http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19979
We spent four blissful days at the lodge, got to within a stone's throw of various monkeys, snakes etc. and some of the most amazing flora I've ever seen. However, the kicker is every penny of your money goes into the project and helps re-establish the community and wildlife from a shadow of its former self.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19979 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18672
As far as I'm aware they rent the place for visiting tutors so, naturally, the programme varies. These are just examples from when I looked at the website, but some are regular or annual events (drumming, Irish music and yoga).

Anyway, I found it a really relaxing place to just chill and unwind. It is run as an eco community with help from WWOOFers, the people there are lovely and very welcoming and friendly. Quite an international collection!

The best thing I found was the completely natural and homely atmosphere, and also the scrumptious homegrown organic veggie food, all served up there in such a beautiful secluded setting.

There is a stone circle, tonnes of walks in their own land or on the neighbouring Burren landscape (unique apparently and certainly very bizarre and fairytale like), and the coast and beaches are great for surfing too! They are a hostel/B&B too.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18672 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18623
The whole trip is all about the raw experience of island living, adventure of the wilder kind and balanced with good soul food and massages on board. I am pretty amazed with their project of helping out communities to have a part in their business with employments, accommodations, food and services for the trip.

They are a small quiet company who wants to take the right people to this remote area, having been with them three expeditions already, I can't help but spread this small secret to others- it can only attract the right people, the more they grow the more of their goodwill and campaign spreads and thus helps preserving this development hotspot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18623 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18421
Also enjoyable local culture with traditional music, dancing, arts and drama.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18421 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18396
Beautiful space - an amazing gothic Victorian building with great views, 11 acres of land, organic walled garden (lots of the food is grown on site) and a farm - and a really good atmosphere. It's three miles from Charmouth and Lyme Regis for seaside fossils and swimming. You can also go there as a volunteer - help out in return for free board and lodging.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18249 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18249 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18027 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18027 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17145 A lovely place amongst beautiful surroundings, let alone the delicious food and drink!

With highly friendly, knowledgeable and English speaking hosts aiding the organisation of our trek, our trip was definitely one to remember.

We visited on reading about this wonderful place in the RyanAir magazine where Dar Tassa was voted in their Top 10 most Eco-Friendly places to visit that won't harm the planet, or your pocket.

With great value for money we will be returning to Dar Tassa for sure.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17145 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16864 www.mafiaislandtz.com, get there quick before everyone else discovers it.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16864 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15183
Not at all touristy, well off the beaten track (you need to speak some Spanish) but well worth the journey to experience genuine village life in Ecuador. They do river raft trips, too, and you help build the balsa wood raft. They have some suggested tours, and help you arrange whatever you want to do (in one case, a bug-hunt for a 10-year old and a 12-year old fascinated by the local insect life!) and make you feel very welcome.

It's run by a reforestation charity, so you plant a tree for each day that you stay there.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15183 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15059
There are over 10,000 bikes which are very solid and adjustable, and numerous 'bornes' or terminals where you can pick up and drop off.

You can get a day ticket for one euro and, provided you drop off each bike within half an hour of pick up, it won't cost any more. You can pick up and drop off as many times as you want within the 24 hour period. There are plenty of cycle lanes and, provided you have some road sense, it's a safe, interesting, very cheap and much healthier way to get to know Paris.

Mairie de Paris say there have been more than 2 million individual hires in the first 39 days of operating. Vive le velo! / Get on a bike!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15059 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14931 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14931 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13218 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13218 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12707
Morro de Sao Paolo is good too! Stayed in a great place on second beach. Fourth beach is the best, it's got a great Tahitian-style cafe there.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12707 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12386
The weekend honours female energy, ancient wisdoms and has a strong environmental theme throughout. It is inspirational, life affirming and energising. Just what every women needs from time to time - a bit of self space!

There is the option to join an all-women tour of this untainted region of Northwest Ireland.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12386 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12292
A grass-roofed visitor centre houses the Grass Roof Cafe which is by far the finest vegetarian restaurant in Ireland and also has a really well stocked eco-shop selling fresh vegetables from the gardens, books, nice deli products and gardening supplies.

The Organic Centre runs courses throughout the year on subjects as diverse as micro-hydro energy production to basket weaving and humanure composting as well as many courses on gardening and cooking with organic vegetables and seaweeds and wholefoods.

There is a lovely relaxed atmosphere there and the staff are friendly and knowledgable. It's only €5 to get in and this is refunded if you eat at the restaurant.

Children are welcome and have great fun in the willow tunnels. Free kids activities are available in August.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12292 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11616
Food is mainly delicious locally produced organic vegetarian and accommodation is in large traditionally built stone houses and wood cabins, all ensuite. Prices start from under £200 a week half board not including flight.

Yuva is a great place to relax, enjoy the sea, sunshine, and the natural environment and eat well and healthily at the same time!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11616 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10104
At the bottom of the mountain, you can find somewhat upscale accommodations and a restaurant at the Kirirom Hillside Resort. It is a beautiful place, with well-tended gardens, tennis courts, very nice cottages with air con and cable TV, horseback riding, and a playground for children. It's very nice, but clashes terribly with the living standards of the people living outside the compound (but not as bad as the luxury hotels in Siem Reap!). That said, it's often the only place with available rooms anywhere near the park. There is a waterfall and community-based ecotourism project about 10-15km down the road. A visit here might assuage the guilt of spending $100 per night at a resort, but it shouldn't!

I should also add that a visit could easily be arranged as a day trip diversion while in transit between the capital and the coast. As someone who has lived and worked in this province for about a year and a half, I hope that smart, sustainable tourism to Kirirom will help convince the government that forests are more valuable when they are left standing. The potential for unbridled development of this area is a distant prospect, but a prospect nonetheless. I hope that an increase in visits to this very accessible park will help promote awareness on the part of the government, convincing them to protect other forested areas in more remote parts of the country. Enjoy your travels!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10104 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8664 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8664 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7469
It’s also possible to take eco tours from Manaus to Rio Mamoria, which is south of the city, near the Amazonas River and the Transamazônica motorway (the continuation of the Panamericana). And Presidente Figueiredo, 105 km from Manaus, offers archaeological grottos and caves, waterfalls, and native scenes.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7469