17 ARGENTINA Recommended Route: Buenos Aires (2 days) – Argentina Night Bus (1) – Esteros del Iberá (3) – Argentina Night Bus (1) – Buenos Aires (1) – Puerto Madryn (2) – Buenos Aires (1) 11 Days, 10 Nights Starting from USD 4,130 / person What is the highlight of this responsible vacation? Heading to Esteros del Iberá is a dream for those who treasure and wish to support the natural world. In the 1990s, American conservationist Douglas Tompkins saw that this fascinating Argentinian wetlands was in total decline due to farming and human development, therefore he decided it was time to protect it, through buying large quantities of land and setting up the Conservation Land Trust (CLT). Since then, part of the land has been declared a National Park, and the end goal is to donate the land back to the country once all of it is assured of receiving the same status. Right on the edge of the area, Tompkins built a gorgeous lodge, called Rincón del Socorro, as a way to encourage discerning visitors to understand this fragile landscape. For Tompkins, the more people who can appreciate Esteros del Iberá, the greater the motivation is to preserve and conserve the region. There are so many landscapes to discover here, from lagoons and floating islands, to malezales (grasslands), glens, swamps, palm groves and forests. CLT has created an amazing opportunity to observe wildlife in its truly natural habitat, such as the pampas deer, capybaras, armadillos and caymans, as well as the rare maned wolf, tapir and the anteater. Bird lovers can witness many rare species, including the large jabiru stork. From the lodge, you have the choice to discover the region by boat, hiking or horseback. We love to create truly tailor-made experiences for our guests that are both sustainably and socially conscious. If you have an idea for a responsible travel vacation in mind, let us know! If you have any ideas or wish to comment on Enchanting Travels’ Responsible Travel commitment or receive a copy of our policy, then please email Florian Keller on responsibletravel@enchantingtravels.com NEPAL Recommended Route: Kathmandu (3) – Pharping (1) – Pokhara (3) – Chitwan (2) – Kathmandu (1) 11 Days, 10 Nights Starting from USD 2,950 / person What makes our recommended vacation responsible? Nepal suffered hugely from the earthquake of 2015, which is considered one of recent history’s worst natural disasters. Just as the world began to think that the worst was over, yet another major earthquake hit the country a month later. Thousands of people lost their homes and livelihoods as the earthquakes paralyzed the nation. Within just a few months, the country’s rescue and restoration efforts were already paying off, and many of Nepal’s beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites and major roads were re-opened after being declared safe. A country that is dependent on the income from visitors, Nepal is a safe and welcoming destination for you to visit. On this vacation, you can visit SADLE, an NGO in Kathmandu that is run by the Nepalese people. SADLE aims to teach an array of handicraft skills and provide employment opportunities to those less privileged, including leprosy and polio patients. You will have the chance to visit the organisation’s own shelter for the elderly and a school that boasts 600 pupils!