Travelling lightly: Here are the world's most eco-friendly destinations
Thursday, 10 October 2019
The world is changing and travel is changing with it, thanks to a green revolution occurring beneath our feet.
Not so long ago, most of us travelled to forget the world's problems, as well as our own. Now we're taking our sustainable sensibilities with us. We're travelling with our own reusable water bottles and coffee cups. We're choosing trains over planes, eating plant-based and SLO (seasonal, local and organic), picking up litter, saying no to plastic bags and straws, thinking twice about the impact we're having, being kind to animals, giving back.
But we can all do more to put our frequent flyer points where our values are.
An increasing number of us want to visit places that are moving in the same direction. So where to go? There are various ways to measure a destination's 'green-ness' such as energy-efficiency, use of renewables, and plastic-free and zero-carbon initiatives, as well as their ability to reconnect us to nature.
**READ MORE:
* 20 things travellers need to know before they go
* We're in the age of the overtourist, but you can avoid being one
* Off the beaten track: The rise of alternative holiday destinations
* How to be a socially conscious traveller**
This list isn't intended to be exhaustive, but shines a spotlight on seven destinations doing good and green things. Just remember, that as travellers, we're part of this movement towards sustainability too and the more we care about these issues and support destinations, tourism organisations and travel businesses doing the right things, the more we normalise sustainable travel.
Perhaps one day, in the not-too-distant future, there will be no such thing as sustainable travel. There will just be travel that naturally enriches our lives, those of the people we visit, and the planet upon which we all depend.
FRANCE
France has been kicking climate goals since the COP21 climate conference in 2015 that led to the historic Paris Agreement, signed by 195 countries and the European Union. It was the first country in Europe to require supermarkets to donate waste food to charity, in 2015, and the first in the world to ban plastic picnicware – plates, cups and cutlery – from 2020. Last year, President Macron pledged to close all the country's coal-fired power plants by 2021 and reduce its reliance on nuclear power from 75 per cent to 50 per cent by 2035.
WHY VISIT: Paris, of course. But also Provence, Mont Blanc and the French Alps, Corsica with its GR 20 hiking trail, Burgundy for its wines, and the Loire Valley, the surf coast around Biarritz and so much more. And in June/July every year the entire country celebrates the culture of cycling with the world's biggest bike race. See letour.fr
DON'T MISS: It's still five years away, but the Paris 2024 Olympics will be the first to align with the Paris Agreement to ensure it's the most sustainable Games yet. See paris2024.org
KEEP IT GREEN: In October last year, Paris introduced car-free Sundays, once a month in the city-centre; get around like a local by renting a bike or doing a guided bike tour. See bikeabouttours.com
ESSENTIALS: For the ultimate European cycling adventure, spend a week riding some of the best stages of the Tour de France, hours before the pros, with Swiss-based Australian environmental advocate Keith Tuffley who rode all three grand tours in 2013 to promote sustainability. See grandtoursproject.com
CANADA
Earlier this year, Canada, while not entirely a cleanskin when it comes to the environment, passed legislation to stop whales and dolphins from being bred or held in captivity. It announced a Zero Plastic Waste strategy that includes holding manufacturers responsible for plastic waste – important in a country with the world's longest coastline. It banned deep-sea mining and gas drilling in marine protected areas. And British Columbia is phasing out petrol-powered vehicles by 2040, the first province in North America to do so.
WHY VISIT: The Rockies, Banff and Lake Louise, Vancouver Island, the Northern Lights (in winter), the wild Yukon, Inuit and First Nation cultures, Niagara Falls and the Great Lakes, the 'Canadian Galapagos' of the Haida Gwaii islands, polar bear safaris in Manitoba, wilderness lodges and grizzly-viewing, sea kayaking with orcas … Canada's nature show is one of the most varied in the world.
