Carbon 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.General Ecotourism Resources
Center for Sustainable Destinations Ethical Traveler Green Lodging News International Ecotourism Society Nature Conservancy Rainforest Alliance Responsible Travel Sustainable Travel InternationalCarbon 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 (owned by JPMorgan Chase & Co) that supports sustainable energy and energy efficiency projects The Conservation Fund: American nonprofit organization that plants trees across the U.S. GreenSeat: Dutch company that plants trees and supports renewable energy projects TerraPass: American company that funds clean energy, biomass and industrial efficiency projects Treeflights: British company that plants trees in Kenya and other places around the worldEco-Friendly Lodging
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 Green Getaways Australia: Eco-friendly lodging in Australia GreenHotelBookings.com: Green hotels in the U.S. GreenHotels.gr: Green hotels in Greece 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. Responsibletravel.com: Green lodging worldwideEco-Friendly Tour Operators
Adventures Within Reach: Adventure travel around the world 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 Ecoteer Responsible Travel: Volunteer trips and adventure travel in Asia Elevate Destinations: Travel combined with local philanthropy Escape Adventures: Biking and multi-sport tours in the North American West G 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 Natural Habitat Adventures: Wildlife- and nature-based trips around the world O.A.R.S.: Outdoor adventure tours Oz Bus: Flight-free travel from London to Sydney Rainforest Cruises: Cruises on the Amazon River in Peru, Brazil and Ecuador 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 worldRental Cars
Avis: Hybrid rentals at select locations Car Rental Express: Hybrid car rentals in select locations around the world Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Hybrid and electric car rentals Fox Rent A Car: Hybrid rental vehicles at select U.S. locations Hertz: "Green Collection" of hybrid and fuel-efficient rental vehicles VroomVroomVroom: Rental car booking site that offsets carbon emissions for all rentalsAir Travel
Seat Guru: Roundup of the most eco-friendly airlines and planesDestination-Specific Resources
Beyond Touring: Belize tours Blue Ventures: Marine conservation projects in Madagascar, Belize and Malaysia Context: Small-group walking tours of European and U.S. cities Ecotourism Australia: Information about ecotourism in Australia 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 Greenopia: Searchable directory of green activities, restaurants and more in five U.S. cities Mosaic Adventure: Trekking expeditions in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India Travel Green Wisconsin: Green businesses in WisconsinYou May Also Like
--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.