By Rinzin Jamtsho

Learn to identify and harvest the fabled wild Matsutake mushrooms of Bhutan. Prized by gourmets in Japan, this fungi is native to the forests of Ura valley in central Bhutan. Celebrate alongside the people of Ura for three days, as yet another mushroom season arrives, bringing the opportunity not only to sample some truly delicious meals but to cultivate a deeper insight into the rhythms of Bhutanese village life.

ReefCI is a not-for-profit organisation that sustains itself by offering all-inclusive Monday-Friday Marine Conservation SCUBA diving packages on a beautiful private island in Southern Belize, Central America. ReefCI guests help with various projects such as Reef Check surveys; Coral watch bleaching surveys, commercial fish and species surveys, turtle projects and removing the invasive Lionfish.

By Cindy Fan

In Laos, former logging elephants have found new employment and a healthy, peaceful life at camps such as The Elephant Village, 15 kilometres outside of Luang Prabang. At its stunning location overlooking the Nam Khan River, visitors can get up close and personal with Asian elephants, the planet’s second-largest land animal, whose mass is surpassed only by the African elephant. Travellers learn that despite an elephant’s hefty size, it is a remarkably gentle, sensitive and agile creature.

By Angie Aspinall

Thanks to the hard work of the charity Earth, Sea and Sky and volunteers of ARCHELON Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, there are some successful Loggerhead turtle nesting sites on Zakynthos. While nesting beaches are constantly under threat from encroaching tourism, by being a considerate tourist – or helping out as a volunteer – you can do your bit towards preserving this endangered species.

By David Freese

I have always been fascinated with transitional places – both physical and metaphorical.
Coastlines are where land and sea meet or – is it where they part ways? Weather adds another ever-changing dimension to this landscape. The overlook to the sea becomes a place for contemplation as we ponder our evolution and imagine our future. The salt is in our blood and in our sweat.

Finca Luna Nueva is inviting applications for farm interns. They are an organic and biodynamic farm and eco lodge, located next to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in northern Costa Rica. This is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in studying and expanding knowledge about tropical biology, farming rhythms and practices and Costa Rican culture.

While Bodhi Surf School is just that – a surf school, all 4 of the members have very strong inclinations towards environmentalism, social awareness, and responsible/sustainable business practice. The word “Bodhi” is Sanskrit for “awareness” and was chosen for that very reason; while the company aims to teach surf, yoga, and provide its clients with a fun and fulfilling vacation, it also strives to promote awareness about the spheres within which it operates. We aim to be more than just a surf school, to provide an experience that is unique to the area and our personalities.

While most summer holidaymakers descend in mass on Europe’s top beaches, some look for something a little less crowded. They might consider a Budva beach retreat in Montenegro, a new ‘it’ spot with a classic summer vibe, music festivals, impromptu theatre, beach parties and much more. Even better, Budva is one of those rare gems that offer true cultural immersion away from the tourist trail, but with the services of a major destination.

While Thailand or New Zealand frequently make headlines by virtue of their natural wonders, one small corner of the Balkans has slipped below the radar for years. Set against the deep blue waters of the Adriatic Sea, Podgorica, Montenegro, is home to some of the most stunning gorges, peaks, rivers and valleys in Europe, if not the world. Even better, thanks to its relative distance from the tourist track, its centuries-old culture and traditions have remained largely intact.

By Ayako Ezaki (The International Ecotourism Society)

For volcano enthusiasts, and travelers interested in geology and natural history, Hawai`i is a unique destination offering one-of-a-kind encounters with Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s most massive volcano. I was fortunate to get to know one of the most reputable local ecotour providers, VolcanoDiscovery Hawai`i, and to experience the Big Island differently: with an incredible amount of education and an eye-opening insights into the culture and history of the island.