Trekking News : Eco-travel around the globe

By: tntmagazine.com
Source: http://www.tntmagazine.com
Category: Trekking News
Posted By: www.gilttravels.com

Eco-travel isn’t just trendy; it’s something we should all be striving for as we wander the globe. Here’s where to start. Words: LAURA CHUBB

Trekking News

Unfortunately, in many cases eco-travel has become more of a marketing tool than a commitment to sustainable tourism, displaying all the hallmarks of trendiness by being more concerned with style over substance. It seems as though anyone can build a tree house nowadays and call it an eco-lodge, whether it is truly environmentally friendly or not. And as ever-more corners of the world open up to tourism, it appears inevitable that travelers’ footsteps will become ever-more keenly felt. Just think of the story we reported last week about rare tarsiers in the Philippines committing suicide under the glare of tourists’ flashbulbs’. Though you might like to think that people know better in this day and age, there is plenty of evidence that they do not. One of the best ways to limit the impact of rogue operators and irresponsible governance is for you to set the standards – only take your business to places that leave you with a clear conscience.
Eco-trekking

NEPAL
Fortunately, one of the best places in the world for trekking is also one of the best for doing it responsibly. Eco Trek  is something of a one-stop-shop for ethical treks around the must-do Annapurna range, and also offers adventures in nearby India, Tibet and Bhutan.

HOW GREEN?
 The operator’s eco-camps rely on recyclable accessories, as well as using non-polluting fuel supplies and bringing back non-degradable materials from the trip for recycling. The company also supports a cleaning campaign that removes waste from the mountains.

Trekking News

SUSTAINABILITY
 Guides are employed from the local community to ensure sensitivity to local customs and culture. The company also purchases local products where possible to give back to the economy.

DO THIS
 Eco Trek Nepal offers a boggling array of adventures, from scaling peaks to jungle safaris. You can choose between camping or teahouse trekking (the latter guarantees you a comfortable bed and a hot shower), and remote trekking is also a specialty, allowing you to discover the hidden Himalayas.

ALSO AVAILABLE
 Trekking and mountain-biking in Tibet; exploring the mountain hamlets of Bhutan. Tours range from four to more than 20 days; prices will vary. You should also check out Imaginative Traveller’s Annapurna Community Lodge Trek, where you stay at locally run lodges in the area’s more remote, undernourished, virgin parts.


Source: http://www.tntmagazine.com/travel/big-trip/eco-travel-around-the-globe