The Thompson Okanagan looks and feels different than much of the rest of British Columbia. The Okanagan Valley is a popular vacation destination and fast-growing region centered on the 155-km-long Okanagan Lake. The region is known for its dry, sunny climate, dry landscapes, and lakeshore communities and a particular lifestyle.
Home to over 90 communities and over 200 licensed wineries, the landscape is as varied as the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies to the semi-arid climate of the Okanagan Desert. It is a region rich in Indigenous culture, sun-soaked valleys surrounded by sweeping grasslands and connected throughout by water.
Thompson Okanagan Region was officially certified as the first destination in the Americas to have successfully achieved the Biosphere Tourism Destination Certification from the Responsible Tourism Institute.
Thompson Okanagan becomes the first Sustainable Destination in the Americas
Twenty regions around the world have received recognition from the Responsible Tourism Institute, most of which are located in Europe.
Sustainable tourism is measured by examining how a destination manages itself from several perspectives, including environmental, social and cultural perspectives.
The region also features world-class wineries, inventive, fresh fare, and rich indigenous culture that leaves a lasting mark. Besides the main activities like golf, powder skiing, lake sports, and wine, the region also offers peaceful fishing holes, remote horseback rides, and a selection of farm-fresh culinary treasures.
More than three million people visit the Thompson Okanagan each year, according to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association.
Photo credit: Dick Thompson Flickr
In 2018, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association was named the year’s winner of the prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Destination Award during the World Travel and Tourism Council Summit in Argentina.
Some of the responsibilities are a guarantee an economic, socio-cultural and environmental balance, satisfying the current needs of tourists and host regions, reporting significant benefits for the entity, society and the environment, and protecting and improving future prospects.
Building a responsible and sustainable destination
Treetop Flyers
Sustainability is at the core of Treetop Flyers business. From repurposed shipping containers for offices and installing the only solar-powered drop swing, they are setting the mark for taking responsibility for their footprint.
BC Wildlife Park
BC Wildlife Rescue – Fawcett Family Wildlife Health Centre is a nonprofit organization committed to rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife.
Ogopogo Tours
Committed to sustaining the beautiful landscape in BC, Ogopogo Tours has energy-efficient hybrid vehicles to reduce their harm to the environment.
Myra Canyon Ranch
Surrounded by Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park and 20 minutes from Kelowna, Myra Canyon Ranch is a lodge and horseback riding facility that guests call “a magic place”.
Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, is known for its monasteries, fortresses and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.
It is famed for its high mountain peaks and range of trekking opportunities, its diverse, natural Shangri-La, a variety of landscapes, and an incredible array of fauna and flora, from subtropical valleys to alpine peaks.
Bhutan is one of the most unique places to visit on our planet. By law, 60% of the whole country’s national forest is protected, and it makes Bhutan tours perfect for trekkers, monastery-lovers, Buddhist pilgrims and the merely curious.
Bhutan is home to some exceptional wildlife including Himalayan Black Bear, Asiatic Black Bear, Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Red Panda, Himalayan Musk Deer, Sloth Bear, Leopards, and the Gray Wolf.
What’s included in the Bhutan tourism fee?
Your daily fee for Bhutan includes:
Visa
Licensed Bhutanese guide from an official Bhutanese tour operator.
Driver and transportation – a new 4×4, or a tour bus. Do not cover any internal flights.
Accommodation – includes a 3-stars hotel. If you want something more luxurious like 5-star hotels expect to pay several hundred dollars more per day.
Entrance fees to tourist sights
Food and most non-alcoholic drinks.
Trekking gear.
All taxes within the country.
Most travelers are not well informed what that fee includes and they fill like it is on the expensive side but as you can see, the Bhutan tourist fee covers all of your necessary expenses within Bhutan.
Thimphu is the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan, and with a population of around 80,000 is the nation’s largest city. The city is the political and economic center of Bhutan, has a dominant agricultural and livestock base, which contributes 45% of the country’s GNP.
Settlements in Thimphu Valley has existed since 1216. In 2008, the national stadium was completed together with a new river-side park.
Thimphu is well endowed with attractions. Some of the most popular attractions are:
Changangkha Lhakhang – constructed in the 15th century, this is one of the oldest temples in the Thimphu Valley. The temple offers wonderful views over the entire valley.
The National Memorial Chorten – located off Jangchhub Lam, the stupa was built in 1974 in memory of the third king.
Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, sitting on top of Kuensel Phodrang hill is a 51.5mt bronze statue of the founder of Buddhism.
Museums/Galleries – National Folk Heritage Museum, the Royal Textile Academy, Alaya Gallery, Water Dragon Gallery are just a few.
Trashi Chhoe Dzong. – the present dzong was built in the 18th century by Shabdrung Rinpoche to house government officials.
Simtokha Dzong – built-in 1629 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha was the first dzong to be built in a unified Bhutan.
The Takin is the national animal of Bhutan, and looks like a cross between a cow and a goat. Serbithang botanical garden offer a peaceful and relaxing environment to spend a few hours. Botanists will find the wide selection of indigenous trees and plants of interest.
Zorig Chusum School of Traditional Arts, near the National Library, was established in 1971 to preserve the thirteen traditional arts of Bhutan, and visitors are able to observe students honing their skills.
Thimphu Centenary Farmers Weekend Market is by far the largest domestic market for the farmers of Bhutan. Farmers from as far as Lingshi in the north, Tashiyangtse in the east, and Sarpang, Dagana and Tsirang in the south bring their farm products to the market. Across a cantilever footbridge, Kuendeyling Bazaam, to the west bank is a collection of stalls housing clothing, fabric and handicrafts.
Visit Paro
Paro is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered throughout the area. In addition, the Paro Valley is wide and verdant and is recognized a one of the most beautiful in all Bhutan.
