Last Updated on October 12, 2024 by Greg Head
Staying Green While Sightseeing in the Countryside – We’re all aware of how serious climate change is, therefore, doing your bit for the environment can help reduce your carbon footprint to help save the planet.
For those that love to travel, there are lots of things that you can do to be a green tourist, meaning you can explore new places without destroying the planet.
Sightseeing in the Countryside
If you aren’t sure where to start, here are a few tips on how to stay green while sightseeing in the countryside.
Plan an Eco-Friendly Itinerary
When sightseeing and exploring the countryside, there are acres upon acres of wonderful scenery and views to explore, therefore, instead of relying on a car that guzzles up gallons of fuel to get around, why not invest in an electric bike instead?
Emojo electric bikes are extremely reliable, convenient, affordable, and compact.
Electric bikes are energy efficient and offer emission-free transportation, not to mention the wide range of physical and health benefits.
Eat Green
When away from home and out of your comfort zone, it’s much harder to practice eco-friendly eating.
With many restaurants being huge contributors towards food waste, there are things that you can do to reduce your impact on the environment, such as not always eating at restaurants, not ordering too much food, carrying your own set of reusable cutlery, as well as sticking to local, and organic food where you can.
Purchase Locally Made Souvenirs
When exploring the countryside, you may want to bring home a keepsake.
If you are planning on shopping throughout your trip, try and stick to souvenirs that have been locally made.
Not only will shopping locally have a better impact on the community you’re in, but your souvenirs will also be more meaningful and thoughtful, rather than if you were to purchase a mass-produced item.
Drink Responsibly
We all know how much of a problem plastic is, regardless of where you are across the globe.
Whether it’s dumped on the street, thrown into the sea, or tossed into the garbage can, many of us will never see the huge piles of waste plastic.
When in the countryside, the water won’t be safe to drink, so it’s important to seek out alternatives, rather than relying on small plastic bottles.
It’s advised to purchase big bottles of water and then fill your reusable bottle using those.
Sightseeing Accommodation Choices
When finding somewhere comfortable and relaxing to stay during your trip, it can be hard to find an accommodation provider that’s committed to sustainable tourism practices.
While eco-hotels are becoming more popular, they’re still only a small percentage, with some pretending to be green businesses.
To help you find the right accommodation, there are various green-focused websites that you can check out, such as EcoBnB and Green Pearls.
Staying in a hostel over a chain hotel may be another option as you’re able to pack multiple people into one room, making it an eco-friendlier choice.
Choose Time & Place Carefully
While it can be great to get outdoors and into the countryside, you may find that many others have the same idea as you!
Instead of visiting the countryside in high season, why not go when the hotels are less empty, and the attractions are less full?
As an off-season traveler, not only will you help bring balance to the environment around you but also the economy of the destination you’re heading to.
Speak Up
Whenever you see a hotel owner, tour guide or restaurant owner who is doing something that does not seem very eco-friendly, it’s important that you have the confidence to speak up.
No one is saying you must be obnoxious or confrontational, however, it doesn’t hurt to point out that as a traveler who likes to lead a greener way of life, you would prefer things to be done in a different way.
There are small but subtle changes that hotel owners can make to run an eco-friendly business, such as reducing how much plastic they use, as well as changing the light bulbs to energy efficient ones.
Pointing them in the right direction can only be a good thing, as they will be doing their bit to help the environment.
Support Conservation Areas or Environmental Organizations
When researching your trip, you should take the time to identify any local environmental organizations, as well as conservation areas.
Depending on how much time you have and your budget, you can decide on how best to support them throughout your trip.
As an eco-friendly tourist, you will want to do things that benefit the environment, so if you’re going for a hike in the countryside, simply cleaning up after yourself can be a huge help to the local nature conservation.
Volunteering a small portion of your time to help out in the area will be hugely appreciated.
Exploring Asia with Responsible Tourism
Reduce Your Garbage
When on your travels, make sure that you reuse and recycle everywhere you can.
Before you head out the door, you can do some research into what recycling programs are provided by the destination.
When packing for a trip, make sure to include reusable silverware, cloth napkins, as well as any other small things that can help prevent you from adding to the large number of disposables that end up buried in landfills.
Beverage containers can usually be recycled too, and you may even get a refund for doing so!
When it comes to personal hygiene, why not bring along shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as small reusable bottles?
There are even bamboo straws and bamboo toothbrushes that you can purchase too.
If you’ve been used to packing anything and everything in your luggage, you will be surprised at how many eco-friendly options are available.
Whether you’re off sightseeing on a weekend getaway with your partner, or you’re taking your kids on a vacation, there are lots of things that you can do to help you stay green and eco-friendly while exploring what the countryside has to offer.
While you may not feel like you’re doing a lot to help the planet, if each of us followed suit, we could end up living in a much healthier environment.