Sustainable Travel - Explore The World Without Harming It

1. Choose eco-friendly accommodations and transportation options

One of the most significant ways to reduce the environmental impact of your trip is to choose eco-friendly accommodations and transportation options. This could mean staying at a hotel that uses renewable energy, or choosing a train or bus instead of a plane. You could also consider biking or walking to explore your destination.

Some destinations lend themselves well to being explored by foot or bike, such as European cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Vienna.

Many accomodation options are taking sustainability more seriously and installing environmentally friendly solutions such as solar power, water conservation strategies and recycling.

2. Support local businesses and communities

Another important aspect of sustainable travel is supporting local businesses and communities. When you buy from local merchants, you're helping to stimulate the local economy and preserve traditional cultures. You can also choose to stay in locally-owned accommodations or take a tour led by a local guide.

Buying local also reduces the environmental costs of transporting goods. So next time, rather than buying the imported plastic souvenir, try to find something more authentic that benefits the community and the environment.

3. Minimize waste

Minimizing waste is another key aspect of sustainable travel. You can do this by bringing reusable items such as water bottles and shopping bags. You should also try to avoid single-use plastics and disposable products.

There is a tendency to get lazy when we travel and ignore some of the good habits we use at home because it is inconvenient.

But with a small amount of planning, things like single use plastics can be avoided, even when travelling.

Some countries, such as Rwanda, have implemented bans on single use plastics and they are not permitted to be brought into the country. Other countries including UAE, Australia and the UK are moving towards similar bans.

4. Be mindful of your impact on the environment and local culture

When traveling, it's essential to be mindful of your impact on the environment and local culture. This means being respectful of wildlife and protected areas, and being sensitive to local customs and traditions. It's also important to avoid activities that could harm the environment, such as littering or disturbing wildlife.

Whilst you might only be one person who goes hiking through that National Park, you could be one of a million people! Simple things like keeping to marked trails prevent you damaging important revegetation areas.

Unfortunately there are too many stories of travellers chasing photos for social media and causing extensive damage to the environment.

Sustainable travel is also about being an informed traveler. Before you go, take some time to research the culture and customs of the place you're visiting. This will help you understand and appreciate the local culture, and avoid any unintentional cultural faux pas.

With more people looking to explore unique destinations, it is becoming increasingly difficult for remote communities to maintain their traditional cultures. This can be as simple as respecting that in some communities, the taking of photos is not encouraged. So rather than attempting to bribe locals into having their photo taken, respect the culture and simply enjoy the experience. 

5. Plan your itinerary to reduce carbon emissions

Another way to make your trip more sustainable is to plan your itinerary to reduce carbon emissions. This could mean choosing destinations that are close to each other, or opting for more sustainable forms of transportation. Travel via plane is one of the largest contributors to the environmental impact of travel, so exploring ways to minimise your time in the air is one of the most effective strategies to combat your own footprint.

Sometimes travelling by plane is almost unavoidable, so you could also consider offsetting your carbon footprint by supporting projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most airlines offer a carbon offset option when booking your flight, which ends up being only a small percentage of the overall cost.

6. Be a responsible traveller

If you have developed good habits at home, try to pack them with you when you travel.

When travelling, people will often decide to start needing  fresh towel every single day, but at home they will conserve water by only washing their towel every few days. 

If you take 2 minute showers at home, try to do the same when you travel - the destination you are visiting might have even less water reserves than your home town.

Consider whether there are options other than taking a car ride between sights - a 30 minute walk might be the best way to burn off all the pastries you enjoyed for morning tea!