#>what

Virtual Mailboxes: How to Receive Mail while Traveling

Digital Nomads

How do long-term travelers and digital nomads receive mail or packages while traveling? I use a virtual mailbox service that allows me to scan and forward my mail internationally.

I’ve been working as a digital nomad for the past 9 years, basing myself in multiple countries or simply living out of my backpack while traveling.

Currently, I’m living as an expat in Italy.

Yet I have a virtual mailbox with a physical address in San Antonio, Texas.

Using this service, any incoming mail or packages is photographed, which I can then view through an online dashboard.

From there, I can decide to scan the contents (letters), forward the mail/packages somewhere else, or have it shredded/recycled. I can even deposit checks.

My virtual mailbox service is incredibly helpful for running my online business getting paid to travel around the world!

I use it to receive payments from clients, for business & personal bills, bank & credit card statements, legal documents, packages, and more.

Guide To Virtual Mail Forwarding In 2019

My Earth Class Mail Online Dashboard

1. Earth Class Mail (Recommended)

Cost: $69-$179 USD per month

Earth Class Mail is the virtual mailbox service that I personally use, and have been using for the last 5 years. Their suite of features is the most advanced, especially if you’re running an online business.

They have the largest number of US-based addresses for different states of all the services mentioned here. Their online software, features, speed, and sorting facilities are top-notch, but you’ll also pay a premium for it.

While expensive, I can’t imagine running my travel blog without them. It’s one business expense that’s totally worth it. I use them to receive client checks, important packages, business & personal banking correspondence, tax documents, everything!

The service integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Bill.com, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more.

They also offer a fully-automated CheckStream Deposit Service if your business receives a lot of physical checks.

Earth Class Mail Details →

2. Traveling Mailbox

Cost: $15-$159 USD per month

Traveling Mailbox is another decent forwarding service with 5 plans to choose from depending on your needs. Like Earth Class Mail, all accounts include basic envelope scans, junk mail filtering, unlimited cloud storage and free mail shredding.

They have over 30 addresses around the US. Premium features like check deposits cost extra. There are additional fees if you go over your monthly limits. The service integrates with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox.

3. US Global Mail

Cost: $10-$20 USD per month

US Global Mail has been around since 1998, and they offer individual and family plans for short-term (monthly) or long-term (1-2 year) periods.

They offer free letter storage for 180 days, and free package storage for 30 days. Mail forwarding rates are quite affordable. One major downside is that they only offer one address location in Houston, Texas. This isn’t ideal if you need your address to match your state of residence.

4.8 million Americans who now call themselves digital nomads? Technology has made the digital office a reality for many, and now you don’t have to be tied down by physical mail either.

RVers & Vanlifers

Living out of a vehicle like an RV or campervan poses a challenge to receiving your mail & packages, especially if you’re on the road. Forward your mail to the next RV campground you plan to stop at, no matter what state you’re driving through.

Expats

Are you living overseas in a foreign country with a travel-friendly job, but want to keep a physical mailing address in the US for billing, voting, and tax purposes? Sign up for a virtual mailing address in your former home state.

USPS Form 1583 and have it notarized.

Unless you’re signing up for Earth Class Mail, who offers free complimentary notarized online activation, you’ll need to get the form notarized in person.

Or if you’re already outside the United States — through an online notary service like NotaryCam (which only costs $25).

Reduce the amount of physical mail you generate by signing up for paperless billing and online statements. Opt out of credit card & insurance offers using https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

Many financial institutions require a physical mailing address and don’t allow PO boxes. Make sure to choose a plan accordingly.

When picking a virtual mailbox service, pay attention to the plan limits and figure out how much mail you think you’ll receive.

You might be able to reduce your state taxes by setting up residency in a state with no income tax. Pick a virtual address in that same state.

READ MORE DIGITAL NOMAD TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide to virtual mailbox services! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

How To Start A Successful Travel Blog

Proof Of Onward Travel For Flying

My Best Travel Tips For Beginners

10 Great Compact Travel Cameras

How I Became An Irish Citizen

Have any questions about virtual mailbox services or mail forwarding while you travel? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!

My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. - Travel. Adventure. Yoga.

Want to visit the spectacular Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy? In this post, we share the best things to do and how to get the most from your visit. Read on to start planning your to Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso!

What’s in our guide to visiting Gran Paradiso National Park?

1. 3. 5.

When you’re in Turin, the Alps call to you. The mountains arc around the city, far away enough to be mysterious, close enough to be incredibly tantalizing. While wandering Torino, for all that I love the city, part of me just keeps thinking “Why aren’t we in the Alps right now?”

The great news is that it’s easy to visit Gran Paradiso National Park (or Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, if you want to practice your Italian) from Turin.

The park is nestled in the Alps on the border with France, not far from the city. Driving takes a little more than an hour, or you can hire a guide to take you, or even go by public transport.

Hiking in Gran Paradiso, you will get to see spectacular views. Photo by Davide Glarey via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

Whether you want to take a gentle stroll through an Alpine meadow or challenge yourself on an almost vertical hike up above 2,000 m (6,500 ft), you’ll find the opportunity in Gran Paradiso.

The bad news is that there are so many places to hike and so little information available, especially in English, that it can be tough to decide where to go for your day trip!

Start with the Gran Paradiso tourist map — which we didn’t discover until after our visit — which will be big help in planning your trip.

The Gran Pardiso tourist map is very useful to help planning your trip.

We opted for a challenging day hike, taking us to the peak of Punta Quinseina, just above 2200 m high. Luckily we drove up to about 1500 m first, otherwise we never would have made it to the top!

Though the hike was marked as “medium” on all our apps, it was more than enough challenge for us for that day, leaving our legs sore and our knees aching by the end. It was also incredibly rewarding.

So, if you’re interested in exploring the mountains and finding some time to reconnect with yourself through nature, read on to discover…

How to do a Spectacular Day Trip to Gran Paradiso National Park

Before you start reading the details, watch our short video of our day hike in Gran Paradiso to get inspired!

Also don’t miss these posts:

Your complete Torino guide → The best day in Sacra di San Michele → Your guide to visiting Mole Antonelliana →

Don’t forget to stop and breathe deeply and enjoy the views while you’re in the park.

The park’s origin story is a little sad — it all began because people love to kill wildlife. The area had been a hunting ground for the royal family and was also frequented by poachers. It was originally protected by Vittorio Emmanuel as a Royal Hunting Reserve, so that the Alpine ibex would be protected from poachers (and reserved for Royal hunters).

