However, it doesn’t mean that traveling can’t be green. If you’re going to Mongolia, have a look at some of our travel tips and ideas for the eco-friendly traveler:
Don’t Use Plastic
By 2050, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish, which means there’s no better time to stop using plastic than right now. Mongolia has a ban on plastic bags (thinner than 0.035mm), which means that cloth shopping bags are the way to go. You should also try to avoid using straws, plastic bottles, and other containers. Have a designated travel coffee or tea mug and a water bottle instead. On a tour with Discover Mongolia, reusable large 5-liter water bottles are used in order to avoid plastic bottles, so you can refill your own travel bottle easily.
Buy Consciously and Locally
Buying local products supports the local community, but keep in mind that the production of cashmere in Mongolia is contributing to land degradation due to a huge increase in the number of goats. Don’t buy what you don’t need. The less you pack, the less your luggage will weigh, and that contributes to your carbon footprint significantly.
The Famous Khoridol Saridag, Khuvsgul Province (Aimag)
Offset Your Carbon Footprint
Air travel is not the best choice for eco-friendly travelers, simply because airplanes contribute to the planet’s pollution more than any other form of transportation. Buying “carbon credits” with your plane ticket to offset your carbon footprint is beneficial, but only to a certain measure, because it mostly supports land-based projects that don’t tackle air pollution. When in doubt, choose a train.
Plant Trees
When in Mongolia, you can always contribute to an initiative that plants trees, or even join an event and plant some yourself. Public parks in Ulaanbaatar sometimes organize tree planting opportunities for tourists. For more information on this, you can ask your tour guide.
Travel with a Small Group
If you’re torn between traveling solo or in a group, and you wish to be environmentally friendly, choose a small group. That way, your environmental impact will be smaller, provided that other members of the group are also somewhat eco-friendly travelers. Even so, sharing the carbon costs of getting around Mongolia will make a difference.
Don’t Stray from the Path
Straying off the beaten path when exploring the great Mongolian outdoors has its charms, but it’s not very environmentally conscious. There’s a good chance you might trample an endangered plant species if you do, or encounter wild animals that are best left alone. For both your safety and the good of the planet, stick to the path.
Mongolia is a gorgeous country, and it can be experienced in an environmentally friendly way as well. All you have to do is be mindful of the best eco-friendly practices and make an effort to lessen your environmental impact.
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