This document provides summaries of various ecotourism destinations around the world. It discusses hiking opportunities in Andorra between valley trails, nature reserves, and designated ecotourism routes. It also describes Soomaa National Park in Estonia, which transforms during spring floods, providing a unique ecotourism experience. Finally, it mentions Scotland's Western Islands as a remote location with dramatic landscapes, renewable energies, and various ecotourism activities.

3. Hiking in Andorra
Small, but mighty, ecotourism in Andorra often comes
down to skiing and hiking. While most adventurers head to the
landlocked tax haven between Spain and France to hit the
slopes, experiencing hiking season in Andorra is incredibly
rewarding. Between the valley trails, nature reserves, and
designated ecotourism routes, a hiking holiday in Andorra is fit
for anyone.

4. Soomaa National Park, Estonia
Experiencing ecotourism in Estonia can mean many
things to many people, but often the country’s impressive
national parks are part of the equation. In particular, Soomaa
National Park, which transforms into an ethereal place during
the ―fifth season‖ spring floods. Visiting during that time is an
ecotourism experience that will stay with you for a very long
time.

5. The Inspiring Landscapes of
Scotland’s Western Islands
Looking for an ecotourism experience at the end of the
earth? Head to Scotland’s Western Islands, where the landscapes are
dramatic and captivating, and the experiences available are about
as remote as you can get in the UK. With renewable
energies, sustainable mindsets, and ecotourism experiences
aplenty, Scotland’s Western Islands are an ideal setting for an

6. The Calm Beauty of Finland’s
Lapland
An exceptionally eco-conscious country, Finland is a
haven for ecotourism experiences, including its region of
Lapland, one of Europe’s greatest unspoiled wildernesses. In the
far north of Finland, beyond the Arctic Circle, sits one of the most
peaceful landscapes you can find. In the land of the midnight
sun and the Aurora Borealis, ecotourism in Finland’s Lapland is a
calm and impressive experience.

7. Slovenia: Alpine Ecotourism
Slovenia is one of most
pristine alpine ecotourism
destinations in Europe. Under
the yolk of communist
Yugoslavia from World War II
until the 1990s, Slovenia
remained relatively
undiscovered. Since Slovenia
gained its independence at a
time when ecology and conservation were already buzz words in
the general lexicon, efforts were made from the onset to create a
best-practices model for sustainable tourism. This green approach
to tourism, as well as the unspoiled beauty of this alpine country,
has lead Slovenia to win the EDEN award(European Destinations
of Excellence) for three consecutive years, from 2008–2010.

9. Gabon
A protected paradise
Situated in central-west Africa, Gabon is a somewhat
obscure but relatively prosperous and stable country with a
wealth of biodiversity. More than 10 years ago, then-president
Omar Bongo declared 10% of the country's landmass – mostly
covered in tropical forest – a network of national parks. This move
made Gabon a serious contender in eco-tourism, yet because of a
lack of infrastructure, these 13 wondrous reserves are largely
unknown.
For those willing to wander into uncharted
territory, incredible wildlife and landscapes await in Loango
National Park on the country's western coast. From surfing hippos
and humpback whales to coastal lagoons and expansive
savannah, this park will stun any adventurous traveller. (Michael
Nichols/National Geographic Stock).

10. Feathered bounty
Gabon is a largely undiscovered, but spectacular
destination for birding, with more than 300 species residing in its
borders and more arriving periodically to breed along its shores.
The country's national parks are an excellent place for
birdwatchers and naturalists to observe a variety of exotic
species at close range in an unspoiled setting. (Michael
Nichols/National Geographic Stock).

12. Life in Zambia’s lush Luangwa
Valley
A valley of four parks
Life in Zambia’s remote Luangwa Valley falls in step
with the seasonal rhythms. For nearly half of the
year, vegetation flourishes as the region is flooded with rain.
But come the start of the dry season in May, the conditions are
perfect for viewing the region's 60 animal species – including
buffalo (pictured), elephants, lions and hippos – as they
congregate around the available water sources. The
52,000sqkm valley is home to the North and South Luangwa
Parks, Luambe Park and Lukusuzi Park. (Frans
Lanting/National Geographic Stock).

14. Gorilla spotting in the Republic of
Congo
Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki
When a team from National
Geographic magazine called this
northern corner of Congo ―the worlds
last Eden‖ in the mid-1990s, they chose
their words wisely. The forest is known
for its natural clearings in which
elephants and gorillas gather, and the
World Conservation Society (WCS) has
built viewing platforms alongside these
clearings where travellers can ogle the
antics of Congolese megafauna.

15. Tanzania’s Mahale Mountains
National Park

16. In addition to being one of the best places in the world for
up-close encounters with chimpanzees, Mahale Mountains
National Park, nestled on the Lake Tanganyikan
shoreline in western Tanzania, is absolutely stunning.
Forested mountains cascade down to the lake shore, the
mist-covered peak of Mount Nkungwe rises up in the
background and crystal-clear waters teeming with fish
lap against white sand coves.

