While many of us love to travel, we also have this nagging voice in the back of our minds telling us that our favorite pastime is actually bad for us. And that’s not a pleasant experience. We want one of life’s greatest joys – the ability to jet off and explore the world – not to have a detrimental impact on anyone else. 

Fortunately, there are now ways that you can go green while traveling. Check them out below. 

Stick To The Path

Did you know that landscape erosion from people walking on it is one of the biggest problems that resorts face? When people go off the beaten track in large numbers, it creates trampling damage and can harm plants. 

Don’t Use Bottled Water

These days, most eco-conscious travelers are using metal flasks to keep them hydrated during long trips. A lot of airports and transport hubs now offer the ability to fill up your water bottle for free. If you stop at a café, you can also ask them to fill up your water bottle for the next leg of your trip. 

Offset Your Carbon By Joining A Solar Community

Solar communities are a recent innovation you can read about on sites like choosesolar.com. The way they work is pretty simple. You invest a small sum of money in a large solar farm, and then, in return, you can access the solar energy that you need, plus support the growth of solar in your community. This way, you can actually offset the carbon emissions created whenever you travel on a jet airliner. 

Travel By Train

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Traveling by air is quick and easy. But if you are a regular traveler, you might also want to consider using the train. Versus a five-hour flight, you could save upwards of one tonne of carbon

Pack Light

The amount of fuel a plane uses is proportional to its total mass. So the heavier it is, the higher the carbon emissions. Packing light, therefore, is something that every seasoned traveler can do. Plus, it’s relatively easy, thanks to all of the smart travel products now on the market. 

Don’t Bring Plastic Bags

Regular plastic bags are a nightmare for the environment, according to https://www.euronews.com. Some researchers think that it will take around 500 years to degrade in the ground over time. And some plastic particles may not actually degrade at all. 

A better option is to buy those special degradable food waste bags. They act like plastic, preventing moisture from seeping through for around 48 hours. But they eventually break down if you compost them, which is great. 

Travel In A Group

Traveling as a group tends to be more eco-friendly than going as an individual. Instead of ten people traveling separately, hiring separate cars, you can all chip in for a coach or a minivan. This way, you’re only relying on one vehicle instead of more. 

Traveling as a group also allows tour guides to limit the flow of people to certain sensitive areas where wildlife needs time when humans aren’t there.