Make Travel count
by Lauren Jarvis
If you promised yourself you would never again take travel for granted, take it one step further and book a trip that has a positive impact. Lauren Jarvis finds 12 ready-made holidays that make it count
Make Travel Count is a feature from Issue 9 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.
1. Don't abandon the staycation
The last two years has definitely helped us appreciate the beautiful British Isles more. During the pandemic our national parks, exciting cities, and stunning coastline more than stepped up to the challenge of providing much-needed restorative escapes when the rest of the world was out of bounds. So, as international borders reopen, let’s keep staycation love going, and ensure our home-grown attractions, rural communities and native wildlife continue to thrive.
Book it: Just Go Holidays’ five-day North Devon Delights and a Taste of Cornwall trip includes four nights in traditional comfort at the Durrant House Hotel in Bideford, excursions to the pretty seaside towns of Ilfracombe, Bude, and the historic house and flower-filled gardens of Hartland Abbey and an Exmoor cliffs and waterfall cruise.
2. stand with hard-hit communities
The global pandemic’s travel restrictions have hit local communities in tourist-reliant destinations hard, so travelling with a company that actively benefits local people and businesses will make a world of difference. Book responsible tour operators which fund social projects, employ local guides, and work with locally-run businesses.
Book it: Adventure travel specialist G Adventures has a non-profit arm, Planeterra, which uses community tourism to change lives. Departures on its exciting new Trans Bhutan Trail tours will start in May – this reopened ancient trade route connects remote communities, generating income and offering the chance to stay in local homesteads and experience Bhutan’s unique customs and traditions. The 12-day Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail crosses spectacular mountain passes and visited remote yak herding communities and ancient mountain fortresses.
3. support the world's indigenous tourism industries
Who better to show you the real beauty of a destination than its indigenous people who have lived off the land for thousands of years? Seeking out trips which incorporate tours and experiences with First Nation peoples helps to keep their ancient customs and traditions alive, supports often marginalised communities, and deepens your understanding of a place’s history and heritage.
Book it: First Class Holidays has a five-day package from Vancouver which will whisk you away from the big city to the remote islands of Haida Gwaii. this pristine archipelago, off the north coast of British Columbia, is the homeland of the Haida Nation. Immerse yourself in nature and culture, exploring wild beaches, rivers, and rainforest, and discovering the tribe’s rich traditions.
4. Pick a resort that respects the ocean
An escape in, on, or near the water brings endless pleasure, so it’s fantastic to see so many travel companies and resorts introducing initiatives to improve the health of our seas, rivers, and lakes. From beach clean-ups to coral regeneration; marine-life monitoring to choosing plant-based meals, there are now plenty of ways for travellers to get involved and help protect our oceans.
Book it: Sun and ski holiday specialist, Club Med has banned single-use plastics and 80% of it’s resorts are now Green Globe-certified for sustainable tourism. Guests staying at Club Med’s Cherating Beach in Malaysia can take part in turtle release sessions at the neighbouring non-profit Cherating Turtle Sanctuary from June to October. The resort sits between a golden beach and a foest which echoes with the hoots of macaques and gibbons.
5. vote for sustainable destinations with your feet
Many countries around the world are rising to meet the challenge of climate change, reducing their dependency on single-use plastics, and implementing strategies to protect and restore biodiversity. Lying in the North Atlantic, the Azores is the first archipelago in the world to achieve international certification for being a sustainable destination accredited by the Global Council for Sustainable Tourism.
Book it: The Azores is one of the best places in the world to see dolphins and whales in the wild (27 of the planet’s 80 cetaceans have been seen here) and has applied for Whale Heritage Status. Responsible wildlife watching brings economic benefits and helps to keep species protections in place. Sunvil offers eco-conscious trips to the Azores, including its seven-night Whale & Dolphin Watching holiday which uses an operator that’s aiding vital cetacean research.
6. Raise money while you holiday
There’s nothing quite like a charity challenge to push your limits and spur you to new heights. Knowing that completing in a trek, bicycle ride, or canoe expedition will not only raise your fitness levels, but raise vital funds for organisations that really make a difference is massively motivational. And of course, you’ll also get to see some incredible sights and meet like-minded people along the way.
