Travelers today turn to eco-friendly travel more than ever, as many of them understand that merely supporting and urging others to be eco-friendly is not enough. Similarly, flying is not the only way one can travel.
For the obvious reasons, green travel has become so essential for us that it won’t be seen as a ‘fad’ anymore a few years from now.
We are already facing the consequences of global warming, and all we can do to stop it from getting worse is to do our part. Incorporate sustainable ways, however small, in your travel.
If you are turning to eco-friendly vacations, you are already a hero. These five ways can help you become a more eco-conscious traveler.
Read also: Simple Ways to Save Money For Travel
Ways to be a more eco-conscious traveler
1. Reduce air travel
Many have argued that aviation is one of the most significant contributors to the carbon footprint. A glance at the data will tell you that CO2 release reports shown by airlines are not the whole story. Other factors like nitrogen oxides and water vapor are contributors as well.
But as a traveler, you can’t travel to another country without flying. But you can always opt for non-stop flights whenever possible. Lessen the stopovers. The more takeoffs and landings the aircraft do, the more fuel and carbon emissions. Direct flights are costlier, but great things come with a price.
You can also choose the car, bus, and trains for comparatively short distances. Taking the train or bus lets you enjoy the places, enjoy the countryside, and sometimes enables you to interact with the locals. Traveling is not always about the destination but also the journey.
2. Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is not as common as it used to be, but we can always bring back trends. The earlier tradition was to wait alongside the road, with cardboard in hand, looking for cars to pick you up. But present-day hitchhiking doesn’t have to be such a sweat.
Today, various apps like BlaBlaCar, iThumb, Rideshare4less, etc. allows an easy way for you to hitchhike. Sharing a ride means less use on total cars and petrol or ride fare. It is one of the smartest ways one can save the planet while also helping yourself by spending less money.
With various ride apps, carpooling and hitchhiking are beginning to rise again. Besides reducing CO2, sharing a ride with others might be a fun way to travel, meet new people, and enjoy the journey.
Read also: Ridesharing Safety Tips
3. Travel with sustainable travel agencies
One of the other ways you can start your green vacation is to travel with an eco-friendly and sustainable travel agency. Travel agencies design your customized travel, and while they are not always significantly lessening the negative impact of your travel, what they do is design your travel in a way that you positively impact the planet and local communities.
Most sustainable travel agencies provide you high-end sustainability while traveling and help local communities and small hotels along the way.
However, ecotourism is not always about traveling with the right agency. It is also about the places you are traveling. It is about traveling to unspoiled places and connecting with the local ecosystem
Eco-travelers can take up the goal of raising environmental awareness for environmental conservation. Ecotourism also includes staying in low-impact facilities.
4. Use eco-friendly products
The market is full of products that come in plastic bags, bottles, and tubes. But to avoid buying them and create more pollution, you can always bring your own products like shampoo, body lotions or other toiletries, so that you can bring them back home and don’t create waste on holiday.
Also, bring your reusable water bottles. Plastic water bottles are a complete no-no. Bringing a reusable water bottle means you don’t have to keep buying plastic water bottles every time you need more water.
Do you like shopping during your trips? It is one of the common hobbies most people have during a trip. If you like it too, you can bring a reusable tote or shopping bag and avoid those tiny plastic bags that come with items while shopping.
Bringing a bamboo or metal straw for drinking liquids is one of the smart green travel tips as well.
5. Stay mindful about eating and sightseeing
Sightseeing is the major part of each travel plan. And if your tours are guided, you can always opt for local or sustainable agencies for your tour guide. They understand the local environment and respect the surroundings.
Apart from that, opting for the local cuisine can help you learn cultures, along with helping local farms and services. Try to avoid meals that are not sustainable. Especially avoiding meats or other animal products is a smart idea, provided they are not sustainably sourced. But this tip shouldn’t be limited to while traveling, as you can follow it while at home too.
On a final note…
Most of the ways mentioned above don’t have to be costly for you. Some are pretty easy and will help you spend less than usual. While traveling abroad, not all of your plans will likely work out, so always research about places first.
Mariyam is a beauty blogger at The Beautyholic blog, where she writes on skincare, makeup, and wellness. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing with her kitty Rumi and going for nature walks.
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Thank you for these useful tips.. I personally don’t like air traveling. Traveling by road is much better than air traveling.
Recycling and throwing your garbage away in the proper bin goes a long way, it’s also important to teach kids and those who you travel with to do the same
Whenever I travel, I prefer to use products that can be recycled/resused. I also have a tote bag whenever I go shopping and always carry with me a tumbler – refill water at my hotel. Great tips you got here!
I love learning about how to be a better eco-conscious traveler. I am just curious, is it safe to hitch hike in today’s world? It got a bad rap in the 80s and 90s as it was how serial killers would find their victims. I just wondering if it is safer now.
I really like the tips you shared. All of them are really helpful and useful tips. Loved the idea of hitchhiking.
These are very valuable tips for all regular travellers conscious can make travelling experience wonderful. I really like the idea of hitchhiking and using eco friendly products.
I would happily do all of these… except hitchhike. LOL I have seen WAAAAAAYYYYY too many movies to let myself do that. hahaha
I definitely agree with these tips. I myself travel a lot and apply certain measures to travel responsibly and lessen my carbon footprint.
The environment is the responsibility of all of us, including those who are traveling. This is a very good article to make people aware of the necessity of preserving the environment while they enjoy the beauty of nature.
I think whether staying local or going further afield, these are lovely tips we can all think of when out and about in the world. Great post.
Thanks for bringing this topic and I completely agree with you; it’s important to protect the earth and I will st art searching for some eco-friendly products – Knycx journeying
We should all do our part in caring for the environment. Being an ec warrior is the way to go.
I always use eco friendly products, in my everyday life. Traveling in an eco way is so important nowadays and thanks to you now I can follow some tips. Thanks for sharing. – Paolo
I definitely want to be more eco-conscious. I don’t think I will be bringing back hitchhiking though. Although there are apps to help with safety, I have too many memories of hitchhiking gone wrong. I will try to utilize the other tips though.
I’m all for eco-consciousness when traveling. We reuse plastic bags for our items or not use plastic at all when traveling.
Some time ago I also faced the theme of being a conscious and eco-sustainable traveler and I did not receive many nice comments, but it is important to convey the word instead.
Knowledge on the products we use for travelling is the best help we can give to nature. We always recycle plastic bags anywhere we go, small steps I am teaching my kids.
Thanks so much for all these informative useful eco friendly tips for all travellers, all of us play a role to our environment care. Love my read here. cheers, siennylovesdrawing