Great news for Green Travelers!! On August 28th, both Expedia.com and Travelocity, announced they are offering new options supporting responsible travel.

Expedia.com is now offering the option at checkout to purchase a TerraPass that funds enough clean energy to balance out the CO2 emissions caused by your flights.

Travelocity.com is offering a similar option at checkout with the proceeds going to Go Zero.

More information on TerraPass
More information on Go Zero

“Green” Hotels are properties whose managers are eager to institute programs that save water, save energy and reduce solid waste–while saving money–to help PROTECT OUR ONE AND ONLY EARTH!
GreenHotels.com

Treeflights.com is a new website that just launched with the great slogan “you fly - we plant”. For £10.00 (that’s $18.44 for you Yanks), Treeflights.com will plant a tree for you in one of three designated planting sites in Mid-Wales; Pantglas (Llanddewi Brefi), Ffos-y-ffin (Llanfair Clydogau) & Pant-y-pond wood (Llanybydder). They plant a variety of types of trees using standard organic principles. Often the saplings are tended with a mulch mat of recycled polythene. Plenty more info on their website at:

http://www.treeflights.com/

Kimpton Hotels offer the treatment, service, and luxury you hope to find while on the road. You receive unexpected amenities like complimentary high speed access, the availability of in room spa services, tall rooms, yoga programs, pet frendliness, uniquely stocked snack and mini bars, and fine dining at an adjacent chef-driven restaurant. They deliver a superior level of guest services in a boutique-hotel setting.

Kimpton’s mission is to lead the hospitality industry in supporting a sustainable world, by continuing to deliver a premium guest experience through non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services. As part of their award winning EarthCare program Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants have a company wide commitment towards water conservation; reduction of energy usage; elimination of harmful toxins and pollutants; recycling of all reusable waste; building and furnishing hotels with sustainable materials and purchasing goods and services that directly support these principles. Kimpton takes pride in its social responsibility, supporting like minded partners and is a leader in ecological practices.

At present, there are 39 Kimpton Hotels with restaurants located across the United States and Canada. We at GreatGreenTravel give the folks at Kimpton Four Big Green Thumbs Way Up!

For more detail on the Earthcare Program and full reservation and destination details contact: www.kimptonhotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON

The International World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms Association (WWOOF) provides the venue for people around the world to learn first-hand about organic growing methods; enables both the organic farmers and volunteers to make organic farming a viable alternative; and, improves communications concerning the importance of organic farming in the world today.

Since its inception in 1971 London, WWOOF has grown to include participation of some 43 different countries including Australia, China, America and Finland.

Hosts listed through WWOOF are primarily pursuing a simple, sustainable lifestyle. Many are practicing Permaculture or Bio-dynamic growing methods. The farms vary from commercial to alternative co-operatives, or communities.

The Independents listed may include non-organic, yet are in keeping with the general ethic of respect for the environment; exchange of knowledge & expertise, food & accomodation in exchange for help on a voluntary basis.

All necessary information is available at the WWOOF Website: http://www.wwoof.org/

Aye, you’ve read it right! These folks have a lovely Yoga and Meditation Retreat Centre they’ve built out on Clare Island - the largest of the off shore Mayo Islands. It lies about four miles off the nearest mainland point and is approximately a twenty minute ferry ride.

The accomodations are refurbished traditional island cottages, the yoga studio a modern timber building nearby. All houses utilize solar panels to heat water and provide natural light, and wood burning stoves for heat. Water is supplied by a private nearby spring located on the property. The ingredients that make up the sumptuous diet of vegetarian meals are sourced from local suppliers and generally greater than 90% are organic. All waste is compost or recycled to the best extent possible.

This is a breathtakingly beautiful location and will make for a truly memorable retreat. Please visit - we give these folks a very hearty 4 Green Thumbs Up!

