Earth Day around the world: Sustainable destinations

Earth Day reminds us why protecting our planet matters, especially for those of us who love to explore it. It also reminds us that, in order to look after the environment, it’s important to be mindful of where and how you travel. 

There are many ways to travel more sustainably, from taking fewer, longer trips and using public transportation to supporting local businesses and choosing eco-friendly tour operators.

Earth Day is a global event that highlights the vital importance of caring for our planet. The environmental event first took place in 1970 in the U.S. and since then, it’s grown into a huge movement that incorporates more than one billion people around the world. 

When is Earth Day celebrated? On April 22, each year. Look out for Earth Day events and Earth Day activities, such as beach clean-ups and tree planting in your area.

A big part of traveling in an eco-friendly way is choosing to travel to destinations that prioritize sustainability and putting together itineraries that allow you to leave as light a footprint as possible.  

Here are five exciting sustainable travel ideas to mark Earth Day: 

1. Norwegian Fjords: Join a guided eco adventure

Norway is home to plenty of tour operators that empower you to explore the country’s spectacular fjords in an eco-friendly fashion. On these adventures, you’ll find yourself kayaking in pristine waters, motoring along panoramic roads, hiking to waterfalls, and sharing dinners around crackling bonfires. 

To enjoy Norway’s fjords sustainably, look for tour operators with local guides that prioritize traveling by train and electric boats and buses. Seek out adventures that focus on slow travel, with plenty of hiking and kayaking around remote, lesser-explored areas. Some tour operators here also offer carbon-neutral options. 

2. Explore Costa Rica’s mangroves

Costa Rica is renowned as a leader in sustainable tourism – around 25% of its land is protected and more than 98% of its energy comes from renewable sources. Furthermore, many eco-tourism companies here work closely with communities to help local businesses benefit from visitors.

Costa Rica’s peaceful mangrove forests aren’t just a tourist draw – these plants also play an important role in the fight against climate change. They store massive amounts of carbon and act as coastal barriers, protecting communities from rising seas. 

Exploring Costa Rica’s thriving, biodiverse mangroves is a truly magical experience. Kayaking, paddleboarding, and slow boat cruises are all popular options. This beautiful area is teeming with wildlife, from monkeys and sloths to crocodiles, so there’s plenty for animal lovers to enjoy from a distance. And, as the country’s mangrove forests are highly protected and sustainable mangrove tourism supports local communities, it’s entirely possible to tour these areas in an environmentally friendly way. 

Look for low-impact tour companies that run low-emission, minimal disturbance tours (such as guided kayaking or canoeing) or small group boat tours run by certified eco-operators. It’s also important to seek out companies who employ local guides and support conservation and community livelihoods

3. Noctourism: Stargazing in Iceland 

Stargazing in Iceland is one of the most low-impact activities you can do in this once-in-a-lifetime destination. With its super dark skies (no light pollution here), you can watch the Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) paint the heavens in emeralds and violets. You should also get an exceptionally clear view of the Milky Way.

Stargazing is naturally a low-impact activity. Keep it sustainable by choosing eco-certified, locally-run tour operators, heading to a lesser-used stargazing site, and traveling in small groups on shared transportation. It’s vital to avoid off-road driving and leaving anything behind.

4. Explore the reef in Palau

When you enter Palau as a visitor, you’re asked to sign the Palau Pledge, promising to act sustainably and “leave only footprints that wash away.” This mandatory pledge sets a sustainable tone for your whole trip. 

Palau is one of the best diving destinations in the world. As well as its incredible coral reefs, this Pacific Island Country is home to sharks, mantas, barracuda, snappers, and the eye-catching bumphead parrotfish. There are also plenty of wrecks to dive, giving you an underwater history lesson on WWII. 

As a global leader in marine conservation, Palau’s stunning coral reefs are strictly protected, so it’s essential to work with a local, eco-certified dive or snorkel operator who understands all the dos and don’ts. For example, Palau has banned sunscreens containing reef-harmful chemicals to help prevent coral stress and bleaching. It’s also essential to avoid contact with coral, stay within permitted zones, respect wildlife, and support community-based tourism. 