17. Entering Mali’s Dogon World

18. World Heritage site in Africa
Mali’s Dogon Country can feel like a deliciously African
evocation of the remote. Dogon villages have no electricity. Nor
are they linked by a single paved road. Dogon cosmology and
the spiritual obligations it entails ranks among the most intricate
of all African stories, layered with meaning and mystery. Its
architecture, too, has an otherworldly quality, clinging to the
Bandiagara Escarpment as if an extension of the rock itself.
At the same time, the Dogon Country is no idyll of blissful
isolation. The ancient walking trails that connect each Dogon
village with the next are now frequented as much by tourists as
by locals. The woodcarvings that stand at the centre of Dogon
life and ceremonies are now valued as much for the money they
can bring in as for their spiritual power. And the Dogon tell a
joke, only half in jest: what does a typical Dogon family consist
of? A mother, father, two children and a French anthropologist.

20. Kakadu National Park in
Australia
Kakadu National Park spans more than 110,000 square
kilometres and is the largest national park in Australia. For
the eco traveller touring Australia, this is a site not to miss.
Filled with wetlands, aboriginal cave paintings, and an
incredible diversity of flora and fauna, Kakadu is said to
have six seasons in one year (including a monsoon period)
during which its landscapes undergo stunning
transformations.

21. Kakadu National Park

22. PELELIU ISLAND
PELELIU ISLAND
Complete your experience with
one of the ecotourism site of
Palauan Islands with an exciting
and enlightening tour of Peleliu
island, where one of the Pacific's
bloodiest battles ever were
fought.

23. KOKODA TRACK/KOKODA
TRAIL
KOKODA TRACK/KOKODA TRAIL is a single-file foot
thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometres (60 mi) overland — 60
kilometres (37 mi) in a straight line — through the Owen
Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. The track is the most
famous in Papua New Guinea and is known for being the
location of the World War II battle between Japanese and
Australian forces in 1942. Found in Papua New Guinea.

25. Cocos Island
Cocos Island is a prime ecotourism destination in Costa Rica.
A World Heritage Site, ranked among the top 77 nominees for
the world's New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Costa Rica is one of the key activities of the tourism industry in
the country. By the early 1990s, Costa Rica became known as
the poster child of ecotourism. The country is among many
developing nations that look to ecotourism as a way of cashing
in on the growing demand for this popular trend of travel.
Ecotourism draws many tourists to visit the extensive national
parks and protected areas around the country. Costa Rica was
a pioneer in this type of tourism, and the country is recognized
as one of the few with true ecotourism.

27. QUIRIGUÁ
The ruins of this small Mayan city
include temples, rocks carved in
the form of mythological animals
and eleven large stone
monuments inscribed with
hieroglyphics, including the
largest ever discovered in the
Mayan world. The city flourished
until the 10th century, when it
was abandoned for unknown
reasons, and the ruins are
recognized by UNESCO as a
World Heritage Site. Found in
Guatemala.

28. La Redonda in Cuba
La Redonda is one of the favorite natural attractions to
visitors that choose their holidays to Cuba in the keys of
northern central Cuba. This lake is located in the municipality
of Moron, in the province of Ciego de Avila, the closest city to
Key Coco and Key Guillermo, which is a tourist destination
called Jardines del Rey. It is an ideal place for
ecotourism, allowing human interaction with nature. An
ecological boat tour through the wonderful mangrove
ecosystem that conform the lake allows the contemplation of
natural attractions with a high degree of conservation, as well
as specimens of the flora and fauna, both native and
migratory.

30. El Yunque National Forest in
Puerto Rico
Formerly known as the Luquillo
National Forest and the
Caribbean National Forest.
Located only 45 minutes east of
San Juan, El Yunque spreads
across 28,000 acres of
northeastern Puerto Rico. The
forest is world-renowned for its
incredible biodiversity -
thousands of plant species and
hundreds of small animal and
bird species call it home.

31. Copper Canyon Landscape
Copper Canyon In the
Chihuahua State, Copper
Canyon is ideal eco-cultural
location, as it is an isolated,
breathtaking area that is also
the home of the Tarahumara
Indians. Found in Mexico.

33. Ecuador: Education for the Future
Ecuador is blessed with incredible resources, and fortunately
the ecotourism industry in Ecuador is well aware of it. The
government is influential in promoting ecotourism in the
country, from its support of local conservation programs to its
commitment to sustainable tourism. The Galapagos Islands
reap the benefit of this, and as such are one of the most
regulated National Parks in existence. Industry leaders, such
as Yachana, are committed to local involvement and
empowerment through education, demonstrating Ecuador’s
growing role in the progression of ecotourism.

35. Chile’s Easter Island
Designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, Rapa Nui National
Park is one of the most popular
sites of ecotourism in Chile, and is
Easter Island’s primary tourist
attractions. As such, significant
efforts are in place to preserve
the island’s fragile ecosystem, and
visiting is a great opportunity to
learn more about being a
responsible traveller.

36. Canaima National
Park, Venezuela
A UNESCO World Heritage
Site, Canaima is the sixth largest
national park in the world, and a
cornerstone of ecotourism in
Venezuela. This exciting and
pristine landscape is sure to
impress, considering almost two-
thirds of the park is occupied by
massive rock plateaus, creating
dramatic vistas and imposing
waterfalls, including Angel
Falls, the tallest waterfall in the
world.

