People who have a deep appreciation of the outdoors can’t really travel like “regular” travelers. Instead of hopping on a plane and hitting one of the world’s largest cities, you would rather hike to somewhere with plenty of greenery and unspoilt terrain. Are you dreaming of a trip that will satisfy your love of nature while being eco-friendly? Here’s how to travel if you’re a nature lover.

Choose the right transportation

When it comes to carbon emission, the transportation industry is a big polluter, with air travel being one of the worst ways to travel if you’re trying to be greener. But, you can’t always say ‘no’ to flying. If you’re traveling alone, flying is actually better for the environment than driving. But, if you’re hitting more locations and taking a few friends with you, you can get to your all-natural destination in a car, especially if you have a hybrid or a compact vehicle that produces less emission. If you’re okay with public transport (not recommended right now due to the pandemic) a bus has the smallest impact, closely followed by trains.

Go camping

Instead of booking expensive accommodation in resorts or hotels, you can fully embrace Mother Nature and try camping. This type of vacation will bring you closer to nature than ever before and teach you a lot of new things about the environment and yourself. There’s nothing more precious than sleeping under the stars and having breakfast surrounded by trees, sunshine and fresh air. And don’t think you need a bunch of expensive gear for your camping trip. A tent, a sleeping bag and some water and food are basically all you need. When sleeping in nature, make sure to respect the Leave No Trace Principles and conserve the environment.

Pack minimalistic

When vacationing in the wilderness, you know you don’t need a tux or high heels. However, you still need warm clothing and other necessities. Luckily, everything you need can fit into a backpack and your jacket pockets. When hitting nature, make sure to dress in layers, pack water, first aid kit and a quality knife. Any model of practical otf automatic knives will be your best friend on your nature journey since you can use it for food prep, crafting and protection. Combine your automatic knife with a good flashlight and you’ll have almost everything you need for survival. Personal survival kit for sale for your safe nature travel.

If you’re not staying in the wilderness, you can still pack less and reduce the weight of your plane, bus or train. The more weight you put on your vehicle or aircraft, the more fuel it requires and more pollution it produces.

Choose green accommodation

Since more and more travelers are trying to protect the environment and travel green, an increasing number of hotels, hostels and resorts are investing in eco-friendly accommodation. There are even organizations that provide travelers with a clear rating of accommodation according to their green level. Make sure to stay in a place that uses green building materials, effective laundry policies, renewable energy sources and local food products. If you can, you can opt for renting a log cabin which doesn’t require as much man-made material or energy as traditional vacation accommodation.

Shop locally

If you want to help a place survive and stay green and clean, you need to help its economic growth and survival. So whenever you travel to a location you like, make sure to shop locally and experience it the way people who live there do. Shopping in small local stores, eating in local restaurants and investing in the community’s culture and art are all good ways to feed the local economy. Try to avoid big chain cafes and restaurants since they strip the communities of its culture, take money from locals and turn green areas into construction sites.

Slow down

A nature vacation is different than other types of vacations, especially trips to big cities. Instead of cramming as many activities and sites into your schedule, you can slow down and take your time to soak up the environment and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. According to many research findings, slowing down in nature provides people with many health benefits from stress relief to weight management and exercise. So, when vacationing in nature, make sure to stop and smell the metaphorical roses. Be realistic when heading into the wilderness and don’t include too many things into your itinerary. See how much time your route will take you and set aside plenty of time to enjoy various points along the way.

With all this in mind, you can start planning your next vacation that’s going to be green, earth-friendly and fun—what more can a nature lover ask for! So, pack lightly, board a green transportation option, check into your eco-friendly accommodation and get ready to explore nature and hang out with friendly locals. You will not only have a relaxing trip, but also help keep the environment healthy and clean for future generations.