Happy holidays, happy planet Print E-mail
Written by Gillian Thomas, 2008   
Page 2 of 2

North Africa's highest peak

In Morocco, stay high in the Atlas Mountains at the Kasbah du Toubakal and go on a two-day ascent of North Africa's highest peak guided by British climber Hugh McHugh. He has painstakingly converted this former home of a feudal chief into a hotel that blends into the environment and retains its traditional Berber style. www.marrakech-holiday.com

Pedal in the Swedish forest

Take a dressin (cycle trolley) for a 12-mile pedal along an old railway line in Sweden's Dalsland forest, going past lakes and even through a tunnel. For the return journey you can swap your dressin for a canoe and paddle back via the lakes. www.visitsweden.com

Safari experience in Kent

There's no need to fly to Africa for a safari experience. At Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent you can stay in a South-African-style tented lodge, which overlooks a watering hole, and go on a dawn safari before breakfast to see wildebeest and zebra. www.totallywild.net

Getting there

From an environmental point of view, travelling by train easily beats flying. Exact comparisons are difficult, but a train ride between London and Edinburgh emits approximately 13kg of CO2 per passenger. This is about 10 times less than if you fly. So clearly flying within the UK should be 'out'.

Train travel is also the best environmental option across mainland Europe, not least because short-haul flights cause proportionately more pollution than long-haul ones.

And how much more pleasant the whole rail experience is! City centre to city centre, no long check-in times or restrictions on luggage, better views from the window and generally more space and comfort. Furthermore, with high-speed lines being opened across Europe, some journeys now work out quicker than going by air.

And remember that if you take an overnight train you gain a day's holiday!

Unfortunately trains tend to work out more expensive than planes, especially with so many 'low-cost' flights on offer. But with the rapidly increasing price of oil, this may not last much longer.

Cross the Channel

London-Paris by Eurostar from St Pancras to Gare du Nord (where you can pick up an inexpensive hire-bike) takes 2hr15mins. www.eurostar.com

Short break in Prague

Eurostar to Brussels, 1 hour 51 minutes, then change for Cologne, 2 hours 20 minutes and catch the overnight train to Prague (choice of 3, 4 or 5 star accommodation). www.railbookers.com

Worthy aims

In 2002, 20 countries signed the Cape Town Declaration on 'Responsible Tourism'. It aims to:

  • Minimise negative environmental, social and cultural impacts;
  • Generate greater economic benefits for local people;
  • Involve local people in decisions affecting their lives;
  • Contribute to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and the world's diversity;
  • Encourage a greater understanding of local culture and the environment;
  • Provide access for disabled visitors;
  • Engender respect between tourists and their hosts.

City cycling

It has been a year since Paris introduced Vélib, a new self-service 'bicycle transit system'. Parisians and visitors can pick up and drop off bicycles throughout the city at 750 locations-offering a total of 10,648 bikes. There is a Vélib station approximately every 275m (900 feet) for a total of 1,451 locations and 20,600 bikes.

To access the bikes, riders can select a one-day card for €1, a weekly card for €5 or an annual card for €29. After the purchase of an access card, riding for the first half-hour is free and a supplement of €1 will be charged for an additional half-hour, €2 for another 30-minutes and €4 for every additional half-hour after that. Example: a 25 minute trip = €0, a 50 minute trip = €1, an hour and 15-minute ride = €3.

Useful reading

Green Places to Stay gives details of handpicked places to stay around the world, from beach huts to eco-chic hotels, all with high environmental standards and offering a 'special' holiday experience. Alastair Sawday Publishing, £13.99.

The Ethical Travel Guide has Tourism Concern's suggestions on where to travel without feeling guilty. Earthscan, £12.99.

Ecoescape guides are round-ups of 'green' places to stay and visit in the UK or Ireland; look out for the France edition in 2009. Markham Publishing, £8.99 each.

Ethical Living - How to live, shop and travel more sustainably. Rough Guides, £9.99.

50 Ways to Greener Travel - Ideas for reducing your carbon footprint. Kyle Cathie, £5.99

Green Passport is a new website produced by the United Nations with tips and advice on how to choose a holiday with the least damaging impact on the environment. www.unep.fr/greenpassport

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