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Holiday Vacations guided tours include airfare from more than 100 conveniently located U.S. airports, great hotels, delightful meals and interesting sights. Our expert Tour Directors are quite simply the best in the industry. They handle all travel details to ensure that your vacation is happy and carefree.

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" London, Normandy, Paris was a fabulous trip, especially the year of the 75th anniversary of D-Day! That was our 7th trip with Holiday Vacations. Loved every one of them. The national parks are well worth seeing, as were Hawaii and Cuba. "

– Judy Kelly D. - Via Facebook

" My third trip with HV was to Austria and Germany in 2014. This included the bucket list of experiencing OKTOBERFEST. Looks like I’m doing a beer commercial with the Alps as a backdrop. Also notice my pinkie extended. This is due to 2 years of charm school (REALLY). Thank you HV for all the amazing memories. "

– Katie H. - Via Facebook

" Jackson Hole, WY while on the Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons trip last year. We just completed our 6th trip with Holiday Vacations last month and are now discussing which tour we will take next. Only way we wish to travel and Holiday Vacations tours are the best! "

– Elaine G. - Via Facebook

" Athens, Greece at the Parthenon. My first trip. Everything about it was great! "

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" October 2019 trip to Italy—Venice, Florence and Rome. This was taken in front of the Coliseum in Rome. Such a fantastic, memorable trip! Looking forward to our next adventure with Holiday when we go to Iceland in October. "

– Mary F. - Via Facebook

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Activity levels.

Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.

Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.

Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.

Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.

Very Active

Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.

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The Ultimate Guide to Green Travel — Includes 50 Green Travel Tips

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

823 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

44 Published Articles 3391 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

What is green travel, 50 green travel tips, top 10 eco-friendly tour operators, top 10 best eco-friendly hotels in the u.s., top 10 best eco-friendly hotels abroad, final thoughts.

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Becoming a green traveler can make a massive difference to the way you see the world, and the impact you have when traveling through it. Even small and subtle adjustments can reduce your footprint and help protect the environments we travel to.

There are many definitions of green travel that also overlap with sustainable travel, responsible travel, and eco-tourism. Whatever you want to call it, it is essentially traveling responsibly while taking into consideration your environmental, social, and economic impact. It is also the art of traveling sustainability every time you embark on a new adventure.

Hot Tip: The simplest way for travelers to remember to travel green is through the mantra “reduce, reuse, and recycle.”

There are many small changes that you can make to your travel plans that can make a big difference overall. Here are 50 of them, just to get you going.

As obvious as this may seem, swapping air travel for more carbon-neutral transportation such as the train is the single easiest way to go green if you can. While this may not be feasible for trips abroad, this may well be an option for domestic travel.

Fly From Green Airports

If you have to fly, try and make your flight plans based on where you fly from and through. If you can choose more eco-conscious airports along the way, then so much the better. Denver and Boston are 2 of the most environmentally friendly airports in the U.S .

Don’t Drive to the Airport

Where possible, always make public transport your first choice when getting to and from the airport. Choose buses, metros, subways, or even car-sharing if you can. These are cheaper, easier, and much greener.

Choose a Fuel-Efficient Airline

Not all airlines are as fuel-efficient as they could be. Frontier, Spirit, and Southwest are the 3 most fuel-efficient airlines in the U.S. , and American, Hawaiian, and JetBlue are the least efficient. For transatlantic flights, Norwegian is ranked the best, and British Airways is the worst.

Choose a Fuel-Efficient Aircraft

Although not always possible, see if you can find an airline that will take you where you want to go on either an Airbus A350-900 or a Boeing 787-9 — 2 of the most fuel-efficient planes available .

If 25% of a flight’s total emissions happen during takeoff and landing, the less often you have to take to the skies and land back on earth, the better. Flying direct is more time-efficient, too!

Fly Coach Sometimes

Coach class offers a more sustainable way to fly for a number of reasons. First-class seats take up a ton of space and add more weight, and their passengers require more staff than those sitting in economy.

Travel Lightly

The more weight there is on a plane, the more fuel consumption that is required. Pack like a minimalist pro, and help to reduce your carbon footprint.

Offset Your Carbon

You can donate money to carbon offsetting programs that fund environmental projects that work towards absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, such as planting trees. Some airlines already offer programs you can donate to, or you can choose your own. 3 options are:

• Climate Action Reserve
• Gold Standard

When You Get There

Getting Around on the Ground

When you reach your destination, switch renting a car and taxis for public transportation or car-sharing, and if you are staying somewhere central, get ready to walk or cycle instead.

Take the Train

If you are in Europe, America, Australia, India, China, Southeast Asia, or any other large landmass, chances are the rail services will be excellent. Train travel offers low emissions, affordable fares, and a great way to see the country as you jump on the “slow travel” trend bandwagon.

Book an Eco-Tour

Eco-tourism in on the rise and if you want to visit some of the remote, protected places in the world, an eco-tour is a great alternative to commercial mass tourism and offers far more socially responsible travel options.

Use an Eco-Friendly Car

If you really do need to rent a car when you get there, look for an eco-friendly alternative to a gas-guzzling SUV or RV. Avoid renting a car that is bigger than what you need to help reduce your carbon footprint.

Staying There

Choose a carbon-neutral hotel.

When booking your stay, look for a hotel that follows the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines and focuses on cutting down emissions by using low energy light bulbs and linen reuse programs, among other initiatives.

Look for Global Certification, Too

If you are traveling outside of the U.S., look for local eco-friendly initiatives such as EarthCheck (Australia), Green Globe, Rainforest Alliance (Latin America, Caribbean), and the Green Tourism Business Scheme (U.K.).

Ask About Recycling

Your hotel should be happy to tell you what, if any, programs they have in place to handle their recycling needs. If you think they are lacking, let them know via the guestbook or suggestion box.

Go Car-Free

Many eco-friendly hotels will provide their guests with free use of bicycles to get around or will offer car-sharing or shuttle services to negate the need for you to use your car at all.

Check out the Menu

Locally-sourced, freshly-produced organic fare is not only better for the world around you, but it also tastes better, too. Win, win!

Hire an Adventure Concierge

If you want to experience a really out-there adventure, do it responsibly by booking the services of an adventure concierge to show you how to reconnect with the great outdoors as consciously as possible.

Work With the Community

While you may not want to roll your sleeves up on vacation, make sure that the place you stay and the services you use do. Always look for hotels that utilize local resources to ensure their investment in the local economy. You might even consider volunteering abroad, too.

Get Packing

Use Soap Instead of Shower Gels

Soap bars may seem a little old fashioned, but they are more compact to carry with you, are not wrapped in plastic, and last a lot longer than your average bottle of shower gel.

Use a Shampoo Bar

Again, not being squeezed out of a plastic bottle makes shampoo bars an instantly better choice. Plus, they take up very little room in your toiletry bag and are often made from entirely natural ingredients.

Go for Bamboo Dental Products

Plastic toothbrushes, picks, and sticks are a no-no! Switch to full compostable bamboo brushes and toothpicks instead.

Buy Organic Towels

An organic cotton or bamboo towel is a must-have for any serious adventurer. Not only are these natural materials better for the environment, but they are also lightweight to carry, dry quickly, and can be used as a blanket, too.

Take a Marine-Safe Sunscreen

Sunscreen is important, but try to purchase a product that is formulated without oxybenzone and octinoxate, as these 2 chemicals are toxic to coral reefs and other marine life.

Pack a Cloth Bag

Never leave home without one. These cloth bags are easy to fold away in your luggage and can be used on the beach, at the store, or even to carry your picnic in. Choose 1 made from sustainable organic cotton or hemp where possible.

Take Reusable Straws

If you must use straws when drinking, make sure you are not using plastic ones. Paper straws are quick and easy or invest in your own set of stainless steel ones to take with you.

Pack a Zero-Waste Picnic Set

If you are likely to be taking your own food with you often, pack a reusable lunch bag and bamboo cutlery. This will help you to stay away from the dreaded single-use plastics.

Take a Reusable Water Bottle

You will probably want this for the journey anyway, but always be sure to take your own BPA-free water bottle that you can refill.

