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Sustainable Travel from A to Z

Want to know how you can travel more sustainably? Read this curated checklist of the top tips you need to know from A to Z.

Imany

Intern

Published on

27 Mar 2025

Updated on

08 Apr 2025

Action Plan

If a travel company is serious about sustainability, it’ll have a solid action plan. Check for impact reports, B Corp certification, or carbon reduction strategies. At Far and Wild, we’re transparent about our environmental footprint, offering the world’s first carbon scoring system for tailor-made travel. If a company isn’t upfront about what they’re doing to reduce their impact, they’re probably not doing enough.

Biodiversity & Bold Legislation

Some countries are setting the gold standard for conservation. Namibia was the first in the world to write environmental protection into its constitution, ensuring wildlife conservation benefits local communities. Costa Rica, meanwhile, has doubled its forest cover in just a few decades. We can’t forget that Bhutan is the only country in the world to be officially recognised as being carbon-negative, meaning it absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits. Seek out destinations that genuinely prioritise biodiversity rather than those that just pay it lip service.

Cut Carbon, Then Remove It

To combat climate change, it's essential to reduce emissions and focus on actively removing carbon from the atmosphere through projects like Ecologi, which invest in reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, and direct air capture. Far and Wild calculates the carbon footprint of every trip we plan, helping you understand the environmental impact of your travels. You can then contribute to carbon removal projects, ensuring your travels have a net positive effect on the planet.

Ditch Disposability

The best souvenir? One that doesn’t end up in landfill. Refuse plastic straws, cutlery, and miniature toiletries. Bring a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, and shopping bag. Rwanda and Kenya are some of the first African countries to have banned plastic bags and Costa Rica is on its way to eliminating single-use plastics altogether. Stay ahead of the curve and travel waste-free.

Eco-Lodges That Give Back

Where you stay matters. The best eco-lodges don’t just reduce their impact; they actively support local communities and conservation. In Ecuador, Mashpi Lodge protects the cloud forest, Zafara Camp in Botswana blends luxury accommodation with solar power and House in the Wild in Kenya grows most of their own vegetables and recycles water through an eco-wetland. Seek out properties using renewable energy, water recycling, and local employment.

Fly Direct

Take-offs and landings burn the most fuel, so choosing direct flights significantly reduces your carbon footprint. Non-stop flights also mean fewer delays, less wasted time in transit, and no risk of lost luggage. If you can’t avoid a layover, try to keep it short and pick a routing that avoids unnecessary backtracking.

Greenwashing? No Thanks!

Just because a hotel has a ‘green’ logo doesn’t mean it’s truly sustainable. Ask the hard questions: Do they use 100% renewable energy? How do they manage waste? Do they actually contribute to conservation, or is it just clever marketing? If they can’t back up their claims, book elsewhere.

Habitat Protection Over Hands-On Tourism

If you love wildlife, make sure your visit helps protect it. Say no to elephant rides, lion cub petting, or any attraction that allows hands-on interaction. Instead, support places focused on habitat restoration like Rwanda’s mountain gorilla conservation programme or Argentina’s Iberá Wetlands rewilding project.

Impact Travel: Visit Projects That Matter

Where you spend your money makes a difference. At Far and Wild, we support charities like Play it Forward in Zambia and Amanatani in Peru which focus on conservation, education, and community empowerment. By visiting, you’re contributing to real, lasting change.

Just Say No

To waste, exploitation, and anything that doesn’t sit right with you. That means refusing plastic-packaged toiletries, avoiding unethical wildlife attractions, and skipping mass-produced souvenirs. Every conscious decision counts.

Keep It Local

Stay in locally owned hotels, choose local guides, and eat at local restaurants. In Kenya, Maasai-run conservancies ensure profits stay in the community. Hotel Belmar in Costa Rica is locally owned and champions sustainability through recycling, composting, and locally sourcing food. Many of our safaris, including the Honeymoon Adventure Safari in Tanzania, offer a professional English-speaking guide. Wherever you go, choose businesses that give back.

Leave No Trace (Like, Literally None)

When hiking in places like Patagonia or relaxing on Sri Lanka's beaches, it’s important to stick to marked trails to protect delicate ecosystems and prevent soil erosion. Always take your rubbish with you, as anything left behind can harm the environment and wildlife. Never feed wildlife, as it disrupts their natural behaviour and can lead to dependency or harm. These simple actions help preserve natural habitats and ensure that future travellers can enjoy these beautiful locations.

