1
Prefer trains and buses
For journeys under 1,000 km, trains emit up to 40 times less CO2 than planes. Long-distance buses like FlixBus are also a solid alternative. The journey is part of the trip.
Eco-travel guide
Responsible Travel
Travel is one of the most beautiful things we can do. But it comes at an environmental and social cost. This guide helps you reduce your impact without giving up adventure.
Travel impact
Transport accounts for 75% to 90% of a trip's carbon footprint. A round trip from Paris to Bangkok by plane emits about 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per passenger — more than what a person should emit in an entire year to stay below 2 degrees of warming. Here's a transport comparison.
Long-haul flight~250 g CO2/km/person
Short-haul flight~180 g CO2/km/person
Car (solo)~120 g CO2/km/person
Car (carpooling x3)~40 g CO2/km/person
Long-distance bus~30 g CO2/km/person
Train~6 g CO2/km/person
These figures are indicative averages that vary by occupancy rate, vehicle model, and distance. Source: ADEME, carbon database 2024.
10 actions to reduce your impact
None of these actions is perfect, and nobody can apply them all on every trip. The idea isn't to be flawless but to make more conscious choices, one trip at a time.
2
Reduce domestic flights
If you fly to reach a country, avoid taking multiple domestic flights. Prefer night trains, ferries, or hitchhiking to get around. It costs less and you see the country differently.
3
Travel slowly
Staying longer in the same place rather than hopping from city to city drastically reduces your footprint. Slow travel also lets you truly immerse yourself in a culture and build deeper connections.
4
Choose eco accommodation
Ecolodges, certified hostels, camping, homestays: alternatives exist everywhere. Check environmental labels and beware of greenwashing. A simple gesture: refuse daily sheet and towel changes at hotels.
5
Reduce plastic
Bring a filter bottle, a cloth bag, and reusable cutlery. Refuse straws and plastic bags. In many Asian countries, water filters are available in hostels and restaurants.
6
Eat local and seasonal
Eat at markets and small local restaurants rather than international chains. You support the local economy, eat better, and reduce the footprint linked to food imports.
7
Avoid destructive activities
No elephant rides, no tiger temples, no animal shows. Also avoid jet ski, quad, or helicopter excursions when walking or cycling alternatives exist.
8
Respect ecosystems
Stay on marked trails, don't collect corals or shells, don't feed wild animals. When snorkelling, use oxybenzone-free sunscreen that destroys coral reefs.
9
Offset intelligently
Carbon offsetting isn't a miracle solution, but it can complement a reduction approach. Choose certified projects (Gold Standard, VCS) and know that offsetting never replaces emitting less.
10
Share and raise awareness
Talk about your choices without moralising. Show that responsible travel isn't sad travel. Share your eco addresses, tips, and discoveries with the community to inspire other travellers.
Eco-responsible accommodation
Accommodation is the second biggest impact after transport. A luxury hotel with pool, AC, and daily laundry consumes up to 10 times more water and energy than a modest accommodation. Here are alternatives combining comfort, authenticity, and low footprint.
Ecolodges
Accommodations built with local materials, often in the heart of nature, minimising their energy impact and supporting local communities. Present on every continent, from Costa Rica's jungles to Nepal's mountains.
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)
You work a few hours per day on an organic farm in exchange for board and lodging. Present in 130+ countries. A unique way to immerse yourself in local life and learn sustainable farming techniques.
Homestays
Sleep at locals' homes via community platforms or simply by asking. Money goes directly to families, cultural exchanges are rich, and your footprint is minimal.
Camping and bivouacking
The lowest possible impact if you follow the Leave No Trace principle. Note: wild camping isn't allowed everywhere. Check local regulations before pitching your tent.
Eco-committed hostels
More and more hostels adopt sustainable practices: solar panels, composting, zero plastic, local products. Labels like Green Key help identify them.
Mass tourism vs sustainable tourism
Mass tourism isn't 'bad' in itself: it democratised travel and supports millions of people. But when unregulated, it destroys exactly what people come to see. Here are the key differences.
Mass tourism
- Concentration of tourists in the same places at the same times
- Oversized infrastructure that disfigures landscapes
- Exploitation of local resources (water, energy) at residents' expense
- Precarious local jobs with minimum wages
- Visual, noise, and environmental pollution
- Standardised experience: same shops, same restaurants everywhere
Sustainable tourism
- Distribution of travellers across time and space
- Human-scale accommodation integrated into the landscape
- Respectful management of local resources
- Fairly paid local jobs
- Preservation of the environment and biodiversity
- Authentic experience and genuine cultural immersion
10 eco-responsible destinations
These countries aren't perfect — none are. But they make measurable efforts to reconcile tourism and preservation. The irony is that the more popular they become, the more they risk becoming victims of their own success.
Costa Rica
Pioneer of ecotourism. 25% of the territory in nature reserves. 99% renewable electricity. A model for the world, even if overcrowding threatens some areas.
Slovenia
First country in the world to receive the Green Destination label. Ljubljana, Europe's green capital. An efficient public transport network and exceptional national parks.