DON'T MISS: Former PM Pierre Trudeau, father of Justin, was a fan of Canadian canoes and they're still one of the most quintessentially, and most sustainable, ways to travel. There's nothing more Canadian than a guided canoe-camping trip exploring the wild lakes of Algonquin Provincial Park. See algonquinoutfitters.com
KEEP IT GREEN: Beat 'flight-shame' by using VIA Rail to criss-cross Canada, which will have 32 more energy-efficient trains by 2022. One of the best long-distance trains is The Canadian, the four-night sleeper between Toronto and Ontario. See viarail.ca/en
ESSENTIALS: Escape the ordinary at Fogo Island Inn on Newfoundland. Built in 2013, it's ecologically minded in every way and co-exists lightly with the island and its people. From $1975 CAD a night. See fogoislandinn.ca
NEW ZEALAND
Two words: Jacinda Ardern. New Zealand's PM banned single-use plastic bags in July, is aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2035 and has been encouraging vegetarianism to ameliorate climate change. New Zealand also plans to 'lead the world in sustainable tourism' according to Chris Roberts, chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, whose goal is to see every tourism business in New Zealand committed to sustainability by 2025. See tia.org.nz
WHY VISIT: Natural beauty galore: its glaciers, fiords, big mountains, tussock-grassed ridges, volcanoes and hot springs, rugged coastlines and pristine beaches, not to mention its kiwi, kea and other birds. Then there are its spectacular multi-day hikes, particularly the nine iconic Great Walks that include the world-famous Milford Track, the Abel Tasman Coast Track and the volcanic Tongariro Northern Circuit. See newzealand.com
DON'T MISS: Three hours north of Christchurch by the Coastal Pacific train, Kaikōura is an EarthCheck-certified Zero Waste community with a deep undersea canyon just offshore that makes it one of the world's best places to see whales of all kinds and to swim with fur seals and pods of up to 300 dusky dolphins. See kaikoura.co.nz, whalewatch.co.nz
KEEP IT GREEN: Late last year, Tourism New Zealand launched the Tiaki Promise, a pledge based on Maori guardianship of the land and respect for others, to encourage visitors to look after New Zealand's natural environment. See tiakinewzealand.com
ESSENTIALS: Adventure South NZ has a new five-day Moonlight Valley & Ben Lomond Backcountry Hike in the ranges behind Queenstown in the South Island from $NZ3195. See adventuresouth.co.nz
BHUTAN
This tiny Himalayan country is the first country to be carbon negative – by exporting to India more hydroelectric power generated by its fast-flowing rivers than it needs – and Bhutan's Prime Minister has vowed to keep it carbon neutral. Electricity is free for farmers, to prevent them cutting down trees or burning kerosene. More than half the country is protected in national parks, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries and 80 per cent of the country is forested; more than the 60 per cent mandated by the constitution.
WHY VISIT: Billed as the last Shangri-La, Bhutan is more down-to-earth than that, its countryside dotted with subsistence villages in between landmarks such as fortress-monasteries like Punakha Dzong and Gangtey, an important rest-stop for migratory black cranes.
DON'T MISS: A full-day hike to Taktshang, the mountain-clinging Tiger's Nest monastery, is obligatory, through oak, rhododendron and fir forests. And perhaps a traditional Bhutanese bath, in a tub full of river water heated naturally by stones warmed in a fire.
KEEP IT GREEN: Bhutan's famous 'high value, low impact' tourism model introduced in 1974 – with its daily all-inclusive tariff of $US250 per person per day, which includes a $US65 Sustainable Development Fee – ensures your visit benefits local communities. See bhutan.travel
ESSENTIALS: The family-run Wangdue Eco Lodge, built in 2015 east of Thimphu, Bhutan's capital, blends traditional Bhutanese architecture with sustainable low-carbon design principles and organic meals. Rooms from 4500 BTN a night. See bhutanecolodge.com
ANTARCTICA
The world's last pure and unblemished wilderness was also one of the first sustainable tourism destinations, thanks to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), founded in 1991 to promote safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. With rules covering everything from shore excursions and waste reduction to reduce visitors' plastic footprint, IAATO now has 116 member operators.
