HOW WE DESIGN SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS TOGETHER
The destination Iceland stands for grandiose nature experiences and untouched landscapes. With its active volcanic systems and glaciers, the country has seemingly endless geothermal and hydro energy, which is why Iceland gets almost 100% of its electricity needs from renewable sources. Nevertheless, due to its geographical location, it takes its efforts to travel the country with a minimal ecological footprint. Here we show you what we are doing and what you can do to make your holiday as sustainable as possible - so that Iceland, a destination that has become increasingly popular in recent years, can preserve its beauty.
COMPENSATE JOURNEY
The journey to Iceland is usually by plane. If you have plenty of time, you can alternatively travel by ferry. When booking your trip, we offer you the opportunity to offset the greenhouse gases by making a voluntary contribution to the climate protection organization Atmosfair (costs approx. € 26,- p. p.). Atmosfair uses your donation, for example, to expand renewable energies in developing countries and ultimately save CO2 there. Under the following link, you can find out more about the travel options. More about the Atmosfair projects:
www.atmosfair.de/en/
MOBILITY
Iceland already has a well-developed charging network for e-mobility. Check whether traveling by electric car is an option for you. However, for some vehicles and routes, e.g. for highland trips or bus tours, there is no alternative yet. Our partner Europcar is ISO 14001 eco-certified and invests in environmental projects in Iceland. More and more vehicles in the fleet are electric cars and hybrids.
CALCULATE CO2 FOOTPRINT
Use Visit Iceland's CO2 calculator to calculate the ecological footprint of your trip. You will learn which travel components are more or less harmful to the climate and can offset the calculated amount of CO2, e.g. through the Iceland Wetland Fund or Atmosfair.
RESPECTFUL TREATMENT OF WILDLIFE
Our partners for whale and bird-watching tours have committed themselves to minimum distances and measures to avoid stress for the animals. Find out from Icewhale about the measures taken and what you can do to protect the animals, e.g. when choosing a restaurant. For more information, visit www.icewhale.is.
MINDFUL THROUGH ICELAND'S NATURE
► Please only move along marked paths. The famous Icelandic moss sometimes takes hundreds of years to grow.
► Never park or drive off-road, this is strictly forbidden due to the sensitive Arctic nature.
► Some areas are closed for nature recreation (see also www.safetravel.is/ conditions). Respect the signs and notices on site, also for your safety (e.g. in geothermal areas).
► Bring a drinking bottle with you. This way you avoid waste and enjoy the best glacier water around Iceland straight from the tap.
► Eat local produce. Even vegetables are often grown regionally. This is especially fresh and sustainable.
► Leave the natural sites as you would like to find them. Take a bag with you to collect rubbish when hiking and keep nature clean.
THE ICELANDIC PLEDGE
You too can officially contribute to more environmentally friendly travel in Iceland by following the behavioral recommendations of the Icelandic Tourist Board. A great campaign with behavioral tips that every visitor to Iceland can easily follow.
► I pledge to be a responsible tourist. When I explore new places, I leave them as I found them.
► I will take photos to die for, without dying for them.
► I will follow the road into the unknown, but never venture off the road.
► And I will only park where I am supposed to.
► When I sleep out under the stars, I will stay within a campsite.
► And when nature calls, I will not answer the call on nature.
Take the Icelandic oath on:
www.inspiredbyiceland.com/icelandicpledge.
SUSTAINABLE ACCOMODATION
You can recognize particularly sustainable accommodation by the various eco-labels such as the Icelandic VAKINN label, the Scandinavian Nordic Swan Eco-label, and the international environmental standard ISO 140001. But many partners also pay attention to environmental protection outside of certification. We would like to highlight a few examples in particular:
► Hotel Fjlotshlid, which carries the strict Nordic Swan eco-certification, plans to become the first zero-waste hotel in Iceland. Food waste in particular is already being successfully avoided. Guests can plant trees on site as CO2 compensation. (Further info: www.smaratun.is/sustainability and www.nordic-ecolabel.org)
► At Efstidalur Farmhotel you don't just stay in a homely atmosphere - the restaurant offers farm-fresh dairy and meat products as well as homemade organic ice cream! Vegetables are supplied from neighbouring farms. (www.efstidalur.is)
► Our cozy holiday homes Birta I
and Birta II invite you to a decelerated location trip. They offer self-sufficiency options, are fully geothermally heated and elaborate waste separation is practiced.
► Our VAKINN-certified partner Fridheimar grows tomatoes and raises horses in southern Iceland. Drop by for tomato soup in the geothermal greenhouse! (www.fridheimar.is/en and https://www.vakinn.is)
It's up to you, too: check whether you need fresh towels and room service in the hotel every day - here, too, you can save a lot of energy.