented on packaged travel itineraries. They never experience the plenty that awaits independent travellers who choose to explore the continent at their own pace. And for the earth-conscious, Green Path Transfers – the world’s largest, global, ground-transfer service focused on eco-friendly operators and greening the market – now offers secure, reliable and competitively priced 100-percent carbon-offset transport in key destinations in Europe and well beyond.

This Citroen Jumpy Business 2.0 HDi at the Akropolis shopping center in Vilnius, Lithuania, is one of The Beautiful Land of Nevermind's two minivans. Photo courtesy of the The Beautiful Land of Nevermind

Superb European Sights

Having launched in March 2011, Green Path Transfers quickly assumed the mantle as market leader in eco-friendly intercity and airport transfers worldwide. Catering to business and leisure travellers alike, the company offers local transport by taxi, limousine and shuttle in more than 300 destinations. For this young and rapidly growing network, a far-reaching presence in Europe – one that reaches its most exciting cities and noteworthy sights – was clearly a vital step.

“It’s great to see Green Path Transfers accessing such a diverse, interesting continent,” says Adrian Cordiner, CEO of Green Path Transfers. “We look forward to making travel easier within Europe by providing comfortable, efficient and eco-friendly transport to visitors from around the world.”

For travellers keen to discover the fashionable metropolis of Milan, the historic architecture of Rome or the resplendent artwork and canals of Venice, Green Path Transfers now offers instantly bookable and hassle-free connections throughout Italy.

Likewise, many culturally renowned capitals of Germany are easily within reach via carbon-offset transport between Frankfurt, Munich and beautiful Berlin.

Taxi Ecologico in Barcelona, Spain, has a fleet of eco-friendly vehicles, including the Opel Zafira (pictured above), which has been converted to run on compressed natural gas

For visitors who might wish to explore the vast expanse of Russia, the company offers transfers between countless cities and historic towns, from Black Sea beach resorts such as Sochi to world-famous imperial cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Many more European destinations await as part of the large and growing network of responsible local transport operators.

Going Green

For Green Path Transfers, going green means making a conscientious commitment to sustainable practices, green technology and putting travellers on the right road to a less toxic future. Focused on the growing eco-friendly sector of the ground-transportation industry, the company goes a good green step further than any other transfer company by both neutralising all of its carbon emissions with its 100-percent carbon-offset policy.

Part of Traventuria's clean 10-vehicle fleet in Bulgaria is a Mercedes Sprinter that can fit up to nine people. Photo courtesy of Traventuria

Whether you are travelling from the airport to the Hermitage Art Museum at the historic centre of St. Petersburg, heading south to Barcelona for a glimpse of some of the world’s finest architecture by Antoni Gaudí or rounding out your time with a comfortable transfer to the Polish city of Krakow, Green Path Transfers’ focus on environmental responsibility means both corporate and leisure travellers can reduce their carbon footprints without increasing their costs.

Green Path Transfers is today also pleased to help global travellers to Europe arrange environmentally responsible transport in cities and towns as wide-ranging as Athens, Greece; Bucharest, Romania; Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Chisinau, Moldova; Dublin, Ireland; Paris and the French Alps; Lisbon, Portugal; Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Prague, Czech Republic; Sevastapol, Ukraine; Sofia, Bulgaria; Tallinn, Albania; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Vienna, Austria.

“We’re proud of the commitment that all of our local partners around the world have made toward a greener future,” adds Cordiner. “We are continually looking at ways to offer better services, cheaper prices and more eco-friendly vehicles to our customers.”

For more information on Green Path Transfers and how to book environmentally responsible transport, please visit www.greenpathtransfers.com.

In the beautiful region of Wayanad in Kerala, India, where dense jungle carpets the rolling mountains in the Western Ghats, lies a magical hidden gem. The quiet village of Thrikkaipetta in the heart of this breathtaking region is a beacon for community spirit and an inspiration for ethical tourism.

The ‘Bamboo Village’ of Thrikkaipetta, in the beautiful Wayanad region of Kerala, India. Photo courtesy of Kabani.org

Rural Wayanad’s delightful climate and rich biodiversity make it a vastly agricultural population (almost 50 percent of the inhabitants rely on farming for income). Like many places across the globe, farming here has been hit by financial strain due to declining market prices for crops. This problem has resulted in devastating problems for the Wayanad farming community, and very sadly resulted in suicides.

