8 Sustainable Ways To Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The UNESCO World Heritage Site status is meant to protect the world’s most significant sites, but it has also made them vulnerable to the effects of overtourism.

Protecting the treasures of the world for future generations to enjoy has never been more important. As an unlikely – but fortunate – side effect to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, our planet is getting a much-needed reprieve from our constant movements.

It is also giving us time to rethink how we can travel more consciously in the future. Researching how to make sustainable, responsible and respectful choices while travelling should be part of all our trip planning moving forward, but especially so when visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the globe.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) selects World Heritage Sites in order to protect meaningful cultural sites and natural wonders for the whole world to enjoy well into the future. It’s a little ironic, therefore, that the title also attracts floods of tourists.

Out of all the 878 places with this protected status, some of the most famous sites deal with the effects of overwhelming crowds more than others. For example, the Taj Mahal and Great Wall of China can host more than 50,000 people a day. This level of ongoing visitation can end up sabotaging the organisation’s mission of preservation, but there is a more sustainable way.

Sustainable tourism is often conflated with environmentalism, but it isn’t just about caring for nature during your trips (although that’s certainly an important part!). According to the Cambridge Dictionary, sustainability simply means “the quality of being able to continue over a period of time." This ultimately means it’s not enough to only think about the environment, you also need consider how your travel impacts on the people, wildlife and culture of the destination you visit.

It can all be narrowed down to one simple question: How do I leave this place better than how I found it so that the rest of the world can continue to enjoy it?

The tips below will not only help you aid in the protection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but also greatly enhance your personal experience of them.

1. Leave no trace

Let’s start with the obvious: refrain from being that person that mars the majestic, jaw-dropping beauty of a heritage site with a carelessly dropped wrapper or cigarette butt. No littering.

Whether you’re camping on Fraser Island or wandering through the ruins of the Acropolis, there should be no trace of your visit by the time you leave… other than your envy-inspiring photos on social media of course.

2. Spend extra time researching

Arrive with a basic understanding of your destination’s history and significance. This will foster a respect for your surroundings as well as a curiosity to learn more about the site. You can also ask the operator questions about the best sustainable practices specific to the site you are visiting when you book your tour or accommodation.

3. Visit during off-season

Avoiding peak season isn’t always possible for people travelling with stricter time frames in mind. However, if you’re flexible scheduling your leave, visiting during off-season will help support the local economy of the site year-round as well as improve your own experience.

You win because there will likely be less people and cheaper airfares on offer. The heritage site wins because your money ends up in the pocket of locals during a time when tourist dollars aren’t flowing in.

Of course, it’s important to do your research on the ramifications of an off-season visit for your specific destination. For example, you’ll find many restaurants and attractions closed if you visit Morocco’s world heritage sites during Ramadan in April and May. However, if you visit Machu Picchu in off-season, during September or October, you’ll find fewer crowds and milder weather but the same great access to the site and experiences further afield.

machu picchu — Combat the impact of overtourism in places like Machu Picchu and visit in the off-season

4. Go local

Choosing local restaurants, guides and businesses is a win-win: it will not only aid the destination’s economy and support their cultural practices, but also drastically enrich your understanding of the destination.

We get it – some days the craving for a McDonald’s burger trumps all. But for the most part, try to eat local foods and visit local markets. You could even check out the Traveling Spoon website to connect you with local cooks looking to share their culture with visitors.

Other sites, like ShowAround and Tours By Locals, can help you find a local tour guide. Airbnb is great, not only for its well-known function of providing unique accommodation, but also for arranging experiences led by community members.

Shop local where you can: Kuromon Ichiba Market is stocked full with Japan’s freshest delicacies.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

5. Respect boundaries

Although it can be tempting to stray from your hiking path or dip past the cautionary restraints for a more immersive experience, remember that these boundaries are set in place to preserve the integrity of the site. You never know when you could be trampling a revegetation area in the forest or introducing harmful oils to already-fragile ancient structures.

6. Plan your trip to coincide with a local festival or celebration

There’s a big difference between travelling during peak tourist season (typically summer) and travelling for the purpose of attending a local festival or celebration. We definitely recommend the latter.

When a certain site sparks your interest, look into when festivals or celebrations occur throughout the year. This is a great way to support the culture of the heritage site in a unique way. For example, February’s Tapati festival is a prime time to visit Easter Island and experience ancient Polynesian customs.

7. Pack environmentally-friendly products

Using environmentally-friendly products, such as a reusable water bottle, keep cup or shopping bag, is a great practice to develop in everyday life as well as while traveling – but it is paramount when visiting certain heritage sites. For example, using reef-safe sunscreen is important when snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef to keep harsh chemicals from harming the reef ecosystem.

The Islands of Tahiti — Keep the reefs in tact

8. Respect cultural customs

Although we may not comply with the beliefs or customs of a heritage site in our regular lives at home, it’s important to remember that you are being welcomed as a guest at your destination and should pay respect to that culture. This can involve anything from dressing modestly in Istanbul’s Nuruosmaniye Mosque to checking your conversations for insensitive remarks.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

8 sustainable ways to visit UNESCO world heritage sites