Despite our best efforts, travel does have an impact on the world (both negative and positive). From planes emitting CO2, the tonnage of hotel laundry that needs to be washed and dried every day around the world, to the sharing of cultures and transplanting new ideas or customs. While it is impossible not to have an influence at all, travelers can strive to minimize how much of an impact they do leave.
Bring a reusable water bottle and don’t litter
This is, by far, the easiest thing you can do. Tap water is potable in many places. So, you can fill up your bottle from your hotel faucet in the morning and be ready for the trail. Of course, this isn’t always the case. When it’s not, try to get larger containers from which to refill your bottle instead of using many little plastic bottles. You can take the Travelers Against Plastic pledge (we did it!) and check if the tap water is safe to drink in your destination. If not, there are plenty of filtration bottles out there. One we like in particular is The Grayl. And please don’t litter. This may be obvious to many, but even leaving tissue behind while hiking is littering. Bring a Ziplock bag to ensure you bring back any trash you create.
When buying souvenirs, look for local products
Traveling responsibly isn’t just about the environment. Far more money stays with the community when you buy handmade crafts, artwork, or specialty food. That goes a long way to support the local economy, especially in rural areas. Don’t buy just any local products as not all local products are good. Animal products (especially in Asia or Africa) can encourage unsustainable and inhumane poaching practices. As tempting as it may be, it’s best to stay away from antiques because many are very good fakes or, if they are real, their provenance may be sketchy (possibly illegally obtained), and it’s hard to grapple with the selling off of a culture’s heritage.
Help protect the environment and animals
In protected areas where you may be hiking or walking, there may be signs instructing you not to stray off the path. This may be for your protection (steep cliffs or rough terrain) and also to protect the landscape and any special plant species, particularly in fragile coastal or alpine environments. Please stay on the path. Taking public transportation helps cut down on vehicle emissions and can offer a more local experience. If the airport has a shuttle bus, take that instead of a private taxi. The little things add up! In addition, be wary of captive animal experiences. A safari in the wilds of the African bush is one thing—the animals roam freely in their natural habitats and humans are simply observers. Animal-based activities or performances, as well as many zoos, are a different matter. In general, stay clear of any experience that profits from captive animals.
Be respectful of local customs
As guests in a foreign culture, the last thing we want to do is offend our hosts, which is why it’s imperative to be mindful and respect local culture and customs. A local guide can definitely help you navigate etiquette and answer any questions. Taking your shoes off in temples, dressing conservatively in certain places, or asking before taking photos of people are all ways that we can be good guests. Famous globetrotter Rick Steves encourages travelers to be temporary locals instead of tourists, which is a great mindset to have.
Give shareable, educational gifts
Guests frequently ask about bringing gifts if they will be interacting with students. We discourage gifts of candy, items that are heavily branded from your home country, or single-use items for individuals (ie: 1 pencil for each student). Instead, bring books, maps, teaching aids for the classroom, and other items that have a long shelf-life and can be used by multiple students. If you will be visiting a monastery or nunnery in places like Bhutan and Southeast Asia, donations of clothing, particularly socks in cooler climates, are welcome, as many are too poor to afford that basic item.
And there it is in a nutshell: five simple things to keep in mind when you’re off exploring that can help better the world even just a little bit.
Matt Holmes is the Founder & President of Boundless Journeys. Boundless Journeys is an award-winning tour operator that goes off the beaten path for immersive and authentic travel experiences.If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Matt Holmes is the President and Founder of Boundless Journeys, an award-winning, adventure tour operator that goes off the beaten path for immersive travel experiences. Long distance hiking in the Alps, snorkeling around remote Pacific islands, and chatting with Buddhist monks at hilltop monasteries are some of the experiences Boundless Journeys offers on over 35 small-group itineraries. Their journeys bring active, culturally curious travelers together to share authentic experiences away from tourist crowds. Prior to starting Boundless Journeys, Matt worked as a tour manager for many years and a rafting guide before that.
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5 Comments
Respecting local customs is an easy way to be an awesome traveler. I find doing so makes traveling fun too. I get to play dress up. Or I get to play in the role of an actor, enjoying my gig while being quite different than I’d be in the US.
Great post. I echo ‘don’t litter’ as being one of the simplest of all these tasks. It’s really not difficult to hang on to any rubbish you have until you find a way to properly dispose of it. But this is something that needs to be instilled at childhood. Sadly, it only takes a few to spoil it for the rest of us.
This is such an important read at the end of the day wherever we choose to travel we are guests and should totally respect our surrounding. I love that more people are spreading the word to littler less and reduce waste. I think it’s important to pick up rubbish if you see it too. I always try to buy a local craft or food item to support the community that had welcomed me and I fully agree that respecting traditions is vital. Such a lovely post.
I think pieces like this are helping to get the message through – in some areas. I get the impression that people are becoming more environmentally aware, and more responsible travellers.
A few months ago I was on a catamaran in the Caribbean and someone dropped a plastic glass over board. We spent 10 minutes with EVERYBODY on board getting into the water and looking for it. Eventually we found the glass. But I doubt that would have happened a decade ago.
I’m sure that it is all about education and information. We need a continual flow of pieces like this to do the job.
Well over a year since this piece was first published and time is still ticking away on the world’s Doomsday clock. Many people put all this sensible advice into effect yet we are probably not doing enough to save our planet. Maybe it’s time for a slight update and to publish again? The more people who read the stuff the better. We’ve got to get the message across.