Save Water While You Are There

Always opt for showers over baths, as the humble shower uses only a fraction of the amount of water that a soak in the tub does. Don’t spend too long in there, either.

Switch off the Water When Not Using It

Lather up in the shower, shave, or shampoo your hair with the water turned off, and always turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth.

Wash Your Own Clothes

If you need to, wash your clothes in your hotel room and hang them up to dry. You can take laundry soap bars with you to ensure that they are truly clean.

Hang Your Towels

If you leave wet towels on the floor, the maid will take them away for washing, whether they are dirty or not. Hang them up and reuse them for a few days to save water and energy.

Use a Menstrual Cup

These innovative cups offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional sanitary solutions. Easy to use, compact, and incredibly clever, you will want to use this back at home, too.

Rather than showering off every time you are hot, take a dip in the pool or ocean instead. It will cool you down, and you can shower it all off later.

Report Leaks

If your hotel shower is leaking, or the taps don’t turn off, tell the front desk. They could be wasting water without even knowing it.

Save Energy While You Are There

Turn off when you leave.

Every time you leave your room, be sure to turn off any air conditioning or heating units, all the lights, and the television.

Close the Curtains

Drawing the curtains or pulling down the blinds can help to keep out the heat of the sun, and keep the room warm in winter.

Leave the “Do Not Disturb” Sign-On

Your room doesn’t need cleaning every day, and by leaving the sign up, the staff won’t even try. This means less use of chemical cleaning agents and unnecessary energy.

Ditch the Car

Walk, ride a bike, or take public transport to cut down on gas usage.

Back at Home

Unplug appliances at home.

Every type of appliance consumes energy even when it’s not switched on or on standby. Turn off all of your energy-draining appliances before you leave.

Turn Down Your Water Heater

Turn your water heater to its lowest or “vacation” setting to keep it saving energy while you are away. Modern fridges and freezers sometimes have eco settings, too.

Use a Timer

Make your house look occupied without wasting energy by plugging your lights into a timer. If you don’t have any smart home technology, a mechanical plug timer will do just fine.

Explore Sustainably

Stick to the trails.

Stay on marked paths and trails when out adventuring to avoid harming native flora and fauna, or worrying wildlife that you may be unfamiliar with.

Avoid Wildlife Encounters

Elephant rides, tiger encounters, and other wild animal attractions are often unregulated and could lead to you accidentally supporting the mistreatment of animals. Only ever book encounters that are ethical and support wildlife conservation.

Respect Animals in the Wild

Never get too close to wild animals who could feel threatened or scared. They may attack you out of fear, which is not a good situation for either you or them.

Never Stand on Coral

Coral is very delicate — touching it or standing on it can cause irreparable damage. If you do any diving or snorkeling tours where guides are damaging the coral, leave reviews online so that others know to avoid them.

Do Your Research

Examine your route, check the weather forecast, and have a plan in place. If you get lost or put yourself in unnecessary danger, you may need a ranger rescue, which is a drain of public resources.

Know Where It Is You Are Going

Learn a bit about local customs, or a phrase or 2 in the local language, and always remain courteous at all times. When you are a guest in another town, city, or country, you will enjoy the experience so much more if you are able to really immerse yourself in the local culture.

See How You Can Help

From picking up litter while out hiking to taking on a volunteer project, there are always ways to show your concern for the world around you. Research before you leave or ask what you can do when you get there.

If you would like to have a professional tour operator plan your perfect trip, or are interested in getting more involved with local communities, there are many specialist companies out there that will help you do that.

Eco-friendly tour operators will help you to broaden your horizons while at the same time reducing your footprint. Here are 10 of the very best.

G Adventures

Founded in 1990, G Adventures was set up to offer authentic, sustainable travel experiences, the likes of which had never been seen before. Offering inventive alternatives to cruises and resort hotels, G Adventures can help travelers to find tailor-made and authentic life-changing adventures to perfectly suit their needs.

Intrepid Travel

Since 1988, the team at Intrepid Travel has been offering small group adventures all around the world and is now one of the biggest and most trusted tour operators in its field. Committed to making a real difference by investing in local communities, wildlife conservation, and the environment, travelers get to see the world and make new friends, while at the same time making a real difference.

Blue Ventures

Operating for over a decade now, Blue Ventures is a science-led social enterprise that helps to nurture and sustain locally-led marine conservation projects. Rebuilding fishing communities in places where the ocean is vital to the culture and economy, travelers can volunteer to join Blue Ventures’ responsible initiatives across the world.

Offering small group adventure holidays since 1981, Explore! is committed to offering authentic, localized experiences while leaving as light a footprint on the world as possible. From stopping elephant rides to offsetting CO 2 emissions, the travel operator works with both local and global initiatives to help make the world a better place for everyone.

Mosaic Adventure

Since 2009 Mosaic Adventures has been offering fully specialized trekking itineraries, adventures, and cultural trips in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Its eco-conscious, small group tours tread lightly while taking a lucky few travelers into some of the most remote areas of the Himalayan peaks and beyond.

Since its first trip in 1979, Backroads has been doing everything it can to make its 2-wheel trips as positively impactful as possible.

It is involved in community projects, buys locally grown products, and practices the principles of Leave No Trace (pack it in, pack it out). It does this for all of its bike tours, walking tours, safaris, cruises, and yoga breaks that demonstrate its commitment to providing responsible travel opportunities.

Covering 80 destinations worldwide, Peregrine supports local economies by working with tour leaders from the regions it visits, sourcing local produce, and carbon offsetting every trip. Travelers can enjoy small group tours in some of the most remote corners of the world while knowing that the travel company they have chosen offers responsible travel solutions. Peregrine also advocates for child protection and animal rights in the tourism industry.

Wildland Adventures

Wildland Adventures was founded on the principle that environmentally responsible travel can be a powerful force for change, and its ethos remains the same to this day. Offering small luxury tours to a wide range of remote destinations, the tour operator supports the affiliate program The Travelers Conservation Trust (TCT) that allows travelers to support local initiatives and small-scale community development projects.

Lindbald Expeditions

The historical legacy of Lindblad Expeditions was to bring travelers to some of the most exotic parts of the world, including Antarctica, Galápagos , Easter Island, and the Amazon, while allowing travelers to experience authentic local cultures. The founders also continue to look for ways for the company to help preserve natural resources as well as getting involved in conservation efforts.

Elevate Destinations

As a provider of custom-designed, eco-luxury adventures and safaris, Elevate Destinations  combine upscale tourism with support for local communities and conservation. Offering travelers the chance to embark on their very own ecologically sound adventures, Elevate trips allow explorers to experience and fully understand remote and protected areas.

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly hotel for some domestic travel, look no further than these great hotels.

Cavallo Point Lodge, Sausalito, California

This beautiful hotel housed in a historic building focuses not just on sustainability but also on restoration and preservation as well. With a LEED Gold certification, this stunning traditional home-style hotel works with local suppliers to recycle materials and provide sustainable solutions in a stunning location overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

Guests will love the well-appointed bedrooms that offer sensors and timers for energy-efficient fixtures and fittings, as well as natural cooling systems and in-room recycling. There is also a choice of 2 on-site restaurants at Cavallo Point Lodge that serve up delicious local dishes, and the Healing Arts Center for Wellbeing has a host of treatments, classes, and wellness experiences for you to enjoy during your stay.

Proximity Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina

Sophisticated, stylish, and perfectly sustainable, the Proximity Hotel has been designed with environmentally-friendly amenities in mind.

As the first hotel in the U.S. to receive the LEED Platinum certification from the Green Building Council, this hotel features 100 solar panels on the roof, a bistro bar made of salvaged walnut trees, an elevator that captures the energy and feeds it back into the electrical grid, and interiors made from ultra-efficient materials.

Guests can rest easy in the luxurious guest rooms knowing that the bathroom fittings reduce water usage by over a third. Air quality is provided by circulating large amounts of outside air into guest rooms, and eco-friendly amenities are provided throughout the Proximity Hotel , including bicycle hire to discover the Greensboro area.

