There is always the temptation on any gap year or backpacking trip to ty and fit as much in as humanely possible, but that isn’t always the best thing to do. Here’s why you should slow down, take your time and really soak in the culture, the atmosphere and the experience of the places you are visiting.
Blog Archives
Why You Should Travel Slowly.
Tagged with: backpacking, best way to travel, don't fit too much into your gap year, don't rush your gap year, gap year, how to backpack around the world, how to make RTW travel more enjoyable, how to stay healthy on your gap year, independent travel, relaxing travel, responsible travel, round the world travel, slow travel, slow travel movement, travel slowly, what is slow travel
Posted in Travel Video
Posted in Travel Video
The Benefits Of Local Tourism On Your Gap Year.
Local tourism is more than just the latest buzzword, it is a very real and tangible way of travelling that has a positive impact on not only the wider environment, but also the local people in the destinations we visit. Here are just a few reasons you should stay as local as possible on your travels.
Tagged with: Better Places travel, ethical travel, ethical travel companies, gap year voluntourism, how to make your gap year responsible, how to promote tourism in a small town, how to travel ethically, how to travel responsibly, how to travel sustainably, local tourism, orphanages in Cambodia, responsibilities of tourists, responsible gap year, responsible tourism, responsible tourism best practices, responsible tourist behaviour, responsible travel, responsible travel definition, responsible travel tips, sustainable travel, travel responsibly, volunteering on your gap year, ways to be a responsible tourist, what does local tourism mean, what is local tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
10 Reasons Independent Sustainable Travel Should Be The New Normal.
Responsible and sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly accepted as the gold standard in travel, and independent travellers are starting to question traditional tourism and demand more responsible practices instead. Here are ten reasons why that momentum should not only continue, but become the new normal.
Tagged with: benefits of responsible travel, benefits of sustainable travel, Responsible and sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly accepted as the gold standard in travel as travellers are becoming increasingly independent, responsible gap year, responsible tourism, responsible tourism best practices, responsible tourist behaviour, responsible travel, responsible travel definition, responsible travel tips, responsible wildlife tourism, sustainable tourism, sustainable travel, volunteering, voluntourism, what is responsible travel, what is sustainable travel, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
Greenwashed Gap Years, How To Spot And Avoid Greenwashing On Your Travels.
With sustainable travel becoming increasingly popular, how do you know if the travel choices you make are truly responsible, or if they are just falling victim to a cynical greenwashed marketing ploy by big business? Here is everything you need to know about making eco friendly travel choices and avoiding greenwashed travel before you set off on your gap year.
Tagged with: green travel, greenwashed gap years, greenwashing, how can I avoid greenwashing on my gap year, how can travellers avoid greenwahing, how do i spot greenwashing on my gap year, how to travel responsibly, responsible gap year, responsible tourism, responsible travel, responsible wildlife tourism, sustainable travel, what is greenwashing
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
The Good And The Bad Of Elephant Tourism In Sri Lanka.
Elephant Safaris are a major part of Sri Lanka’s eco tourism industry, but are they all as responsible as they claim to be?
Tagged with: #VisitSriLanka, backpacking, best time to visit Minneriya National Park, Elephant gathering, Elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park, Elephant Gathering Sri Lanka, elephant safari, elephant safari in Sri Lanka, elephant tours, elephant trekking, elephant trekking on your gap year, Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka, gap year, irresponsible elephant safari Sri Lanka, Kaudulla National Park Sri Lanka, Minneriya Elephant safari, Minneriya national park, Minneriya National Park Sri Lanka, Minneriya safari cost, Pollanurawa, responsible travel, safari, Sri Lanka, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife safari, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
The Horrible Truth About Animal Sanctuaries.
Animal and wildlife sanctuaries are a huge part of the gap year industry now, and there are a lot of great sanctuaries that do so much good for wildlife care and conservation, but not all of these sanctuaries are what they seem and many often do far more harm than good. Read on and learn the real truth behind many of these so called sanctuaries.
