8 Simple Ways to Travel More Sustainably in 2025
Summer’s almost here! If you’re getting ready to pack your bags and head out on vacation, you’re probably super excited. But have you ever thought about how your travel choices can affect the planet and the people who live in the places you visit?
The good news is, you can still have an awesome trip and be kind to the Earth! Here are eight simple ways to travel more sustainably—helping both the planet and the people you meet along the way.
Choose More Eco-Friendly Airlines
Some airlines are better than others when it comes to reducing the environmental impact of the aviation industry. This includes having a newer fleet, using environmentally-friendly materials, and reducing plastic pollution.
Read more here: https://www.alternativeairlines.com/eco-friendly-airlines
Pick Trips That Help the Planet and People
Choose vacations that give back to the environment or local communities. For example, some places let you help with nature conservation or cultural projects. In Fiji, there’s a program where tourists spend an hour helping out, and in Hawaii, visitors can join beach cleanups. If you’re looking to visit Central America, Africa, Thailand, or Laos, these websites offer some pretty cool experiences:
These websites offer some pretty cool experiences to help you travel more sustainably:
Think About People and Culture
Travel isn’t only about nature; it’s also about people. It’s important to be respectful of local customs and avoid overcrowded tourist spots. Hire local guides and buy souvenirs from locals to support the community.
About eight years ago, I visited Madagascar, a country full of amazing wildlife, including a variety of lemurs. One of the most memorable parts of the trip wasn’t the forest—it was meeting people in a small, poor village. With the help of my local guide, I asked them what they needed most. Their answer? “Soap.” That simple request really shocked me. Something I take for granted every day was a top need for them. So, the guide and I went to the capital city, Antananarivo, and bought as much soap as we could—plus a big bag of clothes—to take back to the village.
In 2007, I traveled to Borneo to see orangutans, but one of the most unforgettable moments was visiting a Dayak tribal community. We bought beautiful handmade crafts and gave a donation to the local school.
In 2007, I traveled to Borneo to see orangutans, but one of the most unforgettable moments didn’t involve wildlife at all—it was meeting a Dayak tribal community. We bought beautiful handmade crafts and gave a donation to the local school.
While we were there, we met two young siblings who couldn’t afford to attend school. Can you imagine that? They didn’t have money for uniforms or school fees. So we paid for their uniforms and helped their family so the children could finally go to school.
I’ll never forget how it felt to learn more about their lives—and how good it felt to give something back.
Choose Eco-Friendly Places to Stay
Traveling more sustainably is getting much easier. As you probably know, some hotels are designed to be more sustainable and kinder to the environment. Look for places that use renewable energy, recycle waste, and conserve water. Even if you’re on a budget, there are affordable options that are eco-friendly.
Here are a few of the great websites to help you decide where to stay:
Tavara – green hotels for every budget
Use Greener Transportation
Whenever possible, take trains, buses, or even bikes instead of planes or cars. For example, train travel is easy in Europe, and public transportation is easy and efficient in Mexico City, Sao Paulo Brazil, Singapore, and Bangkok (the traffic is so bad in Bangkok, that public transport is the only way to get around easily). In fact, many large metro areas have efficient light rail and trains. Even within the US and Canada, several spots ring to mind in order to travel more sustainably- Chicago, New York, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Washington, DC. So many options!
Pack Light and Smart
Bringing less luggage (I admit, I’m not great at this one) means planes use less fuel. Also, pack reusable items like water bottles and shopping bags to reduce waste. We all can’t be perfect!
Eat Local and Seasonal Foods
Try foods that are grown locally and in season. This supports local farmers and reduces the environmental impact of transporting food long distances.
Be a Respectful Guest
Always be polite and considerate of the people and places you visit. Learn a few words of the local language, follow local customs, and leave places cleaner than you found them.
Final Thoughts
Travel doesn’t have to break the bank. Weekend getaways count, too! I’ve been fortunate to explore every continent—always on a budget—and what I’ve learned is priceless.
Seeing distant corners of the world opened my eyes in ways I never expected. It made me stop and think about how lucky I am. It deepened my love for nature—something I never could’ve fully grasped from my own backyard.
But the biggest lesson? Happiness doesn’t come from wealth; it comes from community. In so many places I visited, people had far fewer material things—but they had something richer: deep, caring connections. They looked out for one another.
We could use more of that right here at home. 💚
From clean energy and regenerative farming to cutting plastic and protecting forests, real solutions are already in motion. Want to be part of the change? Explore smart, science-backed ways we can live more sustainably and fight climate change—together.
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