H2hotel, Healdsburg, California

Located on the site of a former gas station, this LEED Silver-certified establishment is a real testament to transforming previously wasted spaces into sustainable solutions. Offering a wide range of luxurious yet earth-conscious amenities and set in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country, this is the perfect hotel for those who want to enjoy excellent wine without making a dent on the environment.

The H2hotel utilizes solar panels to heat the pool and hot water, smart sensors for fans, lights, and air conditioners, and an amazing green roof that filters water with its very own bio-diverse environment. The on-site Spoon bar also specializes in locally-produced food and is a delightful spot to relax after a day exploring the Healdsburg area.

Element New York Times Square West, New York

Situated in the heart of the Big Apple, this stylish Manhattan hotel offers authentic city living with additional eco-friendly benefits thrown in. Designed to incorporate as many sustainable features as possible, this is a downtown hotel with a difference.

Bedrooms feature carpets made from recycled materials, low-flow faucets, and earth-friendly paints and interiors, as well as kitchenettes with Energy Star appliances. In the communal areas, guests can admire artworks mounted on bases made from recycled tires or enjoy a drink on the natural rooftop terrace with outstanding views of the city.

Reducing your carbon footprint in a big city environment can be difficult, but Element New York Times Square is certainly committed to changing that.

Hotel Felix, Chicago, Illinois

This chic, urban hotel offers a taste of the luxe-life thoughtfully combined with earth-friendly initiatives and amenities. As the first hotel in the Windy City to earn Silver LEED certification, this hotel is dedicated to recycling in a big way.

The Felix is packed full of organic materials and renewable resources, and the interiors have been created to capture the elements of earth, wind, water, and fire to create a cozy retreat from the urban streets. Carpets made from recycled materials, low-energy lighting, and organic beauty products in the spa are just a few of the eco-friendly touches that set The Felix apart from the competition.

Hyatt at Olive 8, Seattle, Washington

As the first hotel in Seattle to be granted with the LEED-certification, this Hyatt hotel offers much more than just the usual familiar, chain-hotel comforts. On the top of the building sits a green roof that provides the perfect urban habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies, and an in-house water conservation program helps to reduce water wastage throughout every area of the hotel.

Beautifully appointed bedrooms continue the earth-conscious theme with in-room recycling and energy-efficient lighting, while suites and upgrades even have their very own water bars. The on-site restaurant at the Hyatt prides itself on offering farm-to-table offerings from local suppliers, and there is also a spa with organic treatments and beauty products.

Calistoga Ranch, Calistoga, California

Nestled into a canyon in the Upper Napa Valley , the Calistoga Ranch offers luxury lodge accommodation with a ton of eco-friendly amenities woven into the fabric of the establishment. With over 150 acres to explore, guests can stay in any of the freestanding lodges scattered around this car-free estate.

Dine on organic, locally-produced dishes at the on-site eatery, and sleep soundly knowing that your lodge is not only made from natural, sustainably-sourced materials but also that it features energy-saving light bulbs. It also has water flow reducers and ecologically friendly toiletries and cleaning products.

The Calistoga Ranch also offers its very own vineyard, an indoor and outdoor fitness center and acres of picturesque hiking trails within easy reach of your own front door.

Hotel Terra, Teton Village, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Designed to let you enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of indoors, this stunning resort hotel features a lot of huge glass windows to make you feel at one with your snowy surroundings. With natural air being circulated around the hotel, you will feel like you are sleeping on a mountain top as you bed down on your organic mattress after a busy day on the slopes.

Designed with nature enthusiasts in mind, the Terra Hotel also offers aluminum water bottles and on-site water stations, low VOC carpets and interiors, radiant underfloor heating, dual-flush toilets, low flow shower fixtures, and solar-powered faucets. The on-site spa uses only organic products, and the ski-in, ski-out nature of the hotel reduces the need for vehicles around the resort accommodation.

Bardessono Hotel and Spa, Yountville, California

This LEED Platinum-certified property offers first-class accommodation paired with eco-friendly practices and standards. Using woods milled from salvaged trees, underground geothermal heating systems, and over 900 solar panels, this is a luxury hotel that takes care of both its guests and the environment.

Guests can enjoy low VOC compound materials, no carpeting, and drapes throughout the Bardessono Hotel , hot water and heating powered by 300-foot wells on the property itself, and low-energy lighting. The on-site restaurant also offers organic, natural, locally sourced produce for guests to savor.

The Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Ho’omaluhia, Hawaii

Island resorts don’t come much more perfect than this one. The Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Ho’omaluhia takes green initiatives to the next level with a wealth of earth-friendly additions to be found throughout the entire resort.

Solar panels and windmills are used to create heating and to purify the saltwater pools, while the on-site 50-acre organic farm produces goat milk, avocados, and much much more. The design of the hotel uses the cross breezes from the Kohala to eliminate the need for air conditioning, and bedrooms all offer low-flush toilets, low-flow showers, in-room reclining, and sustainable-sourced linens and interior elements.

Situated in a paradise, the Hawaii Island Retreat makes vacation dreams come true.

There are some incredible eco-friendly hotels that can be found across the world. Here are 10 of the best.

Zuri Zanzibar, Kendwa, Tanzania

Designed to look just like a traditional African village, the entire hotel is built to work alongside the natural environment and not to damage it in any way. Comprising a range of thatched-roof villas that balance on stilts, guests can take shelter from the sun under the shade of the ancient baobab trees, or sip a cool drink on the white sands of Zuri Beach.

Overlooking the stunning blue seas of the Indian Ocean, Zuri Zanzibar is the world’s first hotel to be awarded EarthCheck’s Sustainable Design Gold Certification and offers standout eco-friendly initiatives and solutions, including an energy-efficient Evening Breeze air-conditioning system in the luxury villas and a home-grown fragrant spice garden.

Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam

This eco-friendly, 5-star resort offers some of the most luxurious, environmentally-sound accommodations in the world. Designed and built to help reduce consumption while supporting local communities and ecosystems, a stay at the Six Senses Con Dao will awaken all of yours while restoring your faith in human nature.

The Six Senses’ commitment to sustainability and low carbon footprints can be found in every corner of the resort. It has solar panels that heat your shower water, fresh air climate conditioning, and even a Crystal Water system with its refillable glass bottles that save over 10,00 plastic bottles from heading to landfill every month. The Six Sense Hotel is an eco-marvel, found in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Soori Bali, Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia

A stunning well-being retreat on the island of Bali, Soori Bali, offers guests the chance to unwind and refocus in sustainable surroundings. Designed to meet the requirements of the EarthCheck international environmental standards, the resort has been crafted out of locally sourced materials, combined with opulent and inspiring interiors.

The Soori Bali fully utilizes the island’s famous rainy season with its rainwater filtration systems, and the open-plan spaces allow natural light and air to flow freely. Guests can enjoy total relaxation at the on-site spa that offers a range of treatments with traditional practitioners and herbalists.

Spice Island Beach Resort, Saint George’s, Grenada

This luxurious 5-star resort offers first-class accommodation curated with sustainability in mind. The Spice Island Beach Resort is just a short walk from the world-famous white sands of Grand Anse Beach and has received numerous Green Globe Certifications in recent years.

The resort helps to keep its carbon footprint low by using solar panels to heat the water, providing an on-site desalination system to provide clean water, and using local suppliers and community connections where possible. As one of the very best hotels on one of the prettiest islands in the world, a stay at The Spice Island Beach Resort is a truly memorable occasion.

Thala Beach Lodge, Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

Set on over 140 acres of native forest, the Thala Beach Lodge has been awarded one of the highest eco-tourism accreditations, Advanced Ecotourism Certification. Nestled away on a nature reserve offering views out across the Coral Sea, this quiet corner of Queensland is home to one of the most incredibly eco-friendly accommodations in the world.

This beautiful art deco resort allows guests to stay in comfortable and authentic lodges, while there are plenty of earth-friendly amenities to enjoy including the organic coconut plantation, the natural swimming pools formed by granite boulders and waterfalls, and the regular talks from the local elders of the Kuku Talanji community. There are also lots of free guided tours available at Thala Beach Lodge .

