Sustainable travel and ecotourism are gradually getting more and more popular. According to Forbes, the so-called last-chance tourism is the top travel trend for 2018. The number of travelers globally skyrockets and the appetite for unique destinations is heating up. Forbes notes that the last-chance travel is leading to rising interest in ecotourism and sustainable hotel experiences.
So far ecotourism has not been the most popular way to travel and it is still far from reaching its real potential. It has been more like an exclusive service with an added value for the people who are very much into nature. Yet everything changes rapidly. People are looking for more authentic escape travel experiences and are willing to get the most out of their travel adventures.
Here are the ten reasons why you must choose authentic escape travel and look beyond Google page 1. These will help you to turn away from environmentally harmful mass tourism madness and choose authentic and green travel instead. Let me show you the ecotourismâs potential from a whole new perspective. Get amazing new escape travel experiences, leave a positive impact, help local communities and the environment all at once.
Natives on Orinoko River in Venezuela
#1: Why you must go for authentic escape travel experiences
I am pretty sure you want to get as much as possible out of your travel experiences. If you choose a real escape travel that is authentic and green you will inevitably discover more of the original beauty and will get more positive emotions visiting ANY destination.
So what is authentic escape travel?
When you go to the rain-forest, you probably expect to find real jungle and not a palm plantation there. By going diving and exploring the coral reefs letâs say somewhere in the Red See you expect them to be actually there, colorful and healthy; not over-exploited by the tons of irresponsible divers and unsustainable diving services. If you want to see or take part in local traditions with local communities, you expect to experience them as they are naturally supposed to be. A fine-tuned crap made for sucking out the money from tourists is a no-go today. Also, the last thing I want to do is to buy letâs say a âlocalâ plastic souvenir of Eifel Tower in Paris that is made in China. If I buy anything at all it should be the stuff made by locals. These are a kind of rough examples of authenticity vs non-authenticity.
Unique Latvian Sauna Ritual
When the travel dream turns into a nightmare
Going the âbeaten-pathâ is tempting
It is very easy to bring the tourists to the beaten path travel hotspots. It is also easy to market these places. Just take the stock pictures of letâs say stunning islands of Thailand where the movie âBeachâ was filmed, and the visitors cannot resist them. The pictures are usually taken when there are the least visitors. They are also very much improved in the Photoshop or similar post-processing tool too, of course (you can remove people from the picture in Photoshop if you want). Sitting somewhere in the office of a Northern county like Finland on a dark winterâs day you are hooked by these pictures though. You are fed up of the 6-months long Finnish night and you want to get where the sun shines, the food is great, and there are no worries.
Not everything is gold what shines
It is only when you get there you realize that the place is not exactly what you saw on the dreamy picture. It is crowded, loud and there is no space on the beach. There are lots of stinky speedboats and the sea is so polluted with plastic bags and bottles that you actually see more of this stuff than the fish out there. Finally, literary everybody wants to get as much money from you as possible before you leave. You try to find a place to take a picture with the least people in the background. Yet year by year it gets more and more difficult. You can try to fool your friends on social media with a fake smile, but you cannot fool yourself. You donât feel that you got what you were coming after. Sounds familiar? Well, thatâs a rough picture of non-authentic mass tourism travel experience.
You will get about the same stuff in all the travel hotspots widely advertised by travel agencies especially if you go there peak season.
#2: Pristine nature heals
So, why not choose less popular places of authentic and green escape travel instead. There are also less crowded islands in Thailand and even in Greece. Actually, there are pristine nature spots left not far from mass tourism hotspots in most of the travel destinations. You just have to explore a bit and you will be greatly rewarded for this small effort.
Choose nature! Pristine nature heals. It gives you a sense of freedom that nothing else can compare to. Add some ecotourism activities (like hiking, kayaking etc.), and you will return home charged.
Canaima National Park in Venezuela
You will get a great gain from spending your time outdoors. You just have to choose the best time depending on where you plan to go.