Courses 2006: http://www.yogaholidays.net/clare/Retreats.htm

Booking: All Bookings are handled by Ciara. Contact her first using email found at the above link under “Booking” or use the phone numbers below:

Phone: Phone/Fax: (353) 98 25412 Mobile (353) 87.2504845

This trek through lush valleys and verdant hillsides offers breathtaking views of steeply terraced rice fields, towering ridgelines, and raging rivers. You wil be traveling to the Sapa Mountains in Northern Vietnam, high in the Tonkinese Alps near the Chinese border. During the five day trek you will share in the ancient cultures of these diverse hill tribes and be given the opportunity to share in the activity of their daily lives.

You will have the opportunity to experience the colorful Sapa Market where women from different ethnic minority groups sell their products before you transfer back to Lao cai for the night train to Hanoi to commence your journey home.

Departures: This trip can be adapted to suit you, as necessary.

Price: £298 (5days) per person excluding flights

Contact: http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip900473.htm

If you are in reasonably decent shape, posess a keen interest, and a sense of humor as well as a desire for travel to a magical land, this could be just the trip you’ve been waiting for. In this intensive Ranger Programme, you’ll be given the opportunity to spend time with the mahouts and their elephants, meet local villagers and forest guards while you experience and practice all aspects of ecology, conservation and life in the wild.

You will travel and work with guides in the day and night of the jungle. Here you will have a matchless opportunity to experience the night sounds of the jungle; the alarm calls oof the sambar and chital deer, the langur monkeys and the snort of the nilgai antelope, the eerie call of the Golden Jackal, and even perhaps the low moaning call of the tiger.

This Programme is planned and monitored to insure maximum benefit in terms of cultural interaction, awareness, and understanding is achieved by both local people and participants. The environmental, social, and economic impact of the visit are assessed to avoid over dependency.

Departure:This trips’ itenerary can be tailormade to suit your budget and arranged for your schedule convenience

Price: £1,875 (12 days) per person based on twin share room basis, including flights from London Heathrow, U.K.

Contact: http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip100034.htm

This well known Amazon rainforest ecolodge and research station has been in operation for over 30 years. Located within the Tambopata Reserve, at Madre de Dios, in Peru it consists of seven candlelit palm-thatched bungalows and a central building which houses reception & dining room. Guests are provided a superb opprotunity to learn about the Amazon rainforest in a warm and informal atmosphere. The lodge staff is made up of practicing biologists and environmentalists from around the globe and local guides.

There are 37km of well marked trails from the lodge that allow for wonderful local sightseeing and exceptional birdwatching. There are some 600 species of birds and 1230 species of butterflies documented in the area.

Many group packages to choose from. From: Technorati

Contact: http://www.explorersinn.com/index.htm

Chalalan Lake and ecolodge are located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This amazing retreat has been carefully constructed using local materials, traditional techniques, solar energy, treatment of all waste water and resulting in minimal ecological impact. Madidi National Park was established in 1995 in the Northwestern section of Bolivia. It protects a full array of ecosystems, from the high Andes to the Amazon basin and includes a vast wilderness of over 4 million acres of unparalled biological diversity from cloud forest to dry forest, humid lowland rainforest to savannah, and wild rivers to lakes. The Chalalan Lake and Ecolodge is located in an area that was shaped by ancient geological and glacial processes that render spectacular views today.

The park is home to more than 1,000 species of birds, 44% of all New World species of mammals, and an estimated 38% of neotropical amphibians. Your local guides will impart their deep knowledge of the area, ensuring you will enjoy your immersion in this uniquely beautiful and rich country.

The local owners of the Chalalan Ecolodge, the village of San Jose de Uchupiamonas, a Quecha-Tacana ethnic group, hope that by participating in responsible tourism, they can be successful in the preservation of thousands of hectares of pristine rainforest that belong to them and were inherited from their ancestors.

Departures: Year Round

Price: From US $379.00 per person (5days) excluding flights. Additional cost airplane ticket from La Paz-Rurrenabaque-LaPaz. Approximately $120.US per person

Contact: http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip100638.htm