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Maldives

Offering luxury stays on the exclusive island of Hadahaa, the Park Hyatt Maldives offers picture-perfect 5-star villas, first-class diving, and the miles of sandy beaches you would expect to find in the Maldives. What may surprise you, though, is that this famous hotel is also one of the most eco-friendly in the Indian Ocean.

Tucked away in a lush green location, parts of the hotel have been built over the water to minimize disruption to existing ecosystems, and the hotel promotes recycling, fresh air conditioning, and solar heating where possible.

The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is also the sole recipient of a silver EarthCheck certificate and is the only resort in the Maldives to be awarded by EarthCheck for both design and construction.

The Park Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

Situated in the business and entertainment district of this bustling city, you would think that The Park Hyderabad is just another upscale urban hotel, but you would be wrong to do so. While the hotel does indeed offer first-class, 5-star accommodation and amenities, it is also one of the few in India to have achieved LEED Gold certification.

The design of the building starts by maximizing natural light that in turn allows it to consume less electricity. It is also careful to use interiors made from sustainable materials wherever possible. For guests at The Park who wish to reduce their personal carbon footprint, green transportation, bikes, and electric cars are very much encouraged to explore the city outside your doorstep.

Whitepod, Monthey, Switzerland

This unusual concept hotel is not luxurious, nor does it offer a huge host of amenities. But for all that it lacks, it more than makes up for with its superb on-piste location, unique sleeping accommodation, and incredible eco-friendly credentials.

Guests are able to sleep on the side of the mountain in a selection of well-appointed pods that have a minimal environmental impact. Each pod is heated by stocking up its own wood stove, lighting is provided by LED bulbs, and there is no bottled water. Whitepod also uses timers on boilers to keep consumption down and water-saving devices on taps and showers.

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Italy

With amazing views out across Lake Garda, the Lefay Resort is an eco-conscious hotel that offers total luxury in this stunning part of the world. Awarded the platinum level GreenLeaders certification, the hotel has been built using natural materials, most of which were locally sourced, including olive wood, Italian walnut, and even marble.

Guests can marvel at the beautiful infinity pool and enjoy the first-class cuisine in the on-site eateries, as well as enjoying a host of treatments available at the Mondo Lefay Spa. They will also be impressed by the use of renewable energy sources at the Lefay Resort for cooling and filtering the air and producing electricity, as well as in-room sensors to turn off electrics when the rooms are empty.

Casa De Las Olas, Tulum, Mexico

With a strong eco-ethic, this luxury resort hotel is the only property in Mexico with a LEED review and 1 that is committed to combining opulence with sustainability at all turns. Retro-fitted solar panels help to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint while personal touches like hand-sorted trash offer a truly bespoke twist on traditional recycling.

Guests at Casa De Las Olas can also enjoy rainforest showers using re-filtered well water, as well as locally sourced food from family farms, all carefully handpicked to ensure the freshest and ripest ingredients are always available. Luxury awaits at this stunning, eco-friendly resort just outside of downtown Acapulco.

There is a big world out there just waiting to be explored, and with a bit of forward planning, you can reach the furthest corners of the earth while being a truly responsible traveler. From simple lifestyle changes like ditching plastic straws and single-use bottles, to committing to volunteer with conservation projects, every single person can make a difference — and that includes you!

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Green Tours: A Responsible Traveler’s Guide

• By: Madison Micucci

“Gonna travel, gonna travel wild and free. I’m gonna pack my bags because this great big world is calling me” — Elvis Presley

You’ve packed your bags and your blue suede shoes, you’ve cued up your travel playlist, and mapped out a low-impact transportation plan . You’ve booked your eco-friendly accommodations (you responsible traveler you), and now it’s time to decide how you want to explore your destination. Whether urban tourism, wildlife tourism, or something in between strikes your fancy, the internet presents copious options. In fact, with so many booking platforms and tour operators claiming to be “green” or “eco-friendly,” it can be difficult for tourists to make informed decisions. That’s why we’ve compiled a responsible traveler’s guide to green tours, showcasing responsible platforms that connect travelers with sustainable tour operators worldwide.

In addition to our favorite green tourism booking platforms, you’ll find trusted resources for cultural tourism and nature-based tourism, respectively. And just in case you missed our complete guide to responsible ecotourism , we’ll begin with a quick recap of what responsible travelers look for when booking a “green tour.”  

Green Tour Checklist: 

“Green” and “Eco” have recently become two of the most widely abused terms in travel marketing, thanks to the vague, “feel good” associations they conjure. Tour operators often employ these terms as branding tactics with flimsy evidence of any tangible sustainability initiatives to back them up. This common practice of greenwashing pervades the travel industry as a whole, from airlines to hotels to wildlife tours. For our purposes however, “green” is a positive and convenient label for activities that align with the tenets of responsible ecotourism. 

According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), “ecotourism unites conservation, communities, and sustainable travel.” As responsible travelers, we want to ensure that our excursions align with these ideals – that our “green tours” are veritably verde. So, responsible travelers, look for a combination of the following characteristics when selecting tour operators: 

• Minimal impacts on the local population. (Impacts can be physical, social, and even psychological). 
• Emphasizes environmental and cultural awareness and respect. (Proper waste disposal, respecting animal habitats, honoring local customs, etc.)
• Provides positive experiences for both visitors and hosts. (Tourists shouldn’t be the only ones having a good time!)
• Financially contributes to environmental conservation. (Do they donate a percentage of profits to conservation or encourage visitors to do so?) 
• Generates financial benefits for local people. (Employing locals is one thing, paying them fairly is another). 
• Helps raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climates by interpreting these concepts to visitors. 
• Designs, constructs, or operates low-impact facilities. (Solar panels, composting, plastic-free, etc.)
• Recognizes the rights, traditions, and spiritual beliefs of the local Indigenous People and works in partnership with them.

Green Tourism Companies 

What do we mean by green? Is there a difference between green tourism and ecotourism? The travel industry disseminates a lot of vague terms, and prefixes like “green and eco” are often used interchangeably in conversation and travel media. In the context of tours and experiences, “green” is widely regarded as a vapid and ill-defined marketing buzzword, while “ecotourism” has found a more official definition among sustainability advocates. Even so, “green” remains popular in conversation and in advertising as a synonym for “environmentally friendly.”

As travelers participating in and influencing tourism, it would help us to reimagine “green” in this context. In addition to its association with the natural environment, the color green symbolizes the broader concepts of prosperity, health, and balance. Extending this rationale, a “green tour” would ideally support the prosperity, health, and balance of the local environment and its inhabitants.  

Yes, this is extremely broad. And yes, green tourism redefined still closely resembles its more niche relative, ecotourism. The point here is not to get bogged down in precise definitions but to recognize that these terms will likely continue to circulate loosely in the travel world. Until that changes, we can hold ourselves accountable for the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impacts of our touristic activities – “green” or “eco” or not. 

What a task! If only there was an easy way for travelers to gather and collate all of the information they need to find legitimately green tours… 

Thankfully, we have found some amazing ecotourism companies that do just that. The following sites carefully evaluate the tour operators they promote and hold them to specific, well-documented sustainability requirements:

1. Responsibletravel.com

For two decades, Responsible Travel has been leading by example in sustainable tourism, offering transparent accounts of their evolution as a company. As part of their mission to address climate change, they provide resources to help travelers reduce their carbon footprint on every trip while urging them to “fly less and make it count”. Their extensive online catalogue offers wildlife tours, cultural experiences, adventure tours and more in over 100 countries. By pre-screening listings for responsible/ sustainable tourism initiatives, providing marketing for member companies, and offering direct online booking, this website facilitates a seamless travel planning service for tourists and members. To qualify for a membership, all listings must meet environmental, social and economic criteria. (each member’s specific policies are available online). 

2. G Adventures  

G Adventures wholeheartedly believes that travel can be a force for good . This company has specialized in small group adventure travel for thirty years. It helps keep tourism dollars in the local communities by partnering with small businesses and individuals for tours, accommodations, and more. Their commitment to reducing plastic pollution and partnership with the Planeterra Foundation are just two of the many ways they walk the talk. 