For example, a diving holidays in Malaysia or in Bali are the best during the dry season (from April to September). The stunning northern beaches in Latvia are the best in the late spring, summer and early autumn months (which is also from May to September).
Egypt is super hot in the summer months but very pleasant during the winter (from October till March), when it is also a perfect place for diving.
If you want to explore the rainforest the best time is again the dry season that depends on the place you choose to go.
Hiking in lowland rain-forest in Costa Rica
While enjoying the boreal forests in Northern Europe would be better in early spring (April â May), late summer (August) and early autumn (September â October). In the summer months, northern forests turn in the heaven for the mosquitos. Yet you can always choose a summer kayaking trip along the wild forested riverbanks in Latvia instead. Mosquitos will not bother you in open sunny areas.
Boreal forest in Northern Europe
Kayaking along the forested riverbanks in Latvia
The bogs and mires in Latvia are the best to be visited in the autumn when they get the most beautiful colors and are rich with wild berries.
Pristine boglands in Latvia
Any hiking/trekking in the mountains are the best in the summer months. And so on.
You will always enjoy nature. Just choose the right time to go. The bad experiences are mostly due to bad planning.
Stunning mountains in Georgia (Kazbegi)
#3: Be careful with the âmust visitâ places
Letâs be realistic. Despite Googleâs huge efforts to give the best information on its search engineâs first pages, they are not always that successful. You might need to look further to find the best and most authentic information.
International sites with high domain authorities mostly prevail on the first Google search pages. The Hubspot says that 75% of Internet users never scroll past the first page of search results. The influential digital marketing expert Neil Patel confirms this. This is why all the websites strive to get on the first Google page at least in some niche. It is not hard to imagine that the ones who started earlier and/or have more resources have a huge advantage in the world flooded with digital information.
In most industries being on Google page 1 really means you are the best. Yet it is not that straightforward when it comes to travel. Sometimes it might be too bad for you if you are among those 75% who stick to the Google page 1.
While there are good reasons why authoritative websites rank so high, it is not guaranteed that you will find the information about the best and most authentic travel (and any other) experiences on the Googleâs first page. You must look for the local sites first!
Why you should go beyond Google page 1
Letâs look at an example I know the best. In the case of Latvia and the other Baltic States, I can tell you for sure that non-local travel sites that rank the highest in Google for our region reveal only a very small fraction of the things to do and places to see here. And almost none mentions ecotourism. The simple fact is that they just donât know enough.
In the picture below you can see the first five results on Google page 1 for the query âplaces to visit in Latviaâ (it is very similar for the âthings to do in Latviaâ). The very first one is the article in the official travel portal of Latvia â a very general one. None of the next five and further on up to the Google page 3 are local. You can also see the average position of my page that is actually very much dedicated to providing detailed advice for the travelers to Latvia.
 To get to my site you actually have to go to the Google page 3. The screenshot below shows the two local (Latvian) sites on this page including mine. And thatâs it.
 There is no way that most of the average travelers would look for these sites. Yet they actually include among the most useful information. You may say it is the problem with my site that I cannot rank higher. Yes, it is. However, is also the problem of the travelers that do not get the best first-hand information actually.
Note that for less popular destinations most of the high-ranking sites focus on more traditional highlights. You have to be a local expert or a very dedicated traveler to know that Latvia is actually a Nordic paradise for ecotourism. Being an average traveler, you just donât have a clue about this. It is about the same all around the world; especially if we speak about destinations less uncovered.
Be critical about what you read on the Internet. Why the localâs advice matters?
The travel sites of higher authority on the first Google pages often focus on multiple travel destinations. It also means they are much more general than any local information source of a good quality. Authoritative English sites often rank high because of good content writing skills, longer experience, lots of back-links, and long-term running domains and not necessarily because they have more knowledge.
While they give good general insight, these sites often lack the level of detail that you actually need while planning your trip. This is where you should seek advice from a local.
