Eco Friendly Holidays: Why Sailing is a Greener Choice

More travellers are seeking eco friendly holidays, yet many options feel greenwashed or hard to trust. Mass tourism, long-haul flights, and mega ships leave a heavy footprint on the places we love to visit.

However, sailing offers something different.  It’s small-scale, wind-powered, and beautifully connected to the rhythms of the natural world.

Instead of crowded terminals or towering hotels, imagine this instead! Dappled sunlight dances on the waves, and the salt on the breeze feels fresh, clean, and full of promise.

At Seafarer, we believe travel should feel good and do good. That’s why we make sustainable sailing simple and accessible. In this guide, we’ll show why sailing is one of the greenest ways to explore the world.

First, sailing is powered by nature: wind in your sails, with minimal engine use when conditions require. That alone makes a difference. Therefore, less fuel means less impact, and a lighter way to explore fragile ecosystems without leaving a heavy trace.

Travelling in small groups means fewer emissions and less noise. It’s quieter, calmer, and more personal: the soft creak of timber, the breeze tugging at your clothes as you sail. Eco friendly holidays bring more peace to you and the places you visit.

Additionally, small onboard changes, like choosing eco toiletries and detergents and avoiding single use plastic, help keep waters clean. Provisioning locally, from island markets and grocers, supports small communities and cuts down on wasteful packaging.

In fact, you’ll skip the crowds, visit family-run spots, and support local economies in quiet, meaningful ways. For eco friendly holidays that feel restorative, sailing lets you move gently and live fully without compromise.

Looking for ways to travel even lighter? These small steps can make eco friendly holidays even more meaningful.

Imagine diving into the sea without worrying about sunscreen damage to coral reefs. That’s the kind of impact we can avoid. The cool rush of sea spray on your face feels better when you know your choices are ocean-kind.

So, here’s how to reduce your impact on the water:

• Sail instead of motoring whenever the wind allows.
• Use reef-safe sun cream to protect marine life.
• Bring a reusable water bottle to avoid plastic waste.
• Say no to single-use items like bags and straws.
• Use biodegradable soap and washing liquids.
• Anchor with care to protect marine habitats.
• Use mooring buoys wherever possible to protect seagrass and fragile seabeds.
• Choose reusable containers or beeswax wraps for snacks and picnics on deck.
• Shop at island markets to reduce packaging and support small producers.

In fact, every one of these habits protects the places you’ve come to enjoy.

Got questions? Contact us for personalised advice on planning your eco friendly sailing holiday.

Eco friendly holidays aren’t just about the destination. They’re shaped by the decisions we make along the way.

At Seafarer, we focus on sailing experiences that use less fuel and leave a lighter footprint. For example, we encourage you to sail more with our lowest engine hours competition. For your tender, we are phasing out petrol outboards and replacing them with electric ones.

Plus, we promote reusable items in our packing lists, and our skippers are encouraged to anchor responsibly. They avoid seagrass beds and sensitive habitats to help protect marine life, especially in Greece’s coastal zones.

We’ve also partnered with Sustainable Sailing Greece to create safe anchoring resources and promote seagrass protection. Our video guide, produced with their team, helps guests recognise seagrass and anchor safely in sandy areas.

The clean, mineral scent of sun-bleached rocks reminds us how fragile coastal life can be. That’s why we tread lightly, and always will.

Learn how we protect Greek seabeds in our Seagrass Protection Guide.

Indeed, some destinations are naturally suited to eco friendly holidays. The Greek isles, Croatia and the BVI offer great sailing winds. They have relatively calm waters and short island hops, ideal for sailing with less fuel. These regions are also rich in marine life, from dolphins, turtles and seabirds to shimmering shoals near the coast.

It’s not just about nature, it’s about how it makes you feel. When the anchorage is quiet and the pace unhurried, a glass of chilled rosé at sunset feels even more special. This is where slow travel truly shines: you move gently, stay longer, and connect more deeply with every place you visit.

Our Flotilla Holidays offer a guided way to sail with others, social, low-impact, and supported by expert crews.

Looking for privacy? Skippered Yacht Charter lets you relax while we handle the helm. Visit in the shoulder season for fewer crowds, cleaner waters, and a richer, more peaceful coastal experience.

Ultimately, many travellers think eco friendly holidays mean giving something up. But sailing gives more than it takes. You get wide horizons, meaningful moments, and a route shaped by wind, not engines.

The gentle buzz of a water-side taverna, the feel of the deck beneath your feet say it all. This is conscious travel with soul. Looking for eco friendly holidays that align with your values? Let us help you plan a sailing experience that feels right.