Eco-Friendly Travel: How to Explore the World Sustainably and Leave a Positive Impact

In the past couple of years, travel has rebounded to its pre-pandemic levels. 2023 saw about 1.3 billion international tourist trips. This travel, even for all its economic benefits, presents plenty of social and ecological challenges. Tourism alone accounts for about 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions: from carbon-heavy flights to the strain of mass tourism on local ecosystems, conventional travel can leave a large carbon footprint.

The great news is that sustainable travel practices allow us to enjoy enriching adventures while minimising harm and even giving back. Let’s explore some pearls of travelling wisdom, with the most effective ways to keep travel eco-friendly. 

Get There with Sustainable Transport

Transport is the bulk of your carbon footprint while traveling. Planes and cars are the biggest culprits, since they emit the most CO2 per mile travelled. But other, more sustainable options are out there!

Being mindful of how you travel matters. Photo by Jacob Lund - stock.adobe.com

Take the Train (or Bus, or Ferry)

Ground transport – like trains and buses – offers a scenic and sustainable option, especially for regional trips and family travel. For example, an intercity train typically produces about half the CO2 of a short-haul flight per passenger mile, and a bus as little as one-quarter! Where it’s possible, swap a quick flight for a high-speed rail or comfortable coach – you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and often your cost. (Bonus: overnight trains or buses can double as accommodation, saving money and emissions.)

Embrace Public Transit, Walking, and Cycling

Once at your destination, get around like a local. Use public transportation (metro, tram, bus) instead of taxis or rental cars – it’s efficient and slashes per-person and per-mile emissions. In most large cities, you’ll be able to get a tourist transit pass with little fuss. Plus, there’s always the option to walk or bike for shorter distances; it produces virtually zero emissions, and it gives you the chance to discover hidden gems around your destination that you would have missed from the back of a taxi. 

Fly Smarter and Offset Emissions

For long-distance travel, air travel is sometimes unavoidable. If you must fly, fly economy class (more people per plane means lower emissions per person) and fly nonstop when possible (since take-offs and landings are the most fuel-intensive part). Many flight search tools also include information about the CO2 emissions of each flight; work this information into your decision-making when it’s time to purchase your tickets.

Stay Sustainably with Eco-Friendly Accommodation

Your vacation digs are the next-largest part of your travel footprint. A huge hotel or resort is your least sustainable option, since they consume huge amounts of energy and water to power its lights, HVAC, pools, and laundry. Even a short Mother’s Day weekend or couple-day getaway can leave a hefty carbon footprint. Thankfully, there are plenty of eco-friendlier options!

Choose Eco-Certified Hotels or Lodges

Look specifically for hotels with credible green certifications (such as Green Key, Green Globe, or LEED) or those listed in eco-travel platforms. These third-party certifications verify that the property meets strict environmental and social standards in energy use, waste management, community support, etc. Many booking websites now allow filtering by “eco-friendly” or “Travel Sustainable” properties – use those filters to support businesses committed to sustainability.

Energy and Water Conservation on the Road

No matter where you stay, you can implement green habits. For example, you can use towel/linen reuse programs (many hotels offer the option to not change bedding daily), turn off lights and AC when you leave the room, take shorter showers, and avoid running water needlessly. In warm or cold climates, adjust the thermostat moderately instead of cranking it up – an extra blanket or a fan can reduce HVAC energy.

Ethical Wildlife Tourism and Conservation-Minded Travel

For the environmentally-minded, encountering exotic wildlife can be a highlight of travel – if done ethically. As a responsible traveller, you should aim to observe and support wildlife rather than inadvertently contribute to cruelty.

Do Your Research and Avoid Exploitative Attractions

Be extra wary of any experience that involves hands-on interaction with wild animals or shows where animals perform for tourists. Before visiting an animal sanctuary, zoo, or tour, research online: look for accreditations (e.g. Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries certification) and read reviews for any reports of mistreatment. Ethical operators will prioritize animal welfare and usually limit contact (e.g. only viewing from distance).