The best way to get the most amazing authentic travel experiences is to consult a knowledgeable local guide. Or you can ask somebody who can do it for you and plan your escape travel trip as you want it to be.
For more authentic and specific results you may also have to look for the local websites that very often rank lower. Or you should do your research when you are at your travel destination. This way you might get to know a lot about hidden gems to visit and unique local experiences to have. Besides, you will also help local sites to rank higher in Google. Ultimately this will be a clear gain for you and for other travelers, who will find the local experts easier.
Remember that there is no way that any non-local blog site (even TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet) would know something about the destination better than an experienced local. No matter how good it is written and presented. It is not the first-hand information. Give more chances and trust local information channels and local businesses, at least those who speak your language.
While it is not guaranteed that the local sites and experts will always help you to travel greener (although very often it will be the case), they will be more authentic for sure. They might also lead you away from mass tourism to real destinations showing you amazing places and things you might never imagine exist.
Razna National Park in Eastern Latvia
This all does not mean you should compromise the quality, of course. You have all the rights to demand the best and most reliable information both from international and local travel experts.
#4: Make sure that the ecotourism service is really âecoâ
âEcoâ gains for travelers
Many travel ecotourism destinations and service providers tend to use prefix âecoâ for marketing purposes. Yet ecotourism does not always mean green travel, at least for now. Iâve been in many places around the globe that position themselves as ecotourism destinations. While there are lots of great examples, a good bunch are also far from being environmentally friendly.
Beware of the ecotourism service providers that promise you to spend amazing time in pristine nature but donât care much on the impact you leave on these sites.
Seeing rare species and stunning wildlife may be exciting. Yet you might not notice at what cost it actually sometimes comes for the local ecosystems, species, and communities. The unique experiences may also make you neglect the problems with trash disposal and other environmental problems that are not uncommon today especially in developing countries.
Keep you âparadiseâ alive
By coming back to the same place that seemed to be a paradise when you first visited it, you may face the harsh reality some years later. You may not find a paradise there anymore just because you neglected the importance of sustainable travel principles for the first time you went there. Always be aware of what an ecotourism service provider actually sells and do not hesitate to write reviews about your concerns. Reviews are often the most effective tool to affect any travel service provider as the travel businesses rely on them very much.
Responsible ecotourism service providers will take care that your travel experience is truly green. They will search for the best solutions to leave a positive impact on the environment and local communities. As a traveler do not hesitate to credit them for these efforts. It is often neither easy nor cheap to keep this kind of service level.
âEcoâ gains for ecotourism businesses
If you are a long-term thinking ecotourism service provider, I will dare to assume that you want the best of your guests to return. You also want that people recommend you to other travelers. Well, then you must ensure that your services are top notch sustainable in a long run.
As from the travelersâ perspective, there is nothing worse than coming back to his/her âparadiseâ and finding that it has turned into a miserable, worn touristic spot. You will lose not only one client and his friends. You will lose many more and you definitely risk losing your whole business.
Remember that you cannot have a great sustainable ecotourism destination and get more visitors by compromising environmental issues all at the same time. A sustainable ecotourism place is usually not compatible with big public events and masses. You will have a much bigger gain by improving your services, limit their accessibility and making them greener and more authentic from year to year.
#5: Travel is not a competition
I know it may be tempting to go with the flow and list as many countries and âmust visitâ places that you have been to as possible on your Facebook or Instagram account. However, it will not make you happier (or this fake happiness wonât be lasting). Neither it will impress a lot of people because these days you will hardly surprise anyone by being a traveler.
Why not enjoy your travel instead in a much slower way?
Running from one destination to another and ticking them on your âplaces to visitâ map will just add more stress in your life.
Travel is not a competition. It is a way to get amazing experiences, meeting new people, getting connected and overcoming prejudices. It is not about âHa, Iâve been to more countries than youâ. Running through a cityâs dome square and some shopping centers nearby no way means that you have truly been, seen and felt your travel destination.
