A holiday doesn’t need to be mindless.
Every travel adventure has the opportunity to be an educational experience, whether you’re learning how to cook something new or discovering a different angle on life’s bigger picture. Some learning experiences change the way you do things day-to-day, but others can change your whole world perspective.
Here are our top seven destinations for an educational, eco-friendly holiday.
See the real Borneo
See Borneo’s famous orangutans in the wild and learn about the impact your holiday has on the local environment and community. Orangutan Trekking Tours have a range of carefully curated packages to build an awareness of the plight of the Bornean orangutan.
Sustainable tourism and eco-travel is becoming increasingly popular as an option for holidays, but Orangutan Trekking Tours take this concept one step further; consciously learning about tourism’s impact on the local community and environment as you discover the destination. Our tours respect the orangutans and their habitat, and allow you to explore the rainforest of Borneo while supporting the community’s efforts to protect it for future generations.
Check out our trekking tour options here!
Explore the Amazon
Experience cruising down the Amazon River and see towering trees and wildlife in South America. The Amazon Basin contains more water than the next eight largest rivers combined and spans eight countries; clearly, the best way to see it all is by boat. Learn about the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon, spot wildlife lurking in the trees and immerse yourself in local customs and culture.
Our tip: Sumak Travel offer sustainable Amazon Rainforest tours that venture through various South American nations led by local, ethical tour operators.
Journey through Egypt and the Nile
If you’re a history buff, Egypt is the perfect destination for you. On a holiday in Egypt, you can’t help but absorb knowledge about the ancient history of the region, including Gods and Goddesses, Pharaohs, the Pyramids, Luxor, ancient artists and language. Cruise along the Nile and learn why this huge waterway was considered the source of life by the ancient Egyptians.
Our tip: The Travel Project have a great array of options to explore the treasures of Egypt.
Adventure to the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands, just off the coast of Ecuador, are some the most diverse islands in the world. 95% of the land area of the Galapagos Islands is protected by the Galapagos National Park Directorate, and visitors are allowed to explore a selected few areas only when accompanied by a tour guide. Head out on a diving adventure, cruise the islands and explore the marked trails through national parks and learn about this incredibly diverse area of the world.
Our tip: International Nature and Cultural Adventures (INCA) offer immersive, enlightening tours that will let you explore the islands and get to know the creatures that call them home.
Sail the Great Barrier Reef, without harm
The Great Barrier Reef spans over two thousand kilometres of Australian coastline and is the world’s largest reef system. More than 1500 species of fish, seventeen species of sea snake and six species of sea turtle live and breed in the reef, and its survival is crucial to the protection of these creatures that call it home. Head out on a sailing tour of the reef, where you can dive and snorkel to see the reef and its inhabitants up close. Learn about how climate change is threatening this beautiful, ancient habitat, and how local conservationists are raising awareness of the effects of warmer ocean temperatures.
Our tip: Quicksilver Cruises have achieved the highest eco certification attainable in Australia for all of their Great Barrier Reef tours. With Quicksilver, you’ll learn all there is to know about the reef and their ongoing commitment to its preservation.
Take in an African safari
On an African safari in the dry season, you can expect to see some of the most beautiful creatures on the continent, including lions, buffalo, elephants, leopards and rhinos, on their way to find the last remnants of water for the season. With an eco-friendly tour, you can learn about the plight of these animals and how they are endangered from poachers and hunters, and how the local communities are trying to save them. You can also visit local villages and townships and immerse yourself in the local culture.
Our tip: Wilderness Safaris are the largest operator of safari tours in Africa, and they help to conserve the biodiversity of the areas they visit as well as employing locals to stimulate the local economy.
Save the Turtles in Sarawak, Malaysia
Sarawak, the north-west tip of the island of Borneo, is home to five species of sea turtle – and all are endangered worldwide. The Sarawak State Government has set up a network of coastal and marine national parks that are dedicated to the survival of the sea turtles. You can visit Similajau National Park near Bintulu and Tanjung Datu National Park on the southwestern tip of Sarawak to see nesting turtles, or watch turtle landings on the islands of Talang-Satang National Park.
Our tip: Snorkel around the islands to see free-swimming turtles, or sign up as a volunteer to experience four days as a sea turtle conservationist with the Sea Turtle Adoption Program with Sarawak Forestry.
Looking to expand your knowledge about the state of our planet?
There’s nothing wrong with relaxing your days away on holiday, but that doesn’t mean your trip needs to be without learning. An eco-conscious holiday also means learning about your trip’s effect on the local environment and culture, and how you can minimise your footprint for future generations.
Learn about the issues affecting Borneo’s wildlife with Orangutan Trekking Tours.
We love to customise tour itineraries to help you get the most out of your holiday. Get in touch with our team to see how we can make your trip to Borneo an eye-opening and unforgettable experience.
