The Global Basecamps Blog

Cherry blossom season is considered by many to be the best time of year to visit Japan. They begin to bloom on the south west tip of Japan and continue east and north, gradually traversing the country. Determining when the cherry blossoms will bloom is an annual pastime in Japan, but it is highly dependent on geographical location. In general, the milder the climate, the earlier the sakura will appear. On Japan’s southern islands of Okinawa, the cherry blossoms can open as early as January, while on the northern island of Hokkaido, they can bloom as late as May. Though it varies from year to year and depends on environmental factors, in most of the major cities, including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, the cherry blossoms typically bloom in late March and early April. Cherry blossom season is the ideal time for a Japan eco-vacation, as you will find the cities and parks filled with people enjoying picnics and participating in "hanami" parties, or cherry blossom viewing.

Houshi Ryokan: Komatsu, Japan

Looking for a truly unique Japan eco lodge? Houshi Ryokan, located in the hot spring village of Awazu in the Hokuriku region of Japan, is the world’s oldest inn. Dating back to the year 718 (some 1300 years ago), the traditional ryokan has been operated by the same family for 46 generations. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The Houshi Ryokan has 100 rooms, as well as a "hanare" (private guest residence), that can accommodate up to 450 guest. At Houshi the names for each room are derived from Saijiki (a book on words and phrases defining the seasons in haiku), and reflect the hotels belief that life is a journey through the seasons. There are 2 indoor and 2 outdoor 24 hour hot spring baths for both men and women (same gender only). They also have 1 family bath that can be privately reserved upon guest’s request.

When you think of sustainability, the first the thing that usually comes to mind is environmental responsibility. While conserving natural resources, is a crucial component of sustainable travel, it is just one piece of a very dynamic concept. Perhaps the most important and most often overlooked aspect of sustainable travel is the impact on local communities. As world travelers, we must keep in mind our behavior, and the influence it has on the local culture. In order to preserve the authentic qualities of these destinations, we must do our part in taking the appropriate measures to reduce our social and environmental impact.

Destinations in the third world boast a wide range of experiences appealing to the culture or adventure thirsty traveler. Some of the most world renown landmarks including Mt. Everest, the Egyptian pyramids, Machu Picchu, and the Taj Mahal all reside in developing nations. Underneath the grandeur and splendor of these built and natural environments, lies the insistent hand of child beggars. Many Westerners, unaccustomed to this degree of poverty, feel compelled to help these suffering humans, by giving them a few dollars or a meal. This act of compassion, despite it’s good intention, creates more harm than good.

If you’re looking to plan customized and efficient air tickets for your round the world travels then AirTreks is the best option. Specializing in muti-stop international plane tickets, AirTreks offers unique planning tools, affordable prices, and excellent service. Travelers can create customized itineraries with an unlimited number of stops through AirTreks' TripPlanner Tool. AirTreks' staff of international experts works to optimize each traveler’s airlines routes and fare by being able to offer air tickets at discounts compared to the fares published by airlines, travel agencies, and airfare sites.

A timeline is an efficient way to get your trip planning started. AirTreks' planning timeline walks you through step by step from 1 year out up until the day of your departure, allowing you to better organize and plan for your travels. A very useful tool for planning the destinations on your round the world trip is AirTreks' TripPlanner Tool. It helps you plan a route for your travels, allowing you to select all the cities you would like to visit and compiling an estimate, as well as including an alternative route called “More for Your Money.” Additionally, the TripPlanner tool allows you to not only plan for flights but ground travel as well, such as trains, buses, and cars. Even if you are not ready to purchase a ticket, this quick and easy tool gives you an estimate on what your airfare will cost and allows you to start budgeting for your trip. Once you are ready to purchase, you can click on “provide trip details” to move forward and be contacted by an AirTreks representative. Check out AirTreks’ blog for more information and news on round the world travel.

Photo by John Monetta 2010

“This is a Kudu bull in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is in KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa. As the name implies it’s a wetlands park located about 4 hours north of Durban on the India Ocean. The park contains ocean based, estuary based and land based animals. The park is a self drive park and costs $8 per vehicle. I drove in around 3pm and spent 2 ½ hours exploring in my car. I took the picture of this Kudu bull at sunset as he stood guard over his herd of females, adolescents and calves behind the bluff in the picture. While taking this picture, the park ranger drove up and asked me to get back into my car. Seems the reason the Kudu was so nervous is this area is know for leopards and the ranger didn’t want me to get eaten. About 20 minutes later after the sunset I ran into three Black Rhinos (extremely rare). Unfortunately the light conditions produced photos that are on the edge of good.”