Awarded European Green Capital in 2016, a UNESCO city of literature in 2015 and one of 9 destinations in Slovenia listed on the Green Destinations Top 100.

A country with more bikes than people, is it any wonder why I’ve included this tiny European nation in my top 12 sustainable destinations. With 11 destinations in this tiny European country being listed on the Green Destinations Top 100, the Netherlands easily falls in the top 12 sustainable destinations in the world. One of the destinations listed is Ameland, an island made up mainly of sand dunes in West Frisian Islands – a natural beauty and quiet island also known as the “Wadden Diamond” earned the Quality Coast Award in 2009.

With eight eco-hotels and lodges to choose from, a coastal path that stretches the entire length of the county and with the warmest weather in the UK, it’s no wonder Cornwall is so popular with many Brits like me. They even have Biome Domes at the Eden Project, an educational charity, where you can learn about the interconnections between all living things.

Just 3-4 hours from London, consider adding this eco-destination to your bucket-list, especially if you’re visiting the UK in late Spring or early Fall, when the weather and the scenery is at its best for hiking, and there are substantially fewer tourists. (Pictured is one of my favourite spots on the north Cornish coast.)

As a pioneer of sustainable tourism, sustainability is not a practice in Costa Rica, it’s a way of life. With 5% of the earth’s land-based biodiversity and 3.5% of its marine life, crammed into this tiny territory, of which 25% is protected by the National System of Conservation Areas, is it any wonder Costa Rica is one of the most sustainable destinations in the world? More than 98 per cent of its energy is renewable, 93% of its electricity is from renewable resources…

While not listed in Green Destinations Top 100 Sustainable Destinations, over 300 Icelandic tourism companies have committed to work towards a country-wide responsible tourism initiative. The aim of the initiative is to keep tourism alive and thriving but with less negative impact. Some popular spots have been closed due to over-tourism, while the government has taken steps to encourage visitors to the take the road less travelled and visit off-the-beaten-track areas, such as Westfjords Region where they have made vast improvements to the roads recently. Even visitors to their official tourism website are encouraged to take the pledge to travel responsibly in Iceland. Iceland is not only an ideal destination for solo female travellers but it’s also a sustainable destination!

While maybe not so off-the-beaten-track for Europeans, Greece can be considred off-the-beaten-track for Canadians who mostly prefer to go to the Caribbean for their "beach vacation."

If you choose to go during the shoulder or off seasons and select some of the lesser-know islands to visit, it's definitely off-the-beaten-track—literally, as you'll need to hop on a ferry or boat to reach many places.

I've mainly included Greece in my top 12 off-the-beaten track sustainable destinations, because no matter where you go, you will find sustainable food practices (delicious, fresh, local food).

And it's why Greece was awarded top destination for sustainable food by Lonely Planet on their “Best in Travel 2021” list. According to the travel magazine, the country received this accolade because of its "organic produce markets, prolific wild herbs and island seafood hauls."

While most of the world is only just becoming conscious about sustainable food habits, traditional Greek food practices, with respect to choice and preparation, date back thousands of years, and are intrinsically sustainable.