In 1922, the land was donated by the royals to Italy and it became Italy’s first national park. Though the ibex were supposed to be protected, the law was not enforced at first and the population dwindled to dangerously low numbers.

Now, they are properly protected and the ibex population is healthy and thriving! They are also daredevils.

You won’t lack for any amazing views when you visit Gran Pardiso National Park.

OK, you probably climb every mountain in the park, but there are lots of opportunities for rock climbing and ice climbing in Gran Paradiso.

For climbers, basing yourself in Turin or somewhere on the Piedmont side of the park is perfect, as this is where you’ll find the best climbing routes in the park. Check out the Orco Valley and the Soana Valley for incredible climbing opportunities.

Sleep in a Refuge

If you’ve hiked to a refuge hut anywhere in North America, you might be picturing a small wooden hut, with some sleeping bunks, a fireplace, and not much else.

But in Gran Paradiso, many of the huts (refugio) are European-style. That is to say, they are almost full-service hotels, with restaurants and comfortable beds. Your chance to in style.

Different huts offer different services, so make sure you know what to expect and what you need to bring before you go.

Spot the Wildlife

We didn’t get to see a marmot on our trip to the park. Next time! Photo by Dario de Siena via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

On our hike up Punta Quinseina, we kept our eyes and ears open for marmots. Alas, it was a little early in the season and we didn’t get to se any. The only wildlife we saw, apart from lots of soaring birds, was the not-so-rare Italian hang-glider. They did make for an impressive site, soaring through the air at 1500 m!

Marmots do populate the park though. These plump rodents evolved to deal with the harsh mountain climates, and can hibernate for up to 9 months of the year. You’ll often hear marmots before you see them. They make a high-pitched chirp that sounds a lot like a bird, and, if you get to close, their chirping will increase in frequency.

Deeper in the park, you might see the Alpine ibex (also know as the Steinbock) which is the symbol of the park. As we said in the intro, it’s because of these long-horned wild goats that the park was established in the first place.

You might also spot a chamois, another species of goat that looks like the steinbock but with shorter horns. However, female steinbocks also have shorter horns, so it’s easy to get them confused.

Keep your eyes to the skies to spot golden eagles, impressive birds of prey that feed on marmots and other small mammals — but are sometimes big enough to make off with a small goat. Yikes!

Finally, a wolf pack has recently taken residence in the Aosta Valley. You probably won’t see wolves (which is a good thing) but you may hear them howling at the moon.

Get on Your Bike

If you’d rather roll than walk, there are plenty of bike trails in the park, from fully paved gentle routes to all-out technical mountain bike trails. Many routes pass through some of the historic Alpine villages that skirt the lower edges of the park.

Explore a Winter Wonderland

If you do a multi-day trip, you’ll be in the mountains for sunset. Photo by Martino Nicolino via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

If you happen to visit Italy in winter, strap on your snow shoes and hit the park trails. You can also cross-country ski, downhill ski, and go ice climbing in Gran Paradiso.

Visit the Botanical Garden

If you want a little less energetic outing, the Paradisia Alpine Botanic Garden is a great destination. Located on the Aosta Valley, this 10,000 square metre garden gives you a chance to see Alpine flora up close.

The best time to go is mid-June to mid-July, when you can take a guided tour or visit independently using the garden brochure to navigate.

Driving in Italy is truly mind-boggling / terrifying!

Once you’re off the busy city streets and fast-moving highways, you’ll also have to contend with winding, narrow roads, often single-lane, that switchback their way up the mountains.

If you don’t have a lot of driving experience and/or nerves of steel, I’d suggest you find another way to get there.

But, if you want drive to Gran Pardiso, here’s how:

From Turin to Valle Orco, point your GPS towards Rivarolo Canavese. From there, take road 460, which follows the route of the Orco River. Turn right at Pont Canavese, onto the SP 47 to reach the Soana Valley.

Getting to Gran Paradiso By Bus or Train

From Turin, you can take the bus to Rivarolo (line 131 Torino to Rivarolo) or the train from Torino Porta Susa to Rivarolo and Pont stations. From there, public bus lines serve Valle Orco (line 137 Rivarolo or Pont to Locana or Noasca) and Val Soana (line 140 Pont to Valprato Soana).

To get to the Aosta Valley from Torino, follow the instructions here →

The day hike we did was up all the way, but you can do flat hikes in the park, too.

If you’re looking for a rewarding day hike within easy reach of Turin, you can try the same hike we did — up Punta Quinseina di Santa Elisabetta. Technically this hike is not inside Gran Paradiso but it’s close enough to get the idea!

The hike starts at the tree line and goes up from there, so you get to experience panoramic views of the foothills and the mountains the entire way. No dull forested trail where you can’t see anything!

If you don’t like climbing, this one is not for you.

It starts with a steep uphill, which takes you to a gorgeous alpine meadow. Spend a little time taking in the views of the Alps and watching the hang-gliders soar above your head. There’s also a small stone hut which is interesting — but resist the temptation to go inside. The structure looks fundamentally unsound.

Past the meadow, the path turns upwards again, and continues on a steep incline until you reach the summit. The trail is rocky and somewhat technical. You’ll need shoes with good grip and support to be comfortable.

As you climb, you’ll be rewarded by the continually incredible views. The most magnificent one is at the summit, where you experience 360 degrees of Alpine perfection.

There’s a guest book at the summit, hidden inside the small cabinet connected to the steel cross. Look for our entry and make sure to leave your own!

If you haven’t had enough after you summit, you can continue along the ridge trail and off into the wilderness. As we took about 3 hours to climb up, we’d had plenty of walking and did not extend our hike!

How to Get to Punta Quinseina

Once you get into the mountains, you may have to contend with narrow steep roads, like this one used in the Giro d’Italia.

The drive from Turin to the Punta Quinseina trailhead is an experience in its own right. The first part is simple highway driving from Turin to Castellamonte (though that didn’t prevent us from getting lost and having to backtrack).

From Castellamonte to Colleretto Castelnuovo, it’s quiet, well maintained country roads. There are lots of speed cameras, especially around the villages, so stick to the speed limit. The fines are around €70, so not worth it!

After Colleretto Castelnuovo, which is a charming sub-alpine town that’s worth a stop, things start to get interesting.

A paved but extremely narrow road leads out of town. Soon you’ll find yourself on a series of (seemingly never-ending) tight switchbacks up the side of the mountain. It is steep and narrow — only wide enough for one car in many places. If you aren’t a confident driver with nerves of steel, you might think twice before attempting it.