5. Go on a low-impact safari in Kenya

Kenya’s low-impact safaris enable visitors to experience the country’s majestic wildlife while also supporting conservation and local communities. These safari experiences are typically hosted on community-run conservancies, which prioritize wildlife protection, anti-poaching efforts, and sustainable land use. Most low-impact safaris run in small groups to avoid disturbances to animals and many operate off-grid, employing solar power and rainwater harvesting.  Kenya is a prime destination in which to see the “Big Five” – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros. But with a low-impact safari, wildlife sightings don’t involve chasing the animals, vehicles are limited in number and stay on designated tracks, and the guides are often local naturalists who are experts in conservation. Furthermore, visitors are often invited to take part in cultural programs and in many places tourism fees go directly towards funding anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and local schools.

When we think about sustainable travel, images of remote landscapes, quaint villages, or untouched wilderness often come to mind. Yet the choices we make while exploring bustling cities can be just as important for the planet and local communities.

Here are sustainable stays in four of the world’s most visited cities. 

1. London: Sofitel London St James

The palatial Sofitel London St James, in London’s West End, is home to an indulgent spa and a one Michelin-starred restaurant, Wild Honey St James, which plates up modern British dishes made from locally sourced, seasonal ingredients – including honey from its rooftop beehives. 

The premium hotel also features Green Key and EarthCheck Silver eco certifications. It employs SMART tech to minimize food waste and is working towards eliminating single-use plastics and optimizing energy and water conservation. It also works to support its local community through donations and volunteering.

2. New York: 1 Hotel Central Park

Style meets sustainability at 1 Hotel Central Park, which is located just 655 yards from Manhattan's world-famous park. But you don’t have to step out of the five-star hotel to enjoy some greenery: This urban oasis is home to 40,000 living plants. 

The building—which was constructed with over 6,000 square feet of reclaimed wood—is blanketed with ivy, which helps to keep it cool in summer, warm in winter, and oxygenated all year round! 1 Hotel is also LEED-certified (a globally recognized green building rating system) and is powered by sustainable systems such as LED lighting and occupancy-based thermostat controls.

3. Paris: Solar Hotel

At Paris’ Solar Hotel, the rooms are simple, clean, and comfortable and the focus is firmly on sustainability. Perfect for more budget-conscious travelers, this accommodation features solar panels, rainwater harvesting, a strong recycling program, and a Clef Verte certification (a prestigious eco-label for tourist accommodation). There’s also a garden, free use of the hotel’s bicycles, and a full French breakfast with organic, local and “zero waste” products. 

4. Bangkok: VIE Hotel – MGallery

In the Thai capital, the five-star VIE Hotel boasts sophisticated rooms, a glamorous outdoor pool, a tranquil spa, and a long list of commitments to sustainable practices. The hotel has eliminated single-use plastic, uses LED lights and all back of house waste is recycled. It participates in sustainable community projects, sources using fair trade principles, and provides EV charging stations. 

What’s more, the hotel is located just steps away from the BTS Skytrain Ratchathewi station, making it easy to get around Bangkok without a taxi or tuk-tuk. 

5. Tokyo: MUJI Hotel Ginza

MUJI Hotel Ginza occupies the 6th to 10th floors of MUJI’s global flagship store. Within the four-star hotel, you’ll find peaceful, minimalist rooms, a 24-hour front desk, and a restaurant serving crowd-pleasing dishes. 

The hotel was built with recycled and natural materials, including 100-year-old paving stones from Tokyo trams and salvaged ship iron and there’s a strong focus on local sourcing and low-impact living.

Inspired to become a more sustainable traveler? Here are five tips to help you on the way:

1. Travel less, stay longer: Reduce the number of trips you take and instead choose to stay in one destination for longer and really connect with it. 
2. Support local businesses: Stay away from chains and instead spend your money with local restaurants, accommodation, guides, and artisans. 
3. Look for eco-friendly hotels: Select hotels or apartments with strong sustainability practices. 
4. Use public transportation where possible: Choose buses and trains over private cars where you can.
5. Leave nothing behind: A key principle of sustainable travel is to leave no trace behind – take trash with you, stick to established trails, and support local conservation efforts.