My Take on Traveling a Bit Greener
So, I got this idea stuck in my head a while back. Kept seeing stuff about being kinder to the planet, you know? And I like getting away, exploring new places. Started thinking, maybe I could combine the two. Not in some big, save-the-world way, just… try to make my trip less impactful, maybe more meaningful? Felt like something worth doing, a little personal experiment.
First thing I did was ditch the idea of flying. That seemed like the biggest, easiest change. Looked into trains instead. Took me a good few evenings just mapping out routes, checking timetables. It’s not always straightforward, definitely takes more planning than just clicking ‘book flight’. Decided on a spot reachable by rail, somewhere with lots of nature I could explore on foot. Found this little place online, run by a local family, claimed to use solar power and source local food. Sounded decent, less like a big, anonymous hotel. Booked it.
Then came packing. Usually, I just throw stuff in a bag. This time, I thought about it more. Really tried to cut down. Did I need five pairs of shoes? Nah. Packed layers instead of bulky stuff. Made sure I had my reusable water bottle, coffee cup, even a little container for snacks or leftovers. Felt a bit silly laying it all out, but the goal was less waste, right?
- Checked train schedules – took ages.
- Found a smaller, ‘eco-ish’ guesthouse.
- Packed light: less stuff, reusable bottle, cup.
- Planned activities: mostly hiking, local markets.
Getting Out There and Doing It
The train journey was long, I won’t lie. Longer than flying. But honestly? It was pretty chill. Watched the landscape change, read a book, didn’t have that airport stress. Arrived feeling less frazzled than usual.
The place I stayed was simple, basic even. But clean, friendly folks running it. They really did try with the local food thing – breakfasts were amazing, all stuff from nearby farms. Spent my days mostly walking. Hiked up hills, explored forests, just enjoyed being outside. Made a point of sticking to trails, packing out any snack wrappers. Used my water bottle everywhere. It wasn’t hard, just needed a little forethought.
Tried eating at small, local spots rather than big chains. Visited a farmer’s market. Just tried to put my money towards the local community more directly. It felt… good? Different, anyway. Slower pace overall. Less rushing, more noticing things.
Was it perfect? Nope. Public transport in the area wasn’t great, so getting to some trailheads meant waiting around or longer walks. And sometimes you just want convenience, you know? Resisted buying cheap plastic souvenirs. Little things like that took conscious effort sometimes.
Looking back, it was definitely a different kind of trip. Less about ticking boxes, more about the experience itself. It took more planning upfront, and yeah, sometimes choosing the ‘greener’ option wasn’t the easiest or quickest. But I felt more connected to the place, less like a typical tourist just consuming stuff. Felt like I left a lighter footprint. It’s not like I solved climate change or anything, but it was a practical thing I could do. I learned a lot, mostly about slowing down. Would I do it again? Yeah, I think so. Maybe not every single trip, but it’s definitely changed how I think about getting away now.
