1. Offset the carbon emissions of your international flights. Learn about how you can offset your carbon emissions with World Land Trust on our website.
2. Learn a bit of the local language and don’t be afraid to use it. Being able to say even a few words like hello, please and thank you will help you to connect with people in a positive way and really enhance your personal experience. Bring a phrase book on tour and keep practising to improve your confidence. You will also find some good language tips in the country dossier(s).
3. Try to learn something about the culture, religion, traditions and local values of the destination you’re visiting. This will not only help to enhance your experience of the destination and help you to appreciate the way different people live, but also make your interaction with people more fun, friendly, natural and meaningful.
4. Learn about appropriate body language. Certain hand gestures like doing the thumbs up (positive in Western culture) may have a very different meaning in Turkey, for example.
5. Bring appropriate clothing with you (or purchase it at your destination, to save weight in your luggage and support local enterprises). Be aware that both men and women may be required to dress modestly in in places of spiritual significance, like temples, churches or mosques. You’ll need long-sleeved shirts, trousers and three-quarter pants, a skirt that reaches well below the knee and shoes which cover your toes to cover up properly. You may miss out on visiting these special places without appropriate clothing, so it pays to be prepared.
6. Try to pack light. Reducing the weight of your luggage will reduce the amount of work the taxi, airplane, train, coach or expedition vehicle will have to do to transport your gear and therefore reduce carbon emissions – and you’ll make your own life much easier!
7. In many countries you will encounter a level of poverty which you won’t find at home. Although we would generally discourage offering gifts to beggars, we would suggest that if you feel the need to help, bring a stack of pens and pencils and hand these out to children rather than offering sweets or money. Your alternative gifts will still be popular and the parents will thank you for saving their children’s teeth – access to dental services may not be readily available. We’d also encourage you to think of alternative ways to help, such as supporting a local community organisation, which may be more constructive. Your tour leader may have some ideas for you.
8. Cut out plastic – remove and recycle the packaging of new travel gear before you pack, and bring a light cotton or string bag for your shopping so you can politely refuse plastic bags at shops and markets.
9. Try to bring recyclable batteries as disposable batteries leach toxic chemicals as they degrade in landfill, and recycling facilities are scarce in some countries.
10. Bring your own metal water bottle. Fill up at restaurants or treat your own water on tour instead of buying lots of plastic bottles. Bear in mind that recycling facilities may  not be available at some destinations.
11. Take public transport to the airport and reduce the emissions caused by private cars.
12. Include a percentage amount for tipping when you are working out your budget. Tips are the main means of financial survival for workers in many countries.
    
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How you can reduce your impact while on tour - and have fun!

1. When you’re out shopping for a bargain, haggling is an important part of making a purchase in many countries and you can have a lot of fun doing this. But just remember that a small amount to you may make quite a difference to the vendor, so it pays to be reasonable.
2. Be wary of shops, zoos, restaurants or activities which promote the harm or exploitation of animals and endangered species. Avoid buying items made of tropical hardwoods or items made of coral, turtle shells, skins, bone or ivory. These items promote exploitation and poaching, which decimates animal populations every year.
3. Tucan Travel discourages clients from engaging in any activities related to prostitution, sex shows or any activities which exploit children in any way.
4. Help to keep traditional crafts alive by shopping for souvenirs direct from local artisans. Try to avoid mass-produced items which may not have been made in the local area and avoid chain stores.
5. Support locally-owned and restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Try local cuisine, brands and brews.
6. Use public transport like local buses, walk, or hire bicycles where you can. Explore the area the way locals do and you’ll meet more people and get more ‘in touch’ with the community.
7. Tipping is expected in many countries. In Asia & Russia, the Middle East & North Africa we operate a Tipping Kitty so that you and the group can avoid the hassles. Please remember though that tipping is considered as wages in many countries and people do rely on this money to survive.
8. We would discourage you from agreeing to pay for photographs or taking videos as this encourages begging behaviour. However, if you agree to send a photograph to someone instead, please do remember to send that photograph as soon as you can.
9. Although we’re travelling on a schedule on our Adventure Tours, please remember that schedules mean different things to different cultures and their concept of time may differ from yours. Try to ‘go with the flow’ and relax – you’re on holiday after all!
10. Certain gestures may be considered impolite to people you are visiting, so please bear that in mind.  In Laos for example it's considered very rude to point your feet at or show the soles of your feet to local people, so it pays to be conscious of that. It may also be considered very rude to wear a hat indoors at some destinations, or for men to walk around the streets bare-chested, even in the heat of summer. Please be aware that public displays of affection such as kissing and holding hands may be inappropriate in certain destinations, no matter what genders the couple is made up of. Take your queues from your tour leader if you're in doubt.
11. It can be difficult to know how to deal with strangers – when to be friendly and open, when to accept a spontaneous invitation or when to be suspicious of someone’s motives. Generally speaking we would encourage you to keep an open mind and expect that the people you meet are genuine and acting honestly, however if you are unsure, don’t hesitate to ask your tour leader for guidance.
12. Please do not dispose of litter in the street or throw it out of the windows while we’re travelling. Although the environment may not be as clean as you’d expect it to be at home, there is no reason to make it any worse. Please put your litter in public bins or take it away with you for safe disposal on our expedition vehicle. Cigarette butts should be carried away to an appropriate bin.
13. In countries where recycling facilities are unavailable, we may be able to carry plastics with us and recycle elsewhere (if using a Tucan Travel vehicle). Otherwise we may be able to donate useful items like plastic bottles to local communities to be reused for water carrying, such as in African communities where bottles are a necessary but scarce resource.
14.  During optional activities, take your cues from the expert local guides. Follow their instructions when interacting with wild animals, swimming near coral reefs, walking in popular and pristine areas and visiting ancient sites. Be aware that you may need to take extra care in these areas to respect the natural environment.
    
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What you can do when you get home

1. If you didn't get around to it before you travelled, it's not too late to offset the carbon emissions of your international flights now! Learn about how you can offset your carbon emissions with World Land Trust on our website.
2. Please remember to send the photos you’ve promised to the people you photographed – make it a two-way exchange! (While you’re at it, why not send us a story about your travels with Tucan Travel, with some images from your trip?)
3. Think about how you can continue to support organisations you encountered on tour, such as environmental reserves and national parks, social causes and charities to help promote the welfare, culture and environment of those you were lucky enough to visit. Let us know if you’ve seen any particular organisations that you think we could help in some way – we’re always willing to consider new ideas.
   
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   Got any handy hints to add to this list? Please contact cat@tucantravel.com.