WHY VISIT: Nothing compares to the vastness of Antarctica's landscape – all that ice, those icebergs, the unexpected mountains – and its inhabitants, most notably the penguins, seals, albatross and whales. There are three distinct regions: the Antarctic Peninsula, off the tip of South America; the Ross Sea, where you'll find Scott and Shackleton's historic huts; and the seldom visited East Antarctica, south of Tasmania and New Zealand.
DON'T MISS: Taking a polar plunge, a dip in the Southern Ocean surrounded by sea ice, is a rite of passage that connects you with the white continent like nothing else.
KEEP IT GREEN: Minimise your impact and maximise your experience by voyaging to Antarctica on an expedition vessel that takes fewer than 200 people and is licensed to make landings (cruise ships with more than 500 passengers aren't usually permitted to go ashore). And make sure you go with an operator that is an IAATO member. See iaato.org
ESSENTIALS: Aurora Expeditions, one of the longest-running Antarctic operators, has small-ship cruises, some of which include adventure activities such as polar diving, sea kayaking and camping on the ice. See auroraexpeditions.com.au
SWEDEN
Ground zero for 'the Greta effect' – the climate action revolution sparked by 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg – and 'flygskam' (Swedish for flight-shame) and 'tagskryt' (train-bragging), Sweden sources about half its energy from renewable sources and Stockholm is on track to be fossil-fuel free by 2040.
WHY VISIT: Sweden's 100,000 lakes and 3200 kilometres of coastline make it ideal for wild swimming. Or rent a rail-bike and pedal along disused train lines. In summer, long days make for great hikes; one of the best known is the King's Trail, north of the Arctic Circle, which can be skied in winter and has 16 mountain huts en route. See visitsweden.com
DON'T MISS: Stockholm is built on 14 islands but there are more than 30,000 islands outside the capital, and one of the best ways to experience them is on a one-day or multi-day sea kayaking tour. See truenaturesweden.com
KEEP IT GREEN: Nature's Best Sweden was the first quality label for nature tours in the northern hemisphere when it was launched in 2002. And the innovative new 360 Eat Guide, published in Malmo this year, ranks Nordic restaurants based on sustainability as well as gastronomy. See naturesbestsweden.com; 360eatguide.com
ESSENTIALS: 72 Hour Cabins, minimalist huts with glass roofs and glass walls built in 2017 and 2018 on remote wilderness sites in western Sweden, offer three-day stays to help people reconnect with nature, the Swedish way. See vastsverige.com
ICELAND
Iceland was one of the first countries to ratify the Paris Agreement, almost all its power comes from renewables (mostly hydro, the rest geothermal) and Reykjavik aims to be the world's first carbon neutral city by 2040. The air is ridiculously clean, because of the country's North Atlantic location; much of its food is farmed, bred or caught locally; and its drinking water comes glacier-cold straight from the tap – a new Inspired by Iceland campaign this year has actually been promoting it to reduce plastic bottle waste.
WHY VISIT: The power of nature is Iceland's stock in trade: active volcanoes (including Eyjafjallajokull, which made headlines in 2010), ice caps, some of Europe's largest glaciers, glumping mud geysers, gorges and massive waterfalls. Not to mention about 10 million North Atlantic puffins.
DON'T MISS: Blue Lagoon, an aquamarine pool full of healing minerals just outside Reykjavik, expanded last year and now has a 62-room luxury hotel, subterranean spa and two restaurants, all sustainably designed and run. BYO swimmers and pre-book a time slot online. Seebluelagoon.com
KEEP IT GREEN: Keflavik Airport installed a 'pledge button' last year to help visitors take the Icelandic Pledge, launched in 2017, to protect nature and reduce pressure on over-touristed parts of the country. And say no to the novelty of minke whale meat; if tourist demand declines, so will commercial whaling. See inspiredbyiceland.com; icewhale.is
ESSENTIALS: Bypass Iceland's busy loop road by doing a Lindblad Expeditions 10-day circumnavigation of Iceland expedition cruise instead. Cruises operate June-August with daily outdoor adventures (hiking, kayaking, Zodiac cruising) from NZ$15,130. See au.expeditions.com