3. I like Local  

I Like Local is a travel platform where you can book authentic travel experiences created by locals in Asia and Africa. They offer experiences in various categories such as art and culture ,  trek and tour , lodge and camp , and even volunteering . Created by and for travelers, I Like Local follows a sustainable business model that also supports local people. What makes this site unique and refreshing is its price transparency. Local people earn 100% of their asking prices for the tours, meals, craftsmanship, hospitality and entertainment they offer. Unlike other booking platforms which extract a fee from the asking price, ilike local just adds their 20% administrative fee on top of local pricing. Finally, local tour operators are never charged for their memberships to the platform. 

4. Intrepid Travel

According to the company website, “Intrepid is committed not just to treading lightly, but to making a real difference – by investing in local communities, human rights initiatives, wildlife conservation projects, and the environment.” True to its mission, this company is one of the first and only carbon-neutral tour companies (since 2010). It is a signatory of The United Nations’ Global Compact and is currently working towards earning a B Corp certification. They have implemented sustainability initiatives such as promoting small group travel, employing local guides, and promoting locally owned accommodation. They were also the first travel company to remove elephant rides from their listings due to animal welfare concerns. 

Cultural Tourism Companies

Cultural tourism is an umbrella term encompassing a wide variety of interests, both tangible and conceptual. Cultural tourism can include visiting heritage sites, historic buildings, museums or exhibitions, performances, festivals, rituals, religious events, and more! It can be as simple as eating at a local restaurant or signing up for a city-wide walking tour. From a sustainability perspective, travelers must engage with foreign cultures respectfully. And the easiest way to do that is by forging relationships with local people! 

Enter peer-to-peer travel. P2P travel platforms have recently flooded the internet, and for a good reason: they help travelers find authentic cultural experiences by connecting them with locals eager to share their knowledge. However, not all peer-to-peer platforms benefit locals equally. We recommend supporting P2P’s that don’t charge membership fees and display transparent pricing. 

Airbnb , known originally for its accommodation listings, may be the most widely known peer-to-peer travel platform at the time of publishing this article. Other P2P sites however, focus exclusively on matching tourists with locals who curate cultural experiences or simply want to connect over shared interests. Here are six standouts that deserve your attention: 

• Local Purse

Sightseeing often comes to mind when we think of tours, but shopping is also a fun way to immerse oneself in local culture. Local Purse facilitates live virtual shopping experiences with locals all over the world. Its creators felt inspired to help alleviate the economic hardships that the Covid19 pandemic inflicted upon cities that depend on tourism. So they designed a virtual platform that supports these hard-hit places in rebuilding and diversifying their tourism economies. Travelers can use Local Purse to get acquainted with upcoming destinations in advance, or they can continue supporting communities they’ve already visited. The beauty of Local Purse is that travelers don’t have to go anywhere physically, so anyone who wants a glimpse of the spice markets in Marrakech , for example, can participate. Local Purse is still in beta and will launch soon. Visit their website to learn more! 

• Lokafy  

Lokafy connects travelers with locals who have shared interests and are passionate about their hometowns. Locals, affectionately called Lokafyers, offer personalized tours to travelers, which make for casual and friendly experiences. Initially based in Toronto, Paris, and New York , Lokafy now offers tours in 200 cities worldwide. The company’s mission is to help people understand the world better by “making travel about the people you meet and not just the places you see.”

• Herost  

Herost believes that hosts are the heroes of sustainable travel. This impact travel platform and network showcases responsible hosts, highlights their sustainability efforts, and connects them with like-minded travelers. Herost also participates in the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme , a multi-stakeholder partnership that promotes sustainable consumption and production in tourism. A developing company, Herost is working to expand its online travel guide, directory, and toolkits both for travelers and hosts. The platform is ideal for curious wanderers who aren’t yet committed to a specific destination. 

• Make Your Trip Better  

MYTB is a French platform that connects travelers to locals in over 25 countries. But this is no ordinary travel database. Think of it as the lovechild of Airbnb and Tinder- an online matchmaker for sustainable travel that suggests “matches” based on shared interests between locals and visitors. Because of how it connects people, MYTB feels more like a community where tourists can also offer local expertise in their own hometowns. By cutting out intermediary services for travel planning, this site helps people enjoy authentic experiences while saving money and contributing directly to local economies in the process. To use MYTB, travelers create a free account to start meeting potential adventure buddies, tour guides, and even friends! Make Your Trip Better is originally a French platform and has been translated into six different languages. So English speakers who notice unusual word choices on the landing pages should not feel deterred! 

• Embark  

Embark distinguishes itself as a platform by narrowing its focus to outdoor adventure experiences, connecting locals with travelers who aren’t afraid to work up a sweat. Eschewing gallery crawls and fine dining for rock climbing and diving, this platform supports local businesses exclusively and vets all tour guides for quality and reliability. It cuts a more generous slice of the tourist economy pie for outdoorsy guides, by helping them generate income with their adventure skills and removing the meddlesome corporate obligations with which large tour operators often contend. Although member guides go through careful screening, they ultimately have full control of the experiences they provide.

Be advised that while Embark empowers local guides to fully customize their small group tours, its website does not specify any environmental priorities. So when booking from a site like this one, remember to tread lightly, leave no trace, and ask questions in advance! 

• Context Travel

This platform approaches tourism from an educational perspective, and invites travelers to dive deep into the historical context and present-day culture of the cities they explore. Over 80% of Context Tour guides possess an M.A. or P.H.D. Degree in their area of expertise, which makes this platform attractive to scholars and the intellectually curious. Context Travel also takes its commitment to sustainability seriously by exceeding BCorp standards. Book your first Context Learning experience with our discount code (HIDDENLEMUR) and receive a 15% discount.

Nature Tourism Companies 

Ahhh yes, Nature tourism, yet another vague and overused term leading to much confusion among eco-conscious travelers. Here, we’re simply using Nature Tourism to categorize our favorite ecotourism companies that specialize in wilderness excursions, wildlife tours, and outdoor adventure. All of the travel companies below adhere to the specific guidelines of responsible ecotourism.

1. Origin Travels  

This eco-travel company welcomes all self-identified female travelers who want to explore the world sustainably and in the company of like-minded women. They explore off-the-beaten-path destinations and pride themselves on doing so affordably and inclusively. Origin Travels works with local merchants, artisans, chefs, philosophers, guides, and visionaries to create customizable and unique experiences for women. They also offer slow payment plans to help explorers invest in ethical travel comfortably. The trips revolve around appreciating the raw beauty of nature while integrating with local culture. 

2. Sumak Travel  

Sumak Travel borrows its name from the ancient Quechuan saying, “Sumak Kawsay”, meaning good living , and specializes in community-based ecotourism (CBET) in Latin America. They work closely with community leaders and networks to offer tailor-made, fair-trade experiences for visitors. They typically partner with farmers and fishers, indigenous communities, and shantytown dwellers who offer local accommodations and tours. All the tours include visits to social and environmental projects. Sumak applies fair-trade logic to their pricing with an emphasis on transparency, so tourists pay fair prices in exchange for high-quality (and often unique) products and services. 

When successful, community-based ecotourism creates additional revenue sources for locals that complement but do not replace their current livelihoods (such as fishing, farming, etc). Achieving this helps communities become more economically resilient. Furthermore, local community members decide how much and how far tourism initiatives develop. Sumak Travel increases the global visibility of Latin American destinations and abides by an extensive Responsible Tourism Policy . 

3. Explore  

Explore is a well-known responsible tourism booking platform that offers small group tours and encourages customers to become more responsible travelers. Explore is the recipient of the Responsible Tourism Awards, British Travel Awards, and Travel Trade Awards. And their commitment to sustainability focuses primarily on animal welfare and climate change. According to the website, Explore is actively reducing its carbon footprint through the supply chain , investing in reforestation, and protecting the remaining ancient rainforest in partnership with Cool Earth. They offset the residual carbon through ClimateCare and aim to be single-use-plastic free across all trips in the year 2021.

Like most of the platforms we’ve mentioned, Explore offers all kinds of tours- from food and drink to cycling to solo tours worldwide. They have a robust catalog of wildlife and trekking tours, which makes Explore an excellent resource for nature lovers who want the convenience of booking green tours using a large, well-known platform. 