Choose Sanctuaries and Reserves that Put Wildlife First

The most ethical wildlife encounters happen in the animal’s natural habitat. Go with safari parks, wildlife reserves, and true sanctuaries where animals roam freely and are not taken from the wild for tourism. Remember, truly ethical sanctuaries do not breed animals for captivity or allow extensive tourist handling.

Sustainable travel is the future. Photo by Milosz Maslanka - stock.adobe.com

Support Local Conservation Efforts

Wherever you travel, there are sure to be experiences that directly support wildlife conservation. For instance, community-based wildlife tours feature local guides who are trained directly from the community and are deeply invested in the well-being of the ecosystem. (Practical Tip: A quick way to vet an animal activity: ask “what is the animal doing in this experience?” If the answer is “performing” or “being handled/petted,” it’s likely unethical. If it’s “behaving naturally in the wild while I watch quietly,” it’s probably a responsible encounter.)

Reduce Waste and Plastic Use While Traveling

When you add up all the disposable hotel toiletries and water bottles and takeaway food containers, you can see how quickly plastic waste stacks up when you’re traveling. Minimising plastic waste as you travel just takes a bit of planning ahead and thoughtful purchases of handy travel items.

Pack Reusable Items

Bring along a kit of reusables, including a durable refillable water bottle, a reusable coffee cup or thermos, a set of lightweight travel utensils, and a cloth tote bag or foldable daypack for shopping. This little kit saves you money and reduces your carbon footprint, to boot!

Run with the Refill Culture

Many eco-conscious travellers follow the motto “Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The goal here is to refill and reuse wherever and however you can. Refill your water bottle at every chance. For your toiletries, refill a small container from a larger one rather than going with the small, disposable travel-size bottles. It all adds up over the course of your travels!

Choose The Right Luggage

Instead of defaulting to plastic bags or cheap, short-lived luggage, invest in a durable, high-quality carry-on that will last for years. Not only does this reduce the need for frequent replacements, but it also cuts down on waste. A good travel backpack can double as your shopping bag, daypack, commute bag, or even gym bag, eliminating the need for extra, single-purpose bags.

Support Local Sustainability and Culture

Travel is more than just going to a place – it involves really experiencing the place and its culture. To be truly sustainable, you need to make sure that local communities are benefitting from your visit. 

Eat and Shop Local

It’s this easy: spend your money at local establishments! That’s the foundation of overall sustainable travel. Don’t go to multinational fast-food restaurants or big-box stores. Seek out the neighbourhood gems, like street food stalls, local markets, and family-run shops. Buy locally made (or locally sourced) souvenirs. 

Hire Local Guides and Services

When planning tours, activities, or transport, choose local operators whenever possible. A local tour guide can offer personal insights into the culture and history that you’d never get from a big international company’s brochure.

Avoid Exploitative Businesses

There are some pretty clear and obvious “do nots” when it comes to exploitative tourism practices. Never take part in tours hat trample over local people’s privacy or dignity (for instance, “slum tourism” that treats poor communities as voyeuristic attractions, unless it’s community-organized and educational). Never buy artifacts or antiquities that could be cultural heritage taken illegally – besides the legal issues, it’s equivalent to stealing history from the place you’re visiting. 

Always check that the reputation of the business and tours you’re supporting are ethically run and operated. When you support ethical businesses and say no to exploitative ones, you send a message that travellers value and will pay for authentic, responsible experiences, not those that harm communities.

Main Takeaways

In the end, eco-friendly tourism is more about the intention than perfect execution. You’re making so many small choices as you travel, and with each of those little decisions, you can set up a travel experience that protects the environment, respects local cultures, and supports communities.

• Choose trains, buses, or ferries over flights when possible; fly economy and nonstop to cut emissions.

• Use public transport, walk, or cycle once you arrive to reduce your local footprint.

• Book eco-certified hotels or stay at smaller, locally owned lodgings that conserve energy and water.

• Research wildlife experiences carefully—avoid animal interactions and support true sanctuaries.

• Pack reusables (bottle, cup, utensils, tote) and follow the “Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” mindset.

• Eat, shop, and hire local to keep money in the community and experience real culture.

• Avoid exploitative businesses and support experiences that empower people and protect heritage.

Explore mindfully, and watch how the world opens to you!