#6: Going off-the-beaten-path (or track) is still trendy and will always be
I know that off-the-beaten-path is quite a worn term that many want to replace it with something fancier. âRoad less traveledâ, âunder the radar placesâ, âremote travelâ, âbeing nomadâ are frequently used today. Well, I am probably too old but I still think that âoff-the-beaten-pathâ still compiles the very essence of authentic escape travel.
Going off-the-beaten-path: You can get to Iquitos town in Peruvian Amazon jungle only by plane or boat. There are no roads going there
You choose to get outside your box, to dare. You also choose to get out of your comfort zone and âriskâ to be transformed in a good way.
âOff-the-beaten-pathâ is not the same as âfar awayâ
If you want to see more authentic, less disturbed places and enjoy your freedom during your trip, you must seek off-the-beaten-path places in any destination you go. It is that simple. And the good thing is that you do not always have to travel to a remote jungle lodge to get off-the-beaten-path (although this is a nice option too). Just look around any mass tourism hotspot. You might discover amazing things just slightly going off-the-beaten-path. This is a great escape travel strategy.
Amazing ancient monastery complex and natural area just in one day trip from Tbilisi in Georgia
Stunning secluded beach in Jurmala city just 30 minutes from Riga â capital city of Latvia
If you do not have time and you do not want to do your own research, ask somebody to do that for you. It will be much more rewarding than going the âeasy wayâ and sticking to the âbeaten pathâ all the time. This way you will get the most out of your escape travel.
Off-the-beaten-path is also greener
Going off-the-beaten-path often means that you will travel greener too, as you will reduce visitor pressure on the mass tourism hotspots and in a way may help them to recover. Reducing the problem of over-tourism in many travel destinations is a very urgent and challenging task. You can help a lot.
Going off-the-beaten-path also means that you will leave more of your travel budget in local communities rather than in already rich touristic hot-spots. This is how your escape travel experience will also bring a number of benefits to other people and will help the environment.
#7: Try traveling âoff-the-beaten-timeâ
Ok, this is something I like to use often, but it probably needs some more explanation. It is clear that by visiting any country you may also want to see the usual âmust visitâ places. After all, these are the places any travel destination has become popular for. Hence, you inevitably come back to the âbeaten pathâ.
Teide National Park in Tenerife Island (Spain) is not that crowded if you go hiking there off-season in November
Yet you can choose to visit a âmust seeâ place not during the peak season or holidays. Go there off-season or even during less crowded hours! Believe me, you will be the biggest gainer from this strategy.
Get up early and visit Machu Picchu in the morning before it is flooded by the crowds of tourists
#8: Beat your fears with awareness
Unless you are a world traveler with a huge experience, some fear about going to a new destination is inevitable. It is just natural to fear the unknown. The problem starts when you make all your decisions based on fears.
Believe me most, and I mean the most, of our fears, are nothing to do with the reality. They are based on our prejudices well rooted in us by media. Most of the so-called âdangerousâ destinations are much safer than your own suburbs wherever you come from.
Granada in a nice, colorful and welcoming place in Nicaragua to go
Whatâs safer? Off-the-beaten-path vs beaten-path
Besides, the more authentic and off-the-beaten-path destination you choose the safer it is. There are exceptions though. Yet, most of the crimes against travelers actually take place in the mass tourism hotspots. It makes sense as the criminals gather where most of the money comes to, of course. It has always been the beaten-path.
There are exceptions everywhere. This marketplace in Iquitos â Peru is not the safest place. Yet it is ok to visit it with a local guide
You should always check the real situation before you go anywhere but you must also avoid any old prejudices. They are very often hindering you from having truly authentic and amazing new experiences.
The good example of this is Eastern Europe. The region used to be associated with the dark Soviet regime for many years. Yet today most of the Eastern European countries are fast developing places, many being the members of European Union. It is actually safer to travel there than in most of the Western Europe cities.
