points to the Mapajo Indigenous Community Ecotourism Company in Bolivia, winner of a United Nations prize. The Tsi-mane community decided that its way of life was best preserved by opening up to people from around the world, rather than trying to cut itself off. The community came together to offer active holi-days to visitors, in traditionally built dwellings and with traditional food hunted, gathered and grown in the rainforest, to give travellers an authentic experience. Visitors can witness local people pursu-ing indigenous crafts such as weaving and making costumes for festivals. Other examples include the Silver Naga luxury hotel in Laos, as-sisted by the IUCN, and working in harmony with a local tourism site of the Kang Nyui waterfall, developed as a tourist site by the people of the Na Duang village and the Vang Vieng organic farm. By offering a range of differing experiences, the people of this poor area of Laos can attract a wider variety of visitors. Being an eco-traveller may be more satisfying than simply fol-lowing the herd to the usual resorts and attractions, but some careful preparation is involved. Responsible tourists will check that their destination is living up to its billing -- seeking evidence from the company's own website, for instance, or looking for independent verification in the form of standards or awards. As well as check-ing out price, location and TripAdvisor reviews, they will also add a few searching questions on environmental commitments, and opt for destinations that provide lasting benefits to the