The community here, proud of their land and culture, have created a cooperative that generates additional income for farmers, empowers local people through job creation and provides ethical tourism opportunities.

Thrikkaipetta’s Bamboo Village was initiated by local people who are passionate about improving life for the community. It is a community-led bamboo nursery, using the resultant materials to create traditional crafts, food products, for environmental protection and as a tourism attraction. Visiting their bamboo workshop is like stepping into Santa’s grotto! It is incredible to see so many local people employed, busy creating a huge selection of products.

Many travellers are interested in helping the local farmers to plant rice in the fields. Photo courtesy of Kabani.org

As the Bamboo Village has gone from strength to strength, it became clear that the tourism offer here could be expanded and provide an even greater opportunity for additional income. Local responsible tourism campaigning NGO, Kabani, has partnered with the Bamboo Village’s management, Uravu, and the groups pulled together their expertise on agricultural life and how best develop a tourist infrastructure that would offer enriching tourist experiences and improve the lives of local people.

Today tourists from across the globe can come and enjoy the Bamboo Village’s ethical homestays. Visitors can enjoy a tranquil location with a friendly local family, feast on traditional home cooked food and fruits from their homestay’s plantation. Guests can also join an eye-opening village tour, learning about the diverse crops growing locally and participating in cultural exchange events.

A group of tribal artists demonstrate the traditional tribal art form 'Vattakali,' an intricate form of dance. Photo courtesy of Kabani.org

In addition to the unique learning experiences, guests can rest assured that 50 percent of the money paid for their cozy homestay is being reinvested into the community they have enjoyed getting to know. This money is helping to develop a community fund that provides crucial training for villagers (such as organic farming and healthy living education), youth projects and sustainable tourism development.

Blair Coburn from the UK recently stayed with a family in the Bamboo Village. “The opportunity to stay with a local family was a privilege. It was fantastic to know that my stay not only helped my wonderful hosts, but was helping to support the wider community through their training and development fund. I particularly enjoyed getting to shop for unique bamboo products, they made wonderful gifts to take home, and at the same time buying them has directly helped the women who made them.”

Since the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, over 20 million Americans from all walks of life have contributed to major environmental accomplishments, such as pressuring government leaders for the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws.

Today, the Earth Day Network is thriving with over 22,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. Each year, over 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

The Earth Day Network has once again taken on the ambitious goal of registering one billion environmentally friendly actions throughout the globe.

For 2012, the Earth Day Network is again hosting “A Billion Acts of Green®” with the ambitious goal of registering another one billion environmentally friendly actions in preparation for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development happening in Rio de Janeiro in June, 2012 (Rio+20).

At the event, the Earth Day Network plans to show world leaders that people are willing to stand up and be counted for the sake of our planet and the longevity of our species.

The Earth Day Network will also participate in helping to secure political commitment for more sustainable development, assess progress toward internationally agreed commitments and continue to address new and unforeseen challenges.

“Rio+20 the Conference will focus on two overall themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development,” said John Maleri, Associate Director of Earth Day and coordinator for A Billion Acts of Green®.

“The focus will be on seven highlighted areas in the context of these themes,” he added. “These include decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.”

Along with asking individuals to pledge an act of kindness towards the planet, there are also environmental events being held all over the world – including a rally at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 22, 2012, where tens of thousands of environmentally conscious people, from all parts of the country, will be joined by civic leaders and celebrities to strengthen the environmental movement.

All of Earth Day Network’s activities – whether promoting green economic policies at home or abroad – inform and energize communities to act in a way that will secure a healthy future for this generation and generations to come.

To take part, visit act.earthday.org. As of April 16, over 968,000,000 “acts” have been registered.

From its already impressive one-city debut in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 – when as many as 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses hit the swtich for 60 short minutes – Earth Hour this year expects that “hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world” will unite in support of the largest environmental event in history.

Already, participation this year is set to smash the numbers from Earth Hour 2011. People in a record 147 countries and territories are preparing to send a collective message – one that could impact more than 2 billion people – that now is the time to take action on climate change.

Have you got something planned for Earth Day? Not yet sure what to do? There are lots of ways to get involved, including through social media.

