6 days/5 nights with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and the Jordan Tourism Board

About the Trip

From the river canyons leading to the Dead Sea, to the highlands of northern Jordan, RSCN invites visitors to share Jordan’ s protected areas. Stay in eco-lodges and campsites while you enjoy hiking, rappelling, swimming, boating, abseiling, bird-watching, archeological site seeing, and visiting endangered animal breeding/release programs. Take in the sunset from a peaceful terrace, the stars from secluded campsites, and the views from unparalleled vistas. We look forward to welcoming you to Jordan’s Great Outdoors.

Includes: 5 nights in eco lodges and fixed campsites. Hiking, abseiling, river walking, camping, meals, and air ticket provided by Royal Jordanian Airlines for one traveler.

Starting bid: $300

About the Organization

Jordan Tourism Board North America (JTBNA) would like to give you a taste of what you may experience in Jordan, and for that reason, we invite you to browse through and learn all about the astounding sites in the country, including the capital Amman, the magnificent Nabatean city of Petra, the spectacular Greco-Roman ruins of Jerash, the desert castles, Lawrence’s famous Wadi Rum, and many other historical and impressive sites throughout the Kingdom.

Learn more about the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and the Jordan Tourism Board.

8 days/9 nights with Neophron Tours

About the Trip

Tour beautiful Bulgaria by car, with a professional guide from Neophron Tours, the company of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds.  Bulgaria’s unspoiled and amazingly diverse nature — including 400 bird species — is the country’s greatest asset. You’ll visit the most spectacular birding sites, plus 2 historical sites along the coast. You’ll stay in 3 hotels, in Cape Kaliakra, Coastal Dobrudja, and Nessebar, a UNESCO archeological site. Few countries rival Bulgaria’s scenic splendor, including alpine mountains, rivers with deep canyons, vast meadows and forests, wetlands, beaches, 3 national parks, and numerous wildlife and nature reserves. This unique tour is a must for bird and other nature lovers!

Includes: 8 nights lodging, all meals, professional guide, car transport, transfer to/from Varna airport

Starting bid: $525

About the Organization

Neophron Tours is the tourist company of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) - the BirdLife International partner in Bulgaria. Through the activity of its tourist company the BSPB raises funds for urgent field actions and conservation measures throughout the country.

Neophron Tours has been founded in 1995 and has for more than 10 years been one of the leading tourist companies in Bulgaria for people that come for specialized wildlife holidays.

Neophron Tours offers a variety of birding and other wildlife and natural history tours in Bulgaria, including botanical tours, Brown Bear and Wolf viewing, dragonflies and butterflies tours, wildlife photography tours and mountain hiking. Cultural aspects are never forgotten. Tailor-made tours for individuals and couples are always possible.

Please visit www.neophron.com for more information.

8-14 days/7 – 13 nights with Crossing Latitudes, Inc.

About the Trip

Tour the Artic Circle in Sweden and Norway with Crossing Latitudes. You can choose an 8 day Inn Trip or one of the 9-14 day Camping Expeditions. The islands of Lofoten and Vesteralen in Arctic Norway are characterized by rugged mountains, deep fjords, great fishing, white sandy beaches, and small coastal villages. On Inn Trip you will stay in traditional “rorbuer” (fishermen cabins) and do hikes, bird watching, visits to local museums, and sea kayaking. No previous sea kayaking experience is needed.

Crossing Latitudes guides are expert in teaching technical skills and helping guests become comfortable campers. On camping expeditions in Lapland, Sweden, you’ll experience the Saami lifestyle in unspoiled wilderness. Trekking with reindeer, who carry the camping gear, is a unique and intimate way to experience the ancient Saami culture.  Some expeditions require previous experience though most do not. Crossing Latitudes is devoted to promoting the responsible enjoyment of outdoor pursuits all over the world while instilling an appreciation of different cultures and lifestyles.
Includes: accommodations, meals, local ground transportation, all activities and specialized gear, guides

Certification: Trips trek with Saami in Lapland who are certified under the Swedish Ecotourism’s Nature Best program.

Starting Bid: $1500

About the Organization

Crossing Latitudes is devoted to promoting the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits while instilling an appreciation of different cultures and lifestyles. Our trips are an outdoor and a cultural experience wrapped into one. We adhere to the “Leave No Trace” conservation principles. Minimizing our impact on the wild areas and the locals is important to us.

In all areas where Crossing Latitudes offer trips we work with the locals. We buy our food in the small grocery stores, we visit friends along our routes, we take the time to listen and learn from people living in what we consider “wilderness”.

Working side by side with the people from Sörkaitum Saami village in Sweden gives both staff and participants a unique insight in the Saami way of life, both then and now.

Many of Crossing Latitudes adventures are camping expeditions … it can’t get more “green” than this. Trekking with reindeer support has been practiced for hundreds of years. Carrying our “home” on our backs or in our kayaks … paddling our kayaks along a wild coastline and pitching camp on a sandy beach … supplementing our foods by fishing and gathering edible plants … these are true “green” expeditions.

Most all Crossing Latitudes staff are Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Saami people from the area where we offer trips. We often take on “interns” from the Scandinavian countries. Crossing Latitudes supports local youth groups, scouts and schools. We teach wilderness first aid courses and host “Leave No Trace” courses to locals.

For more information, visit Crossing Latitudes, Inc.

Greece 7 days/6 nights with P.A.P. Corp. SA (owner of P.A.P. Hotels)

About the Auction

Enjoy the best of Mediterranean coastal landscape – pinewood forests, olive groves, and turquoise blue waters. Stay at 3 exquisite hotels in Northern Greece owned by the P.A.P. Corp: Alexander the Great and Xenia Ouranoupolis in Halkidiki and Agionissi Resort on Amoliani Island. This family owned company provides 5 star service with exemplary environmental and social practices. Explore private beaches, visit traditional villages, visit vineyards, enjoy local cuisine, and pamper yourself in simple but elegant surroundings. The white sand beach is Blue Flag certified.

Includes: accommodations, breakfasts & dinners, local transport

Certifications: European Blue Flag Beach Certification

Starting bid: $250

Winner of the following awards:

• Participant in Clean up Greece
• European Blue Flags in all three hotels
• Participant in Legambiente

Green Practices

Airtight windows and doors provide high efficiency, oven use highly monitored, air conditioning units are small impact and have installed switches to turn off when people are not present, use solar heaters and natural gas throughout hotel. Water leak detectors installed at every water use point. Sewage biological treatment plant on site at 2 of the three hotels where the recycled water is used to water the evergreen gardens of the hotel and give educational tours for local schools. Hotels actively recycle; work to reforest the surrounding countryside each year through the Reforestation Company of Greece in partnership with local state authorities; no chemical fertilizers are used on fruit trees; use eco-friendly soap, detergents, and food and beverage containers; individual servings are abolished to reduce waste; many food products are purchased from local farmers. Hotel personnel take seminars on ecology, care of the environment is an item on employee’s evaluation sheet, guests receive pamphlet on environmentally friendly behavior code upon arrival, provide several educational environmental appreciation events for children throughout the year.