We didn’t meet a single car coming down as we were going up, which was a blessing, because I was not prepared to back down that winding ribbon of road.

If you start the drive and feel like it will never end, just think about the cyclists in the Giro d’Italia — this road was part of their route in 2019. It must be absolute murder trying to cycle up here!

Even iPhone photographers will love the photos you can take in the park.

Hike stats. 8 km, 787 m elevation gain, 2,231 m highest elevation, out & back, 4–6 hours for return trip.

Hike summary. There is very little flat terrain on this hike. It’s mostly up, up, up. The trail markers are painted onto rocks along the way, with only a few real signposts.

Go when the weather is clear, as it would be easy to lose the trail in fog. In fact, we managed to lose the trail a couple of times on a perfect, sunny day.

Parking & facilities. There is a small parking lot at the foot of the hike with picnic tables and a public restroom.

Trailhead. The trailhead is a bit hard to find and I think we didn’t manage to start the hike in the right spot. To find the trail from the car park, walk up the paved road until the paving ends.

A road on your left leads to a popular hang-gliding launch spot. Continue past this road on the dirt road that leads toward a small farm. Turn left into what looks like the farm driveway, and you’ll find the trailhead on the left, just before reaching the farmhouse.

There’s an alternative trailhead that starts just behind the hang-gliding launch spot. It’s a little harder to find and starts the hike off with a very steep climb. But it’s do-able, as it’s the one we took!

Use the AllTrails map here to find the directions →

What to bring. As usual, bring all the typical necessities you would bring on any wilderness hike. This includes first aid kit, plenty of water, extra snacks, and warm layers.

We went in early June, and there was still a little snow at the peak, though typically you might find more snow at this time of year. At the bottom, we were in t-shirts and by the time we reached the top, we needed winter hats, gloves, sweaters, and jackets, so be prepared to layer up!

The weather can change extremely quickly up here, so be prepared for any conditions.

Hiking poles would be an asset, for balance and to save your knees on the steep descent. We did the hike without, but I would have loved to have a pair with me.

Also bring a GPS-enabled device and an offline mapping app, so you have assistance in finding your way if you lose the trail (like we did a couple of times). You don’t necessarily need a paper map if you stick to the trail and don’t wander off, but it can be an extra safety asset if your phone dies.

The Alpine Ibex is the originator and symbol of the park. Photo by Dario de Siena via Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso.

If you’re not comfortable Gran Paradiso on your own, or you just want to increase the quotient, you can hire a guide to organize everything and take you to the park.

Mountain Guides Society of Gran Paradiso

Variety of trip lengths and difficulty

The official park mountain guides organization operates every day all year long. They are based in the Aosta Valley but can organize an activity for you closer to Torino if you don’t want to drive that far.

They can guide you on a huge range of activities, from trekking, canyoning, and rock climbing, to snowshoeing, off-piste skiing, and ice climbing.

Explore Gran Paradiso National Park with Trekking Alps

3 days, €449 per person

Rated as 4/5 on the difficulty level, this exciting tour will immerse you in the wonders of Gran Paradiso and give you a chance to completely disconnect from everyday life (to forge a deeper connection to yourself, naturally).

Accommodation is in mountain huts — which are more like rustic hotels, where you get a soft bed and a hot meal — in the wilderness. You can do this as a private hike, or join a scheduled group tour. You can also arrange a self-guided trek through Trekking Alps.

Whether you just want a few hours outside, or you want to challenge yourself on a multi-day hike or back country skiing trip, Gran Paradiso is ideal. Much less crowded than the French Alps, this spectacular corner of Italy offers a true getaway — a place where you can immerse yourself in nature and truly disconnect from everyday stress.

Whatever you’re looking for, big or small, you’ll find it in Gran Paradiso National Park.

We hope this short guide to Gran Paradiso helps you plan your trip. Leave at least one day in your Turin itinerary to visit this magnificent park in the northwest corner of Italy. But if you have time, we recommend spending at least three days to get the most out of the park.

♥  Happy mindful s, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create guides like this. But it’s easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, we’ll earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didn’t 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! –S&J

Pin this for your Gran Paradiso !

The Las Vegas desert brings in scorching hot summers, which is why we don’t like leaving the apartment until sundown. Even when going you’re out at night, it feels like there’s a hair dryer blowing hot air on you.

Now that we’re more experienced adventurers and we slow , we can be more strategic on where we explore. We reserve late to early for outdoor activities, and when the heat sets in, you’ll find us indoors. If you’re visiting in the summer or live here and can’t seem to escape like the other sunbirds, here’s a list of the best indoor activities in Las Vegas.

A big thank you to CORT for sponsoring this post. All opinions are always our own. This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: July 1, 2019

Content Menu

25 Fun Indoor Activities in Las Vegas for Scorching Hot Summers and Rainy Days

It is our second year working with CORT, and it has been such an amazing experience being able to move from city to city without having to worry about our furniture.

For the first 4 years, we would either move our own furniture or deal with the stress of buying and selling every year. Once we discovered that we could rent furniture from CORT, it was a game changer.

We order the pieces that we want, they deliver it right to our apartment and help us get it set up. When we’re ready to move, they’ll come pick it up! Check out our home tour here.

Having a comfortable home was extremely important for us moving back to Vegas. Not only will we be spending a lot of time indoors during the summer, we’ve been hosting guests every other week. It’s been nice having a home furnished and decorated to help us relax and host. Read more on the CORT blog

1. The Wreck Room

4090 Schiff Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89103, map

Step into a room full of bottles, electronics, VHS tapes, and more armed with bats, bowling pins, and crowbars. Then go to town and DESTROY EVERYTHING. It’s so much fun whether you need to get your aggression out or just try something new.

PHOTO

photo: 

2. Las Vegas Escape Rooms

We did our first escape room in NYC when we lived there, and then proceeded to do 8 more that winter when it was miserable outside. Now it’s the summer heat we have to worry about.

We’re making our way through all the top rated Las Vegas escape rooms so we can report back on which are the best. So far our favorites are Lost Games Chapter 2 and the BASEMENT.

More: Your Guide to the Best NYC Escape Rooms

3. Dig This

800 W Roban Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89044, map

Dig This is a giant sandbox for grown-ups. You can get behind the wheel of bulldozers and excavators as the instructors show you how to use them and perform multiple tasks. The machines are air-conditioned so it’s a great way to stay cool in the heat.

4. Indoor Sports

If you love doing active things, there are plenty of indoor sporting options in Las Vegas.