Landmarks Go Dark

Earth Hour isn’t just about individuals doing the right thing. This year scores of major monuments will join the cause. The Sydney Opera House, the Tokyo Tower and the Great Wall Of China in the East start a rolling spectacle that will take in Table Mountain in South Africa, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Brandenburg Gate and the Cupola of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in mainland Europe, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in the UK, before sweeping across Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil and Times Square, the Empire State Building and even the Las Vegas Strip in North America.

Even United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on everyone to join the UN, which will turn off its lights in solidarity with the 20 percent of the world’s population that doesn’t have access to electricity. The Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has also suggested to all World Heritage sites that they switch off their lights.

New in 2012: People’s Postcode Lottery

New this year is the People’s Postcode Lottery, a community initiative to assist conservation ventures achieve great things for the planet. Bill Clinton has apparently called it “the best thing I’ve ever seen to involve ordinary people in charitable work.” Here’s a quick video about it.

Volunteer vacationers are as diverse as our planet’s incredible range of environments and abundance of people. From protecting turtles’ eggs to delivering vital medical supplies, there’s something out there for everyone.

At Much Better Adventures, we work with a host of the world’s leading volunteer holiday providers, bringing the best under one roof. Here are just five worth your consideration.

Horseback riding and humanitarian aid go together with Relief Riders International

Deliver Humanitarian Aid on Horseback

For thrill seekers, nothing can beat cantering through the deserts of northern West India. This vast, unspoilt region is ripe for exploration. But it’s remoteness works against it too: many Rajasthan residents suffer from poor medical infrastructure. Deliveries of equipment and expertise are therefore vital.

So if you have plans to be in the area, why not add to the depth of your experience by volunteering on an important humanitarian mission? Horses are excellent for carrying supplies, so load them up with medical equipment. By helping out, you’re able to make a real difference to locals’ lives, while having an epic adventure yourself.

Teach English in Borneo, Malaysia, with Ecoteer

Teach English and Environmental Awareness

Teaching English abroad can be an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved. Offering you deep interaction with local people, it is a great way to delve into a new culture. Just as beneficially, local people learn English from a native speaker and are able to develop confidence in their language skills. Volunteers may also be given the chance to share their knowledge about environmental awareness, an important step in convincing locals to protect their natural resources.

These kinds of volunteer holidays often include free time each day, giving you ample opportunity to enjoy activities in the local area, whether they be sports meets or just chatting with new neighbours. English teaching trips vary in length from a couple of weeks to many months.

Volunteer with Lions in South Africa

The lion – the king of the cats – is one of the most majestic animals on the planet. So, what could be better than a volunteer position helping research the impacts of reintroducing it and other animals into an incredible nature reserve?

Volunteer projects could be your best chance to really help animals. Through guided courses and practical work with rangers, you develop new skills that you might not have a chance to otherwise. Research into endangered species, for example, is vital to the preservation of our ecosystems; however the (human and material and financial) resources to do this are sometimes hard to find. This is where volunteer holidays can come in to play: they help fill this gap so that the research can continue.

Student holding a baby turtle as part of his volunteer work with SEE Turtles

Protect Turtles as Part of Your College Studies

College students often think of volunteering holidays as rewarding additions to their studies. By putting theory into practice you gain a fuller understanding of your academic pursuits. Such experiences can also provide solid fodder for your CV, showing your commitment to your field and an appetite for contextualising your knowledge.

Turtle conservation projects are great area for students. Not only do they allow for hands-on care of these special marine creatures, but they are often located in rather nice corners of the world. Who would complain about that?

There’s a serious side to it all, of course, as many species are endangered and a lot of hard work is needed to help protect them. Roles can include monitoring beaches, caring for young turtles, researching populations and educating locals about how to prevent poaching.

Reef conservation and diving are twin pursuits of Reef Conservation International

Mix Diving with Reef Conservation

One of the most magical qualities of diving is experiencing the incredible submarine environment. You have only to look through the range of diving holidays to understand the increase in the number of volunteer holidays set up to help protect these garden hotspot for divers.

As reefs exist all over the world, you rarely have to travel too far to help out. Many reef-restoration volunteer holidays also integrate diving courses, giving you the ideal mix of conservation and learning.

There are many more opportunities than the five presented here. Why not start your adventure on Much Better Adventures’ Volunteering Holidays page?

