Harvard sustainability influencer shares top tips to travel sustainably for impact-free adventures

Want to travel the world impact-free? Shivya Nath, a Harvard-educated sustainability expert, shares practical travel tips for conscious travellers.

We know travel isn’t impact-free. Flights leave emissions, hotel stays use up local resources, and mass tourism can overwhelm fragile communities. But there’s a more thoughtful way to move through the world. One that goes beyond just doing less harm.

Exploring slowly, staying conscious and treading lightly. Impact-free travel is about deeper connections, not crowded checklists or curated feeds. (Shivya Nath)

By Neha Ravi Khandelwal

Neha Khandelwal
Content Lead, HT Travel | Travel & Lifestyle Journalist
With over 10 years of content writing experience, Neha Khandelwal is a lifestyle journalist and the Content Lead at HT Travel. She specialises in destinations, hotels, aviation, luggage, travel gear, and practical guides that help readers plan smarter and travel better. Her work combines first-hand experience, expert insights, and extensive research to create stories that are informative, useful, and easy to follow.

Career Journey & Experience
Neha began her writing career as a freelance journalist in 2010 before entering mainstream media with The Times of India in 2022. She later joined Hindustan Times, where she has written extensively across travel, lifestyle, home, and consumer trends. Her professional background extends beyond journalism. Before moving into digital media full-time, she spent nearly a decade in interior design, managing residential projects from concept to execution. She also trained in visual merchandising with Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons and worked with women-led startups across design and operations. These experiences continue to shape her storytelling, especially in how she evaluates hotels, design-led stays, hospitality spaces, and travel experiences.

A naturally curious learner, Neha has completed beginner certifications in pottery, scuba diving, baking, creative writing, and other creative pursuits. She has read more than 2,000 books, trained in Bharatanatyam for 8 years, and ghostwritten a book on Ladakh tourism.

Subject Expertise
Travel is at the heart of Neha's work. She covers destinations, hotels, airlines, luggage, packing strategies, travel accessories, and emerging travel trends through a mix of reporting, product testing, and conversations with industry experts. A frequent traveller herself, she approaches every trip with a journalist's curiosity and a planner's mindset, focusing on experiences that readers can realistically recreate. From choosing the right cabin bag to decoding hotel openings and destination trends, her writing prioritises practical advice over promotional claims. Her background in interior design also gives her a distinct perspective on architecture, hospitality design, boutique hotels, luxury stays, and thoughtfully designed spaces.

Education & Professional Background
Neha holds a Master's degree in Interior Design. Her early experience in interior design, visual merchandising, and design operations gives her a unique understanding of aesthetics, functionality, and user experience, adding depth to her coverage of hotels, resorts, and travel spaces.

Editorial Philosophy
"As an avid, research-driven traveller, my goal is simple. To answer the questions you actually have before booking a trip. I cut through the promotional noise with honest reporting and expert insights. Making travel planning seamless, smart, and reliable so you always know where to go next."

Read moreRead less

Enter Shivya Nath. Sustainability advocate, solo traveller and vegan environmentalist, she’s been shaping conversations around responsible travel for over a decade. Her take?
“It’s almost impossible to make travel negative impact-free. But the focus can be on having a positive impact once you’ve arrived.”

That line stuck with me. It flipped the script from guilt to intention. And it changed the way I think about where I go, what I do, and why I even travel.

What’s the difference: Sustainable vs responsible travel?
Sustainable travel focuses on the environment. Think emissions, waste, water use and energy consumption. Responsible travel brings people into the equation. It includes fair wages, cultural respect and community involvement.

“My focus is on having a positive impact once I have arrived at a place. I think that is where the deeper essence of travel comes in. To think about the impact you have.” says Shivya Nath, who pursued her Masters in Sustainability at Harvard.

What impact-free travel looks like (and feels like)

The expert shares her top tips for sustainable travel, helping people contribute towards climate consciousness.

1. Choose slow over busy
Forget ticking off ten cities in seven days. Shivya tells HT Lifestyle; “Even if you have just four days, spend it all in one place. That’s slow travel.” Fewer flights. More train rides. Walk. Cycle. Kayak. These aren't just low-impact options, they open up more grounded experiences.

2. Rethink where you stay
Your hotel booking matters more than you think. “Instead of a chain hotel, can you stay at a family-run guesthouse? Or an eco-lodge that gives back?” These places often respect local culture, use fewer resources, and keep money in the community.

3. Eat like you mean it
Skip the hotel buffet. Explore local food stalls. It’s more rewarding than it sounds. “Eat local and seasonal. Avoid waste. Support places run by locals,” she says. Food becomes a way to understand a place when it’s not filtered through a tourist lens.

4. Spend your money with intention
Think about where your money lands. “Look for experiences founded and run by local communities. Ones that preserve living cultures with dignity, not turn them into performances.”

That handwoven scarf or community-led walking tour might mean more than just a memento.

5. Think before you post
It’s not just what you do, but what you share. “Even if you’re not an influencer, your social media affects future travellers. So ask: What story am I telling about this place?” Skip the geotag. Skip the selfie spot queues. Highlight the soul of a place, not just the scenery.

What to keep in mind for impact-free travel

• Travel from curiosity, not FOMO
• One place explored well beats five rushed through
• Where you stay is part of the impact you leave
• Let hidden gems stay hidden
• The way you share a destination influences how others treat it

Similar articles for you

Beyond the hype: Is the Swiss Military Aspen 15.6" backpack really that good?

Luggage weighing machine: 8 picks to ensure you never pay overweight fees again

Vacay-ready bags: Your essential travel companions for uninterrupted wanderlust

Swiss Military Bristol Suitcase: 5 reasons why you need this before you board your next flight!

Ask HT

Sustainable travel: FAQs

Can short holidays be sustainable or is it only for long-term travellers?

What’s the easiest way to start travelling sustainably?

How can I ensure I’m not harming the places I visit?

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, of 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.