Topgolf Las Vegas – although it’s technically outdoors, its temperature controlled and a lot of fun! Plus, there’s a pool you can hop in if you want to cool off even more.

Ice Skating Indoors – Las Vegas Ice Center, Sobe Ice Arena, or Roller Skating at Crystal Palace Skating Center

Indoor Rock Climbing – When it’s too hot to go to Red Rock, visit the indoor rock climbing gyms. There are a few around the city: Origin, Refuge, Nevada Climbing Center, Red Rock Climbing Center.

Bowling – Brooklyn Bowl, Gold Coast Bowling Center, Orleans Bowling Center, Red Rock Lanes Bowling Center, Sam’s Town Hotel Gambling Hall and Bowling Center, Santa Fe Bowling Center, South Point Bowling Center, Strike Zone at Sunset Station, Suncoast Bowling Center, Texas Station’s Texas Star Lanes

5. Watch a Show

We’ve seen a lot of shows in Vegas and still haven’t scratched the surface. Some of the most popular shows are: Blue Man Group, Cirque du Soleil (Ka, O, Criss Angel, Beatles, Mystere, ONE), Le Reve the Dream, Jabbawockeez, Terry Fator, Tournament of Kings at Excalibur, and Lake of Dreams.

You can also see comedy shows at Comedy Cellar, More Comedy Clubs and Shows, Mac King Comedy Magic Show,  and Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. Plus there are lots of big artists that take up residency in Vegas, including Gwen at Zappos Theater, Janet Jackson at Park Theater, Christina at Zappos Theater, Lady Gaga Park Theater, Celine Dion at the Colosseum, and more.

We’re working on a separate post just about the best shows in Vegas.

6. Fly a Jet with All in Aviation

1410 Jet Stream Dr Ste 150, Henderson, NV 89052, map

Have you ever wanted to fly a plane or get your pilot’s license? At All in Aviation, you can get behind the wheel of beautiful Cirrus jets and log your hours toward a pilot’s license. Jacob logged his first hour flying. Should he keep going?

7. Ride a Helicopter

Whether you want to see Grand Canyon or get a better vantage point of the strip, you can hop in a helicopter and enjoy the views.

More: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours

8. Learn a New Skill or Take Up a New Hobby

What better time to pick up a new skill or hobby? Especially one that keeps you in an air conditioned space. Here are some fun skills you can look into if you’re looking for a new hobby:

Cake Decorating

DIY Wood Sign Shop

Sewing Classes

Scrapbooking Class

More: 101 Hobbies to Start in 2019

9. Indoor activities for kids in las

This was hard to narrow down into a specific activity, but we found so many great family friendly activities.

Interactive Museums – Marvel Avengers STATION

Trampoline Parks – Sky Zone Sports Trampoline Park or Flip N Out Xtreme

Games – Pinball Hall of Fame, GameWorks, Dave & Busters

Rides – Adventuredome Theme Park, Big Apple Coaster and Arcade

Mini Golf – GlowZone, KISS by Monster Mini Golf, Twilight Zone Mini Golf and Arcade, Rex Center

Indoor Playgrounds – Adventure Indoor Playground, Kangamoo Indoor Playground, Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center

Zoos & Aquariums – Shark Reef Aquarium, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat

More: Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

10. Try a New Fitness Class

It may be too hot outside to get your blood pumping, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of some of the unique fitness classes offered in Las Vegas.

Aerial silks with Cirque performers

Pole Dancing at Pole Fitness Studio

Trampoline Studio at Eleve Training

More: Sampling Las Vegas Fitness with Class Pass

11. Afternoon tea

I love going to Afternoon Tea, especially with my girlfriends. I’ve only done one in Vegas but plan on checking out the others this year.

Afternoon Tea at the Tea Lounge Waldorf Astoria

Petrossian Bar at Bellagio

LaPostte

Cafe Lola in Summerlin

Lobby Bar at Aria, Ri Ra Irish Pub

Veranda Mandalay Bay

The Stove in Henderson

12. Have a Spa Day

Spoil yourself with and feel refreshed and relaxed after a day at the spa. Like everything in Vegas, they don’t hold back.  Here are some of the best spas in Las Vegas:

Wynn Las Vegas Spa

The Spa at the Waldorf Astoria

Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace

ESPA at Vdara

13. Hang Out at a Unique Bar

You can drink in a lot of places in Las Vegas, but why not go to a bar that really stands out? Here are some unique bars to check out:

Laundry Room (Speakeasy)

Hi Scores Bar-arcade

Golden Tiki

Millennium Fandom Bar

Senor Frogs: One Hour Open Bar

14. Tour the Coffee Shops

If you’re looking for a chill afternoon or just need a break from all the madness on the strip, head to one of the local coffee shops. Some of the most popular ones are PublicUs and Makers & Finders.

15. High Roller

3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, map

This isn’t your typical ferris wheel. It stands 550 feet tall with observation cabins that hold up to 40 people each. The entire ride takes roughly 30-40 minutes.

More: High Roller Las Vegas

16. Vegas Indoor Skydiving

200 Convention Center Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, map

We haven’t been skydiving yet, but we did get a taste of it at this indoor skydiving spot.

More: Las Vegas Indoor Skydiving

17. The Void VR

3377 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89109, map

Experience the next generation of VR where you not only get transported to another world on a screen, but you also interact with the environment around you. The VR headset is attached to a backpack which allows you to be mobile and follow along the story. We did the Star Wars one with a group of four and got the chance to fight off the Empire.

18. Throw an Axe

Release your inner woodsman at Axehole Vegas or Axe Monkeys, where you can learn to throw and axe and practice your aim.

19. Eat, then Eat Some More

Las Vegas has a great food scene on and off strip. Most people just think about buffets, but there are fine dining options, some of the best Hawaiian food we’ve had, and more. Click here to see our Vegas food bucket list.

Prix Fixe Meals – Joel Robuchon, é by Jose Andres, Yui Edomae Sushi

Buffets – Bacchanal, Wicked Spoon

Off Strip – Shang’s Artisan Noodles, Poke Express

More: 49 Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas

20. Gamble

This is kind of an obvious one, but gambling keeps you indoors. These are some of our favorite casinos: Palazzo, Wynn, Encore, Aria, Venetian, Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, Red Rock Casino.

21. Drive Experiences

If you’re hoping to show off your trip to Vegas, then you need a photo driving a fancy car too. There are a few driving experiences in Vegas like the Richard Petty Driving Experience and World Class Driving.

