Today’s guest post is by Kimberly and Elizabeth, the travel gurus from Go Green Travel Green.

Green travel doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. Whether you’re flying cross-country for a long weekend or moving abroad for a three months, there are lots of little things you can do to lessen your environmental impact. Here are six of our favorites.

1. Pack Light
Why it’s green: The more gear you pack, the more fuel is required to transport it.
Why we like it: The more stuff you have, the more tied down you are. By packing light you’re freer to just get up and go. Plus, lugging a 50 pound pack from continent to continent is never fun.

2. Get a Reusable Water Bottle
Why it’s green: We all know how much waste bottled water creates.
Why we like it: It’s convenient to just fill up and go. And bringing your own bottle saves a lot of cash in the long run, since the cost of bottle water adds up.

3. Visit Local Markets
Why it’s green: You’re supporting local business and the local economy. Plus, transporting the goods consumes less fuel because they don’t have to travel as far.
Why we like it: You get to chat with the vendors who create the goods or grow the food. And who doesn’t love perusing the stalls of crafts, fruits, meats, and cheeses?

4. Walk or Take Public Transportation
Why it’s green: When you can’t bring your bike with you, walking or hopping on a bus is more fuel-efficient than driving.
Why we like it: Provided it’s safe, wandering through unknown streets never knowing what’s around the corner brings out the explorer in all of us. When you’re on a train or bus, you meet interesting people and discover places off the beaten path.

5. Stay in Hostels
Why it’s green: Group accommodations burn through fewer resources than individuals ones because they use less electricity per person. Sharing your room means sharing lights, heat, and air conditioning.
Why we like it: You meet awesome people in hostels from all over the world. Who knows, maybe you can crash on your new Australian travel buddy’s couch in a few years when you make your way to Melbourne.

6. Volunteer
Why it’s green: You’re giving back to the place you’re visiting. You can work on an organic farm, do ecological research, or build sustainable homes.
Why we like it: Volunteering abroad is an excellent way to get to know locals and experience the culture first-hand. And we always strive to leave our destination in better shape than it was in when we got there.

Kimberly and Elizabeth are avid travelers committed to reducing her environmental impact without spending a fortune. The currently live in Washington, D.C. and are co-editors of Go Green Travel Green and co-founders of Search Green Travel.