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 heavily polluted.
Now, with most of the miners long gone, the river has fought back and its Grade One waters make for great wilderness paddling. The 315km trip from Minto to Dawson takes 10 days; camps are struck on sandbanks and islands.
You might not strike gold but the memories will be priceless.
Scuba diving, Turks and Caicos Islands
Caribbean diving used to be all about Bonaire and the Cayman Islands, but head to Turks and Caicos for lesser development and pristine coral reefs, where visibility of up to 60m reveals a marine world abundant in vivid flora and fauna.
Princess Alexandra National Park offers protected diving off the main island of Providenciales, encompassing some of the islands' most spectacular sites in a 320km-long reef system. The ambience of the island remains laid back and friendly.
Out of the water, seek solitude on untouched powder beaches that are regularly voted the world's best, or just dream of rubbing shoulders with the wealth of millionaires who flock to this island paradise every year.
Horse riding in Patagonia, Chile
Torres del Paine National Park, in Chilean Patagonia, is a vast land of jaw-dropping vistas; there's only one way to see it, and that's on foot. Or four equine feet to be exact. So hop in the saddle and steer your Criollo steed beneath the looming granite pinnacles of the Paine Massif, crossing rivers and skirting the park's glaciers.
Bunk down under canvas to experience the wonder of Patagonia by night – with 10-day trips clocking up more than 40 hours of riding. If you're going to get saddle sore, what better place to do it?
Cycle the Aland Island, Finland
Cycling in Finland? Well, not the big bit of Finland but the autonomous Swedish-speaking Aland Islands in the Baltic Sea.
Comprising more than 6,000 islands, 80 of which are inhabited, the flat terrain, climate and laid-back lifestyle are perfectly suited to cycling. From Mariehamn, the islands' capital, head to Osnas for the Northern Archipelago route: Six days of rolling hills and winding lanes.
Free ferries link the various islands – just plan ahead or you'll find yourself with nothing to do but pitch your tent, kick back and look at the view.
- Taken from Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009, available at www.lonelyplanet.com
Travel responsibly
- Plan your route to minimise carbon emissions – travel by train and public transport where possible, and minimise internal flights. Try lower carbon travel holidays, or there are some great ideas for train travel almost anywhere in the world available at https://www.seat61.com
- Minimise flying time and stopovers – the worst carbon emissions are emitted during take off and landing. For the flights that you cannot avoid, offset the carbon emissions of your flight using a carbon calculator. That way the money is invested in carbon reducing initiatives around the world, offsetting the emissions caused by your flight
- Ask to see the tour operator's policy for responsible tourism. All responsibletravel.com members have to have one. Make sure it explains how they minimise environmental impacts and support the local economy
- Visit www.responsibletravel.com for more
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