Bhutan
Measures Gross National Happiness rather than GDP. A daily tourist tax funds environmental protection. Forests cover 70% of the territory. An expensive but profoundly different trip.
New Zealand
The Tiaki concept (taking care) guides tourism. Some of the world's most beautiful hiking trails. A strong commitment to conservation, though the plane journey remains a carbon dilemma.
Norway
Leader in electric transport, electric ferries in the fjords, clean trains. The right of access to nature (allemannsretten) allows free camping in respect of the environment.
Portugal
Exceptional long-distance trail network (Rota Vicentina, Camino de Santiago). Growing number of eco-accommodations in Alentejo and the Algarve. Affordable and sustainable local cuisine.
Rwanda
Plastic bags banned since 2008. Gorilla tourism directly funds conservation and local communities. An African model of sustainable tourism.
Iceland
100% renewable energy (geothermal and hydroelectric). Intact landscapes and a deep culture of respect for nature. Caution: mass tourism threatens some fragile sites.
Peru
Community initiatives in the Andes and Amazon allow you to travel while directly supporting local populations. Community-based rural tourism is a solid alternative to the classic Machu Picchu circuit.
Japan
The concept of mottainai (waste nothing) permeates the culture. Exemplary rail network, natural onsens, temples and sacred forests. A country where respect for the environment is a daily given.
Offsetting your carbon footprint
How it works
The principle is simple: calculate the CO2 emitted by your trip (free calculators exist online), then fund a project that absorbs or avoids an equivalent amount of CO2. Reforestation, protecting existing forests, distributing improved cookstoves in developing countries, or funding renewable energy. Prices range from 20 to 50 euros per tonne of CO2.
The limitations
Offsetting should never serve as an excuse to emit without limits. Some projects are dubious: double counting, planted trees that don't survive, or forests that would have been preserved anyway. Look for Gold Standard or VCS certifications. Above all, reduce first and offset what remains. It's a safety net, not a licence to pollute.
Buy local
Every euro spent locally has a direct impact. When you buy from an international chain, the money leaves the country. When you buy from an artisan or at a local market, it circulates in the community.
Local crafts
Buy directly from artisans rather than souvenir shops reselling mass-produced goods. Take time to chat, understand the techniques. An object made in front of you has more value than a fridge magnet.
Markets and street food
Local markets are the beating heart of a country. You'll find the best products, at the best prices, with the least packaging. Street food is often the most authentic and cheapest cuisine a country has to offer.
Family restaurants
Prefer small family-run restaurants over fast-food chains or tourist restaurants. The food is better, the price is fair, and your money directly supports a local family.
Respect for nature
The 7 Leave No Trace principles
Plan and prepare
Know the rules of the area, check the weather, bring what you need to leave nothing behind.
Stay on the trails
Stay on marked paths to protect fragile vegetation. In the mountains, a single off-trail step can cause irreversible erosion.
Manage your waste
What you bring in, you take out. No rubbish, no food scraps, no toilet paper. Carry a rubbish bag.
Leave what you find
Don't collect rocks, flowers, shells, or corals. Leave cultural artefacts in place. Take photos, not natural souvenirs.
Minimise fire impact
Use a stove rather than a campfire. If fire is allowed, use an existing firepit and make sure it's completely extinguished.
Respect wildlife
Observe animals from a distance. Don't feed them, don't approach them for a selfie. Keep your provisions sealed to avoid attracting animals.
Respect other visitors
Keep quiet in natural spaces. Yield on narrow trails. Your experience shouldn't degrade someone else's.
Animals and tourism: what to avoid
Animal tourism can be extraordinary when ethical: whale watching offshore, seeing orangutans in the wild in Borneo, a respectful safari in Tanzania. But a large part of the industry relies on animal suffering. Here are practices to absolutely avoid.
Elephant rides
Elephants are broken through violent methods (phajaan) to accept tourists. Their spine isn't made to carry weight. Prefer ethical sanctuaries where you observe without riding.
Tiger temples and selfies with big cats
Animals are often drugged, chained, and deprived of all natural behaviour. Cubs are separated from their mothers for photos. No serious sanctuary allows you to touch a wild feline.
Dolphin and orca shows
Cetaceans travel hundreds of kilometres per day in the wild. In captivity, they develop stereotypical behaviours, diseases, and reduced life expectancy. Prefer sea observation with responsible operators.
Horse-drawn carriage rides in the heat
In cities like Marrakech or Cairo, horses work in extreme temperatures, often without enough water or rest. Alternatives like cycling or walking exist.
Bear bile farms
Still present in Southeast Asia, this practice is extremely cruel. Never visit these places, even out of curiosity. Support sanctuaries like Free the Bears instead.
How to recognise an ethical sanctuary
- Animals don't perform shows and aren't forced to interact with visitors
- The primary goal is rehabilitation and, if possible, return to the wild
- No captive breeding to produce 'cute' animals for tourists
- The sanctuary is transparent about its finances and operations
- It's supported by recognised NGOs or certified by independent bodies
Travel better
Every choice matters.
You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be aware. Join a community of travellers who choose to discover the world while respecting it.