How to be a good Eco-Traveler

Ensuring you are an ecotraveler while on holiday involves making conscious choices that minimize your environmental impact and support sustainable practices. Here are some of the best ways to be an ecotraveler:

Planning Your Trip

  1. Choose Eco-Friendly Destinations:
  • Example: Visit Bhutan, which measures its success by Gross National Happiness and focuses on sustainable tourism and environmental conservation.
  1. Sustainable Transportation:
  • Example: Travel by train through Switzerland, which has an extensive and efficient rail network, reducing the need for domestic flights.
  1. Pack Light:
  • Example: Pack light for your trip to New Zealand, bringing reusable items like water bottles and shopping bags to minimize waste and reduce transportation emissions.

Accommodations

  1. Stay in Eco-Friendly Lodgings:
  • Example: Stay at the Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel in Switzerland, which uses renewable energy and low-impact structures.
  1. Support Local:
  • Example: Book a stay at the locally owned Bolita Rainforest Hostel in Costa Rica, which supports conservation efforts and the local community.

Activities

  1. Respect Wildlife and Nature:
  • Example: Visit the Amazon Rainforest with a responsible tour operator like Rainforest Expeditions in Peru, which follows strict guidelines to protect the environment.
  1. Choose Eco-Friendly Tours and Activities:
  • Example: Join a walking tour in Copenhagen, Denmark, exploring the city’s green spaces and learning about its sustainable urban design.

Conservation and Waste Reduction

  1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:
  • Example: Participate in the “Take 3 for the Sea” initiative while visiting Bondi Beach, Australia, by picking up three pieces of trash to help keep the beach clean.
  1. Conserve Water and Energy:
  • Example: Stay at the Hix Island House in Puerto Rico, which utilizes solar power, collects rainwater, and encourages guests to conserve resources.

Cultural Sensitivity

  1. Respect Local Cultures:
    • Example: Learn about and respect the customs of the Maasai people while visiting Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, dressing appropriately and engaging respectfully.

Offsetting Your Carbon Footprint

  1. Carbon Offsetting:
    • Example: Offset your carbon emissions from a flight to Iceland by investing in Carbonfund.org projects, which support reforestation and renewable energy initiatives.

Educate and Advocate

  1. Spread Awareness:
    • Example: After visiting the eco-friendly town of Freiburg in Germany, write a blog post about the town’s commitment to sustainability, including its extensive bike paths and solar energy usage.

By incorporating these specific examples into your travel plans, you can enjoy your holiday while contributing to the preservation and protection of the environment and local communities.

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Robert has worked in travel for over 35 years, running tour operators in Pakistan, Italy & the UK, writing guide books and articles and running a conservation charity that fights species extinction and habitat loss worldwide. He's trekked coast to coast across Borneo, climbed to 6,500 metres in the Himalayas, travelled the the length of the Silk Road and been chased out of a bar in Lesotho by a Warthog.

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