How to be a More Sustainable Traveler: Ideas to Make Your Journey Greener
Where to Go
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
Where to Stay
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
How to Get There
It’s fair to conclude that any travel less than 500km should first be considered by train or car. Several useful sites will help you calculate and compare emission and energy consumption per journey by air, train and car.
Great Gear for Train Travel
What to Pack
Chemical-free sunscreens and skincare are worth considering after Hawaii banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in 2018. Scientists found that these chemicals increase the rate of coral bleaching and are detrimental to coral growth.
To reduce single-use plastic when on the road, travel with reusable water bottles, coffee cups, snack containers and cutlery. There are also many exciting eco-friendly alternatives to wasteful travel-sized toiletries. Try swapping shower gel for soap and bottled shampoo for shampoo bars. Discover deodorants that come in creams or toothbrushes made from biodegradable materials.
To finalize your packing, you will need something functional and stylish to hold all these items. Lightweight gear will make travel easy and enjoyable, while quality construction will ensure longevity. Durable, after all, is sustainable.
Lightweight Companions for Green Travel
Tips on Sustainable Travel for Families
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”.
Menos es más
Viajar con poco peso también es bueno para usted, de acuerdo con lo que piensa Dario. “Una vez viajamos en bicicleta durante una semana entre poblaciones en Australia, con dos niños pequeños. Esta experiencia nos enseñó a reducir lo que llevamos con nosotros a lo mínimo absoluto para poder llevar toda el agua que necesitábamos”. La familia considera que viajar sólo con las pertenencias mínimas le agrega una cierta ligereza no sólo a su equipaje sino también a su alma. “Aprendimos que cuanto menos llevábamos, menos teníamos que preocuparnos por lo que habíamos olvidado”. ¿Se aburren alguna vez los niños con los pocos juguetes que pueden llevar en el barco? “¡Claro que no!” comenta Dario con una sonrisa. “Cuantos menos juguetes tengan, más creativos y curiosos se ponen. Después de todo, la naturaleza es la mejor maestra”.
Combine los viajes con una misión
Si bien no todos desean dedicar sus vacaciones a un proyecto de voluntariado, es posible tener un efecto positivo en su lugar de destino cuando viaja: “Ya sea que esté en una playa tropical o en un paseo por la montaña, lleve una bolsa con usted y recoja cualquier basura que encuentre en el camino”. Dario afirma que esta manera simple y efectiva de ayudar es algo que él y su familia aman hacer. “La naturaleza es tan generosa; nos da tanto: desde el asombroso paisaje hasta momentos de paz”, comenta Dario. “Cuando recoge basura, es como si le retribuyera algo a la naturaleza”.
Comparta experiencias con otros
Para los Schwörers, respetar la naturaleza y respetar a las personas que se encuentran van de la mano. Todo es parte de su filosofía de viajar lentamente: “Cuando uno no está apurado, tiene más tiempo para conocer personas, para conectarse y para aprender de los otros”, cuenta Dario. “Esto sólo puede mejorar su experiencia y, más importante, expandir su conocimiento, y eso le ayudará a aprender sobre la importancia de proteger nuestro planeta”.