In February, 2022 Kimkim became the first travel company to include a payment for education + carbon removal in every trip purchase with Tomorrow’s Air. Since then they’ve helped build awareness for carbon removal with thousands of travelers and ordered more than 100 tons of carbon dioxide for removal through Tomorrow’s Air portfolio of innovators. Read on to learn about six of their favorite destinations for the climate conscious traveler:
Wandering through this country’s imperial cities, mountain villages, desert landscapes, and coastal towns offers a clear and practical experience of modern life in a Muslim country, as well as a “fairytale” vacation, as one recent guest put it.
Morocco is also interesting for climate conscious travelers interested in seeing up close the challenges of modern energy evolution in a place actively living with ancient infrastructure. At the national level, Morocco recently released its National Energy Efficiency Strategy with the aim of reducing energy consumption in key economic sectors, including the transport sector. Moroccans still have a long way to go when it comes to climate action however, as its electricity mix remains heavily dominated by coal, and lifetime extensions have been recently planned for key coal-fired plants.
Peru defies explanation, and traveling with Nicholas Cino opens up opportunities for memorable meals on family farms as well as top-notch restaurants, time to meet local artisans, llama herders, experience the outrageously rugged nature of Puno and of course the iconic places like Machu Picchu.
Peru’s geography encompasses most of the Earth’s climate zones and features incredible biodiversity and astounding topography. When it comes to climate change, leaders in Peru face environmental changes that threaten land use, water availability, food production, public health and livelihoods. It is also a place where indigenous leaders are setting global precedent in taking their environmental justice cases to the courts as political solutions have not brought about solutions. For example, in the Cordillera Blanca above the city of Huaraz, a team of local activities are linking pollution from power plants to the retreat of a glacier looming above the city. The activists argue that the energy company RWE should help pay for measures to prevent a catastrophic flood.
Against the slow climate action of Peru’s national government, hampered by the turmoil of President Pedro Castillo’s government, the efforts of travel companies like Kimkim to continue supporting local livelihoods through tourism and climate solutions feel even more valuable.
Margoth Rico developed her love of travel from her grandmother and her parents, Colombian entrepreneurs who started successful travel businesses. She shares some of her favorite spots in Colombia, from the coffee plantations in the mountains around Salento, to the dramatic and historic Caribbean coast of Cartagena.
In Salento the smell of freshly roasted coffee from local plantations sometimes pervades the town’s quaint streets with typical paisa architecture. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, this area offers an excellent example of the 100+ year old tradition of coffee growing in small plots in the high forest, with farmers adapting their cultivation to the mountain conditions. A hike through the Valle de Cocora at the upper reaches of the Quindío River is a chance to wander through the incredibly tall and skinny forest of Colombia’s endangered wax palms, the national tree of Colombia.
Later, in Cartagena, learn for yourself why this city has become a magnet for visitors and also see a glimpse of how it is navigating the realities of climate change. While the combination of sandy beaches, colonial architecture and nightlife entertain visitors, the city is also facing climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, increased frequency of gale-force winds and extreme heat events and heavy rains which cause flooding.
Not surprisingly, Cartagena is the first coastal city in Colombia to create a plan for achieving “climate compatible development” by 2040. A key part of the plan includes a beautiful proposal for capturing excess water during floods and using that water to irrigate the community food garden and to create a rain garden.
Walking top to bottom through Italy over the course of a year was the spark leading up to this finely curated itinerary in Italy. On this trip visit Italy’s unusual urban and rural attractions, sights, crafts, workshops, kitchens, and out-of-the-way places on the advice of one of Kimkim’s Italy specialists, Jessica Proiette. From Venice to Tuscany and on to the Amalfi Coast, and the ruins of Pompeii, Italy has so many stories to share.
One of the most interesting stops in this hand-crafted itinerary is a day spent wandering on foot through the Tuscan town of Lucca, an easy day trip from Florence. Here, explorations of its cobblestoned streets reveal handsome piazzas, and leafy promenades.
For a climate conscious traveler Lucca offers up another story, too: during the sixth century, the Serchio River frequently flooded the town, which sits on a floodplain in its path. Recent analysis of stalagmites gathered from a cave just north of the town offer a detailed record of precipitation in the region and show extreme rainfall during the sixth century. Alongside the scientific record, researchers also found in the religious historical record, a very high number stories about water-related “miracles” occurring at this time.
Reflecting on the findings caused Giovanni Zanchetta, a native of Lucca and a lead researcher from the University of Pisa, to observe that this examination of the past is more than just a story of floods and miracles. It’s also a unique glimpse into how a society reacts to climate change. It reinforces for us the importance of our mindset, how we think about reality and our influence on the world. Our mindset about the dramatic changes in our environment is just as powerful as our physical response.
Traveling through Norway’s southern peninsula is an excellent way to experience the country’s most historic cities and stunning landscapes. When KimKim’s local specialist, Tricia Cantlon, moved from Detroit, Michigan to Norway five years ago she was immediately transfixed by the country's vast and unique beauty. She designed her Norway travel itineraries are designed to share that initial feeling of awe and wonder that encouraged her to stick around ever since. for the next 5 years.
Kick your feet up and drool at some of the world’s most scenic landscapes as you travel with efficiency and ease on Norway’s award winning rail system, with an added bonus of 2 nights at sea. In the midst of modern architecture, colorful coastlines, and new-nordic cuisine, one experience stands out: the ferry ride through UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord, with its steep cliffs and glistening waterfalls, is unmatched for its majesty.
Nature of a scale such as that found in Norway heightens one’s sense of much we have to cherish and protect here on Earth. Warmer temperatures in Scandinavia are causing permafrost and glaciers to retreat, leading to shifts in precipitation patterns. Climate change particularly affects Norway’s Arctic region and in response, Norway and its nordic neighbors - Sweden and Finland - are considered world leaders in the use of renewable energy, green technology, and sustainable resource handling. Norway will be doubling its annual climate financing to 14 billion Norwegian Kroner by 2026.
Whose wishlist of places to experience doesn’t include sharing a croissant in Paris, getting eyes on the Mona Lisa, and cheersing an aperol spritz at sunset along the French Riviera? Incredibly rich in history, art, culture and food, it's hard to know where to start.
Kimkim tour specialist, Valentine Julien, is native to the French Alps and with her advice you can embark on a classic and charming itinerary that ticks all the boxes.
After a few days of sightseeing in Paris the 3 hour bullet train will drop you off in the South of France where you’ll experience Provence with a foodie tour and cooking class. From picking fresh herbs in the garden and stopping at a local chateau for wine, to gathering regional produce from the farmer’s market you’ll finally sit down to a meal that deserves a Michelin star.
There’s a reason the food tastes so good. France has been a leader in sustainable agriculture, long before farm-to-table became trendy, and in 2018 it was voted the world's most food sustainable country. More and more countries are looking to France as they tackle food waste and adopt eco-farming techniques. At Tomorrow’s Air, one of our tips for climate conscious travel is to Eat Climate Clever. We suggest focusing on local and seasonal food when you can, visiting markets, and eating fresh. Although these practices can be impractical in certain destinations, Kimkim offers an experience that is guaranteed to change the way you think about food.
Learn more about the trips featured in this article: