Travelling is one of the best ways to discover the value of our world’s wild spaces. Yet increasingly the tourism industry has been criticised for contributing to environmental degradation – from carbon generating plane travel to overcrowding fragile ecosystems.
Determined to make holidays as eco-friendly as possible, hoteliers and tour operators have worked hard to create sustainable options for travellers, minimising carbon emissions and contributing to environmental protection.
Here are a few getaways designed to put our planet first – without sacrificing any of the fun.
Georgia by train
It may be 3,539km from London, but it’s still possible to reach Tbilisi by train. The Georgian capital, renowned for its arts, culture, nightlife and cheap prices, is the starting point for a holiday blending an ancient past with a forward-thinking future. Travel through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Romania and Turkey to finally reach the mountainous country at the intersection or Europe and Asia.
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Although sustainability is a relatively young concept for a nation that’s been influenced by everyone from Eurasian monarchs and Persian kings to Ottoman Turks and Soviet imperialists, there are many initiatives focusing on preserving its traditional crafts and protecting its unique landscapes and archaeological treasures.
Trek through countryside scattered with traditional villages against a backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, learn to make bread and Georgian sweets, and discover a wealth of social enterprise projects empowering communities.
How: Wild Frontiers offers the 13-day Adventures with Purpose: Georgia tour from £2,595pp (two sharing), including all meals, transport, guide and accommodation. wildfrontierstravel.com
Recharge your batteries in the South Tyrol, Italy
Relax and unwind while unburdening your eco conscience at a spa housed in a CO2 neutral building, using 100% renewable energy produced by a plant and wood heating system. Both the interiors and exteriors of the modern, minimalist FORESTIS building are created using local South Tyrolean suppliers and eco-friendly materials. For every felled tree used as fencing, two more are planted in the surroundings of Italy’s northernmost province.
Located on the southern slope of the…
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