studentsineurope

Eco Travel in Europe

Source: The Daily Green

The concept of going green in the world of travel is not innovative. It has in fact been around for decades with places such as Turtle Island in Fiji demonstrating that eco-awareness and sustainability can coexist with tourism. However in the past five years the eco buzz has been amplified within the travel industry, as well as throughout popular culture.

David Krantz, a coordinator with the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in Washington D.C., said ‘’Being green has entered every part of many people’s lives, including travel.’’ This means that resort owners around the world have tapped into the eco trend by catering to the new ecotourism ethos through environmental conservation, light-on-the-land building techniques and the embracing of local culture at resorts.

Eco travel such as cycling, walking and hiking is also becoming a popular means of transport for students as it offers the chance to enjoy a healthy holiday while saving on transportation costs and seeing the natural beauty that a country has to offer.

David Krantz went on to say that ‘’Sustainable tourism is among the most significant movements in all of travel right now,’’ indicating that this is more than a trend with more than 60 countries with thousands of ecologically oriented lodges.

Iceland – Trekking the Laugavegur & Fimmvörðuháls

Iceland offers the chance for visitors to explore several hiking trails through the Icelandic wilderness. The Laugavegur hiking trail is a popular choice among visitors as it includes the glacier traverse from Þórsmörk to Skógar as well as offering diverse landscapes and scenic views.

Along the way visitors are guaranteed to see colourful mountains, huge rugged glaciers, hot springs, rivers of every shape and size, peaceful lakes with narrow ridges and immense waterfalls and not forgetting deep canyons and panoramic views of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Italy – Locanda della Valle Nuova in Le Marche

Built in the 1920’s, the Locanda has paid special attention to energy conservation by double glazing the windows, thermically and acoustically insulating the house as well as fitting solar collectors. In the spring of 2009, they installed photovoltaic panels that provide electricity for both the Locanda and the farm, while their heating system is run by renewable energy; sun power and a low consumption wood stove. They also produce around 70 percent of their own food for breakfasts and dinners and help to provide ways of protecting the environment to their guests.

France – Paris

Since 2007, Paris has offered a new concept by introducing an eco-friendly bike service that is beneficial to both tourists and Parisians offering an easy to use bike service with flexibility in mind that enables cyclists to drop off the bikes at any bike station around town.

This new system called Vélib’, a combination of the French words ‘vélo’ (bike) and ‘liberté’ (liberty) offers the opportunity to explore the cobbled streets of Paris and provides freedom from the confined Metro.

Countries in South America also promote ecotourism, such as Costa Rica, known as ”being the father of eco-tourism”, according to Brian Mullis, the president of Sustainable Travel International, a Colorado-based advocacy group. Eco-tourists can undertake ecologically themed travel, including conservation and volunteering opportunities, as well as wildlife viewing and hiking, providing sustainable tourism in South America.

Costa Rica – Manuel Antonia National Park

Step away from the bustle of city life and step into the green wilderness of Costa Rica’s hidden lodges tucked away in the steamy, dripping jungle. Spend nights listening to plinking tree frogs, howler monkeys and the patter of rain on leaves or witness flash birds as they swoop past your hammock.

During the day enjoy an abundance of outdoor activities with an eco-twist that will see holiday makers climb any of the two active volcanoes; Irazú and Poás which make the soil around the capital fertile. Or visit the Manuel Antonia National Park and hike between beaches, jungle trails or climb a peak, where the visitor will be rewarded with spectacular views of the jungle and sea.

These of course are just some of the eco-friendly destinations that everyone of all ages can benefit from. By living a healthy lifestyle while enjoying new surroundings, visitors will benefit by exploring what each country has to offer in ways that are kind to the environment, which will help cut their own carbon footprint and produce a cleaner, greener and healthier way of living.