More: World Class Driving Las Vegas

22. Hop Around Art Galleries

Casinos put a lot of money into their seasonal displays, and some of them have world class art galleries as well.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art

The Gallery at Aria

Art of Richard MacDonald / Cirque Art

More: Christmas at Bellagio Botanical Gardens

23. Check Out the Museums

Las Vegas has a wide range of museums to check out. Here are a few you can check out:

Real Bodies at Bally’s

Mob Museum

Titanic the Artifact Exhibition

DISCOVERY Children’s Museum,

National Atomic Testing Museum

Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum

Burlesque Hall of Fame

Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Liberace Museum Collection Tour

Hollywood Cars Museum

The Auto Collections

Shelby American Inc,

Nostalgia Street Rods

Counts Kustoms

Springs Preserve – has indoor areas

24. Go on a Tour

There are multiple tour options in Las Vegas, whether you’re into mob history, chocolate, beer, or shoes. Here are the ones we went on that we recommend.

Hoover Dam Tour

Zappos Tour

Ethel M Factory Tour

More Tours to Check Out:

Sin City Club Crawl

Vegas Mob Tour

Pink Jeep Tours

Jubilee Backstage Tour

Frank Cullotta’s Casino Tour

Nosh Las Vegas

More: Zappos Tour Las Vegas

25. Check Out the Indoor Tourist Spots

Gold & Silver Pawn Shop

Coca Cola Store – tastes of the World

M&M’s World

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Map of Indoor Activities in Las

  More Indoor Activities Las Vegas

Shopping – Shops at Crystals, the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Fashion Show Mall, Shoppes at Palazzo, Miracle Mile Shops, Grand Bazaar Shops

Breweries – Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, Banger Brewing, Hop Nuts Brewing Tenaya Creek Brewery, Lovelady Brewing Company, CraftHaus Brewery

Watch Sports – T-Mobile Arena & City National Arena

Essential Tips

  Las Vegas Packing List for Summer

!function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? 'http' : 'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + '://' + 'widgets.rewardstyle.com' + '/js/shopthepost.js';d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof window.__stp === 'object') if(d.readyState === 'complete') {window.__stp.init();}}(document, 'script', 'shopthepost-script');

JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.

Where to Stay in Las Vegas

Mandalay Bay – perfect for summer with their 11 acre manmade beach

Cosmopolitan – They have the best view of the Strip.

The Venetian

Find the best prices and reviews here

More Las Vegas Guides and Resources

Las Vegas Pocket Guide

Fodor’s Las Vegas

Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas

What do you plan on doing to beat the heat this summer?

Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later

SEE MORE THINGS TO DO IN LAS VEGAS

⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡

LAS VEGAS BUCKET LIST

49 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN LAS VEGAS

25 FREE THINGS TO DO IN LAS VEGAS

HOW TO SPEND CHRISTMAS IN VEGAS

UNIQUE DATE IDEAS IN LAS VEGAS

BEST DAY TRIPS FROM LAS VEGAS

WEEKEND TRIPS FROM VEGAS

BEST OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN VEGAS

“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

PrevPreviousAll the Best Stops on the Ultimate West Texas Road Trip

You might also love

17 Road Trip Destinations for the Best Fall Foliage in the USA

Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in NYC

25 Fun Things to Do Indoors in NYC for Rainy and Cold Days

All articles loaded

No more articles to load

By Britta Foulis – Content Marketing Manager 

In June 2019, Asilia will be one of the first safari operators to introduce an electric safari vehicle to our Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, in Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

A Swedish company, OPIBUS, are driven by the overwhelming evidence of climate change and want to ensure that developing countries are on track with the rest of the world in terms of thinking ahead and taking climate change into account.

These electric vehicles have no exhaust pipe and therefore do not emit any hazardous gases or substances into the atmosphere.

Electric vehicles are much more reliable as they rely on only one working part as opposed to the hundreds of parts used in any standard combustion engine.

A typical combustion engine runs at roughly 20-30% of its total efficiency while electric vehicles run at 94-96% efficiency – providing a significant improvement on the performance of the vehicle itself.

The lifespan of an electric vehicle is also more than that of a regular vehicle; the battery packs can easily travel more than 200 000km in their lifetime.

Running costs are greatly reduced in electric vehicles, not having to pay for fuel has the most significant impact and maintenance is almost not needed on an electric motor.

Of course, the biggest drawcard for any safari vehicle is that electric vehicles are almost completely silent. The experience of driving through the bush noiselessly is a whole new experience, minimising disturbances for the wildlife and ecosystems and adding to the pleasure of a game drive for guests.

  Watch this short video to get a better understanding of how the vehicles are made and what benefits they will have in the long-run as well as on your next safari.



“All in all, electric vehicles help the passenger feel at one with nature, rather than simply observing it.” – Responsible Travel

The use of these electric safari vehicles allows us the opportunity to use cost-effective, reliable and sustainable practices across all of the areas we work in. We cannot wait to introduce the first vehicle to our current fleet in June later this year and look forward to the positive changes it will bring.

Join Us On Safari In East Africa

My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. - Travel. Adventure. Yoga.

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, don’t miss the ancient capital city of Ayutthaya and the spectacular Ayutthaya . It’s easy to do an Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok or spend a few nights to get the full experience. Read on to find out how to do it and what to see when you get there.

What’s in our guide to the Ayutthaya Temples?

1. 3. 5. 7. 9.

Ayutthaya is one of the world’s most impressive ancient temple complexes.

The ruins of the old city and the Ayutthaya are preserved in the Ayutthaya Historical Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wandering around the site and admiring the countless stupas (conical towers called chedi in Thai), statues of Buddha, and gigantic monasteries, gives you an idea of the city’s past glory days — and offers endless opportunities for amazing photos of your visit.

Though we’ve been to many incredible — like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Prambanan Temple in Indonesia, Karnak in Egypt, and Stonehenge — both Jane and I loved the proliferation of Buddha statues we found here.

Fun fact: Ayutthaya was named after the Indian holy city of Ayodhya, which was the birthplace and seat of Rama, an important Hindu god (an avatar of Lord Vishnu). Since 1782, Thai kings have all been known as King Rama. The current king is Rama X.

Read on for our guide to…

Visiting The Ayutthaya Temples

Also don’t miss these posts:

2 Days in Bangkok? Here’s your perfect itinerary → Is a self-guided cycle tour in Thailand right for you? → Here’s your complete Thailand itinerary for 2 weeks →

We recommend that the first thing you do in Ayutthaya is to head to the Tourist Office and pick up a free map of the site. They also have an exhibit detailing the history of the city if that’s your sort of thing.

