Having arrived in the year where international travel is finally possible again, it’s more important than ever to consider how we can reboot that wanderlust after a break from travel which has, undeniably, helped the planet heal.
When we do go back to travelling, and we will, it’s vital that we travel carefully and in a way that minimises our impact on the environment – or indeed, in a way that benefits it.
With that in mind, the team at Not In The Guidebooks has got together to curate our top 7 eco-friendly travel destinations for 2022, to offer you some inspiration and help you consider the ways in which you can experience the world again this year, in a way that benefits everyone.
7. India
India was one of the countries that enjoyed one of the most tangible, and widely shared, environmental impacts of lockdown, when residents of Punjab Province saw the Himalayas gleaming on the horizon for the first time in decades as air pollution lifted.
Ecotourism in India is a booming industry, as the developing country acts to protect its truly incredible natural environment which, after all, is a huge part of the reason the country attracts so many visitors.
Whether you embark on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to the magnificent Himalayas to drink in the spectacular scenery, or aim to hit the streets of one of India’s many impossibly vibrant cities, there are opportunities to travel sustainably everywhere, if you look.
6. Iceland
When it comes to living sustainably, there are few nations more innovative and successful than Iceland. In 2021, the land of fire and ice utilised renewable energy resources to provide 85% of its entire energy supply, and is also at the forefront of the ecotourism movement.
You can find incredible tours that get you into the depths of Iceland’s wilderness and allow you to explore stunning glaciers, all whilst minimising your impact on the environment.
Or how about setting out to spot majestic whales on a carbon-neutral tour based on the breath- taking north Iceland coast? Iceland’s main attractions are its stunning natural phenomena, so when you travel there, you’ll find most tours and attractions are run in a really eco-friendly way.
5. Cambodia
You might ask – is there a way to travel and experience the world not only in a way that minimises my impact upon the environment, but in a way that actually helps it and protects it?
In Cambodia, one of Not In The Guidebooks’ newer eco-friendly travel destinations, you can do just that.
Explore incredible ancient temples, visit rural fishing villages on immense lakes, and visit and volunteer at an elephant sanctuary, all whilst staying in environmentally and economically
sustainable accommodation – locally run, comfortable homestays. This tour offers you the unique opportunity to make a tangibly positive difference in this gem of South-East Asia, as you help the vital work of sustaining and protecting Cambodia’s elephant population, all whilst enjoying the memorable experience of getting up-close and personal with one of the most incredible animals on earth.
Eco-Friendly Tours and Experiences
6 Days in Temple Town – Angkor, Elephants and Tonle Sap
5 Nights
Cambodia Blog
- Visit Angkor Wat at Sunrise
- Stay at an accredited elephant sanctuary and see the amazing creatures close up
- Exprience local life with a BBQ at a Khmer home
- Explore the floating markets of Tonle Sap
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Romantic Woodland Escape and River Adventure in Moray, Scotland for Two
2 nights
Scotland
- Available from April to October
- Includes two nights accommodation in a cosy shepherd's Hut
- Includes White Water Rafting Cliff Jumping
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Whale and Dolphin Watching & Visit to Vila Franca Islet
Full Day
Portugal
- Available June to September
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Visit Vila Franca do Campo Islet
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Costa Rica Coast to Coast
14 Nights
Costa Rica
- Travel from Caribbean canals to Pacific shores
- Turtle-filled waterways, volcanoes and cloud forests
- Meet farming families and local artisans
- Adventure, wildlife and beach time combined
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Colombia Cultural Immersion: From Conflict to Colour
11 Nights
Colombia
- Private Tour
- Immersive visits to Bogotá, Pereira, Tayrona & Cartagena
- Includes Cooking classes and visit to Coffee Plantation
- Hiking and access to National Parks
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4. Scotland
You can’t ignore that the way you travel from A to B does have a huge environmental impact on the planet. Whilst flying remains an essential way to travel and see the world in order to bring about the benefits of travel, it is far from the perfect way to explore.
Our fourth eco-friendly travel destination, for our UK customers, offers incredible landscapes, great food, magical villages and wild coastlines, right on your doorstep.
And thanks to the fact that Scotland boasts some of the most beautiful scenery, travelling around the country in an eco-friendly way is actually highly recommended, as you take in breath-taking mountains and lochs from the comfort of your carriage.
3. Colombia
Colombia as an eco-friendly travel destination was always going to feature wildlife, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a tour that gets you as hands-on with the culture as the ultimate tour of Colombia.
Colombia is fast becoming one of the most interesting and exciting destinations, especially for adventure and off-the-beaten-track tourism. You can find rare wildlife, delectable cuisine and some of the most breathtaking views in Central America. Colombia is ready to be explored, hiked, biked or whichever way you want to bask in pure Colombian adventure.
2. Costa Rica
The little tropical paradise sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Caribbean regularly makes it onto the list for eco-friendly travel destinations, and it’s no different in 2022.
Running entirely on renewable energy, it’s been the poster boy for ecotourism since the concept was thought up, and any trip you make here is sure to be entirely responsible and sustainable.
Get off the beaten track in Costa Rica and meet the local people who still use sustainable farming practices, making the most of the incredibly fertile landscape to grow incredible coffee and sugar cane. For a truly authentic Costa Rican experience, it doesn’t get much better than this.
1. Portugal
Whilst it may not be the first country that springs to mind, Portugal is one of the most progressive, liberal and forward-thinking countries in the world, and whilst it may have fallen behind a little on the ecotourism trend when it overdeveloped its southern coast, the concept has now taken hold and is growing rapidly.
Whether it’s on mainland Portugal, staying on a beautiful yoga retreat in sustainable accommodation and drinking in the peaceful landscape, or in the incredible Azores, swimming with
wild dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean and bathing in geothermally heated pools, there are a growing number of eco-friendly travel experiences.
Having arrived out on the other side of the long, dark tunnel of no travel, it’s our responsibility to spend our money in the right places and with the right people. After a year and a half where travel has been made an awful lot more difficult, we’ve been given a glimpse of what a world without travel looks like. Without travelling responsibly, that could be a world future generations have to live with permanently.
26/06/2025 
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