Ecotourists who are flying to their ultimate destination need to pack lightly to reduce the fuel consumption on the airplane. Once on the ground, the ecotourist may choose to use public transportation to explore the region or even get around by bicycle, horse or camel, and even by foot. Ecotour operators may choose to contract with transportation providers who use hybrid vehicles to transport tour members. Standard tours of an area or a city use private vehicles to see the area, which allows the tourists to see more of an area more quickly, but can cause more air pollution and resource depletion.
The International Ecotourism Society suggests that travelers unplug appliances, power strips, computers and televisions before leaving home to cut down on electrical consumption while away. The organization also suggests doing the same at the destination when staying there. This group recommends turning off the lights and heat or air conditioning in the room while away for hours at a time to reduce the demand for energy. Eating locally or visiting farmers' markets is also a way to conserve energy, since the cost of shipping food can be substantial and the energy it takes to do so adds to the carbon footprint.
Companies that provide ecotours of an area often choose hotels or lodging that practice sustainable habits, like not laundering the sheets or towels daily, using cleaning supplies that do not add to indoor air pollution or participate in energy-offset programs. The hotel guest can hang a tag on the door to indicate when he would like housekeeping services or fresh linens.
Standard tours are set up for people of all abilities to experience an area, while some ecotourists travel to remote locations where they backpack for days or weeks at a time to experience the wilderness. Ecotourists can join backpacking tours or go solo. While it is difficult, if not impossible, for physically challenged individuals to go deep into the wilderness, some parks provide access by creating smooth trails suitable for wheelchairs or scooters.
