Sustainable Travel Resources Every Traveler Should Know

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at [email protected].

See recent posts by Sarah Schlichter

Carbon offset companies, ecotour operators, green hotels, hybrid rental car agencies … with so many eco-friendly resources on the internet, where’s a would-be green traveler to start? I’ve cut the confusion by gathering my favorite green travel resources in one convenient spot—so whether you’re interested in renting a hybrid car or offsetting the pollution from your last flight, you can find the info you need right here.

General Ecotourism and Green Travel Resources

Learn more about the principles of ecotourism and green travel by browsing these sites.

Carbon Offset Companies

There are a number of companies and charitable organizations that will offset your carbon emissions, not only for flights but also for car travel and household energy use. The range of projects varies widely, so I’ve explained a little bit about each organization to help you decide which offsetter is right for you.

Atmosfair: German nonprofit organization that donates funds to alternative energy projects
Carbon Footprint: British company that retires carbon offsets, plants trees, and supports international energy-saving projects
ClimeCo: American nonprofit organization that retires carbon offsets, plants trees, and supports renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects
The Conservation Fund: American nonprofit organization that plants trees across the U.S.
GreenSeat: Dutch company that supports renewable energy projects
Terrapass: American company that funds clean energy, biomass, and industrial efficiency projects

Eco-Friendly Lodging and Green Hotels

Looking for a hotel that takes steps to care for the environment? These green travel resources can help.

a&o green: Sustainable hostel brand
B’n’Tree: Plants a tree for each hotel booking that originates on the site
Design Hotels: Upscale green hotels
ECOCLUB: Ecolodges across the world
Element Hotels: Environmentally friendly chain with worldwide locations
Green Getaways Australia: Eco-friendly lodging in Australia
Green Globe: Certified eco-friendly hotels across the world
GreenHotels: Green hotels in Greece
Green Hotels Association: Eco-friendly hotels in the U.S. and worldwide
ResponsibleTravel.com: Eco-friendly lodging worldwide

Eco-Friendly Tour Operators

These tour operators take a sustainable approach to travel, with some even paying for carbon offsets for their trips.

Adventures Within Reach: Adventure travel around the world
AdventureSmith Explorations: Expedition cruises and wilderness trips
Backroads: Biking, hiking, and adventure trips around the world
Blue Ventures: Volunteer trips for marine conservation projects
Context Travel: Small-group city walking tours with an educational focus
Country Walkers: Walking tours around the world
Dragoman Overland: Overland tours
Earthwatch Institute: Research expeditions worldwide
Ecoteer: Volunteer trips in Asia
Ecoventura: Carbon-neutral luxury yacht cruises in the Galapagos Islands
Elevate Destinations: Travel combined with local philanthropy
Escape Adventures: Biking and multi-sport tours
Explore!: Small-group adventure trips
G Adventures: Small-group adventure tours
Gamewatchers Safaris: Safaris in East Africa
International Expeditions: Nature-focused tours and small-ship expeditions
Intrepid Travel: Small-group tours around the world
Lindblad Expeditions: Expedition cruises around the world
Mosaic Adventure: Trekking expeditions in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan
Natural Habitat Adventures: Wildlife- and nature-focused trips around the world
OARS: Outdoor adventure tours
Peregrine: Small-group trips led by local guides
Rainforest Cruises: Expedition cruises
REI Adventures: Adventure tours
ResponsibleTravel.com: Eco-friendly tours worldwide
ROW Adventures: Whitewater rafting and other adventure trips
Seacology: Volunteer trips to various conservation project sites
UnCruise Adventures: Small-ship cruises
Wildland Adventures: Luxury trips, including family vacations

Hybrid and Fuel-Efficient Rental Cars

Opt for a hybrid or other fuel-efficient car rental on your next trip from one of these providers.

Alamo: Hybrid rentals at select locations
Avis: Hybrid rentals at select locations
CarRentals: Search engine for hybrid rentals around the world
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Hybrid and electric car rentals
Fox Rent A Car: Hybrid rental vehicles at select locations
Hertz: “Green Collection” of hybrid and fuel-efficient rental vehicles
National Car Rental: Hybrid rental vehicles at select locations

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated with the latest information.

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