Green Travel Calendar for 2018 – part 3
Have you already decided where to go on vacation this year? In our travel calendar we present you destinations and locations that are good for the environment and support local people and culture. Here is part 3 for the time from October to January. If you are looking for our tips for the rest of the year, you find them in part 1 and part 2.
October: explore the nature around Machu Picchu
Are you dreaming of visiting the Inca city Machu Picchu? In its heyday, up to 1.000 people lived here. Today it attracts even more visitors from all over the world, not without consequences for the environment: In 2016 the UNESCO pointed out the local waste management crisis. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel responded to this problem by donating a waste compacting machine: it is able to process 14 tons of waste per day, which is later transported to recycling plants by train. By staying at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel you do not only support its numerous initiatives for protecting the environment, but you can also enjoy the guided hiking tours through the hotel’s five hectare of woodland that are home to some rare animal and plant species.
November: experience Indian traditions
How about attending the Alpashi Utsavam festivities in Kerala at the beginning of November? The highlight of these 10 days of celebration is a solemn procession accompanied by decorated elephants escorting the idols of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple to the sea for a “holy bath”. You can go on experiencing authentic local culture at the Coconut Lagoon. In addition to the poetic performance art form Ottan Thullal, dating back to the 18th century, you can also admire the local craftsmanship: at the Coconut Lagoon you sleep in old mansions that have been saved from deterioration by reconstructing them in the traditional building technique.
December: skiing in the Alps
The ski area of Balderschwang is one of the most snow-guaranteed regions in Germany and therefore the perfect place to enjoy winter without artificial snow. If you want to do completely without slopes or ski lifts, you can try cross-country skiing or hiking tours on snowshoes. This is quite an eco friendly way to explore the winter landscape. With “Spurwechsel”, Hubertus Alpin Lodge & Spa even provides a special offer for cross-country skiers. Due to its optimal insulation and the heating technology using pellets your stay at the Hubertus is also climate friendly.
January: discover the marine life of the Maldives
To escape the first winter blues in January, we recommend a vacation on the Maldives. Here, you can enjoy sunshine throughout the year, white soft beaches and the tropical marine life with its colorful fish and coral reefs. With a bit of luck, even snorkelers can watch manta rays or whale sharks – the biggest sharks living today. Hanifaru Bay is one of the most famous places for watching these animals and only a short boat trip away from Reethi Beach Resort. With its green initiatives, Reethi Beach has been committed to the protection of the delicate marine ecosystem for a long time. Its partner resort Reethi Faru, which has just recently opened, uses latest technology to reduce its impact on the environment as far as possible: for instance photovolatic and a biogas plant that transforms food waste into gas for cooking.
With so many ideas, you only have to decide where to go.
