Green travel in Indonesia

Ecotravel is becoming increasingly popular, and world-class eco-resorts are popping up in the most surprising places. Wherever there is a bit of nature that is especially beautiful or in need of conservation, eco-friendly lodges, tours and resorts are trying to make a difference and allow people to experience the beauty of nature without harming the environment.

Indonesia has a lot of potential for ecotravel, and many local governments are encouraging sustainable travel in all sorts of way. So whether you are a seasoned ecotraveler or if you’re just beginning to dip your toes into it, green travel in Indonesia is something that you should consider.

Choosing eco-friendly accommodation

One of the first steps towards traveling green is choosing the right kind of accommodation. Eco-lodges and resorts are not difficult to find in Indonesia, and more popular destinations like Bali, Borneo and Sumatra have a wealth of accommodation options to choose from. Eco-friendly accommodation is not necessarily more expensive than regular accommodation, and sometimes it can even be cheaper.

If you are on a budget, you can opt for camping, especially if the weather is nice, but hostels are another great way to travel as sustainably as possible. Search for accommodation through the Green Accreditation Directories to make sure that you find what you’re looking for.

Eat green

Eating only organic food can be a tad expensive, but when you’re in Indonesia you can choose local businesses instead of restaurant and fast-food chains – they are definitely greener than other eateries because they tend to use local or home grown ingredients. But if you don’t mind paying extra for organic dishes (although this is not always the case, you can also find restaurants that use organic food without costing more than regular restaurants), there is a nice selection of places where you can eat on the Indonesia Organic website.

Green destinations

When you visit a city or a large town, you will probably have to make use of some means of transport. Using public transport is the greenest way to get around, except for walking and biking, but if your destination is too large to explore on foot, choose trains or buses instead of taxis.

Buses might not always be the most comfortable ways to get around, but they are fairly cheap and a good alternative to renting a car or paying a taxi. Of course, if you want to make sure that you’re as green as possible, your travel destinations will include smaller towns that can be easily explored on foot, or nature parks and conservation areas with eco-lodges.

Indonesia has many natural wonders, and some of the largest tropical forests in the world, where you can go for hiking, walking or wildlife viewing. Ujung Kulon National Park in Java or Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Gunung Leuser National Park and Kerinci Seblat National Park in Sumatra are great choices.

You might also like