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How to travel sustainably


 
With around one in five British people expressing concern around the impacts of their holiday, it's unsurprising that many of us are seeking out more sustainable trips. The travel industry has a large carbon footprint, but also a real economic importance for many countries in the developing world, so it's a fine balancing act that many tour operators take very seriously in the fight against climate change.

At Explore, we aim to reduce the carbon footprint for all of our trips by planning out every stage responsibly. We take into consideration the accommodation where Explore travellers stay, the routes and vehicles used to get from one destination to another and the environmental impact of the activities included as part of each trip.

From the moment you book with Explore, we consider it our responsibility to think about how our actions impact the Earth and the countries we visit every step of the way. However, there are many things that individual travellers can do to reduce their personal carbon footprint when planning a trip. If you want to find out how you can reduce your own travel carbon footprint, our guide will give you the top tips for responsible travel.

 

Pack lightly

Heavy luggage can impact the weight of the aircraft and requires more fuel, so be sure to pack light, taking only the essentials that you will need for your trip. If every passenger reduced the weight of their baggage this could help reduce the amount of fuel needed for flights. In fact, one airline calculated that by lightening the load of every plane by just 0.45kg, they could save 53,000 litres of fuel every year!
A person wearing a red backpack crosses a wooden suspension bridge, walking with hiking poles through a dense, green forest. Other hikers are visible in the distance.

Reduce waste

As well as packing light, there are lots of eco-friendly packing tips available to help you reduce waste while you're on holiday. For example, instead of buying travel-size toiletries why not purchase reusable bottles and pots which you can decant your larger bottles into? Even better, solid soaps, shampoo and conditioner bars are a lightweight, zero-plastic option. Take a reusable tote bag for any holiday souvenirs or supermarket purchases, and for hiking trips, your own set of Tupperware with reusable cutlery may come in very handy.
Hands fill a multicolored water bottle from an old faucet, water splashing. The person wears athletic attire, with cyclists in the background, suggesting a roadside or park location.

Travel like a local

Explore aims to reduce its carbon footprint by using public transport where feasible, which allows travellers to enjoy the experience of travelling like a local. Why not consider this when exploring in your free time? Whether you're travelling by bus, hopping on a boat, riding the train or enjoying the thrill of a humble tuk-tuk, this will add to the excitement and adventure of your holiday, compared with travelling entirely by car.
A blue tuk-tuk drives along a coastal road, with palm trees lining the shore and the ocean visible in the background under a clear, blue sky.
You should also 'think locally' when eating out or buying gifts. Destinations such as Morocco, India and Peru have wonderful markets where you can pick up hand-crafted clothing, trinkets and ornaments, while eating at a street food restaurant in Thailand, or learning how to make ceviche in Mexico will provide you with an authentic taste of your destination, rather than putting money into international businesses that may not contribute as much to the local economy.
Colorful textiles and beaded items hang in the foreground, prominently displayed. People walk through a busy, vibrant market in the background, with an assortment of vividly colored goods around them.

Give back to the environment

There are many great incentives to get involved with when it comes to combatting climate change, many of which are undertaken by Explore as part our Responsible Tourism initiative. We've partnered with a variety of different environmental organisations, each one supporting the fight against climate change and the biodiversity crisis in different parts of the world. For every customer who books with us, we make a donation to Rewilding Britain, helping to support nature restoration and protection in the UK and make a donation to Cool Earth, supporting their community-led rainforest protection projects in the Peruvian Amazon. 
A person descends a winding stone staircase surrounded by lush greenery, leading towards a vibrant turquoise waterfall in a tropical forest setting.

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