Sustainable Travel | Kindred Women Travelers

What is Eco-Friendly or Sustainable Travel?

So, is this an oxymoron or what? How can air travel be environmentally friendly? Well, it's not! But does that mean we stop traveling? No, because many countries depend on tourism for survival. Ecotourism is defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education". Responsible travel helps us learn about our world and benefits the local economies of our chosen destinations. According to the executive director of TIES, "Sustainable travel is all about creating a positive effect on the communities you visit." Each year, more and more travelers are seeking eco-friendly tours. And yet there is still a great need for education regarding what irresponsible tourism is doing to our environment.

This is why Kindred Women Travelers is committed to doing whatever we can to minimize our environmental footprint while traveling.

WHAT KWT DOES:

Choose destinations that are not
being destroyed by over-tourism and
are actively involved in
sustainable tourism.

Keep our group size small so that we can
use only one van to get around.

Use the services of local tour guides
who care about sustainable travel.

Minimize the use of paper and plastic
products while traveling by providing
you with reusable options.

Request that linens and towels not be
changed during our 1-5 day stays.

Provide you with drinking water
to fill your own reusable bottles.

Participate in a carbon offsetting project.

Help the local economy by eating food
grown locally.

Make sure our group stays on the
maintained trails.

Avoid any activity that includes the
mistreatment of wildlife.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Pack light! The heavier the airplane,

the more fuel it uses.

Bring a reusable water bottle and

Coffee/tea travel mug.

"Leave no trace behind" by not littering and leaving everything where it belongs,

including rocks, leaves, flowers, etc.

Stay on marked trails.

Treat our "home away from home" as you would your own home - shut off lights, use heat/air conditioning only if necessary, wash clothes

in cold water, conserve water by taking

shorter showers.

Participate in a carbon offsetting program.