There are many examples of outright cynicism when it comes to development – such as  shoe-horning blocks of poorly constructed hotel rooms into a beautiful stretch of coastline in an attempt to make a quick buck. But, quite often, development is something that gets thrust upon a destination in an an attempt to forestall the impact of booming popularity. In these cases, unfortunately, there simply isn’t time to handle it in a responsible manner.

Such was the case with the Italian town of Cortona. Forced into the limelight as a result of a book (Under the Tuscan Sun) that was adapted into a Hollywood movie, Cortona went from being a beautiful quiet backwater to a hugely in-demand tourist hotspot. It happened practically overnight.

While the sudden rush of tourist dollars was a welcome boon to the local economy, things began to change very rapidly. The town had to adapt to cope with the crowds, the types of jobs available shifted dramatically and the very character of the place began to be affected.

The creative team behind the upcoming film ‘The Genius of a Place‘ – a title taken from the works of Alexander Pope – noticed the change that was taking place in Cortona and set out to document it. While steps are being taken to mitigate against the damage being done to this particular destination, it serves as an example for other towns likely to be affected by similar issues.

While we agree that the residents of places like Cortona have a responsibility to protect the beauty and uniqueness of their home, it’s far from easy to do so. Financial pressures are an unavoidable fact of life.

That’s why we agree with the filmmakers that there is a real onus on us as travellers to ensure that we experience a destination in a responsible manner, whenever possible.

If we want to share in the beauty, we should also share the burden of maintaining that quality, or else pretty soon there won’t be anything left to enjoy.

How can you do the same – slow down your own adventures? Well, start by choosing just one place to visit and commit to getting to know it well. Then rent an apartment, lodge or guesthouses with weekly or monthly deals.

Need help getting your imagination racing? Here are a five excellent slow-travel lodging ideas.

Art Lodge, Isla Gobernadora, Panama. Photo courtesy of Art Lodge

Art Lodge in Gobernadora Island, Panama

Isla Gobernadora is located off the Pacific cost of central Panama at the mouth of the Golfo de Montijo, an important wetland predictably called the Humedal Golfo de Montijo. It’s within sight of the famous wave of Santa Catalina and the wonders lying beneath the waters of Coiba National Park. Most importantly, it’s where you will find a special place called Art Lodge.

The owners of Art Lodge, Valerie and Yves, have built an island paradise where you immediately feel at home. As both Valerie and Yves are French artists, the facilities and layout of the lands reflect their love of creativity. Everything is unique – each bungalow has its own character and artistic flair – constructed using local supplies, recycling materials and even incorporating smooth driftwoods from the beach into the designs.

The Art Lodge helps you slow down by changing your rhythm. Isla Gobernadora is a place where people still prefer the relaxed pace of the island life. You tap into it by participating in handicrafts workshops, going fishing or discovering the island and its surroundings. This small idyll has no cars or roads – just footpaths worn into place by generations of locals keeping things as simple as possible.

Check out Art Lodge on Gobernadora Island, Panama

Kiansom Villa in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Kiansom Villa

Kiansom Villa in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Snuggled into the lush green of Sabah on Malaysian Borneo is an ideal place for slow travellers in search of tranquillity. One perfect spot is Kiansom Villa, a self-catering holiday home with fully furnished and spacious rooms large enough for up to six people. A kitchenette makes home cooking possible, as does a convenient local market for the purchase of fresh ingredients.

Our advice is to book for at least a week and take your time with all that there is around the villa. Visit the Mari-mari Cultural Village – a reminder of the ancient indigenous tribal era – a mere five minutes’ drive from Kiansom. Set aside a full day for Manukan Island, a haven part of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and just 20 minutes by boat from Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu. You can arrange for island hopping, snorkelling, diving or pure relaxation.

On a drive into the hinterland of scenic hills and paddy fields, stop by at the village of Pekan Nabalu to savour local fruits in season. Visit the Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site and make your way to Poring Hot Springs, famous for its sulphur baths, canopy walkway, butterfly farm, orchid conservation centre and tropical gardens, as well as the Kipungit and Langanan waterfalls.

Check out Kiansom Villa in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Herceg Etno Selo in Medjugorje, Bosnia. Photo courtesy of Herceg Etno Selo

Herceg Etno Selo Village in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visit a bygone era just outside of Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Opened just four years ago, Herceg Etno Selo was built to help travellers step back to a time when life was simpler and slower. To get oriented, follow the stepping-stone paths through the 15 buildings built using age-old masonry techniques and arranged to create a sense of community.

