Eco travel is not limited to vegetarians and environmentalists -- you can take a safari or study in the Costa Rican rainforest. The socially conscious traveler can rest assured that a trip with Adventures WorldWide will not pervert the local habitat but help improve it. In fact, these eco trips may be more adventurous than a packaged climb on the highest mountains of the world. Ecotravel combines adventure and goodwill in an intense travel experience. Intro by Sarah Al-Hashimi ActionTrips.com ActionTrips.com is a worldwide directory of small-group tour operators and an outgrowth of Stephen Foehr¹s book Eco-Journeys: The World Guide to Ecologically Aware Travel and Adventure. Foehr’s book was written for adventurers seeking well-versed tour guides in both the ecological wonders and threats of remote places around the world, and much of the content was based on his extensive personal experience. Although the website has many more offerings than the book, the screening process of the tour operators-who may elect, unsolicited, to be advertised on the site for a fee-is unclear. As the name implies, actiontrips.com specializes in adventure travel, and trips are rated in three different categories: “wilderness” (a do-it-yourself experience), “comfortable” (warm water to wash with and a bed or cot are provided), and “family” (suitable for children 8-10 and over). AdventuresWorldWide.com Around the World Adventures is a small group tour operator that touts itself as “Your best choice for economical and environmentally conscious adventures worldwide.” Founder Rudy Scheffer clarified by explaining that the company works humanely and profit-shares with local guides and operators, carries in all fuels and removes all waste from sites, educates its clients on environmental issues and low-impact conduct, and keeps its tour groups small to minimize impact. His goal is to unite travelers who wish to “savor the great outdoors, interact with the local people and travel as cheaply as possible.” The website features a manageable and affordable number of treks, safaris, overland tours, camping trips, deluxe lodges, birding and mountaineering trips to choose from. Around the World Adventures specializes in trips to Africa, Peru, Costa Rica, Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan, Argentina, Chile, India and New Zealand. The company's service-oriented attitude is reflected in its Tour info request form, which allows the customer to craft and submit the particulars of his or her ideal trip. GoAbroad.com GoAbroad.com, a partner of Student Traveler, is a veritable font of international education and alternative travel options. Although not an ecotourism-specific website, those interested in ecological and responsible travel will find a mind-boggling array of tours and study abroad opportunities in an easy-to-navigate format. The Eco/Adventure link features Eco Tours, Ecology, Environmental Studies, Native Culture Studies and Heritage Tourism; plus plenty of types of outdoor adventures. Both the Study Abroad and Intern Abroad sections list offerings in Ecology, Culture, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Marine Science, Social Work, Zoology and Wildlife Sciences. The Volunteer Abroad link offers service-oriented trips in the fields of Appropriate Technology, Culture, Ecotourism, Economic Development, Environment and Natural Resources, to name a few. DragonflyExpeditions.com Dragonfly Expeditions lays a cool hand across the feverish conventions of adventure travel: “Our travelers realize that adventure is not always found in fighting the rapids of an enraged current or conquering some rocky peak. Adventure is often simply the quiet challenge of something new.” A small group tour operator specializing in the Caribbean and Central and South America, the company asserts that providing an engaged learning opportunity for travelers paves the way for authentic connections and the motivation to conserve the destination's fragile ecosystems. Tour itineraries, which are laid out in detail on the website, revolve around ecology, culture, history, and local people of Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname, Dominica, Bahamas and the Florida Everglades. Cultural sensitivity is an essential part of Dragonfly Expeditions’ responsible travel credo, as evidenced by its ongoing partnerships in its destination countries. GenerousAdventures.com Generous Adventures offers a winning combination of discounted travel deals and an opportunity to donate to worthy causes. The company achieves this by procuring donated offerings from responsible tour operators, resorts and other accommodations, auctioning the donations to travelers, and contributing about 45% of the highest bidder's price to a revolving list of educational, healthcare, human services and environmental nonprofit organizations. Amongst other offerings, the website offers a manageable selection of outdoor adventures and nature and wildlife trips to choose from; adding new trips at least once a week. Opening bids are typically about 60% lower than the contributors' going rates, and many auctions close well below retail prices. The winning bidder chooses from a pre-selected list which organization s/he wishes to support; and 100% of the profits of the sale go to that organization. Mountain Travel Sobek Founded in 1969, Mountain Travel Sobek retains the pioneering spirit and playfulness of the late-1960s counterculture; promising the exhilaration of achievement as you stretch yourself and the boundaries of your horizons; the deep spiritual enrichment that comes from encountering the planet's diverse people and wildlife; and the sheer fun that comes from being out there. Offering hiking, trekking, river rafting, sea kayaking, safaris, wildlife and natural history, small boat expeditions, cultural encounters, multi-sport and photo expeditions to small groups; Mountain Travel Sobek strives to leave a small footprint while offering its clients a visceral nature experience. Additionally, Mountain Travel Sobek is a contributor to and promoter of a variety of environmental and cultural preservation organizations. Tour prices and detailed itineraries are featured on the website.