Responsible Travel Tips

Tips for exploring the planet more sustainably

We acknowledge that travel can have a negative impact on nature, through increasing carbon emissions and pollution and exploiting ecosystems. We are working hard to avoid and reduce these impacts, and you too can play a vital role during your adventures. Here are some ways in which you can put nature first on your travels:

Packing for your trip with sustainability in mind:

Take a re-usable water bottle and coffee cup. Consider re-usable bottles with a filtration system.
Take re-usable cutlery, tupperware boxes and straws.
Take a re-usable bag to replace plastic bags.
Take re-usable shampoo and shower gel bottles, pre-filled from home.

Refusing single use plastic items shows the provider that travellers no longer want items that are damaging to nature.

Things you should try to avoid on your trip:

Where possible, avoid using single-use mini toiletries and plastic wrapped products such as slippers or sealed tea bags.
Be mindful of flushing the wrong kind of waste that may contain plastic – such as wet wipes.
Avoid purchasing foods containing palm oil and souvenirs made from hardwoods such as ebony and mahogany, as these are linked to deforestation.
Avoid sunscreen that contains oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate, and nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, as these are damaging to marine habitats.
Reduce paper by keeping documentation saved digitally on your device.

Things to consider:

Consider travelling by train, which uses 80% less carbon than flying. View our train travel offering here.
Seek alternative forms of transport such as local buses or trains instead of booking internal flights.
Switch to plant-based options from meat, which have a lower carbon footprint.
Look out for certification labels such as ‘MSC’ certified fish or ‘deforestation free’ products.
Turn the A/C off when vacating a room, use in room kettles less and take shorter showers.
Take any recyclable waste home with you if correct disposal facilities are not available.
Choose to support nature and biodiversity restoration by taking a conservation focused trip such as Italian Apennines: Walks & Wildlife.
Avoid purchasing souvenirs made from wildlife parts such as ivory, tortoiseshell, or reptile skins.
Enable natural habitats to thrive when exploring, by keeping to official footpaths which decreases trampling and disturbance of local wildlife.
Ensure the peaceful existence of wildlife in areas where they are at risk by reducing noise and light pollution, as this may disturb and distress certain species.
Encourage regeneration of the seabed, by avoiding touching coral reefs or stepping on marine life when snorkelling and using fins.
Support the preservation of wildlife by keeping informed on the dos and don’ts when viewing animals in the wild and do provide feedback to your guide if you have any concerns. Click here to view our Animal Welfare Policy.

Support the generation of economic opportunities for local people

Alongside supporting biodiversity and ecosystem regeneration, we can have a positive impact on our travels by supporting local communities. You can contribute to supporting local by: