“We will do better. This was the chorus of optimists who thought, in the confusing first days of 2020, that the pandemic was part of a recent behemoth and that everyone would become more thoughtful after blinking to return to the world after being locked up. for so long. But then came the chaotic and record-breaking summer of 2022, with the strange concept of “revenge”, and proved that very little had really changed.
Now, however, things can change. Fringe concepts like “conscious travel” and “regenerative travel” are an appropriate commonplace, destinations have been seriously considered with overtourism, and travelers, at least the most considerate, are realizing their duty not to leave places worse than those who encounter them. . Fodor’s has published an “avoid” list and the New York Times just published an ode to guilty travel.
And so, while I used to ask some of the top luxury agencies for their recommendations for the beginning of the year, this time I turned to small business owners who care about both principles and profits. Here’s what they suggest.
While Conscious Travel Collective also organizes personal trips to Green Mountain State, it’s worth contemplating the small-group tour in the fall, in which founder Tara Bush promises stops that only “an experienced local has a chance to identify. “The itinerary only takes into account the type of local businesses that communicate the culture of this beautiful rural northeastern state. “From farms and breweries to cooking categories and hiking trails, the true character of Vermont manifests itself every day,” Bush says. cottages overlooking Lake Caspian and a historic bed and breakfast in Burlington.
The family-run Tutka Bay Lodge is situated in a personal cove within a rugged nine-mile glacial fjord on the edge of Kachemak Bay State Park. It is a privileged position to practice on the property. In winter, travelers can see moose, wolves, blue herons, harbor seals and otters. In spring there are bears and whales, and in summer and autumn mountain goats, bald eagles and snowy owls. In May, more than 25 species of hummingbirds appear. Kirsten Dixon and her daughter, Mandy, are trained chefs and cookbook authors, and they also started a cooking school on a changed crab-eating ship.
Girls on the Go Destinations hosts fun and impactful adventures reported just for women. Your vacation in Oaxaca goes beyond beaches and grocery shopping to delve into the rich history and culture of this UNESCO-recognized city. women leaders and be informed about their daily lives and experience in weaving, exclusive black pottery, wood alebrijes, medicinal herbs and mezcal production, handling components Jane O. Howard and Elise Kloter. Guided by local female guides, they will go through the history of the Zapotecs. Camino Real, which is part of an ancient pre-Hispanic road to the Gulf of Mexico. In Capulálpam, they will be informed about the ancestral healing practices of Zapotec women, six non-secular leaders have invited the organization to their sacred space.
Glamping in Chaco Canyon
Angelisa Murray is a company that believes in the magic of northern New Mexico and has committed her travel agency, Heritage Inspirations, to getting others to see the state at its most original and sublime. In 2023, he leads teams in Chaco Canyon, a site that was home to thousands of ancestral peoples between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, and the desert around Taos for two top-notch stargazing experiences. (Both sites are known for observing the dark sky. ) She and her visitors will be in the canyon for archaeoastronomy, the spring and autumn equinox and the new moon, and glamping in the Taos desert, Perseid meteor showers and the new moon in August.
Rios Lodge
The pioneering conservation and adventure company in ecotourism Rios Tropicales has an impressive history that emerges from the ashes. Known for its shelter of nature entry and exit rafts, the company filed for bankruptcy in January 2021 for apparent reasons, and two months later, its world-famous co-founder died of cancer. But then, a passionate organization of rowers, conservationists and adventure tourism managers, and the young son of the founder, Roberto Gallo, believed that the most productive was yet to come. They secured the investment and bought the eco-lodge. in February 2022, he renamed it Rios Lodge and without delay began expanding his facilities, vision and conservation projects in the Pacuare River ecosystem. Now, visitors decide between rafting or hiking in this secluded ecolodge (there is still no access for cars) and enjoy the zip line, hiking, horseback riding, conservation tours and tree planting, waterfalls and swimming holes, bird watching and visits to a hill of the fly garden network.
North Vancouver Island
Mosaic Earth Travel provides reports exclusively in lesser-known spaces in British Columbia, to “take travelers beyond bustling centers and connect with small communities, unique indigenous cultures, and the wildest landscapes that make B. C. be so exclusive,” says owner Pam Duynstee. Her eight The North Island’s small-group day trip focuses intensely on sustainable and regenerative hiking, education and creating a platform for indigenous communities to share their stories, with plenty of adrenaline on the way: sea kayaking with orcas and wildlife. Observation at Great Bear Rainforest”. At a time of rampant media consumption, social unrest and environmental concerns,” he says, “this provides an opportunity to slow down and tame a broader understanding of our planet.
The Inca Trail is not too touristy to Machu Picchu. Rather, it is a 25,000-mile network of roads and trails that is considered one of the greatest engineering wonders in the world. With this scope, some parts are still intact. SA Expeditions takes small teams of explorers (and cargo llamas) on five-day treks across the remote Andes from Castillo to the archaeological site of Huanuco Pampa, where, according to COO Riva Bacquet, they will encounter “small local communities and no other outsiders. “network travelers. It also states that SA Expeditions is a qualified B corporation and actively and responsibly participates in the conservation of UNESCO’s largest World Heritage site: “a site on the brink of destruction through random modernization. “
Patagonia National Park
A long-respected leader in consideration of some of South America’s most remote and incredible regions, Explora has taken over the stewardship of Patagonia National Park, the legacy of legendary conservationists Doug and Kristine Thompkins, for the next 25 years. The new lodge is a base for ers who need to explore this remote and off-the-beaten-path area, be informed about the procedure of creating a national park and with the purpose of promoting conservation in this area, in component through the Thombkins Foundation, Rewilding Chile.
Uyuni Salt Flat
Designer Cecile Stuart calls a scale at the Salar de Uyuni, a 42,000-year-old herb wonder 4 times the length of Hong Kong in Bolivia’s highlands, “a delight that goes beyond the landscape. “She collaborates with V planners
Call it permaculture-lite. Since its inception, AndAdventure’s leaders in Croatia “have sought tactics to contribute to environmental awareness in a way that is inspiring and educational for our visitors without overwhelming them,” says founder and director Veselka. Huljić, “We needed hands—over experience. Something palpable and easy to translate for other people who have lost the connection with nature, the elements and the soil. Thus, Pomalo, his regenerative farm and sustainable olive grove, can be visited in a day or a week on the farm. which combines getting your hands dirty and exploring the lesser-known parts of the island of Hvar.
Slovenia in winter
“Located between the Alps and the Mediterranean, Slovenia is an impressive herbal treasure, especially in winter when nature dresses in white,” says Ursula Kordis, founder of local tour operator Wanderlux Journeys. “Winters in Slovenia are magical, away from the city lights, embraced through snowy peaks and warmed by the smell of mulled wine. “nationalities and cultures.
The dining room of Villa Michaela
Gourmet on Tour has been a pioneer in the culinary tourism industry for more than 20 years, says founder and CEO Judith von Prockl. “Our little black e-book of contacts and attention to detail turn a wonderful vacation into a truly exceptional vacation. “In Tuscany, “we have organized Culinary Weeks with Villa Michaela [an aristocratic sixteenth-century space in the hills of Luccesi] since 2000 and we are the only firm for those magnificent reports here. “His company’s week-long itinerary combines cooking in historic kitchens with culture and spirit of adventure, adding black truffle hunting in the Tuscan forests.
Tanzania Journeys’ “human-driven journey” from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Lake Natron is a remote party that “challenges, unites and humiliates those who are willing to do it,” says Seema Shah, the company’s founder. a combined two-day trek and a two-day cultural festival, this itinerary provides deeper tactics for exploring remote and exclusive places in Tanzania and connecting with its people. “After a hike supervised by Maasai guides, the rest is faithful to visit Lake Natron, the “soda lake of devastating beauty” where 75% of the world’s minor flamingos are born and which radiates one of the desirable cultures of the varied peoples of Tanzania. .
lake turkana
Uncharted owners Chip and Sandy Cunningham recently enjoyed that they will now offer their consumers personalized trips: a helicopter safari to Lake Turkana. “Twenty-four hours was like a week,” says Sandy. In fact, this is one of the most impressive off-grid parties. Maverick Chopper’s pilot and third-generation Kenyan Andrew Francombe, an old friend. of the Cunningham family, takes off from Laikipia with the bases to spend a day and night on the outskirts of northern Kenya. “Andrew is one of the rare breeds of humans who can bring maximum rudimentary fun to life in a brilliant Technicolor way. “
Ubuntu Life founder Nishant Badami is a strong advocate of transformative travel, and sees a wonderful price on visiting the Brahmaputra River. “Rivers and their tributaries tell stories,” he says. They bring stories of the lands they pass through. “There are several communities along and around the mighty river. Some are still searching for their identity; Some have already found their place. Visiting the region, whether as part of a private, customizable vacation on a luxury boat (with a homestay at the end) or as part of a small organization special vacation planned for January, aims to “open your brain to what it’s really like to live with uncertainty and how it builds resilience and innovation among people. 30% of all the organization’s travel deposits will be donated to flood relief measures.
Everything Earth Changers organizes is based on positive impact, sustainable tourism, conservation and network benefits, and this ocean-focused sailing adventure to Palmyra Atoll is no exception. The trip begins in Hawaii and ends on the oceanic island of Kiribati, but the focus is on the atoll, a relatively new national wildlife safe haven within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. “This is a Pacific ecosystem survey station controlled by the Nature Conservancy and US Fish.
A tribe in Papua New Guinea
“Few places are off the beaten path, and Papua New Guinea is one of them,” says Beth Whitman of Wander Tours, whose company takes visitors on a cross-country excursion. roads connecting one location to another, the country remains a wild and tribal location where locals wear face paint, bird feathers, pig tusks and hornbill beaks as part of their classic dress for ceremonies and celebrations, while corporations maximum are concentrated in diving and excursions to the island. , Wander Tours concentrates on small towns and incorporates little-known chants as well as giants (festivals).