5 Unique Earth-Conserving Ecotourism Destinations

We only have one earth to live on. However, the aging earth is still facing three primary problems: the rapid climate change, the extinction of many species of animals and plants, the pollution that contaminates the air we breathe, the soil we stand on, and the water we consume.

There's never a better time to contribute to earth conservation than World Conservation Day on June 5, 2022. And the one fun way to celebrate the day is by connecting deeper with nature while helping the economy of communities grow so that everyone benefits from this festivity. One of which is by visiting eco-tourism destinations. 

Eco-tourism is far beyond merely visiting environmental-friendly destinations, but also contributing positively to the local communities by respecting the local culture and traditions. Thus, eco-tourism must involve all parts of the community and directly contribute to local tourism management. Lucky for you, Indonesia has ample eco-tourism destinations. Here, we have compiled the five must-tries among the most unique destinations, such as:

1. Bathing elephants in Tangkahan

Traveling to Tangkahan eco-tourism provides a rare opportunity for visitors. You can do various things here, including elephant bathing and interacting with them, as well as trekking along the river or through the dense rainforest of Gunung Leuser National Park. Located in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, in Tangkahan, visitors can also bathe in waterfalls and hot springs, go river tubing and observe the frisky long-tailed macaques and sagacious hornbill birds. 

All of these activities are self-managed by the residents. Apart from being a tour guide and mahout (elephant handler), they also provide homestays and work on oil palm and rubber plantations. Tangkahan can be reached by 3 hour drive from the provincial capital, Medan.

2. Family Agrotourism in Sumber Agung

Sumber Agung Tourist Village is located in Kemiling District, about 10 kilometers from Bandar Lampung downtown. Here, you can spend your time exploring agro-tourism as an educational experience. Sumber Agung is home to rubber, coffee, and candlenut plantations and the manufacturer of palm sugar and banana chips processing factory, quintessential souvenirs of Lampung. 

This eco-tourism destination leans toward families and special interest groups, considering that apart from these activities, visitors can also set up a tent and go camping, and trekking, combined with farming, fishing, and plant and animal conservation activities.

3. Angke-Kapuk Nature Park

Jakarta is more than just beautiful gardens amongst the concrete jungle; Jakarta is also home to fascinating mangrove forests. For example, the Angke-Kapuk Nature Park, located close to Pantai Indah Kapuk housing estate. Covering an area of almost 100 hectares, this wetland area, lush with mangrove trees, is beneficial for preventing abrasion and seawater intrusion. Mangroves can also muffle large ocean waves and can absorb carbon dioxide five times more than other tropical forests.

In Angke-Kapuk, we can rent a boat to rove around the mangrove forest, see monkeys and migratory birds, and participate in planting mangrove trees. If you want to spend the night, you may as well spend one in the villas around the park. 

4. A journey to the past in Tenganan

Besides the more popular Penglipuran Village in Bangli, you can also visit Tenganan Village in Karangasem Regency. The people of Tenganan still very much maintain the traditional way of life. The houses are built with soil or river stone and thatched roofs. Most of the population are farmers, and a few others are bamboo artisans, wood carvers, palm leave painters, and Gringsing cloth weavers. Gringsing cloth is an outfit made using the double ikat technique – the only one in Indonesia – and is well known worldwide.

Every year between June and July (the schedule follows the Balinese calendar), the Tenganan people hold the Mekare-Kare or Pandan War ceremony, where two youths would attack each other and scratch their opponent's back with prickly pandanus leaves. This ceremony is held to prepare the youths physically and mentally. After being treated, the wound resulting from the war would heal again in a few days.

5. Meeting the Googly-Eyed Tarsier Monkey

About 1.5 hours driving from Manado, you will arrive at the Tangkoko-Duasudara National Park area and meet Batu Putih Natural Tourism Park. In addition to meeting many Yaki alias Sulawesi black monkeys, you can also meet the park's noble resident, Tarsier. Tarsier is a googly-eyed primate, crowned as the world's smallest primate that can rotate its neck up to 180 degrees.

Since Tarsiers are nocturnal animals, we can only see them at dusk, jumping from their nests inside forest woods to hunt insects. Here, don't worry about looking for a place to stay because the locals also manage various homestays at affordable costs. In the morning, you can visit the beach and see fishers unloading their catch from the night before.

The five eco-tourism destinations are located on the city outskirts and have limited public transportation access. Thus, it would be far more effective if you visit each of them by bringing your own car or arranging a private car rental from TRAC. During the Covid-19 pandemic, TRAC has made sure to always consistently adhere to the health & safety protocol by implementing the SMART Protocol while on duty. The SMART Protocol includes:

1. The application of surface and aerosol disinfectants throughout all units before and after every duty.
2. Providing hand sanitizer in all units on duty.
3. Implementing social distancing in all units on duty.
4. Installing fiber-made separator between the driver and passengers.
5. All drivers on duty must undergo a medical checkup.
6. All drivers on duty are required to wear a mask and gloves.
7. Drivers are not allowed to be in physical contact with passengers.

For more information about our excellent car rental service, contact our Customer Assistance Center at 1500009 or email rco.nasional@trac.astra.co.id. Also, download the TRACtoGo on Google Playstore for Android users and Apple App Store for iOS users to make a reservation. This application offers plenty of exciting offers and promos for vehicle rentals and TRACtoGo experiences.