Climate change is rapidly altering the natural resources and beautiful landscapes of places we love to visit. The effects of climate change are becoming more visible as reports about melting glaciers to coral reef bleaching are frequent news headlines. Traveling sustainably has never been more important;
here at Adventure Life, we’re committed to helping you make sustainable travel decisions that protect and preserve the places we love to explore. Our trips are designed with
sustainable travel and tourism in mind, and we give you the tools to travel responsibly—whether it’s saying no to single-use plastics, respecting local communities, or supporting conservation efforts through our long-time partnerships with responsible tour operators and cruise companies around the world.
Ready to plan your next big adventure?
Then continue reading for sustainable travel tips and advice.
Before You Book
Choosing the right tour operator is the first step to travel sustainably and responsibly. Select an operator who seeks to work with properties that make a real positive impact—
this may look like supporting local conservation projects, hiring people within the local community, and a commitment to preservation of culture. These properties seek to go above and beyond to avoid wasteful and unnecessary consumption of natural resources and set an example of good stewardship.
Here are some of the ways Adventure Life evaluates partnerships with local operators and things you may consider to make sure your travel is sustainable:
Step 1: Choose Eco-Conscious Tour Operators
Message tour operators and get answers about sustainable travel efforts they have in place. Learn about their local projects and check for the things they do to give back to Mother Earth and local communities.
At Adventure Life, we share what local projects you are supporting when you travel with us. Check out the Sustainability tab when you look at our operator's pages.
Here are some questions you may ask to understand an operator’s philosophy around sustainable travel:
- What’s your waste and water management policy?
- Do you support local conservation efforts?
- Are guides and staff locally hired?
Step 2: Select Small Group Experiences
Tour operators themselves can be leaders in sustainable travel by reducing tourism’s environmental pressure. In fragile destinations like
Antarctica, for example, operators can opt in to membership of
IAATO, an organization founded in 1991 to advocate for and promote environmentally responsible travel within the Antarctic environment. Members impose
guidelines such as limiting group size and requiring high staff-to-guest ratios to protect wildlife.
By selecting small group travel experiences, you can help reduce trail erosion and improve wildlife viewing with less disruption. Trail erosion happens when hiking or walking because paths get worn down or damaged over time, usually from too many people using them or not staying on the marked trail. This can lead to soil loss, plant damage, and harm to nearby ecosystems.
Step 3: Prioritize Locally-Owned Accommodations that Support the Community
Choose locally-owned hotels, guesthouses, or homestays that invest back into the community. To travel sustainably, discuss your preferences with an Adventure Life Trip Planner.
Check if the hotels or guesthouses hire local individuals and use local produce.
Also, be aware of “local-looking” hotels that are foreign-owned and do not support or get themselves engaged in community activities that lead to environmental sustainability. Check the accommodation website and read through reviews.
Some property owners have programs in place to help the community they are in, such as beach cleanups, tree planting, and even community gardening. Support businesses that give back—whether through conservation partnerships, community donations, or educational programs.
The most sustainable travel experiences benefit people, wildlife, and culture, not just the traveler.
Step 4: Consider Carbon Offsetting
Carbon offsetting means paying to cancel out the pollution your travel creates by supporting projects that help the environment, like planting trees or using clean energy. There are tools like Cool Effect or MyClimate to calculate and offset your trip’s emissions.
When possible, Adventure Life prioritizes locally-owned accommodations for sustainable travel and tourism. These properties keep tourism revenue within local communities and often source local food, labor, and materials.
Sustainable Travel Tips for Packing
A great way to travel sustainably can start with the way you pack for your trip. Choose items that will minimize your carbon footprint and keep you from buying non-environmentally friendly products during your journey.
Here are more sustainable travel tips for packing you can easily incorporate into your plans:
Lighten Your Load
Packing light isn’t just convenient, but it also reduces fuel use in cars, buses, and especially airplanes, where every extra kilogram increases emissions.
Stick to light clothing and choose to bring only a few essentials. Remember, you are not moving into your destination permanently, you are a privileged visitor. Consider using a luggage scale to make sure your baggage weight is just right.
When visiting tropical places, choose light fabric, neutral tops, and just a few pairs of shorts or trousers. When traveling to cold places, do not bring a whole closet of warmers and jackets, but instead choose versatile, layerable pieces you can wear conveniently anywhere.
Do you love to read? Then here’s one of our favorite sustainable travel tips to lighten your load:
swap bulky books and guides for e-books, digital maps, and apps.
Bring Reusable Essentials
Staying hydrated during your trip is necessary, so bring your water bottle and refill it every time you land at the airport. To travel sustainably,
there are many options available that are also easy to carry, such as collapsible containers for food and drink.
Staying connected is also necessary when traveling, so bring solar-powered chargers or power banks that you can charge while on the plane or during long airport layovers.
Also consider portable water filters when traveling to remote locations without access to clean drinking water. A filter will not just keep your drinking water safe, but it’s also a sustainable travel tool to keep you from constantly buying bottled water.
Choose Eco-Friendly Toiletries
When shopping for toiletries, consider purchasing solid shampoo, conditioner, and soap bars.
These sustainable travel products not only minimize plastic and unnecessary packaging, but also increase the amount of space available in your luggage for other essentials.
Pack biodegradable sunscreen that is labeled “reef-friendly” or “reef-safe” and consider UPF clothing and swimwear for extra sun protection.
