Ever cringed and declined when offered a strange looking dish in a new country? Gawked when you saw someone dressed strangely in a different nation? If so, then you are not being culturally responsible and respectable. Preparing for your adventure travels by learning the customs and traditions of your host country can help you avoid awkward situations. After living in Shanghai for 4 years, I’m here to give you a few tips on being culturally responsible while on China tours.

At the end of your Indonesia tours in Southeast Asia, you gaze longingly at the the deep, cerulean horizon. The real world seems impossibly far away, and you'd give anything for one more day in this paradise...

A sure way to soak in the culture of a destination is to head straight to the local market. There you'll get a visceral snap shot of daily life that includes everything from what's on the butcher's block to indigenous art. The markets also often provide the cheapest, most authentic eats and an enormous selection of souvenirs. So, here's a look at Global Basecamps' favorite markets around the world.

1. Oltavalo Market, Ecuador

cc licensed flickr photo shared by *D a r i n k a*

Chances are, the question "how can I put a dent in my carbon footprint?" doesn't keep you up at night while you are traveling. And if it does, we applaud you, but don't want you to lose any more sleep on this issue! With the help of our partner, Carbonfund.org, Global Basecamps is chipping away at your carbon footprint, as you sleep soundly. We are proud to announce that as of January 1st, 2010, we have planted a tree for every one of our trips from the Inca Trail to the coast of Vietnam--and will continue to do so. That's right, as our travelers trek through Machu Picchu or boat through Halong Bay, we are planting trees in Nepal.