Nature & Eco Holidays

Well, just by arranging your travel by train you are already committing an act of eco-friendliness - its carbon footprint is more like a toe print compared with journeys by air or car.

If you want to see nature in all its glory, the train is your (albeit iron) man. No other means of transport so cleanly scythes through the countryside, poking in lost nooks and crannies, chugging up and down mountains and chasing rivers and waterfalls - it gives you just the best perspective. Few are the train journeys which do not give you a pretty good view of something natural, wonderful or different.

But you can make a conscious decision to go for eco-travel - the fact that you are looking at this on-line already means that you have opted for paperless booking; traveling by train and shopping locally at your destination already means that you are on your way to a green holiday. If you further look for hotels or accommodation which endeavour to use alternative power sources, buy local produce and recycle, then you will be well on your way to being a fully-fledged eco-bunny.

There are lots of hotels and camps in Europe which are trying to act more responsibly towards the environment. Centre Parcs are a pretty good bet, and Eurostar brings you close to many of the European sites. Or there are many interesting new developments in the Balkan states - try Ucka Nature Park in Istria.

The Japanese have been using sustainable technology for many years, and are careful to conserve their beautiful landscape. The best way to see it is by rail - it is up to you whether you use the bullet train or travel at a more leisurely pace.

The Americans on the other hand are not known for their ecologically sound policies - but you can still do your bit by viewing the country by train.

The Australians are full of the virtues of conservation, and have much to offer the eco-tourist. Quite apart from anything else, from reefs to swamps they are hosts to a number of vanishing habitats. An Australian rail-pass is nothing short of essential if you want to see this country's natural glory.