Book it: Charitable Travel’s Great Wall Charity Trek is an epic nine-day adventure along one of the world’s most iconic attractions, the Great Wall of China, raising money for the charity of your choice. Departing on September 16 2022, the guided hike also takes in the Temple of Heaven, the forbidden City, and the Hutong district of Beijing.
7. Cruise in climate friendly style
Cruising has historically not been the most planet-friendly way to travel, but cruise companies are pulling out all the stops to clean up and many of the leading companies’ sustainability initiatives in port destinations are all things to look out for before you sail into the sunset
Book it: One of the world’s newest cruise companies, Virgin Voyages has been carbon-neutral since launch and saw it’s first ship, Scarlet Lady, set sail in October 2021. The Southeastern Caribbean Isles Cruise on it’s new ship, Resilient Lady, is a ten-night voyage departing from the American outpost of Puerto Rico and stopping in the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Antigua.
8. Offset your carbon emissions
As the world moves towards green energy solutions and achieving net zero by 2050, various schemes allow companies or individuals to contribute to carbon-offset projects, which help to balance their carbon footprint now. Seek out travel companies that have recognised offsetting schemes, and ensure your travels are ‘carbon-neutral’ in 2022.
Go home: Cruise the world’s great rivers with Cosmos, or it’s sister company, Avalon Waterways, and they will offset your carbon emissions through donations to Trees4Travel, which is planting forests in Haiti, and The Ocean Cleanup organisation. Cosmos’ eight-day Edelweiss: The Natural Beauty of the Rhine cruise starts in the Swiss city of Basel and also stops at Strasbourg in France, Koblenz in Germany and the Dutch capital, Amsterdam.
9. Drive vital scientific research
With the natural world facing so many challenges, we need scientists and researchers more than ever. Many travel companies are now helping to fund essential research and science in the countries where they operate, including the Polar regions, which are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Book it: Intrepid runs a variety of Antarctica tours between November and March each year. You’ll experience this virtually untouched part of the world in a way that supports local communities and respects the environment. Intrepid have a range of specialists onboard for every polar journey, from historians to marine biologists and hiking guides. You can be assured that no question will be left unanswered as you venture into ice-filled bays to spot penguin colonies, scout for seals, and maybe spy a whale breaching from the blue. All trips are carbon-offset and serve only sustainable seafood.
10. Get on your bike
After so many hours sitting down to binge watch on Netflix or Zoom our colleagues, we could all do with moving a little more, and nothing is better for getting in shape – while exploring some stunning natural landscapes – than cycling. A pedal-powered holiday is also better for your carbon-footprint and a great way to meet new people and locals too.
Book it: With tours in Cuba ranging from easy to moderate, adventure tour operator Explore can ease you into sightseeing on two wheels. The island’s quiet roads make it ideal for a cycling trip and the eight-day Highlights of Cuba By Bicycle tour will see you sail through the stunning Sierra Escambray Mountains and stay in locally-run homestays in the crumbling colonial city of Trinidad.
11. Travel Lighter by train
As our world stood still in 2020, clearer skies and cleaner air gave everyone who loves to travel food for thought, and now even frequent fliers are reassessing how often – and how – they travel. A rail trip is a less carbon-intensive way to explore, and also allows the opportunity to see more of the country. Instead of flying over less-visited sights you can trundle through them and maybe even stop. It’s a pretty romantic way to travel, too.
Book it: RailBookers offers rail journeys across the world but its USA and Canada Grand Rail Experience is a 23-day epic. Travelling on Amtrak and VIA Rail trains, you’ll start in the movie capital of Los Angeles before trundling into New Orleans, Washington DC, New York City, Toronto (plus Niagara Falls), Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco.
12. Rewild our world
Development and agricultural practices have left many countries nature depleted, and ecosystems out of balance. In 2020, WWF’s Living Nature Report revealed that the population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have seen an alarming average drop of 68% since 1970. ‘Rewilding’ – the act of restoring landscapes to their natural state – is crucial if we are to turn the tide.
Book it: Many travel companies are now offering guests the opportunity to get involved in rewilding activities. The five-star luxury resort Joali, located on Muravandhoo Island in the Maldives, was built in and around the island’s 1,000 palm trees, and guests can get involved with reef restoration projects. Joali also funds mangrove tree-planting schemes to restore coastal environments and offset emissions. Stay in an over-water or beach villa and explore the island by bicycle, including its nature-influenced art installations crafted by global and local artists.
This is a feature from Issue 9 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.
by net effect