People often think ‘I can’t take the train, so I can’t travel sustainably’. Although the flight is often the most polluting part of your trip, sustainable travel is much broader than that. You can make every holiday more sustainable, by making the right choices during your trip as well. Do I recommend flying to another continent 4x a year? Of course not. There too, you can make conscious choices. But as soon as you plan that great trip that has been on your list for a while, or you want to build a sustainable holiday from scratch, here are some tips that can make your trip more sustainable (even if you go by plane).

1. Travel in low season

Most people travel in the same months. Summer holidays in many countries are in July and August, and many people plan around rainy seasons and other factors that might make a travel destination less attractive. That means there are MANY people who travel in those exact months. That’s a lot of people walking across the narrow bridges in Venice or lying on the beach on a Greek island at the same time.

So a sustainable holiday is best planned during the low season. By doing so, you help spread the flow of tourists a bit. You can still turn your back on the beach, but the locals can still go to work, eat out or shop normally without having to fight their way through the hordes of tourists.

Besides, you discover destinations in a unique way. Autumn colours in forests are a unique experience and mountain landscapes with wildflowers in spring also present a beautiful picture. Besides being less crowded in summer, you also help the locals get a more stable income. Read all the benefits of travelling in the off-season here.

2. Choose local and conscious

One of the best ways to travel sustainably is by supporting the local economy. We also call this responsible tourism. Here, you choose small-scale accommodation, eat in local restaurants and book tours with local guides. This way, your money goes to the local population instead of to big international chains. Especially in countries where there is a lot of poverty, this is the easiest way to make a positive local impact and contribute something with your trip.

When booking tours, it is important to be critical. Are the tours ethical? Are animals, nature and locals treated with respect? Avoid tours that exploit animals or where the focus is solely on making a profit. Do your research and choose companies that are transparent about their environmental and social impact. And for a sustainable holiday, preferably choose tours with locals, not expats. Sometimes a language barrier makes this impossible, but often tour guides at popular destinations speak English, have translation equipment or a translator goes with them.

3. Join sustainable projects

Want to make some extra effort? Consider contributing to environmental projects or social initiatives in the region you are visiting. This could range from planting trees to volunteering with a local organisation. Or, for example, join a volunteer project you can find through Workaway* or Worldpackers, among others. This way, you will also save on accommodation costs, as you will always get free accommodation with these projects. Think of projects such as helping with the wine harvest in the autumn, but also, for example, help refurbishing a new B&B or setting up a website of a local tour-agency. There is something for every interest and skill, and in most projects you help the locals.

*If you sign up for Workaway via this link, we both get a month free 🙂

4. Go for a walking or cycling holiday

Are you an active person? Then go for a walking or cycling holiday. In many cities these days, you can do a bike tour, which is already super fun! Or you can rent a bike and go cycling for a day, as I did in Tuscany. But you can also do a real cycling holiday or hike a hut tour through the mountains. This is the most sustainable way to get around, but also incredibly fun. You learn to really enjoy the surroundings this way, you can have a picnic along the way and wake up in a new location every day. It is the perfect way to travel for conscious slowtravellers, as you have all the freedom to determine your own route without hiring a car.

Hiking the Azores Spend six incredible days hiking this famous archipelago, and experience a side that few ever see. Trek to the highest lake in the Azores, wander through storied towns, and hike through some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes you ever did see.

5. Sustainable sailing

Do you prefer being on the water during your holidays and are a fan of cruise travel? Unfortunately, cruise ships are just as, or even more polluting than planes (depending on who you ask). So this is not at all a sustainable alternative to flying. What is a sustainable alternative, however, is a sailing trip. You can’t cross the ocean with that, of course, but you can, for instance, island hop in Greece or sail along the Croatian coast. Sailing combines tranquillity, adventure and a minimal ecological footprint: the perfect sustainable holiday for boaters. Moreover, you don’t have to think about sustainable accommodation and often visit less crowded locations, so you don’t contribute to mass tourism.

6. Be critical on souvenirs

Souvenirs are a great reminder of your trip, but choose consciously. Avoid products made from endangered plants or animals, such as coral, ivory or tropical wood. Preferably also choose local products, made by local artists. You can often easily find small studios where you can buy the most beautiful products. Or buy a hand-painted piece from someone on the street, rather than a print from a souvenir shop. Anything you find in a souvenir shop is most likely made in China or at least mass-produced.

7. Lower your footprint

Also pay attention to your energy and water use. This also causes CO2 emissions and can cause problems for local residents. For instance, in areas that suffer from drought in summer, your daily 20-minute shower can have a big impact on water resources. A resort with a swimming pool is also a must in such areas. Unless you really intend to enjoy the pool every day, it is better to go for accommodation without a pool and go to the beach or a lake if you want to cool down.

8. Compensate your CO2

While it is impossible to make your trip completely climate-neutral, you can compensate. There are several organisations you can donate to, which provide nature restoration or projects to remove CO2 from the air. But besides this, you can also make other choices for sustainability in your daily life. For instance, take the train more often instead of the car, and eat vegan for a month. Find more tips here.