4. Natural World Safaris

This award-winning global tour operator prefers to be called a “travel outfitter” designed to bring travelers as close as possible to iconic wildlife species across six continents. According to the website, their salespeople aren’t salespeople either – “they’re Destination Specialists, each one an expert in the regions that they work with.” Natural World Safaris closely monitors the impact of their tourism activities from ecological, cultural, and economic perspectives and partners with grassroots organizations and conservation NGOs to ensure long-term sustainability. 

 5. Yugen Earthside

This ecotourism company connects travelers with small-group tour operators in Europe, Africa, and Asia . Although Yugen Earthside does offer cultural tourism experiences, many of their tours revolve around relishing nature’s splendor. While they thoroughly evaluate trip operators before inviting them to the platform, they also acknowledge that the path to sustainability may not always be easy, and allow members to showcase their sustainable actions and goals with or without official certifications. Yugen Earthside also donates a percentage of profits to sustainable tourism development initiatives and encourages travelers to understand and reduce their ecological impacts with actionable advice. 

Disclaimer: Hey reader! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase using any of these links, we’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hidden Lemur is committed to promoting sustainable travel, and we only partner with brands that we believe contribute positively to that cause.

Madison Micucci

• / Sustainable Travel Tips

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Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor .

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

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Many people hear the terms “green travel” or “ecotourism” and picture someone sleeping in a treehouse in the jungles of Borneo or canoeing down the Amazon . But this type of eco-adventure is just one end of the green travel spectrum. You don’t need to sacrifice creature comforts or go off into the middle of nowhere to be a green traveler; you can visit big cities or small villages, and stay in small ecolodges or luxury hotels. All that’s required is an effort to preserve and protect the environment of the place you’re visiting — and it’s easier than you might think.

Want to learn how? Read on….

What is Green Travel?

“Green travel” is one of many catchphrases — like ecotourism, sustainable travel , and responsible travel — that are bandied about with increasing frequency these days. But what exactly do these terms mean?

There are various shades of difference among all these terms, but at the heart of the matter is the importance of protecting the natural and cultural environment of the places you visit. That means conserving plants, wildlife, and other resources; respecting local cultures and ways of life; and contributing positively to local communities.

WATCH: 5 Amazing Wildlife Vacations

Why Go Green?

With over 1 billion tourists crisscrossing the globe every year, it’s more important than ever for travelers to minimize their individual impact on the earth’s natural and cultural treasures. The potential negative effects of tourism are both local and global; oceanfront hotels contribute to beach erosion in Hawaii, rising numbers of visitors threaten the fragile ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands, and carbon dioxide emissions from planes are a growing contributor to global warming.

Taking a green approach to travel is an easy and essential way to protect the places you love to visit, not just for yourself but for the travelers who come after you and for the people who will continue to live there long after you’ve flown home. As an added bonus, it often makes for a more rewarding, authentic travel experience, encouraging deeper connections with the people and places you visit.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t necessarily have to pay more in order to travel green. While offsetting the carbon emissions from your air travel will set you back a negligible amount (usually between $10 and $40 per flight, depending on the length), you can find green lodging options in all budgets, from hostels to luxury hotels. And earth-friendly transportation options like biking, walking and taking public transit are often cheaper than taking a cab or renting a car.

Choosing a Green Hotel

There are a number of Web sites that list environmentally friendly hotels, B&B’s and lodges around the world; these are a good place to start. Keep in mind that each site has its own guidelines for rating properties, so you’ll want to do your homework to make sure that the hotel meets the standards you’re looking for. And don’t forget to check out our top ecolodges and green hotels .

A few questions to ask before booking your hotel:

• Is the hotel locally owned and operated? If not, is it at least staffed by local employees?
• What kind of recycling programs does the hotel have (aluminum, plastic, paper, gray water, composting)?
• Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed every day?
• What programs does the hotel have to reduce consumption? Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers, and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power.
• How does the hotel contribute to the local community?

During Your Stay

Even if you’re not spending the night in an eco-lodge or green hotel, there are still several easy steps you can take to make your stay more eco-friendly.

• Keep your showers short, and shut off the water while you’re brushing your teeth.
• When you leave the room, turn off the air-conditioning, heat, television, lights or any other electric devices.
• Reuse your sheets and towels instead of having them changed every day. Many hotels will not replace your towels if you leave them hanging up neatly; if you’re not sure, write a note for the housekeeping staff or notify the front desk.
• Bring your own toiletries and drinking cup rather than using the prepackaged ones provided. If you do use the hotel’s toiletries, take them with you and use them at home or during the rest of your trip.
• Know your hotel’s recycling program and sort your trash accordingly. If your hotel doesn’t recycle, consider taking your empty bottles or other items home with you to recycle them there.
• Give your hotel feedback. Express your appreciation for any eco-friendly programs it currently offers, or if it doesn’t, encourage the management to go green in the future.

Getting Around

Transportation, particularly air travel, is where most travelers have the biggest environmental impact. According to USA Today, a flight from New York to Denver produces as much carbon dioxide per passenger as an SUV produces in a month. To minimize your environmental footprint, try the following steps:

• Offset the carbon emissions produced by your flight.
• For shorter trips, take the train instead of flying — especially in Europe or other regions where train service is fast and frequent.
• When renting a car, choose the smallest vehicle that can comfortably accommodate you. Decline any “free” upgrades (which will cost you more in gas).
• Rent a hybrid car.
• Taking a long road trip ? If your personal vehicle is large and not very fuel-efficient, consider renting an economy car instead. You’ll save gas and avoid putting miles on your own vehicle.
• Whenever possible, use public transportation instead of taxis or rental cars. Better yet, walk or bike.

Responsible Sightseeing

When it comes to visiting the world’s most beautiful places, the old adage rings true: Take nothing but photographs, and leave nothing but footprints.

Travel with an environmentally friendly tour operator . Before you book, be sure to ask about group size (smaller groups tend to make less of an environmental impact), whether the tours are led by locals, how the tour operator gives back to the community, and what kind of lodging is included.

When hiking, always stay on marked trails and maintain a safe distance from any animals you encounter. Deposit your trash in marked receptacles or take it with you when you leave. Light campfires only in established fire rings and be sure they’re completely extinguished before you leave.

When snorkeling , do not touch the coral or stir up sediment, as these actions can damage the reef’s fragile ecosystem. Also, choose a reef-safe sunscreen ; chemicals found in most sunblock lotions are harmful to coral.

  Destinations With Sunscreen Bans, and What You Need to Know

Try to buy local products whenever possible instead of those that have been flown or shipped in from overseas. You’ll support the local economy and get a taste of native cuisine. Do not, however, buy souvenirs or other products made from endangered animals or plants, in most cases you can’t get them through U.S. Customs anyway.

Treat the locals with respect. Learn a few words in the native language , be open to cultural differences, and read up on the area before your trip so you’re sensitive to issues of dress and behavior.

Consider taking a volunteer vacation to give back directly to the place you’re visiting.

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21 green travel tips for easy sustainable travel

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Tourism around the world is booming more now than ever before. At the same time, our planet suffers more than ever. There’s no secret that traveling affects climate change negatively.

By flying, taking the train, bus or ferry, we contribute to carbon emissions. While tourism can be beneficial for the economy, mass tourism can also be damaging for local communities and their environment.

So how can we change these negative effects? How can we as travellers reduce our carbon footprint while making a positive impact on the travel industry? How can we help communities and preserve our planet for future generations?

The answer is sustainable travel, also known as conscious travel, or more simply green travel. Following green travel tips is the best way to travel positively.

What is green travel?

Green travel focuses on how your actions impact on the environment and local communities. It asks you to be more conscious in the decisions you make and how your actions have an impact when you travel. It takes extra effort and planning to ensure you're doing the right thing.

We've identified 21 green travel tips that you can implement easily when you go on your next trip. We've implemented these tips ourselves while travelling full-time in Oceania, Asia, and Europe. It hasn't always been easy, especially being vegan in some countries, but we're doing our best and we believe everyone else can too!

