TAKE 2 w 32
Low-impact travel doesn’t have to cost the Earth, finds Alice Barnes-Brown
hether it’s a jaunt in the Mediterranean, a cool city break
or a trek through lush rainforest, there are sustainable alternatives to most trips. Clients keen to reduce their carbon footprint can travel with an extra spring in their step knowing they’re supporting local businesses, cutting down on waste and slashing emissions. However, many travellers are concerned about higher costs with sustainable getaways – the 2023
Booking.com Sustainable Travel Report revealed that almost 50% of respondents believed sustainable travel options were “too expensive”. However, an eco-conscious holiday can be brought within all budgets.
11 APRIL 2024
While destinations such as Scandinavia are often praised for their sustainability credentials – with abundant natural beauty and forward-thinking environmental policies – there are also well-priced (and equally gorgeous) alternatives to be found closer to home. In fact, eco-conscious clients may not even need to leave UK shores.
Although flying may be the only
practical way to reach warmer climes from the UK, carbon offsetting as well as supporting tours that make a point of ensuring profits are shared fairly with local communities can help reduce the impact of tourism while emphasising all the positives. Perhaps it really is that easy being green.
travelweekly.co.uk
LIKE THIS? SPAIN
With up to 15 million visits from the UK every year, Spain is Britain’s favourite getaway, and the mountainous Mediterranean country is easy to see sustainably. An extensive national high-speed rail network means you can get almost anywhere in the country in less than three hours on public transport. And for a true no-fly trip, Barcelona can be reached in as little as 14 hours by train.
MOROCCO
Just across the Strait of Gibraltar is Morocco, which has a similarly striking landscape and just as vibrant a food scene as Spain – but much lower living costs. Intrepid is launching four new tours in Morocco this year, including a Mount Toubkal Long Weekend – a small-group tour that spends five days in Marrakech and trekking up the country’s highest mountain. In the space of a morning, the group ascends from arid
valleys to snowy peaks with the help of local guides. At the top, it’s possible to see the Atlantic on one side and the Sahara on the other. Down in the village, the trip stays in a family gite, where hearty homecooked tagine is on the menu. Besides giving a much needed boost to places impacted by
the December 2023 earthquake, the tour can be made even more sustainable thanks to a recent partnership with flight-free operator Byway, which allows clients to reach the start point, Marrakech, by train and ferry via Spain. BOOK IT: Intrepid’s Mount Toubkal Long Weekend leads in from £395 per person, including ground transportation, selected meals and local guides. Flights are extra.
intrepidtravel.com
TRY THIS
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