Hi travellers! The world’s a pretty awesome place or you wouldn’t be travelling to see it. =) I’m sure you’ve all lived it - travel is an incredible life-changing experience. The world’s given a lot to us, so let’s do our part to preserve this crazy-awesome planet. We’ve put together some tips on reducing our impact while travelling with the help of Sustainable Travel International (STI).

10 ways to travel green and feel good about it

1. Use lighter modes of transportation. Can you walk? Take the bus? Ride a bike? Use public transportation or rent hybrid vehicles wherever possible. Cool thing is – you actually see more of a place when you travel this way. Plus walking helps you avoid putting on the dreaded travel-15 ;)
2. Buy local. Exotic food is cool, but it’s got to get to where you are. Likewise, be sure that local people benefit from your trip by keeping your money within the community. For instance, eat at a local ma-and-pa diner or explore the region with a local tour operator. Feel more connected to the place you’re visiting by interacting with those REALLY in the know. You might get some cool insight.
3. Support environmental conservation Choose the destinations and attractions you visit based on how tourism is handled there. Pick places that place a priority on local conservation. Find out what companies capitalize on tourism to strengthen their conservation efforts. This is especially important for protected areas and wildlife habitats. You’ll feel a lot better about your visit, knowing that you helped preserve these incredible places simply by visiting
4. Respect local cultures Make your stay as low impact as possible for the people living there – accept the differences of other cultures and immerse yourself in them. Learn the local customs and social norms before you visit, and even try to speak as much of their language as possible. Plus, this is just part of what make traveling so much fun in the first place!
5. Minimize your use of natural resources Consider the efficient use of water, energy and fuel as well as the method of waste disposal you use while abroad – use reusable water bottles wherever possible – remember the basic R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle! ;)
6. Eat locally grown, sustainably harvested food What kind of foods are you eating? Are they locally produced? Organically grown? Surprise – locally available food that is sustainably harvested tastes better too! (And for goodness sake, don’t pay anyone serving endangered species!!!)
7. Offset your carbon footprint Flying is great except it wreaks havoc on the environment. Offset the damage done to the environment by buying carbon credits that go towards funding high quality projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. It’s relatively inexpensive and the projects themselves are pretty interesting. (Find out more about carbon offset programs)
8. Volunteer abroad Voluntourism Rocks! From our super-scientific study, volunteering internationally is way more fun, far more social, and definitely more rewarding. Plus - you get to interact with locals in ways you just can’t otherwise.
9. Choose responsible travel suppliers Lots of cool travel companies out there go out of their way to make their work as beneficial as possible to the natural world, to the local economies they are involved in, and the people and cultures they interact with. Let’s send a message by supporting them! (Things to keep in mind when looking for responsible travel suppliers)
10. Give back to the communities you've visited There are a number of ways in which you can give back to the local communities that have accepted you.

Be sure to check out Sustainable Travel International - they are THE not-for-profit organization that's doing everything they can right now to promote sustainable tourism around the world - let them know just how much we appreciate their work. ;)

Want to donate? Find out how.

Happy green travels!

-- Team GeckoGo