A beautiful and tranquil Sabile Town in Latvia
Welcoming streets of Tbilisi â the capital of Georgia
By overcoming your fears, you will see more, enjoy more, understand more and experience more. And this is what escape travel and any travel is all about. Isnât it?
#9: Ecotourism can be fun. It really can!
Ecotourism has not been the most âsexyâ topic so far. Yet any travel must be fun if you want to enjoy it. This is where my colleaguesâ conservationists often fail. Ecologists are trained to be serious scientists and experts. They take their stuff seriously; sometimes too seriously.
I am a biologist and I know that on the everyday basis my colleagues have a great sense of humor. This is until the discussion comes to the nature conservation. That moment any ecologist turns into a furious justice fighter. Some are even ready to sacrifice progress and people in the name of nature. While this is an admirable level of passion on its own, it is no way working with most of ânormalâ people.
When we come to the green travel and ecotourism we have to focus on the gains for each of us. Again, travel is primarily fun and entertainment. Saving the planet may not deeply appeal to everybody (until it is personal); at least at that level, a typical conservationist thinks it should. We need to see our personal benefits and/or solution to our problems.
Any travel experience should be engaging and fun. If we enjoy authentic experiences and nature in a fun way, we will be more motivated to save these values for the future.
As an eco-tour leader/guide I have incorporated a whole new approach in my tours and experiences. Instead of giving the people long boring factual information I combine interesting facts with improv theater elements(!)
Apart from being a passionate traveler, I am also an improv theater actor. Both travel and improv have the same positive impact actually. They connect people and encourage them to step out of their comfort zone. And it works. People are more engaged with nature in a fun way. They care more, they have more positive emotions and they are motivated to return. This is a clear personal gain.
Whatever is your approach to ecotourism it must be fun and engaging. There are endless ways to reach it. Just donât be boring and too serious. People want to relax and enjoy their experiences. If you can not ensure this, be honest and find-hire someone who can.
Ecotourism is a perfect way to raise awareness. You visit new places, do things and get engaged with nature all at the same time. No awareness-raising campaign can replace a personal experience.
Most of the nature conservation and environmental projects have public awareness-raising actions. Yet they are always considered to be secondary. While they must be primary. None of the projects can be sustainable without success in raising awareness.
Besides informing the people and getting them engaged are two different things. Well planned and fun ecotourism activities may serve the latest tremendously.
There is a big difference between just visiting a protected wetland area and helping to clean it from excessive bushes. The travelerâs gain is a great sense of accomplishment, while the natural habitats get restored.
Hence any volunteering project is a great way to travel and leave a positive impact at the same time.
There are many good reasons why authentic escape travel and ecotourism experiences can make a huge positive impact on you and on local communities. They can also help to solve many environmental problems.
Authentic travel will allow you to enjoy the original beauty of any travel destination and will cut the huge problem of over tourism in mass tourism destinations;
Pristine nature heals and charges while crowds take the energy away from you;
Going beyond Google page 1 will allow you to find hidden gems and unique local experiences that you might even not imagined exist;
The real ecotourism service is sustainable and helps the environment. Be sure that it is realâecoâ and always leave feedback;
Escape travel and going off-the-beaten-path is trendy and it will always be. Try going off-the-beaten-path wherever you go;
If you cannot or do not want to go off-the-beaten-path, got âoff-then-beaten-timeâ (off-season);
Step out of your comfort zone and beat your fears! They are not real anyway. You will discover many new destinations and experiences;
Ecotourism can and must be fun. Look for escape travel experiences that bring you joy;
If there is a perfect tool that raises awareness about the importance of environmental problems, then it is ecotourism?
Have you been to an ecotourism trip? Do you enjoy green travel? What are your reasons to choose authentic travel and ecotourism? Leave your opinion in the comments or write me a message to [email protected].
10 Reasons You Should Go For Authentic Escape Travel And Look Beyond Google Page 1: Tips For Travelers And Ecotourism Businesses Sustainable travel and ecotourism are gradually getting more and more popular. According to Forbes, the so-calledâŠ
