One of the best parts of travel is exploring beautiful natural areas around the world. But travel itself – if not done consciously – can be pretty detrimental to the environment (think jet pollution, an influx of visitors to an ecologically sensitive area, etc). But being better stewards of our planet isn’t impossible, and we owe it to ourselves to try if we want the earth to remain beautiful for generations to come.
Related: 5 luxuriously chic eco-lodges
So in honor of Earth Day, we tracked down bloggers, influencers and global nomads who make a habit out of traveling eco-consciously and asked them for advice on how to make travel greener. Here is what they had to say:
Be kinder to animals “Be sure to research an establishment before visiting for animal experiences such as elephants, big cats, orcas, dolphins, monkeys, etc. Make sure the animals are well taken care of and are generally rescued animals, not bought or bred in captivity unless they are threatened populations. Many ofthese establishments hold these animals for tourists to pet, swim with, or gawk at and many [animals] such as orcas, dolphins, and chimps/gorillas are extremely intelligent, self aware, have large capacity for emotion, and when wild would travel miles and miles in a day and shouldn’t spend their time caged up.”—Sean Ensch
Sean Ensch
Sean Ensch is a photographer based in California, specializing in travel, landscape, and underwater work. He is dedicated to sharing earth’s beauty and maintaining healthy conversation of our world. Follow him on Instagram at @sean_ensch_images.
Use public transportation. It’s better for the environment and your travel budget. Subways and buses will always have a stop near popular sites and attractions. Traveling via public transport also gives you a better understanding of how the locals live in the cities you visit. Reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding taxis and keep more money in your travel fund.—Hannah & Adam
Hannah & Adam
Stefania Guglielmi
Conserve energy. When you leave your hotel room, there’s no sense in leaving the lights, air conditioner, heat or television on. Unless your kids have trashed the place, consider leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, or simply asking Housekeeping not to clean your room, which will save on harsh chemical cleaning supplies and the electricity of vacuuming and washing bed linens.—Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Convenience often overshadows conservation when we travel, but a little eco-consciousness goes a long way. Take a BPA-free water bottle you can refill, use just one bar of soap for both sink and shower (and takethe remnants with you to use later),return brochures and maps once you’re finished using them, and hold on to trash until you find a place to recycle it. If a hotel or restaurant doesn’t have a recycling program in place, encourage them to start one.—Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
Take only pictures, leave only footprints. When hiking, stick to established trails to avoid harming native flora. Whenever we visit the lake, mountains or ocean, we try to pick up at least one bag full of garbage left over from previous travelers. It’s not only a great way to help preserve our environment and keep the scenery beautiful, but also protects wildlifewho might accidentally consume or get trapped in the trash.—Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
Bret Love and Mary Gabbett of Green Global Travel
Bret Love & Mary Gabbett started Green Global Travel in 2010 to share their love of ecotourism and conservation, encouraging others to travel more responsibly, sustainably, and adventurously. Visit them at @GreenGlobalTrvl and check out their YouTube channel at Green Global Travel.
Educate yourself. After writing about ecotourism and responsible travel for over a decade, the common factor that arises in all discussions about how people can travel more sustainably is education. This means taking the time to research your destination and accommodation options. Learn why you should opt for a small, family-run boutique hotel over the grandiose chain hotel, or better still, stay at a certified eco lodge. Try to avoid all-inclusive packages where you pay for everything upfront. The local communities see very little of that money.
When checking what activities are on offer, first read why certain ones are frowned upon and what you could do to help the community improve rather than sustain harmful practices. Spend money within the communities, shop in the small street-side shops, eat in local restaurants and buy food in the markets. Read about the history and culture ofthe destination you’re visiting and how you should behave. Find why you should dress modestly when visiting scared sites, what traditions are important and which gestures are unacceptable.
It may seem like a lot to think about, but if you genuinely want to be more eco-conscious when traveling, putting a little effort into the choices you make when booking a holiday will make a big difference in the long term. —Linda McCormick
Linda McCormick is a freelance journalist and travel writer living in Melbourne. Originally from Northern Ireland, Linda’s obsession with travel started at a young age when she set off in search of a warmer place to call home. While traveling she became more aware of the negative impacts of globetrotting and the importance of sustainable and responsible travel. She now travels with a different attitude and shares her passion for the natural world and eco travel in her writing. Linda’s work is published in a number of leading magazines, papers and websites, and on her own travel blog: www.EcoTravellerGuide.com
