Backroads
http://www.backroads.com/
This
eco-friendly tour operator organizes sustainable biking,
walking, and multisport tours worldwide. The company supports
a variety of conservation and ecotourism organizations.
The Connected Traveler: Sustainable Tourism
www.connectedtraveler.com/sustainable.html
Learn
how to determine good from bad ecotourism. Includes a code of
ethics for travelers, and links to numerous
sustainable-tourism sites.
Costa Rica: Certification in Sustainable Tourism program
http://www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr/
The
Costa Rican Tourism Institute's developing certification
program has evaluated dozens of lodges, inns, and hotels that
you can search by province, certification level, and hotel
type.
EarthFoot
http://www.earthfoot.org/
Lists small
scale, locally produced, low-impact, customizable ecotours and
culture trips. Worldwide destinations. You can search trips by
region and by activity.
Earthwatch Institute
http://www.earthwatch.org/
Join
short-term volunteer trips to help scientists with field work
projects that range from archaeology and world health to
zoology and ecology, including tourism impacts.
EarthWise Journeys
www.teleport.com/~earthwyz
Information on
environmentally and culturally friendly trips to destinations
worldwide selected by the site team. Features ecotours and
cultural trips for experiencing indigenous cultures and
traditions.
Far and Near
http://www.far-and-near.com/
Budget
travel information, personal travel stories, reviews, and more
from this online magazine that supports endangered cultures
and sustainable development.
GoNomad
http://www.gonomad.com/
Gives information
on alternative tourism projects and trips worldwide in both
urban and non-urban destinations. Provides a small searchable
directory of alternative tour operators, lodgings, learning
and volunteer programs. Includes “how to” miniguides for the
independent traveler.
Green Hotel Initiative, Coalition for Environmentally
Responsible Economies
www.ceres.org/our_work/ghi.htm
Offers a
Best Practice survey to help travelers assess a hotel's
performance and guest-request cards that ask for
environmentally responsible hotel service.
Green Hotels
www.greenhotels.com/grntrav.htm
Provides
environmental travel tips for individual and business
travelers.
Green Tourism
http://www.greentourism.ca/
This
extensive Toronto-based website presents “urban green
tourism,” which protects metropolitan resources and cultural
diversity. Provides general and Toronto-specific information,
including publications, press releases, websites, and
television shows.
International Porter Protection Group
http://www.ippg.net/
Guidelines for
travelers when employing porters.
Leave-No-Trace
www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/9200/leave_no_trace.html
Helps
you visit outdoor recreation destinations without harming
them. The nonprofit program works to build awareness,
appreciation, and respect for public recreation areas.
Namibia Community Based Tourism Association
www.nacobta.com.na/en/Index.htm
Lists
Namibian community tourism enterprises, including campsites,
traditional villages, museums, tours, and local crafts.
National Geographic Expeditions
www.nationalgeographic.com/ngexpeditions
High-end
educational tours, many of which use operators pledged to
sustainable practices. Proceeds benefit National Geographic
research programs.
National Geographic Traveler—Tourism Forum
www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/forums/tourism.html
An
online forum for travelers’ opinions about pros and cons in
tourism development. Permits feedback from tourists to travel
businesses and destination authorities.
Pacific Asia Travel Association
www.pata.org/frame3.cfm?pageid=55
Traveler's
codes for visiting indigenous cultures and for sustainable
tourism.
Partners in Responsible Tourism
www.pirt.org/travelcode.html
This San
Francisco-based network provides guidelines for traveling
responsibly.
Responsible Travel
http://www.responsibletravel.com/
Justin
Francis and Harold Goodwin provide a small, well-organized
database of responsible ecotours and accommodation worldwide
that they have evaluated and approved. Posts tips for
responsible travelers and guidelines for tourism
professionals.
Scotland Green Tourism
www.greentourism.org.uk/visitors.html
Discover
the cultural heritage of small Scottish towns by patronizing
sustainable-tourism establishments. Selections by area,
accommodation type, and town.
Tearfund: Tourism Campaign
www.tearfund.org/acting/page.asp?id=6667
This
U.K. Christian nonprofit hosts the Right to Know campaign,
helping travelers to make informed holiday choices. Volunteer
travel programs, too.
Tread Lightly!
http://www.treadlightly.org/
Through
educational materials, editorial coverage, and
manufacturer-supported promotions, this nonprofit organization
encourages motorized outdoor recreation that is
environmentally responsible.
