As international travel restrictions begin to ease, many places ae looking to build back better. With a focus on green initiatives and sustainable approaches to travel, the first trips we take can be more environmentally friendly than in previous years. From cycling routes to community-led tourism, here is our round-up of sustainable travelling initiatives across the world.  

EXPLORE LINCOLNSHIRE BY BIKE 

For cyclists who are looking to enjoy the best of both city and coastline, Lincoln's Castle to Coast cycling route is highly recommended. The 100-mile round trip offers a blend of quiet country lines, stunning coastline and a scenic view of the city of Lincoln from the perspective of its iconic Castle. The route begins in the centre of Lincoln, just outside of the castle walls, marking the beginning of the trip with a visit to the 11th century landmark. Continuing through the picturesque villages of Lincolnshire with beautiful views of the Lincolnshire Wolds, the route reaches the endpoint of Chapel St Leonard's by the North Sea coast. After arriving in Chapel St Leonard's, take a trip to the UK's first-ever purpose-built marine observatory, North Sea Observatory, which allows its visitors to view the passage of migrating birds from around the world.   

For more information on the Castle to Coast Cycle Route that begins at Lincoln Castle, visit: www.visitlincoln.com/things-to-do/castle-to-coast 

VISIT ESTONIA LAUNCHES NEW DIGITAL CYCLING ROUTE MAP  

With over 6,500 kilometres of trails, the majority of which are off-road, and being a predominantly flat country, Estonia is an ideal destination for cyclists. Whether you are a seasoned cyclist wanting to spend your holiday on two wheels or a beginner just looking to explore for a day, Estonia's new digital route map incorporates the network of 70 trails in an easy-to-use format helping you pick a route to suit your ability and time. 

For those wanting to cross the country by bike, the 981-km EuroVelo 10, which starts near the Latvian border in the south and passes through Pärnu, Tallinn, Lahemaa, the oldest national park in Estonia, and ends at the Russian border. You can also try the 375-km Oandu-Ikla trail, which starts in northern Estonia, at Oanduin Lahemaa National Park, and passes through the dense forests of Kõrvemaa and then onto the Soomaa National Park - one of the most magnificent marshlands in Europe. For a shorter ride, try the 18-km circular route around Kihnu island, a former seal hunting and fishing island, where the women take care of the preservation of the island's cultural heritage while the men are out fishing. 

Accommodation options range from campsites for independent travellers to guesthouses, self-catering options, and hotels. 

For more information on the routes and cycling in Estonia, please visit https://www.visitestonia.com/discovercyclingroutes 

THE SECRETS OF GREEN LJUBLINA  

Ljubljana in Slovenia was the first European city to commit to a zero-waste goal. According to local guide Ivana, “Ljubljana has transformed itself into a remarkably green and sustainability-oriented city. We have more than 500 m2 of green surfaces per capita. Almost half of the municipality is covered in a forest and 20% is under some sort of protection status.” 
On this delightful tour, the group will visit the green parts of Ljubljanica river, Tivoli Park and even up to the popular Ljubljana Castle and Rožnik hills. For those who would like a break from walking, a ride on Ljubljana's Urban electric train is perfect for getting around without worrying about your carbon footprint. Guests will learn all about Ljubljana's transition to becoming a more sustainable and greener city and how it was awarded the title of Green Capital of Europe in 2016 and how that affected the locals. Ivana will share insight into her life in the city and how it has changed since she was a kid, through insightful detail and the uncovering of some hidden gems of Ljubljana. As a lesser-known destination, visitors will be actively supporting the community with their tourism and helping the city continue its drive to be green. 

ToursByLocals offers the 5hour 30min Secrets of Green Ljubljana - half day tour  from £204 per tour, for up to 10 people. The tour includes guiding services. Extra costs include food and any personal expenses. 

COMMUNITY-LED AND OWNED TOURISM IN GUYANA 

Community-led and owned tourism is an ethos in Guyana that has seen indigenous communities throughout the country's hinterland creating, implementing, and offering their own sustainable tourism initiatives to incoming visitors. 

From running the eco-lodges to taking visitors out on expertly guided tours to discover Guyana's mega biodiversity, the model has become a method of sustainably managing the destination. The communities' low carbon lifestyle, commitment to protecting their ancestral lands and the conservation efforts to protect wildlife make Guyana's tourism one of the greenest on the planet. 

Surama, for example, is a village in the North Rupununi region, which was the first Guyanese community to invest and adopt the community-led and owned tourism model and is a great example of a thriving community invested in the preservation of its ancestral lands and the biodiversity within them. In addition to providing comfortable accommodation constructed using local craftsmanship and traditions of the Makushi people, the eco-lodge's community has masterfully curated activities for guests, such as multi-day hikes and camping expeditions, river canoe trips, wildlife-watching, visits to community school centres and traditional celebrations, to effectively balance the development of the local tourism industry with the objective of preserving its natural environment. 

Journey Latin America offers the 14-day 'Guyana Wildlife: South America's Wild Frontier' tour featuring a stay with the Makushi in Surama from £4,720 per person and includes some meals, accommodation, and internal transport. Excludes international flights. 

For more information on Guyana, visit www.guyanatourism.com. 

DISCOVER ITALY ON A TOUR THROUGH THE APENNINES 
As part of Exodus Travels' commitment to sustainable tourism, Rewilding in the Italian Apennines is a new walking tour that visits the area the tour operator is rewilding in partnership with Rewilding Europe through the Nature and Carbon Corridors project. The process of rewilding helps restore nature's ecosystems and biodiversity, for wildlife to return and thrive, whilst also combatting climate change by increasing the land's ability to absorb carbon. 

During the six-day guided walking tour, guests will see first-hand the benefits and impact of rewilding, and the importance of using wildlife corridors to connect protected areas. The wild and dramatic landscape in the Apennines is home to chamois, deer, wolves, and golden eagles, as well as the rare Marsican brown bear. In addition to wildlife, guests will enjoy the beautiful scenery on foot on some spectacular walking trails as well as experiencing the region's ever hospitable people and their colourful and authentic culture. Led by highly skilled nature guides and sustained by some of the finest local food and wine, a journey into the Central Apennines is truly an exploration of Italy's "wild heart". 

Regeneration is considered to be the future of travel and rewilding is at the very heart of this. With this new tour, Exodus Travels is pioneering the building back better movement, offering travellers the opportunity to experience rewilding in its infancy. 

Exodus Travels' new six-day Rewilding the Apennines tour is from £2,099 per person departing on 9 July 2022 and 3 September 2022 and includes flights, transfers, breakfast, and some other meals. An expert naturalist guide will accompany the tour throughout. 

Full details are available here.