Here are the we recommend you find on that tourist map!

This Buddha head is the most famous spot in Ayutthaya.

The Chedi at Wat Phra Si Sanphet

This is the biggest temple in Ayutthaya. The first palace built at Ayutthaya — the Grand Palace of Ayutthaya — was located where the ruins of Wat Phra Si Sanphet sit today. It is now best known for the three chedi which house the remains of King Borommatrailokanat, King Borommarachathirat III, and King Ramathibodi II.

Wat Phra Ram

The monastery at Wat Phra Ram was constructed on the cremation site of the first Ayutthayan monarch, King Ramathibodi I (r. 1351-1369), hence its name. It has a majestic prang (or tall tower) that would have once been covered in ornate carvings.

Wat Ratchaburana

Don’t miss the grand hall at Wat Ratchaburana. This temple was built by King Boromratchathirat II after both his brothers died on this site, killing each other during a fight to see who would claim the throne. From the great hall you have a spectacular view of the prang that was the centrepiece of the temple compound.

The prang has undergone restoration and you can see Garuda (the Hindu Eagle God) swooping down from it. Four chedi surround the main prang. The prang’s crypt is accessible by steep stairs and is home to once glorious, now faded, frescoes.

Be prepared to do a lot of looking up at soaring prang and chedi!

Wat Chaiwattaranaram

This impressive temple has a 35m–high central prang (Prang Prathan) which symbolises the centre of the world. It is surrounded by four smaller prang representing the four continents. It is (often) possible to climb the steep stairs to the top of the prang for a stunning view across the city and seemingly endless Ayutthaya .

Wat Chaiwatthanaram sits on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river, not on the island that makes up the UNESCO site of ancient Ayutthaya. Nonetheless it is one of Ayutthaya’s most stunning and best known .

Wat Phutthai Sawan

If you’ve been researching your trip to Ayutthaya, you’ve likely come across pictures of a large reclining Buddha. One of those Buddhas lives here at Wat Putthai Sawan, a temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya river that is still in use.

(Make sure you follow

Just another impressive ruin at the Ayutthaya Temples.

Wat Thammikarat

This is an active monastery just outside the official Ayutthaya Historical Park. Wat Thammikarat has been restored several times, however many of the architectural structures remain as ruins, including a large bell-shaped chedi with an octagonal base.

Wat Maheyong

We’re including this temple because it is included on the 6-temple entrance ticket (see the

It’s a sad fact that once the Buddha statues all had heads, until they were stolen by pillagers and private collectors.

The ancient statues of Buddha were too big and heavy for pillagers to carry away, so they lopped off the heads and sold them to private collectors and museums around the world. Here at Ayutthaya you will see almost endless rows of headless Buddha statues.

will sort you out with a bicycle for either a small fee or no extra charge. Definitely take advantage of this as it can be quite hot during the day, and making your breeze to cool off as you move between the Ayutthaya will ensue you can see a few extra during your visit.

If you like bikes, check out the Grasshopper Adventures bicycle Ayutthaya day tour from Bangkok.

long pants

all day.

Don’t point at people or at Buddha. Pointing is considered rude in Thailand. Instead, you can gesture with your whole hand with your fingers together.

These young monks all hid their bare feet when our guide brought us into this temple in Thoen, Thailand.

Hide your soles. You must remove your shoes before entering a working temple but be sure that you don’t show the soles of your feet in the temple (or anywhere). This is considered very rude in Thai culture.

Respect the Buddha statues. Of course, you should never climb on or sit next to a Buddha statue, nor should your rowdy gang of kids. Technically, you should never turn your back on the Buddha (kind of like the queen) but you may have trouble following this one in Ayutthaya, where there are thousands of Buddha statues.

Chao Phrom Market

An outdoor and mostly covered market, Chao Phrom is on the edge of the island that makes up ancient Ayutthaya. If you haven’t been to a Thai market, definitely go and pick up some snacks, see how locals shop, and take some pictures (always ask if you’re taking pictures of people).

Million Toys Museum

The name kind of says it all! Krirk Yoonpan’s Million Toys Museum has, if not a million, a shed load (or museum load) of toys. One man’s passion for toys is your chance to feel like a kid again. Wander around and check out the tin robots, antique dolls, and life-size Japanese superheroes.

The Million Toys Museum is closed on Mondays and open 9am–4pm every other day, except public holidays and official holidays. It is located on the edge of ancient Ayutthaya city. Tickets cost 50 Baht for adults and 20 Baht for children.

Take a bike ride to the outskirts of Ayutthaya for a great cultural experience.

Bang Lan Night Market

Street food vendors line the street at this Ayutthaya night market. You can sit with the locals and enjoy delicious, freshly prepared, and super inexpensive food. We highly recommend this if you’re staying in Ayutthaya for the night. Don’t get there too late though as it tends to shut down around 9pm.

The Floating Market

Khlong Sra Bua Floating Market is really touristy and you can probably skip it. If you’re spending time in South East Asia you’ll have other opportunities to visit much more authentic floating markets. But lots of people seem to enjoy it, so if it sounds interesting to you, check it out.

The Crush (phajaan in Thai)? This is the horrific torture elephants must go through to become docile enough to be used in tourist settings.

When we visited Ayutthaya last, we saw tourists sitting on platforms propped on the back of elephants. This is the ABSOLUTE worst way you can ride an elephant as it causes their spines to be permanently damaged. If you MUST ride an elephant (and there is no situation in which this would be the case) it is only acceptable to sit on the elephant’s neck. Now you know, so no excuses.

Please don’t ride elephants. These are wild animals whose spines were not designed to carry baskets and bunches of humans.

Do not visit the Elephantstay (also known as the Royal Elephant Kraal and Village). It’s just animal cruelty disguised as traditional entertainment.

on the official Thai Railway website. There is a drop-down menu at the top where you can change the language to English.

Head to Bangkok Hua Lamphong Railway Station, the main railway station in Bangkok, and from there you can catch one of the regular trains to Ayutthaya. The journey time ranges from 80 minutes to 120 minutes or more depending on the train you take (this being Southeast Asia you need to get used to things taking longer than you’re told they will).

Get to Hua Lamphong Railway Station a little early. It is big and confusing, so you might need a little extra time to get your ticket and find your train.

You have a few options for trains and there are at least two trains each hour heading from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. You can choose between Special Express, Express, and Rapid trains throughout the day, plus the regular trains (which take a little longer but cost a lot less).

