Holiday with a conscience

Gone are the days when you had to suffer to go green, today responsible travel can be luxurious and relatively easy to arrange. In this age of global warming and carbon footprints many people want to have a holiday without causing untold damage to the globe. In Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 , readers will find 10 of the best eco-trips – from nomadic trails to extreme sports, historic cities and beautiful beaches. Although some do require air travel, the authors encourage carbon offset schemes and ask people to follow some basic rules. These include minimising travel where possible, avoiding night-time and winter flights – flights in daylight are less polluting, choosing an airline with a young fleet, which is likely to be less polluting, minimal use of air-conditioning, drinking tap water and not laundering clothes unnecessarily. Here are some adventure holidays you can take with a clear conscience. Cross-country skiing in Kamben, Norway For the uninitiated, cross-country skiing can be torture. Burning calves, freezing limbs and crossed blades seem more like pain than pleasure. But stick with it and Norway's favourite winter pastime invigorates. The country's telemark region has some of the finest skiing, with hundreds of kilometres of self-guided trails through forest and open terrain. Clean air, pristine snow and the serenity of a wilderness cabin can't fail to put you at ease. And even if your technique is more amateur than marathon champion, embrace the spirit of it and the Norwegians will love you. Skintight Lycra body-stockings are optional. Bedouin trails, Jordan Budding Lawrences of Arabia won't be able to resist following in the footsteps of Jordan's Bedouin nomads. Travel south from Amman to Dana Nature Reserve with its array of endemic plant and animal life. Bunk down in an ecolodge before pressing on to Petra, the carved city of Nabataean splendour and junction of ancient Chino-European trade routes. Bugged by the crowds? Then skip on down to the eerie Dead Sea, exploring desert canyons en route. Round your trip off with a therapeutic soak in the unique mineral-rich sea; at 410m below sea level, the shores are lowest point of earth on dry land. Mountain-biking, New Zealand If jet-boating or extreme-ironing aren't your cup of tea, hit the trails for spoke-spinning adventures. At the top of New Zealand's South Island, Queen Charlotte Track is a 71km two-day ride through the Marlborough Sounds, a maze through lush coastal forest. On the North Island head to Tongariro National Park, blessed with some of the country's premium routes and epic Lord of the Rings territory – the 42 Traverse is one of the top rides, famous for adrenaline-filled sections. If you want to party, Queenstown remains the number one resort. Island-Hopping, Greece For years travellers have flocked to the Greek islands in search of sun, sand and good times – the last stop on the pilgrimage through Europe, and it's so hard to leave. In the blink of an eye, days become weeks and weeks turn to months. So island-hopping seems the best way to go – a laid-back approach and an attitude that says, "Yeah, we're late, but we'll get there when we get there". From Mykonos to Tinos, and Naxos to Santorini, the Cycladic's offer deep blue seas, sleepy villages and powder-sand bays. And of course the great Greek hospitality. Why would you want to rush home? South America by train For classic South American adventure, you can't beat running the rails. Trace the Andes on the Old Patagonia Express before visiting the Incas on the journey from Arequipa to Cuzco, but watch the altitude on the world's highest train ride. For a three-week epic, take the Quito–Caracas route from Ecuador to Venezuela, visiting protected jungle, colonial cities and World Heritage sites. The section of track through little-visited Columbia is a treat – the beaches of Islas del Rosario National Park and the crater of the Totumo mud volcano are two great highlights. Walk the Pennine way, Great Britain Pull on your boots and don your waterproofs for Britain's premier long-distance trek – 429km of path that challenges even hardened walkers. Originating at Edale in Derbyshire's Peak District, the path heads north through the Yorkshire Dales on its way to Northumberland and Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. It's a slog: few walk the full length, which averages three weeks. The route is served by youth hostels, great guesthouse and country B&Bs, complete with lush interiors and most offer a hearty English breakfast. But for the true British experience, try a night or two in a traditional pub – a few drinks make all the difference to those blistered feet. Just make sure you can get up the next day! Kayak the Yukon river, Canada At the dawn of the 20th century, prospectors flocked to Dawson City, drawn by the Klondike Gold Rush. The 3,770km Yukon River, flowing from northern Canada to the Bering Sea, was the principal trade route for exporting the booty but became