You may be wondering as to what Sustainable Travel is all about and how is it done, let me explain it to you with some tips here.
Sustainable travel is about making smarter choices to reduce or mitigate the negative impact of your travel on a travel destination.
The choices could be anything like the food you eat, what you use to carry your things, the electricity you consume during your hotel stay, etc.
These choices of sustainable travel can make a small difference when done individually. But when done collectively, they can have a huge progressive impact.
Sustainable travel reduces your vacation expenditure, does less damage to the environment and benefits the local people.
As travelers, it is imperative to reduce the adverse environmental impact of our travels if we are concerned about the future of our planet.
So here is an extensive list of easily followable tips that are jotted down to help you travel more responsibly and sustainably.
Table of Contents
23 Best Sustainable Travel Tips To Follow
Book Direct Flights
Whenever you can, try to look for the shortest flight path and book non-stop flights and as it is the takeoffs and landings of the flights that cause the creation of most of the airplane’s carbon emissions. If possible try avoiding flight as much as possible.
Pack light and smart
Pack your luggage light as it is one of the most important sustainable travel tips. This helps you to use public transportation easily, makes it convenient for you to go around and you need not have to pay for the baggage fee.
Opt for land travel when possible
Travel by land whenever possible and go on a fun road trip if you are travelling with your friends or family if the destination is within driving distance.
If you are using a car to drive to your destination, then consider renting a hybrid or electric car that consumes less fuel and produces less carbon emissions.
Embrace slow Travel
Stay for a longer time in each destination and embrace a slower pace instead of moving to different places every other day. This benefits you in being more sustainable, you will get more time to experience the local life and it saves money as well.
Choose the most sustainable mode of transport
If travel time isn’t paramount then it is always a wise choice to travel by bus, train or ship as they generally have less negative impact on the environment than traveling by flight.
Stay in locally-owned accommodations
Consider staying in locally-owned accommodations like a multi-person dorm or hostel room, short term rentals or homestays.
They are social and it is a great way to meet new people. It is more sustainable if money is contributed to the local economy.
Stay in hotels with sustainability initiatives
Check if the hotel in which you are planning to stay has incorporated sustainability initiatives like rainwater harvesting, solar power heaters, energy-efficient lighting, recycling, etc.
Say yes to reusable products
Carry a reusable water bottle that you can refill, a travel mug, container, steel or metal straw to avoid the usage of single-use disposables and helps you cut down on plastic waste.
Conserve Electrical energy
Make sure you turn off all the lights, air conditioners, heaters, and television when you are leaving your room.
Walk/bike or choose public transport
Commit to walking or biking as it is healthy and not much expensive. Also, you use public transit like metros and buses whenever possible as it helps to cut down fuel consumption and is easier on the wallet too.
Carpooling is another great option.
Take back leftover soaps and shampoos
Often it is seen that the unused portions of leftover soap and shampoo are thrown away. So it is better if you can take them with you and reuse these plastic bottles in the future.
Stick to Marked Trails when Hiking
During hiking, it is always best to stick to the path of marked trails as they are there for a reason. By not doing so you could harm the native flora.
Pick up the Trash when trekking
While trekking you can pick up any plastics or trash that you spot along the way of your trek by carrying a small bag with you.
Eat Local
Eat local and spend money in restaurants and cafes run by locals. This way you can try their traditional food or cuisine.
Explore local markets and go vegetarian
Avoid imported foods as it is transported from far off places resulting in carbon emissions. Instead, look for locally sourced groceries by hitting the local street market or farmers market and support local vendors.
Dine out less and try to cook in your accommodation if it is equipped with a kitchen.
Consume less meat to lower the environmental impact.
Encourage local artisans
Buy locally made products rather than imported ones. Try to shop from local artists because when you buy directly from them you are not only helping them feed their family but also encouraging their talent and helping them to preserve their culture.
Carry a reusable handbag
Don’t forget to carry a reusable handbag like a tote bag when you go shopping. Take spare bags whenever you go to the supermarket. This will help you to avoid buying plastic carrier bags which will be thrown away later.
Don’t buy wildlife products
Don’t buy wildlife products that are anything made from endangered plants or animals.
Honor Local customs
Sustainable travel is also about how well people and local customs are treated. So before going on a travel to a particular destination, do a bit of research about those destination’s local cultural traditions. This helps you to speak and behave appropriately honoring local customs.
Take permission before clicking pictures
It is the right gesture of asking permission before clicking a picture of someone especially when you are in a different place as in some cultures people get offended when they are photographed.
Don’t participate in irresponsible wildlife tours
Never go on a tour that promises activities that involve close encounters with animals like elephant rides, etc. It is unethical and by doing so you are indirectly supporting an industry that abuses, transports and illegally captures millions of animals every year.
Do remember to keep a respectful distance from the wildlife.
Learn native language
An exciting thing that you can do while you’re traveling is to try learning the native or local language. You need not have to master it but learn simple words like “Thank you”, etc. as it will change the way locals treat you.
Immerse yourself in the local culture
Enjoy the fun of traveling by immersing yourself in the local culture. It is worth being a participant rather than an observer. Try local cuisine, explore the different cultures, and visit local markets.
Conclusion
I know it is not so easy to follow these steps all of a sudden, but with a constant effort, these steps can be made as a habit for our own benefit.
Do you think we missed out on some important sustainable travel tips? then feel free to mention them in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you.
Also Read: How to save money while traveling
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