Tagged with: animal care gap year, animal sanctuaries, animal sanctuary jobs abroad, animal sanctuary volunteer abroad, backpacking, gap year, how to not harm wildlife on your gap year, responsible travel, unethical animal sanctuaries gap year, volunteer at an animalsanctuary, when voluntourism harms wildlife, wildlife conservation, wildlife exploitation, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife rehabilitation centres, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
Why Zoos Are An Important Part Of Responsible Wildlife Tourism.
Despite being controversial, zoos are an essential part of the conservation chain. This article explains why and puts forward the argument that without zoos we wouldn’t have any wildlife conservation efforts at all.
Tagged with: animals in captivity, Are zoos a good or bad thing, are zoos ethical, are zoos ethical debate, are zoos good, are zoos good or bad, arguments for animals in zoos, backpacking, gap year, greenwashing, Is it cruel to keep animals in the zoo, is it ethical to keep animals in zoos, responsible travel, responsible wildlife tourism, should touristsvisit zoos, travel, zoo, zoos
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
The Bemused Backpacker Code Of Responsible Travel.
The Bemused Backpacker Code Of Responsible Travel has been designed to give travellers around the world an ethical guideline on how to travel in a fully informed, ethical and responsible way
Tagged with: Animal conservation, backpacker, backpacking, Bemused Backpacker, code of responsible tourism, code of responsible travel, does wildlife tourism harm animals, ethical travel, gap year, gap year industry responsible travel, how can I travel responsibly, responsibilities of tourists, responsible tourist behaviour, responsible travel, responsible travel definition, responsible travel hacks, responsible travel tips, safe and responsible behaviour for tourists, travel like a local, voluntourism, ways to be a responsible tourist, ways to be a responsible traveller
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
The Elephant In The Room: Why You Shouldn’t Go On An Elephant Trek In Thailand.
Elephant trekking is a popular tourist activity in Thailand, one of the more popular ‘bucket list’ activities in the gap year industry in fact, but there are many reasons why riding an elephant is irresponsible and wrong, and why you should scratch riding an elephant off that list immediately.
Tagged with: best place for elephant trekking in thailand, don't go on an elephant trek in Thailand, elephant abuse, elephant abuse Thailand, elephant conservation camps, elephant nature park Chiang Mai, elephant tourism, elephant tourism thailand, elephant tours, elephant trade for tourism, elephant trekking, elephant trekking chiang mai, elephant trekking in Chiang Mai, elephant trekking on your gap year, elephant trekking right or wrong, ENP, ethical elephant sanctuary phuket, how do I see elephants in Thailand, how do I volunteer with elephants, Phajaan, responsible tourism, responsible travel, riding elephants, Thailand, trekking in Thailand, trekking with elephants in Thailand, truth about elephant riding, why elephant riding is wrong, why elephant trekking is wrong, why I shouldn't ride elephants, why you shouldn't go on an elephant trek, why you shouldn't ride elephants, wildlife tourism, wildlife tourism in Thailand
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
How To Make Your Gap Year Responsible, Ethical And Sustainable.
A quick and easy guide on how all travellers can make a difference by making their travels responsible, ethical and sustainable.
Tagged with: Animal conservation, ethical travel, ethical travel companies, gap year voluntourism, how to make your gap year responsible, how to travel ethically, how to travel responsibly, how to travel sustainably, orphanages in Cambodia, responsibilities of tourists, responsible gap year, responsible tourism, responsible tourism best practices, responsible tourist behaviour, responsible travel, responsible travel definition, responsible travel tips, sustainable travel, travel responsibly, volunteering on your gap year, ways to be a responsible tourist, wildlife exploitation in tourism, wildlife tourism
Posted in Responsible Travel
Posted in Responsible Travel
Hi, I'm Michael! I'm a former nurse turned published author and world travelling professional adventurer! I have spent over twenty years travelling over 100 countries and I want to inspire you to do the same! Want to know more about me? Just click here!
© Bemused Backpacker and the gecko logo is owned and copyrighted by Michael Huxley 2023. Unless stated, all blog and website content is owned and copyrighted by Michael Huxley 2023.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Michael Huxley is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael Huxley and Bemused Backpacker with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Bemused Backpacker 