1. Choose the carbon offset option on your flights

Flights account for around 2.5% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) production. Offsetting this carbon emission is the easiest way to leave no trace when you book your tickets. Many airlines and search engines have the option available when you book your flight.

How does carbon offset work?

After you have chosen your flight, your carbon emissions are calculated in the amount of tonnes of CO2 produced by the flight. You pay a small amount that is invested in a project to reduce CO2 levels by the same amount to balance it out.

2. Use the greenest transport possible

While air travel may be the only option when traveling to many countries, there are many other destinations where you can catch a train, bus or ferry.

Always choose public transportation over renting a car, especially in cities. This will reduce the carbon emissions as well as keeping the parking spots available for locals that have to travel to town for work. If you are now going to rent a car, optimise for hybrid or electric cars. Electric cars have three times less emissions than fuel driven cars. Using public transport is also a great way to feel like a local and connect with their culture. And from the traveler’s perspective, it’s a great way to save money!

Choose to cycle when it's possible. Cycling is a great way to get to know a new place. Usually it doesn’t cost as much as renting a car or scooter. Besides manufacturing, cycling has no impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Cycling around it’s a great way to exercise and spend more time outdoors to keep your body and mind healthy. If you travel far, you can also rent an electric bike.

Even better, explore the area by foot. This is by far our favourite way to travel and it has zero impact on the environment while keeping you healthy.

3. Choose a plant-based diet

Going completely plant-based is the most effective way to minimise the impact on our planet as an individual. Below we show some statistics based on research at the University of Oxford to show why going vegan or at least vegetarian will save the planet.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Removing meat and dairy products from the diet could reduce the carbon footprint of an individual up to a staggering 73%.

Furthermore, the global use of farmland could be reduced by a massive 75%. To put that into perspective, that’s an area the size of the US, China, Australia, and the EU combined.

According to the journal Science , meat, fish, eggs and dairy products are responsible for 83% of the world’s farmland. Just think about it, producing just 5% of the world’s calories creates 40% of global environmental misfortune! Most of the land that is used today is to grow animal feed, if we stop eating meat we cut the middle man.

Research shows that livestock is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse emissions. Global livestock production contributes an estimated 18% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mainly in terms of methane and nitrous oxide.

The agriculture industry consumes about 70% of global water use. Based on a study published in Water Resources Research , an estimated 41% of water used in agriculture is to grow livestock feed. Mean, especially beef is among the most water demanding products.

To produce 1 kg of beef, you need around 15,000 litres of water. That’s equal to 132 showers if your average shower is 10 min long. Mind-blowing isn’t it?!

According to The World Counts , water use for 1 kilogram of the product:

• Chocolate: 24,000 litres
• Coffee beans: 21,000 litres
• Beef: 15,500 litres
• Sheep and goat meat: 8,800 litres
• Pig meat: 6,000 litres
• Cereals: 1,600 litres
• Fruit: 1000 litres
• Vegetables: 300 litres

Large resources are needed to produce meat, which affects biodiversity and causes the extinction of some species. WWF states that meat-based diets cause 60% of global biodiversity loss .

4. Be a sustainable fashion shopper

We all love to wear something new and appropriate to the destination we visit. With Instagram on our mind, we always want to look good and not appear like we are wearing the same clothes. Janna used to be a huge shopaholic and deeply inside still is!

According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) , the fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. This is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined!

But there are ways to achieve a great look without damaging our planet. The best sustainable clothes are the clothes in your closet. You can always give your favorite clothes a new life by tailoring, or maybe redesigning something that you already have.

Our second favourite option is pre-loved fashion. Next time you are hunting for a change, check out a vintage shop or a second-hand shop in your city. Alternatively check out Facebook Marketplace. You’ll be surprised what you may find there.

There are also companies that offer renting clothes instead of buying them.

Consider sustainability when buying new clothes

If you’re not interested in wearing pre-loved clothes, we totally understand. Then try your best to choose more ethical and sustainable brands. Look for natural and bio fabrics that have minimum impact on our planet.

Examples of natural fabrics are hemp, linen, bamboo, and recycled/organic cotton. There are also bio-fabricated textiles, which are materials grown from live microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, algae and fungi.

5. Shop locally

Buy your groceries from a local market. If you’re road tripping in a rural area, you are most likely to find farms and farm markets on your way.

Stop there to buy whatever is in season to support the local economy and reduce carbon emissions. When we travel, we love to visit local markets to get homemade jams and fresh fruits and vegetables.

We also love to visit small shops with local produce and handcrafted goods. Instead of buying mainstream gifts, research what the area is famous for and get something authentic made by locals instead of investing in big overseas companies.

6. Reuse bottles, bags, cutlery, and other products

Traveling around the world has really opened our eyes to how much plastic we use on a daily basis. One way to reduce it is by using reusable travel products.

130,000 tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean every year. With time, hard plastic breaks into small particles called micro plastic that is too small to see. Micro plastic contaminates the water and sea life including the fish that you may end up eating. That’s another reason to go vegetarian or vegan.

Even if the plastic doesn’t end up in the ocean, it will take 20 to 500 years to break down depending on the type of plastic. The most common plastic bottles take around 450 years to break down.

The energy required to produce and transport plastic bottles could fuel an estimated 1.5 million cars for a year. But approximately 75% of plastic water bottles are not recycled . They end up in landfills, litter roadsides, and pollute waterways and oceans.

There is a very simple solution to that problem. Take a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go instead of buying one. Just simply fill it up with tap water before you leave. Some countries also have public drinking fountains where you can get a refill.

If you travel in a country where drinking water from a tap is not safe, you can purchase a water bottle with a filter system that kills 99% of bacteria. You can fill it up where you’re staying or at waterfalls, rivers and streams when you go out for an adventure.

Pack your own food for the airplane. Airplane meals usually use a lot of single-use plastic.

If you’re planning your trip from home, reuse your small bottles of cosmetics and fill them up with cosmetics from the items that you bought in bigger packages.

Here is our list of our favourite travel essentials:

• Reusable water bottle
• Bags for grocery shopping
• Cutlery and straw
• Reusable take-away container

Even when you don't have a reusable item with you, you can still decline to use plastic. Drink from the cup instead of through a plastic straw. Carry the few items with you instead of accepting a plastic bag.

7. Collect rubbish

Carry a reusable bag with you every time you go out hiking, camping, swimming or even diving. Mountains, oceans, rivers and lakes are full of our trash. It causes problems for wild animals and the ecosystem.

You can pick up plastic and trash you see on your way back, it really doesn't take that long. You will be surprised how many people will appreciate your effort and learn from your behaviour.

8. Use ethical tour operators

More companies are jumping on the ecotourism bandwagon in recent years. It definitely requires some research, but it’s important to make sure they're operating ethically especially when  planning to see wildlife.

It's our responsibility to make sure that the company we choose does the right thing. If you notice otherwise, reach out to the manager and leave a review on Google to let other people know about your experience.

How do I find out if a tour is ethical?

Go to their website to conduct some basic research. Bigger tour operators often have some kind of license or been involved in certification programs. If it’s a small tour operator, look up their values and ‘About Us’ page to find out what they stand for. If you aren't sure, reach out to them and ask questions.

When we travel, we always try to support local family businesses instead of booking things online with passive tour operators that take a big cut.

We also like to do Airbnb experiences to support local people. Sometimes you can find the same guide on a different platform where you can contact them independently.

9. Be kind to all animals

Most of us have seen circuses and zoos in our lifetime, but it seemed innocent to us at that time. As kids we never received the right education about animals being captured or abused. Any business that involves animals for recreational, entertainment or any other purposes is considered unethical.

That includes animal cafes like you will find in Japan or Korea and businesses that exploit animals for photos. You have probably come across photos with dopey tigers, baby tigers, owls and eagles. These are wild animals and they should be in their natural environment.

But how about non-profit organizations like sanctuaries? Visiting sanctuaries instead of zoos can be a great alternative, but always research if they actually rescue animals. Many sanctuaries claim to be non-profit but still invite tourists to come and feed them, pet them and have your photos taken.