Bring a reusable water bottle and don’t litter
This is, by far, the easiest thing you can do. Tap water is potable in many places. So, you can fill up your bottle from your hotel faucet in the morning and be ready for the trail. Of course, this isn’t always the case. When it’s not, try to get larger containers from which to refill your bottle instead of using many little plastic bottles. You can take the Travelers Against Plastic pledge (we did it!) and check if the tap water is safe to drink in your destination. If not, there are plenty of filtration bottles out there. One we like in particular is The Grayl. And please don’t litter. This may be obvious to many, but even leaving tissue behind while hiking is littering. Bring a Ziplock bag to ensure you bring back any trash you create.
When buying souvenirs, look for local products
Traveling responsibly isn’t just about the environment. Far more money stays with the community when you buy handmade crafts, artwork, or specialty food. That goes a long way to support the local economy, especially in rural areas. Don’t buy just any local products as not all local products are good. Animal products (especially in Asia or Africa) can encourage unsustainable and inhumane poaching practices. As tempting as it may be, it’s best to stay away from antiques because many are very good fakes or, if they are real, their provenance may be sketchy (possibly illegally obtained), and it’s hard to grapple with the selling off of a culture’s heritage.
Bring a reusable water bottle and don’t litter
This is, by far, the easiest thing you can do. Tap water is potable in many places. So, you can fill up your bottle from your hotel faucet in the morning and be ready for the trail. Of course, this isn’t always the case. When it’s not, try to get larger containers from which to refill your bottle instead of using many little plastic bottles. You can take the Travelers Against Plastic pledge (we did it!) and check if the tap water is safe to drink in your destination. If not, there are plenty of filtration bottles out there. One we like in particular is The Grayl. And please don’t litter. This may be obvious to many, but even leaving tissue behind while hiking is littering. Bring a Ziplock bag to ensure you bring back any trash you create.
When buying souvenirs, look for local products
Traveling responsibly isn’t just about the environment. Far more money stays with the community when you buy handmade crafts, artwork, or specialty food. That goes a long way to support the local economy, especially in rural areas. Don’t buy just any local products as not all local products are good. Animal products (especially in Asia or Africa) can encourage unsustainable and inhumane poaching practices. As tempting as it may be, it’s best to stay away from antiques because many are very good fakes or, if they are real, their provenance may be sketchy (possibly illegally obtained), and it’s hard to grapple with the selling off of a culture’s heritage.
Help protect the environment and animals
In protected areas where you may be hiking or walking, there may be signs instructing you not to stray off the path. This may be for your protection (steep cliffs or rough terrain) and also to protect the landscape and any special plant species, particularly in fragile coastal or alpine environments. Please stay on the path. Taking public transportation helps cut down on vehicle emissions and can offer a more local experience. If the airport has a shuttle bus, take that instead of a private taxi. The little things add up! In addition, be wary of captive animal experiences. A safari in the wilds of the African bush is one thing—the animals roam freely in their natural habitats and humans are simply observers. Animal-based activities or performances, as well as many zoos, are a different matter. In general, stay clear of any experience that profits from captive animals.
Be respectful of local customs
As guests in a foreign culture, the last thing we want to do is offend our hosts, which is why it’s imperative to be mindful and respect local culture and customs. A local guide can definitely help you navigate etiquette and answer any questions. Taking your shoes off in temples, dressing conservatively in certain places, or asking before taking photos of people are all ways that we can be good guests. Famous globetrotter Rick Steves encourages travelers to be temporary locals instead of tourists, which is a great mindset to have.
Give shareable, educational gifts
Guests frequently ask about bringing gifts if they will be interacting with students. We discourage gifts of candy, items that are heavily branded from your home country, or single-use items for individuals (ie: 1 pencil for each student). Instead, bring books, maps, teaching aids for the classroom, and other items that have a long shelf-life and can be used by multiple students. If you will be visiting a monastery or nunnery in places like Bhutan and Southeast Asia, donations of clothing, particularly socks in cooler climates, are welcome, as many are too poor to afford that basic item.
And there it is in a nutshell: five simple things to keep in mind when you’re off exploring that can help better the world even just a little bit.
Matt Holmes is the Founder & President of Boundless Journeys. Boundless Journeys is an award-winning tour operator that goes off the beaten path for immersive and authentic travel experiences.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Respecting local customs is an easy way to be an awesome traveler. I find doing so makes traveling fun too. I get to play dress up. Or I get to play in the role of an actor, enjoying my gig while being quite different than I’d be in the US.
Great post. I echo ‘don’t litter’ as being one of the simplest of all these tasks. It’s really not difficult to hang on to any rubbish you have until you find a way to properly dispose of it. But this is something that needs to be instilled at childhood. Sadly, it only takes a few to spoil it for the rest of us.
This is such an important read at the end of the day wherever we choose to travel we are guests and should totally respect our surrounding. I love that more people are spreading the word to littler less and reduce waste. I think it’s important to pick up rubbish if you see it too. I always try to buy a local craft or food item to support the community that had welcomed me and I fully agree that respecting traditions is vital. Such a lovely post.
I think pieces like this are helping to get the message through – in some areas. I get the impression that people are becoming more environmentally aware, and more responsible travellers.
A few months ago I was on a catamaran in the Caribbean and someone dropped a plastic glass over board. We spent 10 minutes with EVERYBODY on board getting into the water and looking for it. Eventually we found the glass. But I doubt that would have happened a decade ago.
I’m sure that it is all about education and information. We need a continual flow of pieces like this to do the job.
Well over a year since this piece was first published and time is still ticking away on the world’s Doomsday clock. Many people put all this sensible advice into effect yet we are probably not doing enough to save our planet. Maybe it’s time for a slight update and to publish again? The more people who read the stuff the better. We’ve got to get the message across.