Earth Day: Here's How You Can Help The Planet Through Travel

According to NASA, our planet is undergoing unprecedented climate changes. From the wild number of extreme weather events that have increased over the past few years, to shrinking glaciers, warming oceans, and rising sea levels, the impacts are wide-ranging. 

As a travel company dedicated to social responsibility, it’s important that we do what we can to help mitigate the effects of climate change. 

Travel, whether it be by flight or on foot, can come with its own host of harmful outcomes. Offsetting our carbon footprints, promoting sustainable business practices in natural ecosystems, and protecting the rich biodiversity that tourists flock to see in places like the Amazon rainforest or National Parks of America, are vital to help keep our planet beautiful and healthy.  

But beyond the obvious, we’re also on a mission to educate. We believe that travel is one of the best ways to introduce people to the dangers of climate change. 

Travelers who can see with their own eyes the shrinking glaciers in New Zealand or the dying Great Barrier Reef of Australia are more motivated to do what they can to help save these treasures. That’s why we’re promoting travel to these destinations that are quickly disappearing: the more we know, the more we care, and the more we will do to help.

So, are you with us? Here’s what you can do to help us on our mission.

Discover Planet-friendly Travel Brands

One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re being environmentally conscious on your next vacation is by booking a trip with a planet-friendly company. There are thousands of travel companies to choose from and sometimes the options are overwhelming. 

We've made it easy for you to find the right company and trip that meets your needs and helps our planet in the process by introducing the planet-friendly badge. 

Every travel brand you’ll find on our site with this new planet-friendly badge has met the majority of our criteria for sustainable business practices.

Our criteria 

• They have a sustainability management system 
• They comply with regulations 
• They monitor sustainability efforts 
• Their sustainability claims are accurate
• They make an effort to minimize waste and pollutants
• They support biodiversity conservation
• They minimize their impact while visiting natural environments

When shopping for your next adventure, keep an eye out for these companies. You’ll be safe in knowing that your trip is planet-friendly.

Top 10 Planet-Friendly Travel Brands

We carefully selected these top sustainable travel brands based on their sustainable business practices, number of sustainable tours and their dedication and commitment to driving change within the tourism industry. 

1. Explore!

See all Explore! trips >>

2. 50 Degrees North

See all 50 Degrees North trips >>

3. Myths & Mountains

See all Myths & Mountains trips >>

4. Ker & Downey Africa

See all Ker & Downey Africa trips >>

5. Qwerty

See all Qwerty trips >>

6. CroisiEurope Cruises 

See all CroisiEurope Cruises trips >>

7. Under30experiences

See all Under30experiences trips >>

8. World Expeditions

See all World Expeditions trips >>

9. Topdeck

See all Topdeck trips >>

10. Backroads Touring

See all Backroads touring trips >>

Keep reading for more ways to help the planet....

Top 3 Destinations Disappearing Because of Climate Change

With tons of beautiful destinations around the world suffering under the impact of rising temperatures and melting ice sheets, we’re running short on time to save them. 

It’s important that we are aware of what we’re doing as tourists to these sensitive biomes. However, it’s equally important that we bear witness to these changes. Now’s the time to visit, observe and report what we see so we can all come together to find new solutions to this global problem.

1. The Great Barrier Reef

Located in sunny Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral system in the world. Spanning more than 1,400 miles, this stunningly large coral reef is home to thousands of species of marine life, which attracts snorkelers and divers keen to swim amongst the fish. However, due to warming ocean temperatures and human pollutants, large swathes of coral have been bleached- effectively killing them, and the creatures that call the coral home.

See all trips to the Great Barrier Reef >>

2. The Amazon Rainforest

As one of the most biodiverse places on planet Earth, the Amazon Rainforest is home to rare and beautiful wildlife, flora, and fauna. It’s also huge: spanning roughly 40% of South America it is the largest rainforest on earth. Visitors to the Amazon can trek through Peru, Brazil, Colombia and more without ever leaving the jungle. But illegal logging has led to mass deforestation while extreme droughts have caused an alarming increase in forest fires. 

See all trips to the Amazon Rainforest >>

3. Antarctica

An obvious choice on this list, Antarctica has been the hardest hit of all destinations in terms of climate change. Warming temperatures have led to a dramatic increase in ice melt, leading to a whole host of issues worldwide. And with less ice and biodiversity, iconic animals like polar bears are suffering. But for the more adventurous, small-ship expeditions can get you up close and personal to this changing (and freezing) landscape.

See all trips to Antarctica >>

See all destinations disappearing because of climate change >>

Top 3 Trips to Take to Places That Are Almost Gone

From Alaska to Nigeria, there are places all over the world that have been affected by climate change and are close to disappearing - or changing into somewhere almost unrecognizable. With habitat loss, rising sea levels, and displacement of peoples, climate change has spread far and wide. 

That’s why we’ve collected our favorite trips hosted by planet-friendly tour operators to these once-in-a-lifetime destinations. 

1. Patagonia Adventure by World Expeditions

Get lost in this epic landscape of valleys, peaks, and glaciers on an 11-day small-group tour.

2. Atacama to Paine + Easter Island Extension by Explore!

Take in the sights of Torres del Paine National Park and explore the mysterious and remote Easter Island on a 17-day small-group tour.

3. Greenland Experience by 50 Degrees North

Sail around one of the most remote places in the world on a 7-day cruise in the arctic.