Written by Zeldi Smulders

The prevailing concept of sustainable travel is something many aspire to, and yet it can seem quite complex and even unachievable to most of us. For this edition of Channels for Change, we’ve absorbed the words of travel writer Holly Tuppen and discovered more than anticipated: how to travel with a purpose. Tuppen’s Sustainable Travel: The essential guide to positive impact adventures advises on how to make a difference while still experiencing the beauty of the world. 

Let’s go on a sustainable journey by book! 📚    

November’s read: Sustainable Travel by Holly Tuppen

“And it will soon become clear that the most sustainable option is often the most inspiring one, too.”

Brief summary 

Sustainable Travel is an all-you-need-to-know guide, giving helpful advice on how to be a more responsible traveller, including asking tour operators and accommodations the right questions and reducing your carbon footprint. Tuppen guides the reader through how to embrace slow travel, how to pack responsibly, and how our travels can benefit the people, cultures and places that we visit. The book’s introductory section starts with the basics and explains what sustainable travel is and why it is needed. For readers planning their next trip, it offers useful information on the nitty-gritty details, from what to spend and when to go, to where to stay and what to pack. 

Available on: Bookshop.org and other major book retailers.

The sustainability factor

Overall: 5/5 

Sustainable Travel explores the intricacies of low-carbon and positive impact travelling, with information on the climate and biodiversity crisis as well as regenerative travel and how it can help communities, wildlife and environments. The book highlights how it is possible to travel responsibly on every continent while showcasing how different countries around the world are dealing with their unique tourism challenges. Included is information on a few of the most remarkable regenerative travel experiences in the world, with recommendations on ecotours, tourism initiatives, responsible destinations and green stays. 

Bonus goodie: 2% of this book’s generated sale revenue is donated to the international conservation charity, the World Land Trust, which has funded the protection of over 2000.000 ha of landscapes around the world.

The Viatu review 

About the author

Holly Tuppen is a researcher, sustainable travel expert, and writer. Sustainable Travel is her debut book, published in June 2021, but she has been involved in the world of sustainable travel for over a decade. Travelling around the world without the use of aeroplanes in 2008 ignited her passion to showcase how travel can be a solution to social and environmental problems.

Themes

Inspiring through sustainability success stories and educating by highlighting the damage caused, this book is comprehensive and simple enough for everyone to understand, appreciate, and learn something new. The minimalistic design is complemented by stunning imagery that evoke emotion and exemplifies the beauty of travel done right while showing the wild wonders of the world, including captivating wildlife, interesting people, stunning landscapes, and unique stays.

What makes it different

This guide highlights some of the sometimes overlooked supporters of sustainable travel that are found in unexpected places. Although Tuppen mentions a few organisations that are only found in certain countries or cities, her voice nonetheless lends itself to encouraging readers to appreciate the worthy work that is done both closer to home and abroad. In the end, Holly succeeds in asking some difficult questions and encouraging mindful action.

Holly Tuppen’s Sustainable Travel is for anyone who wants to travel more responsibly, for people and planet. It’s an ideal book to have in your home when you need travel inspiration and to lend to your friends and family. You might pick it up for a quick browse through, only to find yourself completely engrossed hours later. What can be achieved when passionate people put their minds to a problem is truly inspiring, and Sustainable Travel is a book that makes the reader want to be part of the solution by travelling better.

This month’s Channels for Change is about making a positive impact while travelling. Viatu is on a mission to make mindfully-curated experiences through sustainable travel accessible to all with hassle-free booking. Follow our journey on Instagram to see what we are doing to support this movement and keep the momentum going.