Microplastics: The Hidden Menace

They’re in our oceans, our food, and even our bodies. Avoid synthetic fabrics that shed plastic microfibres, skip plastic-wrapped toiletries, and support initiatives like The Flipflopi, which turns plastic waste into boats in East Africa.

Nature-Based Tourism: Travel With Purpose

From Botswana’s eco-conscious safaris to community-led whale watching in Sri Lanka, some forms of tourism actively protect wildlife and habitats. When you travel, aim to support environmental conservation and local communities where possible. Travel should support nature, not harm it.

Off-Grid & Off-Season: Smarter Travel

Traveling off-peak to places like South Luangwa in Zambia or Choquequirao in Peru offers lower prices on flights, accommodation, and tours. With fewer tourists, you’ll experience more personalised and authentic interactions, allowing for a deeper connection with local culture and nature. The absence of crowds creates a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, enhancing your overall experience. Additionally, visiting during the off-season helps ease the pressure on over-touristed areas, supporting more sustainable travel practices.

Pack Light, Pack Smart

Lighten that load! A lighter bag means less weight, which uses less fuel to transport, not to mention there are fewer single-use products to waste! We suggest you bring a reusable bottle, solid toiletries, and quick-dry clothing to travel with a lighter footprint.

Question Everything

Is this wildlife attraction ethical? Does this hotel actually recycle? Is this tour benefiting the local community? If a company can’t provide clear, honest answers about its sustainability practices, it’s a sign to look elsewhere. Support businesses that align with ethical and environmental values—ones that are genuinely committed to protecting the planet and benefiting local communities.

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle

Refuse what you don’t need, reduce waste, reuse what you can, repair instead of replacing, and recycle properly. Five simple steps for a greener trip.

Sustainable Travel

Sustainable travel isn’t just about avoiding harm; it’s about actively doing good. One of the most impactful ways to support local conservation efforts is by staying in or visiting conservancies. Conservancies are privately or community-run areas of land that are managed with the dual focus of protecting wildlife and benefiting local communities. A portion of tourist revenue is funded directly back into the conservation projects, ensuring that wildlife habitats are preserved, and local people benefit economically. Explore our range of African and South American conservancies on our website today!

Take It Slow

Ditch the whistle-stop itinerary and embrace slow travel. Spend more time in fewer places, take the scenic route, and really immerse yourself in local life. You’ll gain richer experiences and cut your carbon footprint in the process.

Unplug & Reconnect

Less screen time, more real-world moments. Travel isn’t about the perfect Instagram shot; it’s about being present. Constantly charging devices, streaming videos, and staying glued to your screens requires electricity, much of which comes from non-renewable sources. By consciously reducing screen time, you’re not only immersing yourself more in your surroundings but also cutting down on unnecessary energy use. Turning off devices when they’re not needed, limiting social media scrolling, and opting for offline maps or guidebooks instead of GPS apps all contribute to lowering your digital carbon footprint.

Vegetarianism: A Tasty Climate Solution

If that’s too extreme, just eating less meat helps to drastically reduce global warming gases. Try plant-based asado in Argentina, jackfruit tacos in Mexico, or vegetable thali in India. The planet (and your taste buds) will thank you.

Wilder Guides: Travel With Purpose

Our Wilder Guides help you explore responsibly, connecting you with eco-friendly destinations and ethical travel experiences. Order one today or speak to one of our travel experts!

X Marks the Undiscovered

Instead of visiting popular, overcrowded tourist hotspots, we can choose lesser-known gems that offer authenticity and tranquillity, such as São Tomé & Príncipe over the more commercialised Seychelles or Laos instead of the bustling Thailand. These hidden destinations often provide a deeper connection to nature, culture, and history, free from the overwhelming crowds that dominate mainstream locations.

Your Choices Shape the Future

Every decision you make has an impact. Travel well by being mindful of our experiences, respecting local cultures, and connecting meaningfully with the world around us. Also, travel wisely by making eco-conscious decisions and considering the long-term impact of our choices on the environment and communities.

Zoos are overrated

Refuse to invest in the captivity of animals and visit official wildlife conservation projects! Whether it’s spotting jaguars in the Pantanal or lions on a Zimbabwean game drive, Far & Wild Travel will set you on a path to be immersed in a breath-taking display of natural beauty while protecting endangered wildlife!