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tea leaf green travelCarbon offset companies, ecotour operators, green hotels, hybrid rental car agencies ... with so many eco-friendly resources on the Net, where's a would-be green traveler to start? We've cut the confusion by gathering our favorite green travel resources in one convenient spot -- so whether you're interested in renting a hybrid car or offsetting the pollution from your last flight, you can find the info you need right here.

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General Ecotourism Resources
Center for Sustainable Destinations
Ethical Traveler
Green Lodging News
International Ecotourism Society
Nature Conservancy
Rainforest Alliance
Responsible Travel
Sustainable Travel International

Carbon Offset Companies
There are a number of companies and charitable organizations that will offset your carbon emissions, not only for flights but also for car travel and household energy use. The range of projects varies widely, so we've explained a little bit about each organization to help you decide which offsetter is right for you.

Atmosfair: German nonprofit organization that donates funds to alternative energy projects

Bonneville Environmental Foundation: American nonprofit organization that supports wind, solar and other renewable energy projects

Carbon Footprint: British company that retires carbon offsets, plants trees and supports international energy-saving projects

Carbonfund.org: American nonprofit organization that retires carbon offsets, plants trees, and supports renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects

The CarbonNeutral Company: British company that plants trees and supports clean energy technology programs

Climate Care: British company that supports sustainable energy or energy efficiency projects

The Conservation Fund: American nonprofit organization that plants trees in the Lower Mississippi River Valley

Green Mountain Energy Company: American company that supports renewable energy projects and funds reforestation initiatives

GreenSeat: Dutch company that plants trees and supports renewable energy projects

Sustainable Travel International: American nonprofit organization that invests in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects

TerraPass: American company that funds clean energy, biomass and industrial efficiency projects

Treeflights: British company that plants trees in Wales, Peru, Kenya and other places around the world

Eco-Friendly Lodging
BedandBreakfast.com: Eco-friendly B&B's
Best Green Hotels: Hotels worldwide, rated for eco-friendliness
BnBFinder.com: Eco-friendly B&B's
Couples Resorts: Green Globe-certified resorts in Jamaica
EcoBusinessLinks: Wide variety of eco-friendly lodging worldwide
ECOCLUB: Ecolodges across the world
Ecohotel: Environmentally responsible accommodations in Australia
Element Hotels: LEED-certified hotels in the U.S. and Canada
Exclusive Ecolodges of New Zealand: Luxury excolodges in New Zealand
Green Globe: Worldwide hotels that meet benchmark or certification standards
GreenHotelBookings.com: Green hotels in the U.S.
Green Hotels Association: Eco-friendly hotels in the U.S. and worldwide
Green Lodge: Eco-friendly hotels in the U.S.
Greenstop.Net: Eco-friendly hotels and tour operators across the world
Green Travel Hub: Green hotels around the world
Green Vacation Hub: Green hotels and vacation rentals around the world
IndependentTraveler.com: 10 favorite ecolodges and green hotels
Kimpton Hotels: Environmentally responsible hotels in the U.S. and Canada
Quikbook.com: Green hotels in the U.S. and Canada
Responsibletravel.com: Green lodging worldwide

Eco-Friendly Tour Operators
AdventureSmith Explorations: Expedition cruises
Backroads: Biking, hiking and adventure trips around the world
Country Walkers: Walking tours around the world
Dragoman Overland: Overland tours
Earthwatch Institute: Research expeditions worldwide
Elevate Destinations: Travel combined with local philanthropy
Escape Adventures: Biking and multi-sport tours in the North American West
Gap Adventures: Small group adventure tours
International Expeditions: Nature tours to South America, Africa and more
Intrepid Travel: Off-the-beaten-path tours emphasizing responsible travel
Kumuka Worldwide: Environmentally responsible tours around the world
O.A.R.S.: Outdoor adventure tours
Oz Bus: Flight-free travel from London to Sydney
REI Adventures: Carbon-neutral adventure tours
Responsibletravel.com: Eco-friendly tours worldwide
Seacology: Volunteer trips to various conservation project sites
Sierra Club Outings: Outdoor adventure trips
Trusted Adventures: Worldwide adventure vacations
Undiscovered Country Tours: California bike tours
World Wildlife Fund: Adventure and eco-tours around the world

Rental Cars
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Several thousand hybrid vehicles and nearly 60,000 "FlexFuel" vehicles (which can run on an eco-friendly ethanol/gasoline blend)
Fox Rent A Car: Hybrid rental vehicles in the U.S.
Hertz: "Green Collection" of hybrid and fuel-efficient rental vehicles
VroomVroomVroom: Rental car booking site that offsets carbon emissions for all rentals

Air Travel
Seat Guru: Roundup of the most eco-friendly airlines and planes

Destination-Specific Resources
Beyond Touring: Belize tours
Blue Ventures: Diving expeditions to Madagascar
Context: Small-group walking tours of European and U.S. cities
Ecoventura: Carbon-neutral cruises to the Galapagos
Gamewatchers Safaris: Safaris in Kenya and other African countries
Green Hotels in the Green Mountain State: Green hotels in Vermont
Ski Club of Great Britain: Environmental records for ski resorts worldwide
Travel Green Wisconsin: Green businesses in Wisconsin
Virginia Green: Trip ideas and eco-friendly events in Virginia

You May Also Like
  • Visit the Go Green Travel Center
  • Top Five Destinations for Ecotourism
  • Eight Ways Green Travel Can Save You Money
  • Get the Free Independent Traveler Newsletter
  • Taken a Green Trip? Tell Us About It!

    --written and compiled by Sarah Schlichter

    Editor's Note: IndependentTraveler.com is published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a member of the TripAdvisor Media Network, which also owns SeatGuru.com.
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