Ticket cost: Second-class seats with A/C cost 245-345 Baht (~7 USD), while third class is just 15-20 Baht (~0.70 USD). In third class, the windows generally open and you can enjoy the breeze on the relatively short journey to Ayutthaya.

No reservation is necessary if you are planning to take the regular train. You can just turn up at the train station, buy a ticket and hop on.

A reservation is necessary on the express trains, but these only sold on the day of at the station or online at Thai Railway Tickets a maximum of one day ahead.

The Ayutthaya railway station is not on the island of ancient Ayutthaya. It is just across the river and a short ferry ride away. Walk across the main road from the station and down the small street to the river. Ferry boats run every few minutes and cost 5 Baht.

Pro tip: If you’re headed north to Chiang Mai (definitely worth a visit if you have time) you can stop off in Ayutthaya on the way, as trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai stop at Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya even has a left luggage office on the platform signed “Cloak Room” where you can store your luggage for 10 Baht while you explore the .

Luang Chumni Village

Rating 8.7, $28 double room, breakfast included

It wasn’t just the breakfast we loved at Luang Chumni Village! Though that was great too.

This is where we stayed when we visited Ayutthaya — and we loved it. Family run, authentic wooden Thai houses, and right in the middle of the ancient city, we are sure you’ll love it here! They have hammocks, sun loungers, and even a spot where you can practice yoga! Bicycle rental fee is only 50 Baht (~$1.60 USD) per bike per day.

Baan Luang Harn

Rating 9.2, $35 bungalow, breakfast included

This is another super cute family-owned guest house. The cabins here are so adorable and include a private veranda. The property sits on a lake where you can sit and watch the wildlife as you recover from your day exploring the . The staff are friendly and helpful and the breakfast is reportedly amazing. They will also arrange bicycles for you for a small daily rental fee.

Baan Thai House

Rating 9.2, $66 garden view villa, breakfast included

Baan Thai House offers a relaxing hideaway just outside the ancient city. Their Thai-style villas feature balconies with garden or lake views and there is a spa on the property where you ca arrange a massage to work out your sore muscles after wandering around the . An outdoor pool is available to take a relaxing swim in.

While it is located outside the ancient city, it is just 100 m from the floating market, and they provide free use of bicycles so you can easily ride the short distance to the . If you’re tired at the end of your day and can’t muster the energy to head out for dinner in the evening, they have a restaurant serving a range of local and Western dishes.

Get details and book this tour →

Not all the statues in Ayutthaya are of Buddha.

Ayutthaya Day Tour with Sunset Boat Ride

For those who want something a little more laid back, this day tour from Bangkok will let you see the ancient ruins from the comfort of a boat. You’ll also get to visit Ayutthaya floating market, Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, and more.

Get details and book this tour →

We hope our guide to Ayutthaya is useful when planning your day trip from Bangkok. Or maybe we’ve convinced you to stay a few days to really get the most of this ancient city! Either way, here’s to an amazing time at Ayutthaya.

♥  Happy mindful adventures, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create guides like this. But it’s easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, we’ll earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didn’t 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! –S&J

My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. My Five Acres. Travel. Adventure. Yoga. - Travel. Adventure. Yoga.

Is just a buzzword or the way we’ll all be travelling in the near future? In this post we share the many benefits of , to you and the places you go, plus we take a look at some of the negative impacts of . Read on if you want your travel to be greener.

What’s in our guide to the benefits of ?

1. 3. 5. 7. 9. Also don’t miss these posts:

Our guide to slow travel and how to do it → 11 tips to be a green tourist → Best Game of Thrones destinations → World’s best eco retreats →

Does really have a positive impact?

Though has grown in popularity during that last decade or so, it is still often just a marketing buzzword.

Ecotourism and are the best friends of concepts like responsible travel, sustainable travel, nature travel, mindful travel, and slow travel — though I would argue that these all have slightly different meanings.

Let’s start off by defining what we mean by (or ) versus how the world at large understands it.

“Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.”

The International EcoTourism Society

Let’s break that definition down into its four key elements.

Ecotourism:

is responsible travel to natural areas.

conserves the environment.

sustains the well-being of local people.

involves interpretation and education.

Ecotourism, in industry terms, is not just about leaving no footprints but rather creating a positive change and learning more about the places you visit.

What is my goal as an ler?

I’d like to expand that definition a little further.

To me, should not be restricted to natural areas. Instead, should apply to all travel, whether you’re partying in the heart of Bangkok or trekking the Sahara.

All travel can create a positive impact on the places you visit and the people who live there.

Ecotourism doesn’t have to just take place in nature.

My goal as an ecotourist, and as a human being, is to minimize my negative impact on the environment, while finding ways to increase my positive impact.

more than 1.4 billion

!

With that many people travelling each year, isn’t important — it’s essential.

Tourism can be incredibly damaging to the places you travel and to the planet as a whole. But, it can also be incredibly beneficial.

Imagine the difference between 1.4 billion people causing harm vs 1.4 billion people making incremental improvements. As the tourism industry continues to grow, needs to grow more quickly, to slow down the damage mass tourism is causing around the world.

Saves you money

While some experiences can be more expensive than their environmentally damaging counterparts, on the whole, one of the main personal advantages of is that it can save you money.

For example, we encourage people to take public overland transport, rather than flying from place to place. This simple change reduces the carbon emissions of your trip, increases your cultural immersion, and costs so much less!

We use overland travel by public transport whenever we can.

We also advocate for small, independent hotels, instead of large multi-national conglomerates. Almost always, these privately owned hotels are more conservative in their resource use and have smaller carbon footprints. They are also much more likely to listen to guests’ suggestions for eco-improvement.

And, bonus, they almost always cost much less!

Travel with less guilt

Seeing your travel money have a positive impact is a great way to alleviate “traveller’s guilt” which we all suffer from time to time. Especially when we visit countries with a lower standard of living than our own, it can be easy to feel awful about our staggering wealth and privilege, as compared to the people we are visiting.

By focussing on eco and responsible travel, more of your travel budget helps raise the standard of living for the people most in need.

We also encourage you to commit part of your travel budget to funding local charities when you travel!

Improve your health and happiness

Being in nature can have “significant and wide-ranging health benefits” according to one recent study.

According to a BBC article:

There is already research evidence that exposure to nature can reduce hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure), respiratory tract and cardiovascular illnesses; improve vitality and mood; benefit issues of mental wellbeing such as anxiety; and restore attention capacity and mental fatigue. But more than that, feeling a part of nature has been shown to significantly correlate with life satisfaction, vitality, meaningfulness, happiness, mindfulness, and lower cognitive anxiety.

