Timing is everything when it comes to eco and wildlife adventure travel. Natural Habitat Adventures (www.nathab.com) and tripatlas.com/new are bringing you 12 eco adventures to take part in year-round – from the rainforests of Panama to seeing polar bears in northern Manitoba.
January: Winter may seem counterintuitive for a Yellowstone National Park visit, but Wolves and Wildlife of Yellowstone offers a rare chance to view the reintroduced predators away from summer crowds (7 days, from $3,895).
February: Journey among the Lost Kingdom’s ancient monasteries, Himalayan peaks, rare wildlife and extraordinary people in February’s pleasant weather with Bhutan: Spirit & Nature (12 days, $5,995 reflects 2010 Eco-Pricing).
March: Explore the array of unique wildlife on the land isthmus of Panama in March’s optimal conditions, from the famed canal to the rarely-visited rainforest canopy, with Wild Panama (12 days, from $3,895).
April: Calmer seas, the arrival and courtship of the waved albatross and green sea turtle and land iguana eggs hatching create perfect timing for this Classic Galapagos adventure aboard the luxurious new Nina (11 days, from $5,795).
May: Enjoy Scotland’s Wild Highlands & Islands, from nesting seabirds of the remote Outer Hebrides to young wildlife in the boreal forest and heather moors with a journey so new it’s still “exploratory” (11 days, from $5,595).
June: One of 10 special Family Adventures, the Family Canyons Adventure offers kid-friendly off-the-beaten-path fun in the American West’s famed canyon country during the kids’ summer break (8 days, from $3,395 for adult).
July: Encounter up-close grizzlies fishing for salmon at Brooks Falls with the Hidden Alaska tour, spanning three national parks and private and pristine areas like Fox Island that most visitors miss (13 days, from $7,795).
August: Experience this global biodiversity hotspot in its coolest season; Wild Madagascar is home to many rare, indigenous plants and animals including various lemurs (14 days, $9,795 reflects 2010 Eco-Pricing).
September: Patrol beaches and help endangered olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings reach the ocean with this hands-on Mexico’s Sea Turtles tour during the turtles’ brief egg-laying season (6 days, from $2,195)
October: Choose among five different Churchill polar bear tours, including NatHab’s most popular Classic Polar Bear Expedition, for an up-close experience of the largest land predator as the polar bears congregate on Hudson Bay’s shores awaiting the build-up of sea ice (6-7 days, from $4,595).
November: Journey through Copper Canyon and meet the Tarahumara people with a rail-and-trail adventure into the wild heart of Mexico during fall’s mild temperatures and lush green foliage (7 days, from $2,995).
December: The African safari as it used to be, Secluded Botswana offers big game and luxurious camps far from the crowds during the “green season” when mother ungulates give birth (13 days, $7,995 reflects 2010 Eco-Pricing).
A member of Adventure Collection and exclusive Conservation Travel Provider to World Wildlife Fund, the company’s awards include a 2009 Best Adventure Travel Company ranking from National Geographic Adventure and 2009 World’s Best Tour Operator honors from Travel + Leisure. All Natural Habitat Adventures trips are carbon neutral. For information, visit www.nathab.com.
Looking to book a trip? Check out the tripatlas.com/new Trip Builder where you can connect with travel agents who will give you custom prices on your trip.