Inside your own village house, you’ll find handcrafted mahogany furniture and warm, soft lighting. The favourite common area is the restaurant, which is located at the heart of the village. Here you can enjoy a real taste of rural Bosnia pulled from a menu of local food and wine, including famous varieties like Zilavka and Blatina.

This assembly of traditional-style houses feels like a village also because of an emphasis on culture. The amphitheatre – another favourite common area – hosts regularly scheduled local shows and events. You’ll even find an ethnography museum with great insight into the country’s past. Shoppers can browse in the village shop, which stocks traditional masonry tools and artefacts.

Check out Herceg Etno Selo near Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bua Lodge in Malawi. Photo courtesy of Bua Lodge

Bua River Lodge in Malawi

The newly opened Bua River Lodge is all about mood – good ones and slow ones. Built with repurposed safari tents on the bank of the Bua River, it is illuminated at night with paraffin lanterns and solar-powered lamps, which means there are no noisy generators and, at dinner, the ambiance is truly magical. When you’re looking out over the river, every night is a good night, but full moons are particularly magical.

The lodge is superbly located in the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve of Malawi. In fact, it is the first permanent accommodation to be built within the reserve.

As extra incentive to go slow and stay longer, the lodge offers a discount for stays of three days or longer. We urge you to take advantage of it and let the enchantment seep in. You’re going to need to take your time here – leisure activities include fishing, bird watching and walking safaris.

Check out Bua River Lodge in Malawi

River View Bungalows in Vang Vieng, Laos. Photo courtesy of River View Bungalows

River View Bungalows in Vang Vieng, Laos

Get comfortable and slow down in Laos by staying in a unique and elegant stilted guesthouse built on an island right in the middle of the Saysong River near Vang Vieng.

Called the River View Bungalows, they are a family-owned business inspired by Mr Southchai Chanthavong, a young entrepreneur with a passion for Laos and its tourism industry. Southchai studied accounting and English in Vientiane before returning to his hometown of Vang Vieng to live his dream of building the River View Bungalows, an internet cafe and the Saysong Guesthouse.

Given the abundance of activities around Vang Vieng, especially the ever-popular river tubing trips that launch from the tubing station nearby, you’ll need at least a week here. Act fast for slow travel savings, though. Until April 11 (2012), get 10% off your stay at the River View Bungalows by booking online in advance.

Check out River View Bungalows near Vang Vieng, Laos

You’ve seen them flocking together at every major tourist site: groups of travellers in bright Hawaiian shirts escorted by their tour guides, who lead them around like herds of cattle. Lumbering off buses, they brush sleep from their eyes for a 10- to 15-minute glimpse of whatever natural or manmade wonder they happen to see before them – a thunderous waterfall perhaps, or the crumbling pillars of an ancient civilisation. Then, still snapping photos with their brand-new cameras, they’re wrangled back on the bus.

One hopes that one day these folk will realise this is no way to see the world, watching the landscapes whirr by instead of savouring the journey. The typical big-hits packaged tour – characterised by buses speeding from one highlight attraction to the next – misses out on the unexpected pleasures of slower travel. Why not linger a little while to experience landscape from up close? What better way to get to know a place than to interact with the locals who live there? Group sightseeing by bus is a sleepwalker’s holiday. You need to get off the tourist coach for some real adventure.

A traditional dugout canoe, known as a haabja, is the best way to explore the wilderness of Estonia's Soomaa National Park. Photo courtesy of www.soomaa.com

Get Wet and Wild in Estonia

Known as the “land of the bogs,” Estonia reveals its natural splendour inside Soomaa National Park. Special footwear is required for “bog-shoeing” across this vast wet tract of land known for its abundant wildlife that includes numerous types of bird, wild boar and brown bear, all common residents of the peat bogs and flooded grasslands. The famous late-March ‘fifth season’ of floods is an ideal time for fully exploring the area’s damp landscapes and raging rivers, as well as the nearby Baltic Sea and the Estonia Islands just offshore. Spot seals, beavers, lynx and more on a Sea Kayaking and River Canoeing Adventure, with time spent both in Soomaa and in the Hiiumaa Islets Landscape Reserve.

