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Finding Time In New Zealand

March 8th, 2010

TIMENewZealand253071 2 1024x682 Finding Time In New Zealand

Are you fascinated by global indigenous culture and biodiversity?   Then take a look at New Zealand tours by Auckland tourism company TIME Unlimited Tours.

Recently, the company won the global Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award 2010, a collaboration between Planeta.com and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity/UNEP (CBD) and Heidehof Foundation.

This award is presented to an indigenous tourism operation “which has a website that promotes sustainable practices and educates visitors on cultural protocols and biodiversity conservation.”

» Read more: Finding Time In New Zealand

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10 Cool Holidays You’ll Love

March 3rd, 2010

ItalianTouristBoardofUKSardinia 10 Cool Holidays Youll Love

Looking for the coolest holiday in the coolest place in 2010?

You might find it at UK ethical travel company responsibletravel.com which works with 300+ tour operators and 600 villas, lodges, B&Bs and small hotels.

Here are 10  cool  holidays:

1. Snorkeling & swimming holidays in Sardinia, Italy

2. Peru eco-lodge holiday in the Amazon rainforest

3. Portugal yurt holidays

4. Atlas, Sahara & Marrakech holiday

5. Vietnam Hill Tribe holiday

6. Yukon dog sledding holiday, Canada

7. Hiking the Inca Trail

8. Full Moon Festival & Shamanism, Nepal

9. Windsurfing holidays in Greece

10. Self-drive Cuba family holiday

For more holiday ideas, check out responsibletravel.com.

Image courtesy of Italian State Tourist Board

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The Greener Staycation

February 18th, 2010

HavenGreenStaycation246864 The Greener Staycation

Fancy a greener family staycation?  If you’re living in the U.K., Haven Holidays promises green staycations closer to home.

Says Haven Holidays:

‘The staycation is here to stay.  (We) have seen a marked increase in families booking longer holidays this year. And it’s not just about saving money – it’s also about saving carbon emissions and shunning air travel in favour of a holiday closer to home.”

The company says it encourage kids to be more green-aware during their holidays.   Each of their 35 UK holiday parks have won conservation awards and many the ‘Green Tourism’ award.  Park environmental programs include  recycling, energy-saving, green activities, wildlife sessions and nature walks.

For more info, check out Haven Holidays online.

Image courtesy of Haven Holidays

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Travel Agents Going Greener

February 17th, 2010

Rainforest16 1024x576 Travel Agents Going Greener

Are you a greener travel agent?  Then you might be interested in a new Sustainable Travel Specialist course, created in partnership with Sustainable Travel International and  offered by The Travel Institute.

Says Brian T. Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International:

“The travel agent community is in a unique position to both service and create demand for sustainable tourism while providing their clients with more authentic and rewarding travel experiences. We’re happy to provide them with a distance learning solution that will help them take advantage of the benefits of sustainable tourism.”

Sponsored by Virtuoso, the 5-module course teaches travel counselors:

  • “How to identify the characteristics and benefits of sustainable travel.”
  • “Integrate “green” business practices into their existing business operations.”
  • “Choose travel suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to sustainable travel.”
  • “Explore strategies for practicing sustainable travel and tourism.”

This interactive course is available online in Institute’s e-Learning Center and on disk.

For more info, check out  The Travel Institute’s site.

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Best Southeast Asia Tour In 2010?

February 3rd, 2010

JourneysWithinSunset on the Mekong

Are you looking for a Southeast Asia tour?  Then think about the Mekong Experience with Journeys Within.

The boutique Southeast Asia tour company recently announced the 2010 itinerary along the Mekong River, from China to the Vietnam coast over 28 days.  The tour transportation will range from a 34-foot cruise boat to a local long tail boat.

Says the company:

“(This tour) gives travelers the chance to explore the countries of the Mekong River for a truly immersive cultural experience. The Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia, and on this trip guests will be escorted down this amazing river from Yunnan Province, China to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, visiting the six countries that lie along its banks.”