The true purpose of any sanctuary is to ensure that after animals have been rescued and once they are rehabilitated, they should be released into nature if possible. A real sanctuary usually relies on government support, donations from public organizations and sometimes daily visits. If it's a true sanctuary, usually you watch the animals from a distance living in their natural habitat without any close participation. That's how you know that wild animals are getting ready to be released.

Don’t ride animals

Most of us know that riding elephants is extremely unethical. Debates arise when it comes to domesticated animals like horses, camels, donkeys and huskies. After some research, we came across a few blog articles where horse riders were explaining how to ride a horse the ‘correct’ way to avoid hurting it. It became clear that if you aren’t a great rider, which when you travel is often the case, you shouldn't ride a horse.

So all the ranch places and eco hotels offering horse riding in the forest, mountains and the beach are all unethical and damaging both physically and mentally for the horses. We were still not sure that riding a horse in the first place was an ethical thing to do. While horse races and commercialised horse riding was a clearer example, not till we came across Emily’s website we made the conclusion that even if you own a horse and treat it like your best friend but still take it for rides, you exploit it.

Don’t feed wild animals

This is probably the hardest thing to do because our human nature just can’t help but wanting to feed and get closer to animals. Something that innocent can cause big problems for an animal’s health and cause an imbalance in the ecosystem.

Human food is not good for wild animals and wild animals shouldn't depend on humans for their survival. Wild animals can get dependent on human help and lose their natural skills of finding and hunting food. Feeding wild animals is also dangerous for humans, as animals often carry hantavirus and rabies, and are unpredictable in their behaviour.

As a reminder, don't eat animals either not just because of ethical and sustainable reasons but also because a lot of them carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

10. Travel in the off-peak or shoulder season

Visiting a popular destination in the off-peak or shoulder season not only means empty streets and more photo opportunities, but also lower prices. You will most likely have more interactions with locals and learn more about their lifestyle.

Visiting popular destinations during the peak season takes away space from locals. Locals suffer from overpriced properties, fully packed public transport, museums, and booked restaurants. Over visited places usually also suffer from over pollution and excess garbage.

11. Avoid going to hyped destinations, there are always alternatives

If your Instagram feed is constantly showing you Bali, that means it's a hyped destination. There are always alternatives either within the country or in the region.

So rather than going to Bali, how about visiting the neighbouring islands of Lombok or Java? Instead of Mallorca, try Menorca. Instead of the Bahamas, try St. Vincent. Instead of Mykonos, go to Syros or Samos. Instead of Rome, visit small regional towns that are full of charm.

Instead of choosing a country based on its popularity in the Instagram feed, choose a country recognised for its sustainable practices. For example, Denmark and Sweden have been ranked as top countries due to having the most amount of eco hotels, plant-based restaurants, green buildings, bike lanes, recycling, and other environmentally friendly initiatives.

12. Volunteer

Volunteering can be a great way of experiencing a new country and culture. There are lots of different environmental and social projects around the globe that always need volunteers to help support local communities, protect cultural heritage, save native animals, or conserve natural resources.

Some organisations provide accommodation and food in exchange for your conservation efforts.

You can use the following websites to find your dream volunteer work:

• Volunteer Match
• Volunteer World

13. Slow travel

Slow travel is a great way to minimise our footprint when traveling. Choose a slower type of transportation and stay longer in one country or location. Slow traveling not only reduces our greenhouse gas emissions, it also gives us more time to truly connect with people and the environment. Slow traveling often allows you to find more off-the-beaten-track destinations.

Travelling can be a very stressful journey, but when you slow travel you minimise your stress levels by not having to move to a new destination every few days. We understand that not everyone has months of vacation, but let's say instead of visiting five countries in Europe in two weeks, choose two countries and travel around regional areas and smaller towns to see how people live there.

14. Leave no trace

According to the National Park Services , there are 7 principles that you should follow to leave a minimum impact on the environment.

These principles are mostly aimed at adventure travellers who love to hike and camp in national parks to ensure they remain protected. But they should be applied everywhere where people interact with nature.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors

15. Travel short distances

The shorter the trip is from home, the less carbon emissions we leave. Exploring your homeland and region is a great example of sustainable travel. But what if I want to see somewhere like South America but I live in Europe? Make sure to take as direct a route as possible and choose non-stop flights.

If you are doing a stopover, take it as a chance to explore a new destination. Travel to the furthest destinations for as long as you can to maximise the trip rather than making shorter trips.

16. Housesitting is a great option for conscious travel

The concept is to look after someone’s house or their pet(s) while the owners are away. This is one of the most sustainable ways of traveling because you don't affect local housing pricing by staying in an already occupied apartment/house.

You also have more opportunities to learn how to live in a country like a local. There are plenty of websites available to get started. Most of them require some kind of paid membership, but it’s really not that expensive considering that your stays will be completely free. We are currently using Trusted Housesitter and find it very easy to use.

17. Stay in eco hotels and home stays for your accommodation

Staying in hotels that have values to help minimise their footprint is always a better choice.

You can always find proof on their websites. Look for a sustainability page that mentions the use of renewable energy like solar power and how they conserve water. They may also have other initiatives such as restorative programs and donations. You want to support a business that does something good for the planet, their local community, and not just take profit.

Less developed countries will often have a big range of home stays and guesthouses. This is a great way for you to interact with locals and learn their culture while helping the families.

Maximize the use of towels. How often do you change your sheets and towels at home? Even in a non-eco-friendly hotel room, you can request the staff to not wash your towels and sheets every day. Turn off the air conditioner and be mindful of water consumption when taking a bath or shower.

Make sure to ask where their recycling is located. In some places you may have to ask around and travel to another location if it's not available where you're staying.

18. Pack light

The less you bring with you, the less carbon dioxide will be consumed on each airfare.

Small luggage may also affect your choices. Instead of taking a taxi, you can take public transport as it's way easier to carry your backpack or a small suitcase when traveling by bus or train.

Plastic-free toiletries usually weigh less and take less space. Pack thin clothes as much as possible.

19. Research and learn about the local customs of the destination you're visiting

So many tourists have offended local culture or religion by their inappropriate and sometimes vulgar behaviour. Researching and learning about the culture you are about to visit is essential.

You always have to start with researching the safety situation. Some countries have very strict regimes. Breaking their laws can lead to a lifetime in prison or even the death penalty.

It's important to know the religion of the country and what is appropriate clothing. Research how to dress appropriately in their places of worship so you don't appear disrespectful. Pack what you need for the trip in advance.

For example, Samoan women and men have to wear a sarong when they are in public places, especially in villages. Swimming in a Brazilian-style bikini in public places would be considered disrespectful.

Some countries also have their own unique gestures and manners. For example, Indonesians never shake with their left hand because that’s considered a dirty hand (used to wash with a bidet).

Always carefully read the rules of the places you are visiting. Follow the trails and don’t jump any fences. Follow the dress code before entering a place of worship.

20. Educate yourself and others on green travel tips

By sharing our knowledge with our family, friends and via social media channels, we help to spread the message of sustainable travel and living. By doing the right thing as an individual, we create positive behavior in our neighborhood and our community.

People have been learning things from each other for decades without relying on the government, now it's easier to do it than ever before with so many tools available. It's important to educate yourself and question everything, be curious and research. We never stop learning!

Just be aware of brands that are deceptively claiming to be sustainable when they're not. Known as greenwashing, they may make claims that don't hold up under some basic scrutiny and questioning.

21. Buy eco-friendly travel gear for your trip

The number one rule is the same for your travel gear as it is for fashion. If you already have someting that is good enough, reuse it.

The second-best option is to buy things you need for your travels that are made ethically and sustainably.

Shampoo and conditioner bars are now available in almost all supermarkets and pharmacies around the globe.

Below is the list of our travel essentials and some of the sustainable brands we like to support.

‍ Toothpaste

Minimalist cosmetics

• Meow Meow Tweet
• Ethical Zinc
• Palm & Pine
• Second Earth

Storage organisers

• Northern Olive

As we always travel with our camera gear, here are some of the brands that are more thoughtful of the environment:

Camera lens filters ‍

Camera backpack

Camera strap

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