The high-speed toboggan on Madeira Island, Portugal has been operating since 1850.

Take off by Toboggan in Madeira, Portugal

Visitors to Portugal’s Madeira Island have long been enjoying the high-speed trip from the hilltop resort town of Monte to the island’s low-lying capital city of Funchal. This easy commute requires no gas-guzzling vehicles, however – just a 10-minute ride via an old-fashioned toboggan. Steered by two men in traditional straw hats who use their rubber-soled boots as breaks, the toboggan ride has been a means of local transport on the island since as far back as 1850. During the two-kilometre trip, speeds can reach up to 48 kilometres per hour.

Away from the capital of Ulaanbaatar, a ranger patrols Mongolia's Khustai National Park. Photo courtesy Batbold Ragchaa

Horse Around in Mongolia

Since as far back as the days of Genghis Khan, horses in Mongolia have had a unique influence over the country’s history and culture. Mongol riders once ruled much of Eurasia, and horses remain central to the traditions of Mongolia’s nomadic tribes. In fact, the country today is home to approximately 20 million steeds, while the number of Mongolians is barely 2.8 million. It’s little wonder why riding is still so popular throughout Mongolia, especially as the beauty of country’s vast steppes is best discovered on horseback. Departing from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, a six-night Horseback Adventure to Legendary White Lake lets visitors take in sights that include ancient Mongol Empire ruins, petrified forests and rolling sand dunes – all while sleeping under the stars in a traditional yurt-style Mongolian ‘ger’ camp.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, visitors learn about the history of Apartheid while cycling around the vibrant Soweto township. Photo by Johannesburg Urban Adventures

Cycle Away in South Africa

Two wheels are an ideal way to see the sights in the legendary Soweto district of Johannesburg, South Africa – the colourful and vibrant neighborhood which helped usher in the end of the turbulent era of Apartheid. On Urban Adventures’ Cycle Soweto tour, visitors explore the most famous landmarks and streets recalling the days of Apartheid. The seven- to eight-hour leisurely pedal passes Vilakazi Street, where Nelson Mandela once lived, and encounters many noteworthy sights from the historic 1976 student uprisings. Rounding out the trip is a pause for umqombothi (traditional grain-brewed beer) at a local shebeen (bar).

On a reindeer sledding tour with Nutti Sámi Siida, travelers drive sleds across Swedish wilderness and learn how to handle their own reindeer. Photo courtesy of Katja Bechtloff

Sled Through Sweden – by Reindeer

In the far north of Swedish Lapland, one local travel operator had the ingenious insight to combine reindeer husbandry with community-based tourism. Based in the village of Jukkasjärvi (which is also home to the legendary IceHotel), Nutti Sámi Siida arranges first-rate ecotourism trips that showcase the environment and culture of the region’s indigenous Sámi people. On a reindeer sledding tour, riders learn how to handle their own reindeer while driving a sled through Sweden’s snow-covered tundra. Along the way, time is taken to taste traditional Sámi food, learn how to throw a lasso and become better acquainted with the four-footed companions. Why take the bus, when you can caravan above the Arctic Circle?

This relationship evolved into the gradual development of the island and, as waves of colonists made themselves at home, the reliance on and importance of the ocean for supplies and communication continued to grow.

Mauritius continues to enjoy many benefits from its position of relative isolation – including its reputation as a place of exceptional peace and tranquillity – but perhaps the most appreciated gifts of the sea – at least by visitors – are the island’s kilometres of beautiful beaches.

Resorts, such as the one pictured above (the Shanti Maurice A Nira), really make the most of the incredible white sands and turquoise gradients that characterise Mauritian beaches. The resort goes to great lengths to operate in harmony with its surroundings and serves to complement – rather than compete with – the natural beauty of its location. Built using natural materials, the Shanti blends into the landscape perfectly.

Balance with nature is of serious importance to Mauritians. The history of their island is closely associated with one of the most infamous species losses in history. During a period of less than a hundred years, the native Dodo bird was hunted to extinction by colonial sailors and has since become an emblem of mankind’s callousness toward the natural world.

By remembering the mistakes of the past, we are able to look toward a more sustainable future. Resorts, such as the Shanti, are helping to ensure that no more of the precious natural gifts bestowed upon Mauritius go the way of the Dodo.