Read on to discover the perfect eco-friendly travel apps that will help you become a responsible explorer.
Many of us hate to admit it, but travelling comes with an ecological price (and not always the greatest!). Therefore, it is our responsibility, travellers, to open our eyes and act for a change. And sometimes, it can be as simple as using sustainable travel apps to help us explore responsibly.
If reducing our flights is essential to reducing our carbon footprint, finding other green practices is crucial.
Your perfect adventure does not have to harm our planet and can positively impact people and nature. Whether it comes from the products you buy or the places you visit, selecting alternatives that do good for the environment can make a big difference in the long term. And it can be as simple as opening your phone screen and making the right green choices by downloading the best free sustainable travel apps.
To prepare you for your next eco-friendly adventure, here are some of my favourite green travel apps (for iPhone and Android) – the ideal companions for making small changes with significant impact.
Infographic: Must-Have Apps for Eco-Travellers
10 Best Apps for Sustainable Travel
1- FairTrip – The Best For Local & Sustainable Tourism
FairTrip is a collaborative travel guide to authentic and impactful places.
This app allows you to find more than 3,000 places selected by other FairTrippers: homestays, local restaurants and authentic experiences. All are rated based on their positive social impact, green company status and ability to pay fair wages to employees.
As the tourism industry accounts for 10% of global GDP, the goal of FairTrip is to turn it into a driver for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
And if you are visiting the Lake District in the UK, check out these incredible green accommodations.
2- Klima – The Best For Reducing Carbon Footprint
Klima is a climate app that allows you to go carbon neutral immediately and sustainably. It helps offset your emissions, reduce your carbon footprint and multiply your climate impact.
As many of us want to take climate action but do not know how, Klima is here to make personal steps radically easy and support us on our journey – at home or whilst travelling.
72% of CO2 emissions are addressable by consumer behaviour, which means we have the power to change things (and do better)!
And if you want more eco-tips on reducing impact, check out this complete guide to sustainable travel.
3- Closca Water – The Best For Staying Hydrated
Closca Water app helps you reload your water bottle anywhere by providing you with the nearest fountains or refill points worldwide.
The app encourages travellers to stop using single-use plastic bottles and paying to drink water by using water refill points and measuring their positive impact on the planet with just their mobile phones.
And to encourage you even further, the app offers rewards for drinking without single-use plastic and waste.
If you want to go further, buy yourself a filtered water bottle for extra protection and safe drinkable water anywhere.
4- Ecosia – The Best For Fighting Climate Change
You must have heard about Ecosia, an eco-friendly search engine that is also an app.
Ecosia donates 80% of its profits to non-profit organisations that focus on reforestation (148,289,797 trees planted by Ecosia users). It considers itself a social business, is CO₂-negative and claims to support full financial transparency and protect the privacy of its users.
And what better way to plan your vacation or research activities once there than using a green search engine that reduces your impact.
For instance, use Ecosia to find the best ecotourism activities in your destination.
5- HappyCow – The Best For Vegans
HappyCow app helps you find vegan and vegetarian restaurants near you.
Cutting meat from your diet is not an obligation, but doing so can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution and provide better land management.
The extensive network of HappyCow covers more than 180 countries and features an in-app map and user reviews. You can sort listings to include vegetarian, vegan, and restaurants with meat options.
Are you planning a trip to Prague? Check out its best vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
6- My Little Plastic Footprint – The Best For Minimising Plastic
My Little Plastic Footprint app helps you reduce your plastic footprint by going on a plastic diet.
The app helps reduce the amount of plastic you use and advises the correct sustainable alternatives. The diet revolves around fighting plastic-related issues affecting human health, preventing environmental leakage and aiming for an absolute reduction in plastic production.
And yes, when we travel, this matters – plastic is everywhere, and being mindful of single-use plastic on our adventures is necessary. For instance, take a reusable water bottle with you to reduce single-use plastic bottles.
7- Bikemap – The Best For Cyclists
The Bikemap app helps you explore over 9.3 million cycle paths on your bike.
Discover hand-picked cycling regions from around the world with the beautiful region guides in the app.
Cycling is excellent for your mind and body. Taking your bike also improves local air quality and reduces carbon emissions. Bikemap provides the technology you need for route planning and navigation, developed by cyclists for cyclists. So you can enjoy the ride wherever you are.
Are you looking for inspiration on where to ride your bike next? Why not have a look at Scotland and its legendary Loch Ness.
8- Green Travel – The Best For Calculating Transport Impact
Green Travel app helps you make an eco-friendly travel decision for the climate and control CO2 emissions generated by your trip.
Thanks to this app, you can plan your journey knowing your carbon footprint, compare the impact depending on the transportation you choose and keep track of your travel details. All of this so you can better act and find greener alternatives.
And if you want to take a step further, offset your carbon footprint after your trip.
9- Too Good To Go – The Best For Avoiding Food Waste
Too Good To Go app helps you rescue magic bags of surplus, unsold food from your favourite shops and restaurants.
Every day, delicious and fresh food is thrown away at cafes, restaurants, hotels, shops and manufacturers. The app lets you buy and collect this food – at a great price – so it gets eaten instead of wasted.
You will not know what is in your order until you pick it up – it is all part of the surprise! The app is currently only available in Europe and North America, and I love the idea.
10- AllTrails – The Best For Outdoor Activities
AllTrails is a comprehensive mobile app that helps you find the best hiking routes anywhere in the world, perfect for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The app is easy to use and offers a variety of trail maps for all levels and abilities. And even if you are a complete beginner, do not worry. The app will show you all the hiking possibilities around you, with a detailed itinerary and top spots.
AllTrails features include extensive data of trail maps, reviews and photos from users, and the ability to download offline routes or even receive an alert if you miss a turn. The ideal companion for hiking and discovering the beauty of your world – without harming it.
Are you looking to hike in different scenery? Santorini offers many picturesque walks that will allow you to discover the island from a unique perspective.
What does sustainable travel mean?
Sustainable travel means exploring the world whilst being aware of your surroundings and having a positive social, environmental and economic impact on the places you visit.
It could be by adopting more sustainable methods of transportation, staying in more environmentally friendly accommodations, eating local and seasonal foods, or avoiding harmful activities for flora and fauna.
Ultimately, the primary goal of sustainable travel is to create a better and more viable long-term future for tourism.
As a result and in response to climate change and the negative impacts of travelling on our planet, ecotourism was born and continues to expand.
According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), you can define ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves interpretation and education”.
In other words, ecotourism means providing positive experiences to visitors and hosts whilst developing a culture of environmental respect and having a favourable social and economic impact.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
- The Complete Guide to Sustainable Travel
- 10 Best Zero-Waste & Reef-Safe Sunscreens
- Carbon Offset your Flights: What, Why & How
- Top Ecotourism Activities Around the World
- 8 Best Filtered Water Bottles for Travel & Hiking
Download your free sustainable travel checklist ↓
Can apps help you go green?
Yes, apps can help you go green whilst travelling. Their goal is to inspire you to experience the world differently and positively whilst reducing your carbon footprint.
They aspire to reduce the impact of tourism on the environment and local communities and provide the tools you need to become a responsible traveller, such as greener methods of transport, plastic alternatives or eco-conscious accommodations.
Shop the printable road trip planner
Create your dream adventure & live an unforgettable green experience on the road.
What are your favourite eco-travel apps? Do you have any other suggestions?
Let me know in the comments below!
With love ♡
Lucie
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