38. Sariska Tiger Reserve - Rajasthan,
India
Built in 1894 by maharaja of alwar, the Sariska Palace is today
counted one among the few best grand heritage hotels in the
country. Once a royal hunting ground, the Sariska Tiger
Reserve was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955 in an effort to
protect the Bengal tigers, as well as other animals indigenous to
the area including jungle cats, golden jackals, four-horned
antelope and the Great Indian Horned owl.
Located in the Alwar district of the state of Rajasthan, the
Sariska Tiger Reserve is a great getaway for any nature
lover, but it thankfully doesn’t require an
adventurer’s endurance of the elements. Experience the
reserve, but stay at the grand heritage hotel, Sariska
Palace, located within the park – no tent necessary.

40. Taman Negara - Malaysia
Taman Negara was declared for
conservation in 1938 and became
Malaysia's premier national park and the
largest in the country covering over 4343
square kilometres of forest.
Encompassing three states --
Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, is
Taman Negara, one of the world's oldest
tropical rainforest. The national park
within the forest has also developed into
one of Malaysia's most famous ecotourism
destination, with Gunung Tahan as the
highest point for mountain climbers.

41. Mekong Discovery Trail -
Cambodia
The Mekong River carries Southeast
Asia’s cultural diversity and history
from Laos’ forested northern
mountains to Thailand and
Cambodia’s rice fields.
One the world's longest rivers, the Mekong
River winds its way through mountains of
Laos to the heartlands in Thailand and
Cambodia, creating an ecosystem
that’s only rivalled by that of the
Amazon. Dozens of community-based
ecotourism programmes cover differ parts
of the river, each allowing people to get a
rare glimpse into traditional local life.

42. Whale Shark Ecotourism
Programme - Donsol, Philippines
Donsol, a small town in Sorsogon, Philippines, is home to a
large number of nature-focused attractions, including being
the “Whale Shark Capital of the World.” Whale
sharks can be seen there between November and June, with
presence peaking between February and May.
Far from exploiting its natural advantage, Donsol has turned
to ecotourism to protect its whale shark population while at
the same time support the local community. The incentives by
the government and NGOs to promote ecotourism in the area
have created a protected home for the shark while also
benefitting the local fishing economy.

44. Satwa Elephant Eco Lodge -
Indonesia
Satwa Elephant Eco Lodge is located within Way Kambas
National Park, Lampung province of Sumatra, Indonesia.
The national park covers an extensive 130,000 hectares of
land and is the home to several endangered species, such as
the Sumatran tigers and rhinoceros and a significant
population of Sumatran elephants.
Set within an extensive walled garden full of tropical fruit
trees are four cottages that are fully equipped with basic
amenities that are powered by renewable solar energy.

45. What you can do: Famous for its elephant
sanctuary, guests can go on elephant safaris within the
national park. Other activities include bird
watching, tours of local attraction and village visits. Part
of all activity fees go towards sustaining the national
park.

47. NAVIGATE THE DRAKE
PASSAGE

48. In order to get to Antarctica, you must first navigate the
infamous Drake Passage. With waves that can easily reach
heights of 30 feet, the question was not whether our boat
could survive the journey, but whether anyone on it would
escape seasickness. Luckily the weather conditions were in
our favor on the way to Antarctica, but coming back was a
different story. The Polar Pioneer broke through rampant
waves for days on the return to Argentina. Even walking
through corridors was a dangerous activity: You had to time
the wave perfectly to avoid being thrown down the stairs.
To escape the dangers of the staircases (and settle my
wavering stomach), I admit to curling up in my cabin for
several hours each day. However, the round trip to this
magnificent continent and all it had to offer was well worth
the risks.

49. HIKE THE SOUTH SHETLAND
ISLANDS

50. Our first sight of land after leaving Argentina was the
South Shetland Islands. Located north of Antarctica, these
islands stand as a gateway to the continent and are a frequent
stop for tourists. One can hike for hours there, not only because
of the knee-deep snow slowing your steps, but also because of
the amazing panoramic views. But watch your step! Gentoo
penguins will wobble nearby, seals will bask in the sun, and
various seabirds will circle overhead. In addition to the
wildlife, artifacts from past decades of human activity can be
found all around. Deception Bay, which was created by a
volcano, still houses the rusting whale oil tanks left by the once
active whaling industry. These islands are a must-visit part of
any journey to the awe-inspiring continent of Antarctica.

51. WATCH FOR WHALES IN THE
LEMAIRE CHANNEL

52. This is one of the first channels you’ll pass through once you
reach the Antarctic Peninsula. One of my best memories of
Antarctica’s landscape is from this fjord-like channel, where
the cliffs jut straight out of the water. This ―mountain range‖
dwarfs each side of this narrow channel for miles ahead. The
perfect reflection on the smooth water seems to bring the
mountains even closer. As your boat navigates this tricky
channel, you won’t be able to take you eyes off the
seemingly untouched landscape. With humpback whales
often escorting boats through the channel, the trip will leave
you in awe of nature’s beauty.