Clean, green and very
pristine: Top 10 most environmentally pure countries
1.
Switzerland
With so much of Switzerland made up of mountains and lakes,
it’s little surprise that it tops the enviro-charts.
If you want to experience Switzerland’s alpine beauty
in a low impact way, try WhitePod Village - a collection
of eco-friendly pods, tucked away on a Swiss mountainside.
Complete with cozy wood burning stoves, comfy beds and incredible
views, this is eco-camping in luxury.
2. Norway
‘Powered by nature’ is the slogan of Norway’s
tourist board and if you take a trip through fjord land
you’ll see why. Steep cliffs plunge into deep blue
fjords whilst waterfalls cascade down the mountainsides
creating a landscape of sheer beauty. The best way to experience
Norway’s nature with minimal impact is by foot and
Bergen is a great base for hiking the area. You can also
explore the region by train which takes you through the
fjords and up the mountains.
3. Sweden
In joint second with neighbor Norway, Sweden offers cascading
northern lights, white sandy beaches, mountains, meadows
and a glittering array of over 24,000 islands. Sweden was
the second country in the world to introduce an eco-tourism
charter, and also created Europe’s first eco-label
that assures the quality of around 180 holidays and activities
run by its 80 eco-certified tour operators around the country.
4. Finland
Finland’s Lapland is one of Europe’s last true
areas of unspoiled wilderness, with vast swathes of forest
and hundreds of pristine lakes, visitors can enjoy the midnight
sun, stunning natural scenery and see bear and lynx. A paradise
for campers, hikers and bikers, Finland was recently named
‘Best Country in the World’ by Newsweek, and
is one great escape.
5. Costa Rica
This Central American country has been deemed the world’s
‘most natural conservation area’ having protected
more than 27% of its land by creating a network of Wildlife
Refuges, Biological Reserves and National Parks. Costa Rica
offers a diverse range of ecosystems and activities; trek
through million-year old rainforest, hike volcanoes, raft
wild rivers, and spy jaguars, reptiles and multicoloured
birds.
6. Austria
If you’re looking to learn something on holiday, visit
Kalchkendlalm, Austria’s most unusual school. Located
high on a mountain pasture with a backdrop of snow-capped
mountain peaks, toy town houses in the valley, thick forests
and craggy cliffs, you can join the ‘bread and butter’
class, bake your own loaf, milk a cow and churn butter.
7. New Zealand
Ever since Frodo Baggins and Gandalf introduced us to Middle
Earth, New Zealand’s vast open spaces filled with
stunning rugged landscapes, gorgeous beaches and spectacular
geothermal and volcanic activity have captured the world’s
imagination. Take a sea kayak tour in the Abel Tasman National
Park, an exquisite area of coastline between Marahau and
Takaka, and explore the bays, beaches and headlands of the
park. Campsites occur regularly along the way, so you can
pull into shore and pitch a tent at the end of each day.
8. Latvia
Visit an ‘open farm’ where you can learn how
food is produced, try your hand at some of the eco-friendly
farming techniques, and buy fresh and healthy foods which
are not available from the city supermarkets. There are
many types of different open farms to choose from: livestock
farms, mushroom farms, fish farms and flower farms. Visitors
can stay in beautiful farmstead log cabins and enjoy horse
riding, hiking or canoeing on Latvia’s various lakes.
9. Colombia
This south American country has a diverse selection of nature
holiday options; go diving in Colombia’s coral reef
(which claims to be the third biggest in the world), see
snow capped summits surpassing 5000m in the volcano region,
then relax in the soothing thermal waters of a natural hot
spring. Or visit Colombia’s coffee region, which showcases
the country’s biggest (legal) export, and where eco-adventures
abound in a landscape of rolling hills and coffee plantations,
which can be explored by bike or horseback.
10. France
With scenery as diverse as high Alpine peaks to Atlantic
Ocean islets, France has plenty of pristine countryside
to offer. One of the less visited areas that is gaining
attention is the Lot Valley in southern France. Whether
you’re looking for flatlands or fields, forests or
fens, foothills, gorges or valleys, following the River
Lot as it meanders down a 481km long valley is a great way
to see a clean and green part of France.
How other countries ranked in the Environmental
Performance Index.
Germany: 13th (joint with Slovenia)
UK: 15th
Italy: 23rd
Russia: 28th
Spain: 30th
USA: 39th
|