The only international airport in the kingdom is located at Paro, and there are two national airlines operate flights to Bhutan: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. Along with Jakar and Punakha, Paro forms the ‘golden triangle’ of popular tourist destinations in country. Some of the main attractions here are:
Taktsang Monastery, (Tiger’s Nest). Precariously perched on the edge of a 1,200-meter cliff, this monastery creates an impressive sight and is the unofficial symbol of Bhutan. It is about 2-3 hours, totally up-hill hike from the parking lot to the monastery, though there is a cafe located on the ridge across from the Taktsang (about 90 minutes into the walk) that provides a welcome opportunity to take a rest and purchase refreshments and snacks.
National Museum of Bhutan. Located in a former watchtower above the dzong, the museum displays artifacts from Bhutan’s history as well as examples of indigenous flora and fauna.
Rinpung Dzong, which was constructed in 1646.
Drukgyel Dzong This dzong (fortress) was built in the 16th century to commemorate a victory over the invading Tibetan forces.
Drakhapo, above Shaba (keeping Shaba School to the right, follow the dirt road to the end. The complex is a five-minute walk from here). Drakhapo is a monastic complex perched on a cliff. Guru Rinpoche spent two months here after completing a retreat at nearby Taktsang, and during his stay placed many treasures (terma) into the cliff. The area also has several hand and footprints embedded in the rock.
Kichu Lhakang is one of the 108 monasteries that were miraculously constructed by King Songten Gampo in one night. It is located just off the road running between Paro bazaar and the Taktsang.
Jangsarbu Lhakhang, located behind Paro Dzong. This small and insignificant looking temple is home to a magnificent statue of Sakyamuni Buddha that was carried all the way from Lhasa, and also houses the protector deity of Paro.
The Punakha Dzong, also known as Pungthang Dewa chhenbi Phodrang, is the administrative centre of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan. Constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in 1637–38, it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures.
Dechen Phrodrang Monastery
This was once the original dzong of the city. Dechen Phrodrang. meaning “Palace of Great Bliss”. is a Buddhist monastery in Thimphu, Bhutan. The monastery contains a number of important historical Bhutanese artifacts including 12th-century paintings monitored by UNESCO and a noted statue of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
Changlimithang Archery Ground
Changlimithang Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the capital Thimphu, which serves as the most-used National Stadium. The stadium was initially constructed in 1974 for the coronation of the fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Located 2,300 meters (7,500 ft) above sea level, the stadium is one of the highest in the world with seating for around 10,000 people.
We all use sunscreen to protect ourselves from the harmful ultraviolet rays. The pollution in the oceans is tragically killing coral reefs and destroying the homes of the marine life living there.
Hawaii passed a bill on May 1, 2018 that bans sale of sunscreens with dangerous chemicals to reefs? NOAA states sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate are indeed harmful to coral reefs. EHP as well confirms that sunscreen chemicals may be causing coral bleaching.
According to a report by Marine Life, a marine conservation NGO, there over 82,000 kinds of chemicals from personal care products that have made their way into the world’s oceans. And one of the most dangerous contributor is sunscreen. In 2015, it was estimated that around 14,000 tons of sunscreen are ending up in the world’s coral reefs and causing irreparable damage.
Scientists have conducted many types of research in the past decade investigating how the tons of sunscreen that wash off our bodies into the ocean each year affect marine life. According to their studies, chemical sunscreens threaten the entire marine ecosystem.
One of the common misconceptions we initially think of if we talk about biodegradable sunscreen is the bottle. We often think that these body products are contained and packed in a biodegradable container. No, it is not about the bottle, but rather, the sunscreen itself.
To help you find sunscreen that are reef safe we did extensive research on the internet and we come up with the following list that is eco-friendly sunscreen brands on the market in 2019.
This sunscreen has an ideal score on EWG, and doesn’t contain any organically dangerous synthetic compounds. It is water-safe for up 80 minutes and is retained effortlessly by your skin.
The zinc recipe is sea safe and adequately shields your skin from sunburn. This sunscreen is additionally sulfate-, paraben-, phthalate-, aroma , and color free.
This unscented and veggie lover sunscreen is ideal for individuals with touchy skin and children. It is free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, manufactured colors, sulfates, nanoparticles and substance UV safeguards, and contains natural green tea extricate, cucumber concentrate, and pomegranate seed oil.
This non-nano zinc oxide-based sunscreen has a lightweight water-safe recipe and is wealthy in natural green tea, rose hips, and buriti oil for repairing harmed skin. Ensure your skin is very much saturated before applying.
This sunscreen has a thick glue consistency, which enables it to remain on your skin for a significant lot of time even after you’ve been in the water. It contains thanaka oil, or, in other words cancer prevention agents, is hostile to parasitic, against bacterial and has hostile to maturing properties. The catch? It gives you a tad of a white tint as opposed to rubbing into the skin.
This Maui-based organization strives to guarantee that its items, together with the bundling, are alright for the earth. Their sunscreen contains a great deal of natural fixings like coconut oil, almond oil, and shea butter.
Protect your skin and marine existence with this mineral-based sunscreen that contains a ground-breaking cancer prevention agent mix of green tea, tulsi, wakame, and olive leaf. Its dynamic fixing is non-nano titanium dioxide.
This zinc-based sunscreen is improved with nearby Hawaiian spirulina, plumeria remove, nectar, kukui nut oil and other feeding oils that dampness and alleviate the skin.
Remember to double check the sunscreen ingredients and the label – each of our decisions matter to save the coral reefs!
Still not convince about choosing carefully your sunscreen for your next trip? Check our post about 5 Things to Know About the Sunscreen and How to Protect the Coral Reef.
