Top 5 green holiday destinations

If you're serious about reducing your carbon footprint but still want to enjoy an overseas holiday, here are five of the world's most environmentally friendly countries, as documented by the UN. They also just happen to be some of the world's most beautiful:

Iceland:
The land of ice and fire obtains almost 100 per cent of its power from renewable, geothermal and hydropower energy sources. It also has Europe's largest national park Vatnajökull and is one of the world's most water-sure countries; a resource it protects with vigour.

What to do:
During the winter, the Northern Lights dance across the sky in vivid shades of pink, blue, yellow and green - pretty much every night. The space-like landscape of boiling mud pools, geysers, volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls is mesmerising and will appeal to adventure enthusiasts, whilst nature lovers can admire the grace of the blue whale frolicking in the cool waters along Iceland's coastline.

Switzerland:
According to Switzerland's tourist board, this is the place you visit to 'get natural'. This landlocked country is comprised of star-chasing mountains and crystal-clear lakes. Like Iceland it has a stable and abundant water supply and its numerous rivers, fuelled by glacial melt water, are harnessed to provide much of the country's power. Biodiversity is among the richest in the world and sustainable forestry is one of Switzerland's biggest industries.

What to do:
Switzerland is the birthplace of the 'lakes and mountains' holiday. Skiing on the high Valais glacier is some of the best in the Alps and during the welcomingly warm summer, you can tour the Interlaken region or climb the Matterhorn.

Costa Rica:
Small, but perfectly formed Costa Rica is home to towering, lush, green forests, pulsating active volcanoes, golden sand surf beaches and its waters teem with marine life. It puts the diverse into biodiversity and it is one of the first developing countries to implement a sustainable tourism industry. Plus about 99 per cent of its energy comes from renewable sources such as wind, hydro and geothermal power.

What to do:
What can't you do? Costa Rica is an adrenaline junkie's dream where you can surf perfect Pacific waves in the morning, zip-wire through the rainforest for lunch and follow it up with a hair-raising trip white-water rafting down the Naranjo River in the afternoon.

Sweden:
Swedes are proud of their country and even a short trip here will show you why. Much of the country is covered by virgin forest, the glacier-shaped mountains are home to unique flora and fauna and the rocky, rugged coastline is like nowhere else on earth. Sweden has a well-established network of eco-tour operators and was one of the first countries in the world to introduce an eco-tourism charter. From the hotels to the transport, citywide heat pump systems and impeccable recycling systems, it is easy to be green in Sweden. Plus Sweden's capital, Stockholm, was European Green City for 2010.

What to do:
During the winter you can ski, go husky sledding and watch the northern lights. Summer time, with its almost never ending days is when most Swedes head to the coast to sail, kayak and generally spend a lot of time relaxing by the barbeque.

Norway:
Norway's green credentials are so well documented that is now advises the rest of the world on developing renewable energy sources. Roughly all of its energy comes from renewable sources, generally from hydropower. This isn't surprising as almost everywhere you look in Norway you see water, whether tumbling as a waterfall or locked up in turquoise blue glacial ice. Norwegians, like their Swedish neighbours, love the outdoors and don't think it abnormal to climb a mountain on a Sunday afternoon.

What to do:
Hiking is an absolute must in Norway. The steep climbs are tough, but the vistas from the top of the fjords are breathtaking. During the winter, skiing is the most common pastime of Norwegians, and although the resorts aren't as big as in the Alps, the pistes are quiet, the views remarkable and the lifts are powered by renewable power - protecting Norway's glaciers into the future.

by Sarah Benton

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