For dental hygiene, consider using bamboo toothbrushes and plastic-free dental floss alternatives.
Dress Responsibly
To make travel sustainable, opt for clothes sourced from sustainable brands that prioritize recycled materials and natural fibers such as linen and cotton, and engage in ethical manufacturing. Quick-dry, breathable fabrics reduce washing needs and energy use.
And always:
extend the life of your travel clothing by following care instructions and ensuring they will last for many trips ahead!
Travel Sustainably During Your Trip
Traveling responsibly means making conscious choices every day.
We believe that small steps lead to big impacts.
These practical sustainable travel tips help minimize your environmental footprint while supporting the places and people you visit, without sacrificing your travel experience:
Conserve Water & Energy
- Limit your shower time, especially in drought-prone areas.
- Set A/C to 75–78°F – Or use fans and natural airflow.
- Open windows for ventilation when possible, instead of relying on mechanical systems.
- Maximise the usage of your towels and follow accommodation guidelines in keeping your linens fresh and clean.
- Choose to explore via a non-motorized mechanism when possible. Don't do an ATV tour, they have a Mountain biking tour, where you go on human power, not gas power. Don't do a motorized boat ride, paddle yourself by kayak.
- Choose to stay in each region for a longer period of time, instead of hopping around the country more. This is an approach to travel sustainably that saves on gas and helps reduce carbon emissions, and can lead to a more relaxing vacation, too!
Reduce Waste
- Dispose of waste properly. To travel sustainably, put bottles in recyclable bins and food waste, such as fruit peels, in compost bins.
- Bring your trash back to your accommodation if the excursion sites or tourist spots do not have trash bins.
- Bring your water and refill it when you can, instead of constantly buying bottled water.
Respect Wildlife
- Follow wildlife conservation rules during your trips. Respect wildlife and view them from a distance according to your trip leader’s guidance (typically at least 15+ feet for most species).
- Do not approach animals or pet wild creatures. Watch for signs of distress such as unusual vocalization, aggression, or visible injuries.
- Only book tours from reputable tour operators such as Adventure Life. Choose sustainable travel and tourism operators that follow the environmental policies that are in place.
- Avoid attractions that exploit animals, such as wildlife entertainment shows or riding animals that do not receive proper rest or care.
Stay on Designated Paths
- Don’t veer off trails – this protects soil and plant life.
- Choose trekking companies that practice trail rotation, which is a way to travel sustainably that gives nature a chance to recover.
- Use GPS trail apps so that you are assured that you are on track, and stay close to your guide.
- Join trail maintenance days if your operator offers it.
Leave No Trace
- Sort and pack out waste like food and plastic. Do not leave it behind.
- Avoid big bonfires during camping trips.
- Report damaged trails to local authorities.
Choose Public Transport
- Instead of renting a car to drive to secluded places, try joining public transport and group trips.
- Try e-scooters and bikes when in urban areas. Research in advance to know what's available before arriving.
- Walk instead of riding when going short distances.
Be a Cultural Ally
- Learn basic local phrases to show respect and build trust.
- Dress appropriately. Follow local dress codes, especially in religious areas.
- Ask before taking photos, especially when visiting sacred places like temples.
- Respect local traditions and customs. Sustainable travel includes keeping an open mind to ways of life that may differ from your own.
Supporting Local Communities
Supporting local communities ensures your travel dollars stay where they matter most. These small, intentional choices empower residents, protect cultural heritage, and deepen your sustainable travel experience.
Buy Local Products
Purchasing locally-made goods supports local artisans and
cuts down on emissions from imported items. Ask about the origin, materials, and techniques used by the artists to engage in a conversation with them and to learn about how they made their product.
Support Artisan Cooperatives
Some sustainable travel tours include learning local crafts like weaving bags made from coconut leaves. Cooperatives often offer more equitable pay and preserve traditional craftsmanship.
Buying from them helps strengthen the economy of the local community.
Practice Ethical Bargaining
In many cultures, bargaining is part of the buying experience, but it should be respectful. To travel sustainably, learn local norms to avoid undervaluing the local artisan's work.
Eat Locally
Dining at locally-owned restaurants that source ingredients nearby reduces food imports and supports farmers.
Look for places offering seasonal menus or farm-to-table experiences.
Eat produce farmed by local farmers and enjoy local cuisines cooked from ingredients sourced within the community, such as seafood dishes made from a local farmer’s fresh catch.
Participate in Community Tourism
Choose tours and experiences run by locals and local suppliers
in partnership with Adventure Life.
Learn the Local Language
Even basic greetings can foster meaningful connections. Use language apps with offline access and be mindful of body language when words fall short.
After Your Sustainable Travel
Even a small gesture to help preserve the environment goes a long way. You also set an example to those around you who are with you in your journey. Share your sustainable travel experiences through reviews that spotlight eco-friendly practices or call out areas that can improve—use your voice to help shape future standards.
Use social media to inspire, not to boast, by highlighting practical steps for sustainable traveling that others can follow.
Your honest reflections can spark curiosity, raise awareness, and normalize sustainable choices for others.
The Power of Mindful Footprints
Every decision you make to travel sustainably—
no matter how small—leaves a lasting impact. By traveling consciously, you help preserve the world’s natural and cultural wonders for generations to come. Let these sustainable travel tips guide your journey toward more thoughtful adventures.