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Top 12 Eco-Tours In 2010?

January 28th, 2010
NatHabMarkBrazilJapanese Macaque in pool 1

Japanese Macaque, © Mark Brazil

If you’re looking for the perfect eco-tour in 2010, then you might find it with Natural Habitat Adventures.   A member of Adventure Collection and exclusive Conservation Travel Provider to World Wildlife Fund, the company offers all carbon neutral trips.

“Seasonality matters in travel, and eco-tours in particular are dependent on the lifecycles and climates of the wildlife and destinations they visit,” says Natural Habitat Adventures.  “But whatever the season, someplace on the globe is perfect for discovery.”

Natural Habitat Adventures experts recommend these 12 months of  their 2010 nature adventures:

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Cycling Cairo to Cape Town

January 26th, 2010

TourAfriqueSunGathering at the start

Fancy cycling across Africa?   Then you might want to check out small, socially responsible bike tour company Tour d’Afrique.

The Toronto-based, bike tour company is named for its annual flagship tour that crosses the African continent from Cairo to Cape Town (7,500 miles in 120 days).

» Read more: Cycling Cairo to Cape Town

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Preserving A National Park

January 21st, 2010

DennisCoelloRoadGlacier National Park Montana 103 72 dpi1 691x1024 Preserving A National Park

Active vacation specialist Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) recently chose the Glacier National Park and the  Glacier National Park Fund for it first “Preserve a Park” program for 2010.  This year, the U.S. national park is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Says Dan Austin, co-founder of Austin-Lehman Adventures,

“Our national park programs have been our most popular, and they also represent opportunities to express our support for safeguarding our great parks.  We chose Glacier National Park to acknowledge its Centennial and we are delighted to name the Glacier National Park Fund as the recipient of our donation.”

Glacier National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s first Peace Park coupled with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.  The park preserves over one million acres of glacier-carved terrain with old growth forest, alpine lakes, rugged mountains, wildlife and wildflower meadows.

» Read more: Preserving A National Park

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Gap Adventures Offering 24-7 Service

January 20th, 2010

CostaRica_Zipline forest-2

Adventure travel specialist Gap Adventures recently announced it’s introducing 24 hours-a-day service so global travelers can contact the company anytime.

“Our travelers around the globe want to experience our life-changing trips and industry-leading service on their terms,” says Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip.

“They need flexibility to book a trip or get answers from one of our hundreds of CEOs at their convenience, and this new 24/7 service will offer the kind of high-touch attention that adventure-seekers demand.”

Travelers will have access to the tour operator’s Chief Experience Officers (CEOs) any time of day or night. They will assist travelers in choosing the best itinerary to match their interests and experience sustainable, authentic holidays.

For more info, check out Gap Adventures online.

Image courtesy of Gap Adventures

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Cycling Northern Spain

January 18th, 2010

Galicia NationalTouristOfficeofSpain241176 2 1024x682 Cycling Northern Spain

Have you always dreamed of  Spain’s Camino de Santiago?

Now, you can cycle the legendary pilgrimage in 2010 with Cycling through the Centuries (CTTC).  Based in Portugal, the family-owned, luxury cycling tour specialist strives to maintain eco-friendly and sustainable operations in Spain.

Says the company:

“For a thousand years since the bones of St. James were reputedly discovered in Santiago, common people, bishops, priests, kings, popes and saints have made this famous pilgrimage. Nowadays, the expedition is not as often religiously driven, but a personal journey and test to physical and mental endurance.”

The trip will begin in the Pyrenees above Pamplona then cross northern Spain, visit cathedral cities León and Burgos and make many pilgrim stops.  Each day, the tour will end with relaxing in monasteries, ancient pilgrim inns, small hotels and restaurants famous for their regional cuisine.

For more info, check out CTTC online.

Image courtesy of the National Tourist Office of Spain

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