Best Responsible Travel and Ecotourism Websites

The countryside of Tuscany is largely preserved as it has been for hundreds of years. Sustainable living and ecology is here a very green tradition and even an instinct.

These ecotourism sites have led the way and continue to lead the way in providing information and dialog for those who wish to engage in responsible travel.

Planeta.com is Ron Mader’s award-winning site for those serious about responsible travel and related topics, such as ecotourism. The provides free access to more than 10,000 pages for travelers, students, and policy-makers. Developed in 1994 as a reporter’s notebook (a forerunner of today’s blog), Planeta pioneered online environmental and tourism reporting and works toward sustainable development. The site features news, articles, an eco-travel directory, and recommended reads.

EcoClub.com is the site of the International Ecotourism Club site, based in Athens, Greece. EcoClub.com is a global cooperative network promoting ecotourism. This is one of the most popular websites spotlighting eco-lodges and activists around the globe. Posts news on ecotourism, events, and jobs. Recommended: Search page for ecolodges, environmentally friendly hotels, tours, and services. Interviews with leading ecotourism personalities.

Responsible Travel International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote sustainable development and responsible travel by providing programs that help consumers, businesses, and travel-related organizations protect the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic needs of the places they visit, and the planet at large. Recommended: The following STI “Programs” — MyClimate™ greenhouse gas offsets program, which enables travelers and travel companies to support sustainable development and environmental conservation while helping to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions that result from travel; The Green Travel Market provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on sustainable tourism products and services; The Eco-directory is a unique destination guide designed to help travelers make responsible travel choices. The travel providers in the Eco-directory have been chosen for their commitment to sustainable tourism. Listings indicate eco-certification status; Travel Philanthropy promotes, publicizes, and informs the public about credible travel philanthropy programs in the global marketplace.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is a membership site that promotes responsible and sustainable travel and offers certificates as well as master classes.

TransitionsAbroad.com: The Travel Abroad section of Transitions Abroad’s online portal offers a comprehensive section on Responsible Travel and Ecotourism. It features responsible travel programs, and article archives, and links to key websites and organizations. Recommended: The Responsible Travel Advisor section offers a selection of how-to articles and a free PDF version of the Responsible Travel Handbook.

Key Responsible Tour Operators

G Adventures is a Canada-based travel company, offering responsible and sustainable tours such as trekking, safaris, ecotourism, cultural tours, etc. to many destinations worldwide.

Global Exchange offers socially responsible Reality Tours to over 30 developing countries worldwide.

IntrepidTravel.com is a tour operator that offers environmentally, culturally and socially responsible tours for small groups, with destinations worldwide.

Journeys International is a family-owned global adventure travel company in the US, specializing in guided cross-cultural explorations, nature safaris, treks and eco-tours in remote corners of the globe.

Tribes Travel is a UK-based travel company offering holidays and safaris run on fair trade and responsible travel principles.

World Expeditions based in the UK (with offices in Australia, USA, Canada & New Zealand), offers trekking and small group adventure holidays, based on responsible and sustainable travel principles.