Minimizing Carbon Emissions

Minimize CO2 Emissions from Your Trip

We aim to minimize the carbon dioxide emissions of your trip through carefully balancing your comfort with the environmental implications. You have the opportunity of choosing climate-conscious, responsible, and sustainable options when you travel with us.

Sustainable Transportation: We are happy to suggest sustainable transportation such as trains, which are not only environment-friendly but also a romantic and relaxing way to discover a region. Furthermore, we avoid flights where ground transportation offers a pleasant alternative.

Sustainable Activities: We offer sustainable activities such as walking tours, and take you beyond the tourist trails both for authentic experiences and to avoid “over-tourism”. 

Sustainable Hotels: We proactively support sustainable hotels. From waste disposal to using sustainable energy and supporting local communities and conservation projects, many of our partner accommodations have received awards for their responsible practices.

In your trip proposal, all our responsible tourism accommodations and activities are highlighted with the Enchanting Travels sustainability icon.

What are the carbon emissions during my trip?

Even with the measures we are taking to minimize CO2 emissions of our trips, Enchanting Travels guests emit an average of 4.8 tonnes of CO2 per person on their journey with us. 

Here are some examples of how much CO2 a typical Enchanting Travel trip emits, including the international flights: Here are some examples of CO2 emissions, including your international flights.

From Germany:

• India – 14 days = 3.3 tonnes CO2
• Tanzania – 14 days, 2 domestic flights = 3.7 tonnes CO2
• South Africa – 14 days, 2 domestic flights = 4.7 tonnes CO2
• Argentina – 16 days, 3 domestic flights = 5.4 tonnes CO2
• New Zealand – 21 days, 1 domestic flight = 8.4 tonnes CO2

From the US:

• India – 10 days = 5.2 tonnes CO2
• Kenya – 10 days, 3 domestic flights = 5.6 tonnes CO2
• South Africa – 10 days, 2 domestic flights = 5.8 tonnes CO2
• Chile – 12 days, 3 domestic flights = 4.0 tonnes CO2
• Australia – 15 days, 3 domestic flights = 7.5 tonnes CO2

From Australia:

• Sri Lanka – 14 days, 2 domestic flights = 4.7 tonnes CO2
• Tanzania – 14 days, 2 domestic flights = 5.8 tonnes CO2
• South Africa – 14 days, 2 domestic flights = 5.8 tonnes CO2
• Ecuador – 16 days, 2 domestic flights = 6.0 tonnes CO2

Investing in Carbon Mitigating Measures

In addition to minimizing the CO2 emissions from your trip, we calculate the average amount of carbon emissions generated by our guests’ trips and donate a proportionate amount to a climate protection project to absorb these emissions. The calculation takes into account domestic and international flights, accommodation, transport at your destination, local activities, and excursions.

For this purpose, Enchanting Travels has partnered with South Pole which has successfully mitigated over 170 million tons of CO2 since 2006!

We Support the Isangi REDD+ Project in the Congo

Alongside oceans, tropical rainforests are some of the most important stores of CO2, thus reducing the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Preserving these forests is incredibly important in order to reduce global warming.

We support the Isangi REDD+ project to protect 187,571 hectares of forested land in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Set at the confluence of the Congo and Lomami rivers, this previously deforested area has now been transformed into a REDD+ project to preserve the ecosystem, which is one of the most diverse in the world.

This region is home endangered species such as leopards, as well as forest elephants, brush-eared pigs, crocodiles, rare bats and 14 species of primates, including the rare bonobo chimpanzees. What’s more, nearly 11% of the world’s known bird species live here.

The project supports our environment by working with the local population to control and reduce deforestation. More than 50,000 people inhabit 30 villages strewn across this region, who benefit from the sustainable jobs created through the project. Microfinance programs have helped these locals build businesses and, in recent years, four schools have also been built to educate more than 3,000 children.

To protect our forests, we must create alternatives to deforestation. The Isangi project focuses on modern agricultural techniques that enable cultivation without slash-and-burn agricultural methods, leading to higher productivity and preservation.

This VCS-certified project has been reviewed by the independent organization Rainforest Alliance and also awarded Gold standard status by the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance – an accolade proffered to outstanding initiatives that not only protect biodiversity but also contribute to strengthening local communities.

Responsible Travel: For Today and Tomorrow

To us, practicing sustainability or responsible travel means being responsible in the way that we work – it pervades what we do on a day-to-day basis.

Our Responsible Travel Policy articulates our approach. While it is not exhaustive, we see it as a start to explaining how we operate and how these initiatives relate to what we do on a day-to-day basis.

We believe that we can only protect our future if we act responsibly today. Every single contribution can make a difference. Join us on our journey towards a more sustainable, climate-conscious, and responsible future of travel.