Sustainable Travel Tips for Eco Journeys

How to be a More Sustainable Traveler: Ideas to Make Your Journey Greener

Flying less and staying closer to home are still the greenest ways to travel. However, for those that wish to explore further afield, a few eco-conscious adjustments to your travel plans can minimize your footprint and deepen your relationship with the planet. We share our tips for sustainable travel below. If you are specifically looking for tips on sustainable travel for families, scroll down for more ideas.

Where to Go

Without the need for flights and accommodation, the day trip remains a very green travel choice. Local cities and towns can be a great way to rediscover national history and culture. Even a short trip by train or car to the forest or coast is a refreshing way to take a break.

If your heart is set on international travel, choose a destination that is committed to sustainability. Reaching out to local tourist boards or a quick internet search will return a list of the greenest cities and countries to visit. How each measures sustainability will differ, so take some time to determine which aspects of their sustainability policies resonate most with you. Some measure good air quality while others focus on high walkability scores and the number of local farmers’ markets.

Choosing lesser-known destinations or traveling off-season is another way to travel consciously. You can also look at incorporating eco-volunteering into your travel agenda. Many organizations have programs that help protect and preserve natural environments with the collaboration of visitors to the area.

Sustainable travel is not only about lowering your carbon footprint; it’s about caring and supporting local communities too. Locals have a big incentive to preserve their communities. One of the most direct ways you can positively impact the people and places you visit is with your money. Find accommodation, tour operators and guides that maintain sustainable standards regarding workers’ rights, inclusivity and impact on local communities. Spending money on local businesses ensures that more money remains in the hands of those living in your destination.

Backpacks for Day Trips

VX Sport EVO Compact Backpack

red, 20 l

CLP 94,900 CLP

Where to Stay

Many accommodation services have integrated environmental and social responsibility into their business models. Some established venues have taken the route of obtaining eco-certification. However, it’s not to say that locally-run accommodation such as homestays and farm stays aren’t eco-worthy too.

There are also accommodation search services that plant trees for every booking made or donate a portion of profits to social and sustainability projects in local areas.

Tiny houses, log cabins and tents are eco by nature and have less environmental impact. House swapping is another low-cost option that leaves a lighter footprint.

Travel Gear for International Adventures

Werks Traveler 6.0 Softside Medium Case

blue, 75 l

CLP 379,900 CLP

Lexicon Hardside Medium

黑色, 73 l

CNY 5,090 CNY

如何抵达

最环保的旅行方式取决于几个变量因素。可以肯定地说，火车旅行比飞机或汽车旅行的碳足迹更低。污染最严重的交通方式是短途飞行，因为起飞和降落时的燃料消耗量最大。

可以得出这样的结论：凡是小于 500 公里的旅行，首先应该考虑乘坐火车或汽车。几个有用的网站可以帮助您计算和比较每趟飞机、火车和汽车旅途的排放量和能源消耗量。

结实的装备适合火车旅行

埃蒙特职业系列滚轮笔记本电脑双肩包

黑色, 20 l

CNY 1,990 CNY

打包什么

有意识地整理行李似乎对环保旅行没什么大作用，但即使是很小的选择也会产生很大的影响。

2018 年，夏威夷禁止使用含氧苯酮和桂皮酸盐的防晒霜后，无化学成分的防晒霜和护肤品值得考虑。科学家发现，这些化学物质会增加珊瑚的白化速度，不利于珊瑚的生长。

为了减少旅途中一次性塑料的使用，可以携带可重复使用的水瓶、咖啡杯、零食盒和餐具出行。此外，还有许多便携易用的环保替代品，可以替代浪费的旅行装洗漱用品。试着把沐浴露换成香皂，把瓶装洗发水换成洗发皂。了解乳霜状的除臭剂、可生物降解材料制成的牙刷。

在整理行李的最后，您需要一些功能实用且造型时尚的箱包来收纳所有这些物品。轻巧的装备将使旅行变得轻松愉快，而优质的结构将确保更长的使用寿命。毕竟，结实耐用就是可持续的。

轻巧伴侣适合绿色旅行

Tips on Sustainable Travel for Families

Many parents view traveling sustainably a crucial part of teaching the next generation about the importance of protecting our planet. The ToptoTop expedition are a huge source of inspiration for us and we are one of their official sponsors as they travel across the planet, educating everyone they meet about climate change.

The family consists of Dario, a climatologist, and Sabine, a nurse, along with their six children. With their eldest daughter, Salina, already an accomplished public speaker, the children are just as powerful ambassadors for sustainable living as their parents. As Dario and Sabine point out: “We have found that our message is much more effective when our children talk to their peers”. Their own experiences were at the forefront of their minds as this well-traveled and adventurous family sat down together to share with us their tips for sustainable travel.

Take Your Time

“It’s crucial that you adapt yourself to the rhythm of nature” says Dario, “If you have only a limited amount of time, you might rush your plans. Maybe you’ll disregard an avalanche warning with hazardous consequences”. Dario recalls the time the family sailed across the Atlantic ocean, where they were often accompanied by whales or dolphins, to the delight of the children. “If you flew over this ocean, as most people do, you would totally miss out on this magical experience” points out Dario. Although not everyone has the luxury of time, you can still apply this mentality to your two week holiday.

Never Too Young To Learn

Whether experiencing your own country or traveling abroad, it’s never too young to learn an appreciation for nature. As Dario says, “Kids who swim in rivers or lakes in Switzerland will grow up to be adults who fight passionately to protect these rivers and lakes”. Dario hopes that the global work of the ToptoTop expedition will have the same effect: “The seals on Robinson Crusoe Island in Chile are often hunted by fishermen. We took a group of local schoolchildren swimming with the seals and it was an amazing experience for everyone, I am pretty sure that these children will not grow up to be fishermen who hunt and kill these beautiful animals”.

Tips from Kids

Less Is More

Equally good for you is traveling light, according to Dario. “We once cycled for a week between settlements in Australia, with two small children. This experience taught us how to reduce what we took with us down to the absolute minimum, so we could carry all the water that we needed”. The family believes traveling with only minimal possessions adds a certain lightness not just to your luggage but also to your soul. “We learned that the less we took, the less we needed to worry about what we had forgotten”. Do the kids ever get bored with the few toys they are allowed to take on the boat? “Absolutely not!” laughs Dario. “The fewer toys they have, the more creative and curious they become. Nature is after all the best teacher”.

Combine Travel with a Mission

Although not everyone wants to dedicate their holidays to a volunteering project, it is still possible to have a positive impact on your destination when you travel: “Whether you are on a tropical beach or a mountain hike, take a bag with you and pick up any litter you find on the way”. Dario affirms that this simple and effective way of helping is something that he and his family love to do. “Nature is so generous, she gives us so much – from stunning scenery to peaceful moments” says Dario. “When you pick up litter, it’s like you are giving something back to nature”.

Share Experiences with Others

For the Schwörers, respecting nature and respecting the people you meet go hand in hand. It’s all part of their philosophy of traveling slowly: “When you don’t rush, you have more time to meet people, to make a connection and to learn from others” says Dario. “This can only improve your experience and most importantly expand your knowledge, helping you to learn the importance of protecting our planet”.

Discover the expedition

Family-Friendly Travel Gear

Climate Expedition