In this day and age, the word “green” gets thrown around a lot. But what does it really mean? When we talk about “green travel” it tends to imply anything from eco resorts to carbon offsets. These are all good things, but the crucial part about “green” travel isn’t that it shouldn’t be a fad: it should be permanent mindset. Why? Because traveling should always be done with respect for the environment, people and other cultures.
For your green travel tip this week, we’re focusing less on the logistics of green travel and more on the inspiration behind it. We’ve picked out a couple of things that should inspire you to take on the permanent mindset of conscious travel. Because once you do, you’ll never look back. So get inspired and then get out an go, because like any good traveler knows, there’s nothing better for opening the human perspective and having a better understanding of cultures and our global system than seeing it first hand.
Choose Slow travel
Often we opt for quick-fix travel; we can only fit in an extended weekend so we fly in and out, check out a couple of restaurants, cruise down the main drag and call it good. But where’s the inspiration in that? If you’ve been considering more extensive options, now’s the time. There’s a whole slew of slow travel groups and trips out there, no matter what your interest. Spend a couple weeks working on an organic farm in New Zealand and learning how the locals truly live on an everyday basis. Volunteer your time in a village in need with a voluntourism trip. Rent a vacation villa in Italy and spend your mornings at the market and your afternoons drinking wine. These are all ways to see the world and truly experience the places your in first hand, not just view them from an outsider perspective.
Watch an Adventure Film
180° South from Mountainfilm in Telluride on Vimeo
Even if you’re not the adventurous type, sometimes adventure travel films are the best source of inspiration. 180° South is a great example, and it’s sure to fuel your travel spirit. It’s a combination of an epic trip, travel wisdom and the beauty of nature. I’m checking this film out next week at Mountainfilm Festival, but it’s slowly making its way around the rest of the country. Find out where you can see it here.
Choose Your Trip By Activity, Not By Destination
Instead of throwing a dartboard at a map and deciding where your next trip should take you, think of the meaningful activities that you enjoy and which ones you can incorporate into a trip. Spend a week at an eco yoga resort that employs the local community. Plan a trip around cooking, and spend time in a place where you can focus on local ingredients, how they’re grown and where they’re produced. When you’re doing something you love, you’re more focused on the present, which ultimately makes for a more conscious traveler.
Read a Classic Travelogue
Pick up one of the great travel narratives of our time – like The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux or The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen – and learn why taking time to explore a place is essential. Books like these are key for getting you to seriously think about “living the dream;” getting out, exploring the world, and taking on a travel goal that you’ve always dreamed of. World Hum has a great list of travel books if you’re looking to find a good one.
Image: Chris Carter