Lonely Planet’s 2024 travel recommendations include five European destinations in the top ten for sustainability, emphasizing responsible tourism and eco-friendly initiatives. Their rankings encompass countries, regions, cities, sustainability, and value.
These are Europe’s winners, from rural Wales to Spain.
1-Greenland for Eco-Friendly Ice Adventures:
With its huge ice sheets and desolate vistas, Greenland has always attracted curious and adventurous tourists.
Visit Greenland, the nation’s tourism body, has been attempting to address the issues brought on by a growing number of tourists.
This entails controlling tourism-related activities and guaranteeing the maintenance and preservation of natural surroundings.
According to Lonely Planet, there will be a “spike in aurora sightings as the sun reaches peak activity in the next few years” in Greenland, a popular place to observe the Northern Lights.
For a sustainable outdoor experience, the travel website suggests embarking on a two-day camping excursion on the planet’s second-largest ice sheet, commencing from the nearby town of Kangerlussuaq.
2-Spain Ideal for Urban Parks and Cycling Routes:
Spain is already one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, but the country with plenty of sunshine has been working on ways to increase off-season visitation and draw attention to lesser-known places.
Additionally, it has been investing in environmentally friendly modes of transport, such as creating new train routes, extending cycle networks, and transitioning to electric buses.
Valencia, located on Spain’s eastern coast, has earned the title of European Green Capital for 2024. This recognition is a result of several sustainable endeavors, such as the creation of new peri-urban farmland, the conversion of 30,000 square meters of public areas into pedestrian zones, and the enhancement of high-speed train connections to neighboring cities.
When you’re in Valencia, don’t miss the opportunity to explore Jardín del Turia, a traffic-free park that was developed from the 9km-long riverbed of the Turia River. You can opt to rent a bicycle or participate in a guided two-wheel tour for an enjoyable experience.
3-Portugal for an Extended Hiking Expedition:
Walkers can start in Portugal and continue their trek to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, for an amazing pilgrimage that spans 620km.
Walking or biking the picturesque Caminho Português de Santiago is one way to experience the route.
Starting in Lisbon, the route travels by gorgeous rivers, historic villages, and Romanesque churches.
Lonely Planet says: “spend the night at locally-owned albergues, dine in traditional restaurants, and tour small towns that have struggled as their residents flocked to the big cities,”
4-Baltic States for Mindful Nature Activities:
According to Lonely Planet: In the Baltic nations, you’ll find “paths [that] comprise what could be considered Europe’s longest meditation practice,”
Travel experts advise exploring the area’s lakes, rivers, and sand dunes as part of a quest to “discover your inner self.”
5-Wales Ideal for Unspoiled Nature Hikes:
Wales’s redesigned rail system has allowed it to rank among the nations that were among the first in the world to enact sustainability laws.
The country’s westward growth is praised by Lonely Planet as offering more “planet-friendly possibilities of exploring the nation’s wild, wonderful west.”
Pembrokeshire National Park, a remote haven, is set to become more reachable with the introduction of new railway stations and expanded services on South Wales’ primary rail line in early 2025.
Now out of these 5 destinations which one is on your Wishlist? Comment down.
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