How nature is good for our health and our happiness, BBC.com

Other studies have concluded the same thing — being in nature increases our feelings of health, well-being, and happiness. Isn’t that really why we want to travel in the first place?

Makes you more eco-aware back home

It’s a natural tendency for humans to notice problems in other countries, states, or regions while ignoring similar problems at home.

For example, Westerners constantly complain about how dirty and polluted it is in Asia.

What they don’t think about is that their own lifestyle — big air-conditioned house, two cars, unlimited international travel — is more damaging to the environment than the lifestyle of most people living in Asia. Not to mention the fact that we outsource a lot of our pollution to the very countries we criticize for being polluted.

The truth is, there are environmental problems everywhere — it’s just that some countries are better at hiding them than others.

Eco travel can motivate you to reduce your carbon footprint once you’re back home. You might look differently at the plastic water bottles you use each day, realize you don’t need to blast the AC quite so high, or start to wonder if driving to work is the best way to get there.

Ecotourism helps open our eyes to the damage we all do to nature on a daily basis and motivates us to consider ways that we can reduce our impact.

Disconnects you from the world of stress

Some eco travel can take you so far from your day-to-day life that you are completely disconnected — in a very good way. If you are dealing with mounds of stress, and the very sight of your email inbox causes your heart to stop, choose an adventure where you won’t be reachable by any mechanism for a while.

Ecotravel can take you far away from the stresses of everyday life.

There are still lots of places where WiFi doesn’t reach (though these are disappearing rapidly). Choose one of those for your escape, or just go CRAZY and leave your device at home.

Some of us still remember a time when going away meant that nobody could contact you unless there was a major emergency. We survived quite nicely then and a digital holiday can be absolutely rejuvenating.

Reconnects you to your most primal self

While you’re spending time wired into nature — and far away from instant news notifications, social media, and WhatsApp messages — something amazing happens.

You start to hear your own thoughts again.

You might even tap into a part of you that has been drowned out for years.

Yup, we’re talking about your most primal self, the thing that makes you you. This part of your heart becomes buried over time with societal expectations, post-trauma armour, and other layers of self-protection.

Ecotourism can be the catalyst that reconnects you to your True Self.

It might sound dramatic (it is!), it might sound cheesy, or even ridiculous — but it’s also true. We can personally vouch for that!

preserving, or even reviving, nature. This is essential, especially in places where locals rely on natural resources, like fish or jungle habitats, to provide for their families.

Helps communities create a sustainable income

In many communities, there is little opportunity for work or income.

Ecotourism can provide a sustainable source of income for locals who were unable to earn a living before. Even if a small percentage of people are employed in the tourism industry, this financial benefit spreads to other people in the community, as those with new tourism-based jobs spend their money locally.

In the Chi Phat eco-village, local kids learned about litter and conservation.

We loved our experience in Chi Phat, Cambodia, where locals who used to earn a living poaching wildlife and illegally logging are now able to thrive with .

Funds social programs

The best providers use some of their income to support local communities and fund social programs. Many providers, both large and small, run schools, provide medical care for locals, educate small business owners, and work for human rights and gender equality.

For example, one of our favourite travel companies, Intrepid Travel, puts resources into social and environmental programs through the Intrepid Foundation.

rescuing wild animals, fighting poaching in a small village, or cleaning up a natural area, the only reason they can afford to do it is because tourists pay to visit.

Ecotourism is an opportunity to learn more about nature and how to protect it.

When you’re booking an activity, remember to ask what the money will be spent on!

Provides funding for scientific research

Studying environmental impacts is vital for improving our understanding of ecosystems and solving problems. Many studies are funded by the dollars that come from eco tourism projects.

Fosters global understanding and world peace

This might be a huge claim, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.

When is at its best, there is a global exchange of information and understanding.

The more people I meet from around the world, the more I understand that, though we might live very differently, at heart we are all the same. The more we can make cultural exchanges, the less suspicion, fear, and hatred we feel towards each other.

Mount Rinjani in Lombok, or the massive beach erosion we’ve seen in Vietnam, it’s obvious that governments exploit the buzzword but never follow through on their promises.

I worry that, eventually, all of the fragile and beautiful places of the world will be destroyed. Is it better to see them now, before they are gone, or leave them alone in the hopes that they will survive a little longer without me?

Displacement of local people and destruction of indigenous cultures

In the worst examples of gone wrong, entire communities of local people have been moved from their land in order to create opportunities for lers. In these cases, it’s rare for the displaced people to see any economic benefit from tourists.

It’s important to be aware of these issues so you can avoid funding similar projects with your tourism dollars.

Harm to animals

Animal tourism means big money in many popular destinations. People pay to get close to elephants, tigers, primates, whales, dolphins and more. The problem is, it’s often hard to discern between the companies who have the animals’ best interests at heart and those who are just in it for the money.

Ecotourism can help nature while fake can harm wildlife.

Animals are abused every day in the name of tourism (and sometimes ). If you’re not sure about an attraction or company, despite your best efforts at research, the best policy is to stay away.

Bandwagon jumpers with no credibility

As eco travel and booms, the numbers of companies who say all the right things and do nothing also grows. As a tourist, it’s up to you to do your research. Only travel with proven providers or those who are fully credible. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Environmental damage caused by travel

Every time you get on a plane, you cause irreversible harm to the environment. Since destinations are often in exotic far-off places, getting there is half the problem.

The other half is the damage caused by introducing people into fragile environments. Even if groups are small and nobody litters or smuggles out wildlife, sustaining more people uses more resources. Tourists have to be fed, kept warm or cool, provided with clean water and plumbing. All these things degrade the place you’re going to see.

It’s important to weigh these considerations when you decide to travel. Can your positive impact truly outweigh the negative one? If not, can you change your plans to tip the scales?

tips on being a green tourist.

The short version is this:

Just think!

From choosing your destination to booking your flights and hotels to choosing which tour companies to use, always consider what impact your decisions will have.

Being thoughtful and mindful about your travel is the first huge step to improving your ecotourist profile.

Happy mindful adventures, Jane & Stephen

We’re not going to lie, it takes a LOT of work to create travel guides like this. But it’s easy to help us out! If you book or buy something using one of our personal links in this post, we’ll earn a small fee at no extra cost to you. Of course, we would never recommend anything we didn’t 100% believe in! Huge thanks in advance! –S&J

Pin this for your eco friendly trip.