Earth Day is a global movement that began in 1970 to activate environmental protection. Every April 22, over a billion people across 190 countries shift their focus toward the health of our planet. The theme for 2026 – Our Power, Our Planet – is a timely reminder that the places we love, from the mist-heavy Scottish Highlands to the sun-baked plazas of Seville, depend on our collective care.Â
Earth Day is about moving past generic green hype and toward specific, purposeful actions. Whether you’re planting trees or raising awareness, these 12 activities ensure your journey leaves a footprint worth following.
1. Ditch the rental car
Forget the stress of a foreign gearbox and the high emissions of a private rental. Instead, choose to use trains and public transport – or opt for a guided coach tour. Data shows that traveling by coach can emit up to 80% less CO2 per passenger kilometer than a car. It’s the most social way to lower your footprint while actually seeing the landscape instead of a GPS screen.
2. Get active, try ‘plogging’
Originating in Sweden, “plogging” – picking up litter while jogging – is the ultimate multitask for the planet. Beyond the aesthetic benefit to local parks, research shows that the added bending and squatting burns significantly more calories than a standard run. It’s an accessible, high-impact way to improve your health AND the health of the community you’re visiting. Grab a pair of gloves and turn your morning sweat session into a literal planet-cleaning exercise.
If jogging isn’t for you, turn your next beach walk into a planet-cleaning activity.
3. Support ‘MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®’ Experiences
At Trafalgar, 96% of our tours now include MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, which are directly tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. More than feel-good stops on your vacation – these are audited projects that support everything from indigenous heritage to local conservation. By participating, your travel dollars go directly toward verified regenerative tourism, ensuring that your presence in a destination actually helps it thrive.
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4. Use gold-standard carbon offsets
If you must fly, make your offset count. Make sure you carbon offset is Gold Standard (an independent NGO) certified to ensure that your contribution goes toward verified projects that actually reduce or remove CO2. With over 445 million tonnes of CO2e already reduced through their certified initiatives, this is the ‘gold standard’ for a reason
5. Bring a reusable drink bottle
Cheap, flimsy single-use water bottles often become permanent residents of our oceans. Research shows that a single reusable bottle can save an average of 156 plastic bottles annually. In many European destinations, you both saving the planet and drinking history. In Rome, you can refill at the nasoni (public fountains) for free, ice-cold spring water! You’ll save money, stay hydrated and stop contributing to the 8 million tonnes of plastic that enter our waters every year.
6. Ditch the miniatures for solid bars
California, New York and Illinois have all banned mini hotel toiletries – and it’s likely that you’ll see more refillable dispensers in hotels moving forward. The shift is necessary as the math on hotel toiletries is staggering. But you don’t have to wait for hotels to change – consider taking a solid shampoo bar on your next vacation. Solid bars are roughly 80-95% less water-intensive than liquids and much lighter to ship, reducing transportation emissions.
7. Eat local and seasonal
Food tastes better when it hasn’t survived a long-haul flight. Commit to dining at restaurants that source within a 30-mile radius. Sourcing locally can reduce transport-related emissions by up to 90% for fresh produce. On Trafalgar trips, look for the ‘Be My Guest’ meals that often visit local farms where you’ll meet the family and see how things are done. Otherwise, look for local farm-to-table spots to ensure your appetite is helping the local economy thrive.
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8. Buy souvenirs from local artists
Earth Day is as much about people as it is about soil. Traditional crafts – like hand-woven lace in Lefkara or hand-painted pottery in Umbria – are low-carbon industries that preserve cultural identity and support local economies. By buying directly from local artists, you’re providing a financial incentive for the next generation to keep these skills alive. Forget the crappy mass-produced fridge magnet and invest in culture.
9. Travel slower
Seeing five countries in a week is exhausting and there is no way to experience a culture and country that fast. Instead, we suggest choosing an adventure that goes deeper. Spending more time in one place reduces the emissions of constant transit and allows you to get to know the place. When you slow down you won’t just snap a picture of the top sights, but might learn about the local environmental issues, like water scarcity in the Mediterranean or glacier retreat in the Alps.
10. Learn on a mindful nature walk
Studies in environmental psychology show that forest bathing or mindful nature walks can significantly reduce stress hormones. Take yourself on a stroll (and pick up trash while there) or see if you can find a local naturalist guide. Sometimes you can find guided walks that also fund the protection of the very trails you’re walking on. It’s a cool way to connect with a destination’s unique geography while learning and supporting the preservation of fragile ecosystems on Earth Day.
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11. Share your environmental tips with family or on social media
Earth Day is the perfect time to share the small things you do with your community. Whether you have 100 followers or 100,000 you can use your platform for raising awareness. You could share things cool or insightful about the environment that you learnt on the road, or show off why you love your refillable water bottle or favorite shampoo bar brand. Research shows that peer-to-peer storytelling is more effective at changing travel habits than general advice. If you can influence even just one person to make better choices for the planet, that’s a win!
12. Join an Earth Day event
On April 22, join a local Earth Day event wherever you are in the world. The official website says there are more than 10,000 events happening across the globe on this day and you can use the interactive map tool to find everything from a community cleanup or tree planting to educational events and peaceful demonstrations.
Those are our top Earth Day activities that you can do while traveling this year. Any ideas or tips we should add to the list? Leave a comment…