Many of us who value having a positive impact on the destinations we visit while traveling will likely agree: we hold a concern for sustainability just as close to our heart as our love for adventure! Protecting the environment, respecting others’ cultures, and contributing to the local economy is important while traveling, and are values of ours here at Global Basecamps. We want to help empower our clients take on these priorities as well, so check out these tips on how to travel more sustainably!

From the humble bird feeder in our yard to the exhilaration of watching a herd of massive elephants from the back of our safari jeep, few feelings compare to those of having a close encounter with wildlife! There is growing evidence - Scottish doctors prescribing time in nature to their patients, the emerging disciplines of wilderness and animal therapy, and more - that landscapes and their biodiversity are good for our wellbeing. The growth of the safari tour, birding tours and nature-oriented travel back this idea up by their growth year by year, but how can we get the most out of the precious time we spend on our trip in these areas of natural splendor? Let’s dig into how we can learn about the natural environment, especially the wildlife, of the country you’ll be visiting on your trip.

When you think of travel, which words come to mind?

Adventure? Inspiration? Exploration?

Visiting another country always brings many new experiences, but at the same time, the experience can vary widely based on our approach to planning our trip. All countries that host travelers have attractions that have become famous, and usually for good reason: they are awesome! Natural or cultural, every country has features and monuments that the masses want to see. The response from the travel industry? Packaged tours that often cater to large groups and leave little decision making power of hands of the traveler.

When we add up all the different parts of the tourism industry (transportation, lodging, activities and many more), what comes together is one of the largest economic sectors in the world. International tourist arrivals - or, travelers arriving at a destination outside their home country for at least one night - have topped one billion, and this growth shows few signs of slowing down. Intercultural experiences are at an all-time high, but is that always a good thing? While the recent United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) conference “Tourism: a Catalyst for Development, Peace and Reconciliation” highlights tourism’s power for good, not all is well in the tourism world, as the emerging term “overtourism” describes.

At Global Basecamps, we make adventure easy as our expert travel specialists assure that planning your trip is a breeze. And as for the also challenging process of packing your bags? We’re here to help you with that, too! Getting the most out of every liter of your bags can be a fun challenge - here are some helpful packing tips that will make the most out of your bag!