World Wildlife Fund: Tourism Program
www.wwf.org.uk/researcher/programmethemes/Tourism/index.asp
General
information and guidelines for traveling responsibly.
Conservation International: Ecotravel Center
http://www.ecotour.org/
The nonprofit
conservation group lists links for ecotourism trips to the
world’s biodiversity hotspots.
Costa Rica ecolodges
http://www.keytocostarica.com/
Beatrice
Blake lists sustainability ratings for ecolodges in her
guidebook, New Key to Costa Rica, plus additional information.
Ecoclub
http://www.ecoclub.com/
An Athens-based
ecotourism club that offers direct worldwide booking online,
eco-products, eco-events, and free consultations by member
experts.
Ecoportal Venezuela Ecotravel Center
http://ecoportal.venezuela.com
The
first and unique Ecoportal in Venezuela for ecotourism trips to the
world’s biodiversity hotspots-more than 120 sections
widest in Latinamerica.
Ecoportal
Panamerica Ecotravel Center
http://ecoportal.panamerica.com
The
first and unique Ecoportal in Latinamerica for ecotourism trips to the
world’s biodiversity hotspots.
Ecotravel.com
http://www.ecotravel.com/
Sample
itineraries, how to choose an outfitter, and a directory of
tour operators around the world.
Manaca
http://www.manaca.com/
This U.S.-based
company offers ecotouring trips to destinations worldwide,
working only with tourism businesses inspected on site for
environmental and cultural sensitivity.
Hawaii Ecotourism Association
www.hawaiiecotourism.org/goals.htm
Lists
activities and attractions that promote Hawaii’s culture and
environment.
The International Ecotourism Society
www.ecotourism.org/travelchoice/index.htm
An
information program called “Your Travel Choice Makes a
Difference” helps consumers make educated responsible travel
decisions. The site also provides a database of ecotourism
operators and ecolodges.
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org/aboutus/travel/travel/
The
conservation group provides ecotourism trips, as well as
lodging for independent travelers. Both international and U.S.
nature destinations.
Oceanic Society
http://www.oceanic-society.org/
This
conservation research organization offers natural history
expeditions throughout the world, including whale-watching
tours and hands-on field trips for students and teachers.
Orangutan Foundation International
www.orangutan.org/tours/index.php
Offers
several 5-day orangutan tours and 11-day study tours annually
in Kalimantan, Borneo, as well as a six-week field volunteer
program (http://www.orangutan.org.uk/).
Pacific Whale Foundation
http://www.pacificwhale.org/
This
research and advocacy organization offers ecotours with
proceeds channeled toward saving the oceans.
Planeta.com
www.planeta.com/ecotravel/resources/resources.html
Ron
Mader’s Web site on ecotourism in Latin America provides
practical travel information for the region.
Worldsurface.com: Sustainable Tourism
http://www.worldsurface.com/browse/static.asp?staticpageid=1084
Contains
news resources and a database of over 400 ecotour operators
around the world. Traveling members file destination reports
from the road. Find language schools and volunteer
opportunities. Great for college students.
Global Exchange
www.globalexchange.org/tours/forms.html
This
nonprofit organizes socially responsible and educational study
seminars; fact-finding, solidarity, and activist delegations;
and customized tours for business, and professional
organizations. Not for hedonists.
HandMade in America
http://www.wnccrafts.org/
Promotes crafts
and heritage trails in western North Carolina. The website
notes craft heritage and garden tours for independent
travelers in the area.
Indigenous World Tours
http://www.indigenousworldtours.com/
Provides
authentic educational encounters with indigenous peoples of
the Americas and Hawaii in concert with the Canadian
indigenous organization Plenty Canada.
National Trust for Historic
Preservation—Hotels
www.nationaltrust.org/historic_hotels/index.asp
You
can reserve rooms in historic U.S. hotels here. Links to other
National Trust tours, historic sites, and a heritage traveler
bookstore.
Native Tourism
www.nativetourism.org/
This
well-organized site allows you to find Native American tour
attractions and services throughout the U.S. by state or by
tribe. Includes the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, tourism
businesses, newsletters, travel tips, and scenic byways.
Nativeweb
http://www.nativeweb.org/resources/travel_tourism/
This
educational organization lists some three dozen links to
indigenous tour operators worldwide.
