Fortunately, many travelers have become aware of their duty toward the environment, whether by reducing the waste of resources or by finding more environmentally friendly ways to travel. Among the most prominent of these travelers are French bloggers Julien and Margot, who traveled around the world without boarding any planes.
In 2016, the couple decided to leave their jobs in Paris as research analysts in the pharmaceutical industry and turn to a life of travel, but they decided to travel around the world without being bound by flights or a timetable. Their only means of getting around would be standing by the side of the road and riding in the first car that agreed to give them a lift, and their accommodation would be limited to hosting sites such as “Couch Surfing.”
The couple explained their plan to Lonely Planet, saying: “We were more interested in the way of traveling rather than the destination, and the stories of many people inspired us to follow this way, which has become more environmentally friendly, and without any financial dealings with local people. Our way of traveling is unique because we don’t have a wish list; we don’t try to control the situation at all and only ask local people to suggest places to visit in their country, and we learn from them.”
The couple’s adventure lasted 3 years, during which they visited 25 countries. Their journey started in France and reached Southeast Asia, covering about 60,000 km by way of 1,167 cars, trucks and motorcycles, plus 4,500 km on two sailboats, and they were hosted by 236 people.
Julien and Margot started a blog about their adventures titled “Serial Hikers,” which offers tips and advice to travelers and maps out alternative, eco-friendly travel routes for them. The blog contains information covering every detail, from budget to travel insurance, and they also share photos and videos of their experiences on it.
The couple added: “Our advice to other travelers is to let go of some of the things they have learned about societies and cultures. We met the most beautiful people in countries with a bad reputation. Just try to always travel safely and trust your instincts, travel locally if your holidays are short, and choose alternative means of transport such as trains instead of planes.”
