10 Sustainable Travel Experiences You’ve Got to Try

One Ocean Diving

Making sustainable choices when planning travel has never been more important, but being a responsible traveller doesn’t mean you have to forgo exploring the world and enjoying incredible experiences.

To celebrate Earth Day 2022, wanted to share Tripadvisor’s list on 10 of the best sustainable experiences available to book on the platform. These are all adventures that you can have around the world, safe in the knowledge that you’re contributing to preserving the environment, precious species and local communities.

1) Snorkel with sharks in Hawaii with One Ocean Diving
One Ocean Diving is an extremely unique program and shark dive led by marine researchers trained by world renowned shark experts Ocean Ramsey & Juan Oliphant. One Ocean Diving is the first company in the United States and Hawaii to offer freediving with sharks without a cage. On the experience, guests are taught what to do if a shark approaches, learn about the biology, physiology, and behaviour of sharks and other specific marine life, and help contribute to current research and conservation efforts.

From AU$206 per person.

2) Discover Conservation Diving in Bali
Conservation Diver Indonesia uses its decades of experience in marine conservation science and research to provide guests with an insightful lesson in coral reef ecology, monitoring, coral nursery and artificial reef construction and maintenance. You’ll spend time learning about the importance of coral reefs and the incredible work being done to rebuild reefs that have died due to global warming and dynamite fishing, then take a dive and plant your very own piece of coral.

From AU$232 per person.

3) Have a Farm To Table Experience in Cozumel, Mexico

Mexican Farm House Tour

One of the best things you can do in a new destination is to meet the locals, eat the regional delicacies, and immerse yourself in the culture. This unique tour combines all of that with a visit to a beautiful traditional Mexican Farm House where you’ll get a local cooking experience from farm-to-table. Learn about the local cuisine and where the ingredients come from, then, participate in a hands-on cooking class, using age-old traditions to prepare local Mexican dishes made from ingredients found on the farm. Your experience ends with a delicious meal set in the gardens of the ranch.

From AU$105 per person.

4) Join a Volunteer Program at a Costa Rica Wildlife Rescue Centre
Get hands-on experience caring for rescued wildlife by taking a tour and volunteer session at the Proyecto Asis rescue centre outside of Arenal Volcano National Park. Ideal for wildlife lovers who want to be more than just a passive viewer, this combination package includes a guided tour of the refuge in addition to the chance to prepare food for the animals. You’ll learn about the resident wildlife and the importance of their conservation, while playing your part in helping to take care of them too.

From AU$77 per person.

5) Bamboo Raft through the rainforest and Visit a Sea Turtle Conservation Centre in Khao Lak, Thailand
Hop on a bamboo raft and float along the water through the surrounding rainforest as your raft is pulled by a local boatman.You’ll stop by a sea turtle conservation centre working to save and increase the number of sea turtles in the region and finally, finish the tour with a trip to Ton Pling Waterfall where you’ll swim in the small ponds enjoy the relaxing ambiance and stunning scenery.

From AU$52 per person.

6) Join a Whale Watching Eco-Adventure from Costa Adeje, Tenerife
Join biologists on a 2-hour thrilling eco-adventure to respectfully observe the whales and dolphins in the Teno-Rasca Marine Protected area of Tenerife. The boat is a custom for whale-watching with cushioned bench seats for just 10 guests, which makes for a more intimate experience. You’ll learn all about these majestic animals, with the opportunity to listen to whales and dolphins with a hydrophone - a special underwater microphone.

From AU$80 per person.

7) Join a 12-Day Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation Program from Cairns, Australia

Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks

This is a more pricey experience but for a 12-day adventure, we’d say it’s well worth parting with the cash. Travel to the Great Barrier Reef and become a marine conservation volunteer and official surveyor for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority (GBRMPA). On this Marine Conservation Program experience you’ll get a mix of scuba diving with the opportunity to help the GBRMPA monitor and identify reef health indicators on the world’s most famous reef.

From AU$2,190 per person.

8) Learn about Amazonian Manatees at a Peruvian Rescue Centre
Learn about animal rehabilitation efforts in the Amazon and check out rare species such as the Amazonian manatee on this tour of the Amazon Rescue Centre in Iquitos, Peru. Your guide will take you through the rescue centre and explain the rehabilitation process for reptiles, monkeys, birds, and manatees, and you’ll then have the chance to explore an educational walking trail in the forest at your leisure.

From AU$11 per person.

9) Experience a cultural trek and homestay in Sapa, Vietnam
ETHOS is an award winning Social impact organisation with a long track record of supporting ethnic minority communities by empowerment through sustainable, ethical tourism. On this 2-day experience, you’ll hike through the beautiful villages and mountains of Sapa, learning about the different species of herbs and trees along the way. You’ll have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the culture and community with a stay at your guide’s home, located within the rice paddies and boasting incredible views.

From AU$125 per person.

10) Take inspiration from a Sustainable City with a Tour of Copenhagen

Tour of Copenhagen

This tour connects the plans of a city to become CO2-neutral with the climate footprint of individuals. You’ll learn about some of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions such as aviation, food diets and food waste, the fashion industry and car transport and energy, and discover the actions you as an individual can take to lower these, and the responsibility of a city to enable their citizens to lower their climate footprints. You’ll cycle through Vesterbro, Islands brygge, past Freetown Christiania, out to Refshaleøen and end the tour at the amazing food market Reffen, located in one of the hippest areas in Copenhagen. The tour is targeted to groups and individuals who have an interest in sustainability, and want to learn more about how cities and individuals interact to protect people and the planet, while experiencing some of the best Copenhagen has to offer.

From AU$50 per person.

*Tripadvisor