Eco tips during the Modern Grand Tour

Euregio Meuse-Rhine is full of beautiful nature spots, from castles and water sources, to hills and so much more. It’s a cultural hub, rich in heritage, history and plenty of to explore too. Visiting Euregio Meuse-Rhine is a bucket list trip for many travellers who are keen to cherish.

Whilst you’re on your travels, why not consider being an eco-tourist? Eco tourism is a way to travel responsibly, whilst conserving Euregio Meuse-Rhine’s beautiful landscapes, untouched nature, and the environment of the local people. There are plenty of simple changes that you can incorporate into your holiday, as well as enjoying some of the best eco-friendly tourism activities, to support local communities, preserve our landscapes and do your bit to help the environment.

There are plenty of simple steps that you can take to help combat over-tourism. Discover the actions and considerations you can take to help support and protect landscapes, cultural landmarks and communities, while still getting the most out of your holiday.

1. SPEND MORE TIME IN ONE DESTINATION

Many first-time visitors make the mistake of trying to cram absolutely everything there is to see and do in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine into their entire trip. This is not only impossible but has the unintended effect of creating overcrowding in many of our most famous and beloved spots, especially in Maastricht where many visitors spend just a couple of days. Unfortunately, this can not only make for an unpleasant visitor experience, but also undermine the quality of life for residents by placing undue stress on public transport and infrastructure.

By staying in the same place that little bit longer, you’ll not only help to greatly reduce the pressure on the country’s most famous attractions and destinations, but will allow yourself the time to explore at your own leisure, once the crowds and tour groups of the peak visitor hours have subsided. Savour the freedom of being able to see and do so much more during your visit, and take things at a more relaxed, enjoyable pace.

Discover what other amazing places and attractions you can fit in an extended trip with our inspiring itineraries and discover more about the joys of slow travel in Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

Tip: Time to spare? Go on an immersive tour of Euregio Meuse-Rhine with our delve into Euregio Meuse-Rhine eBooks. Covering areas, find the most visited attractions, beautiful viewpoints, free things to do, and more.

2. REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Whether you’re thinking about visiting the Euregio Meuse-Rhine from within the continent or overseas, take the time to consider what is the most sustainable and eco-friendly mode of travel before booking your tickets.

If travelling with friends and family, it may make more sense to drive, especially if the car is full. If travelling solo, it may actually be greener to fly or take the train or other public transport.

Remember, while taking the train or bus is usually the most sustainable option compared to flying or driving, this can vary depending on the size of your group and the route taken.

Find out more about travelling to and around Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

Tip: You can rent a Tesla or book a chauffeured guided tour.

3. CONSIDER THE VISITOR ACCOMMODATION YOU PICK

Whether it’s a boutique hotel or a self-service apartment; a family-run bed and breakfast or a rural rental cottage; choose from an incredible array of unique, high-quality, and quality-checked accommodation options.

Taking the time to evaluate your choice of stay is one of the best ways to show consideration to both your destination and the people who live there. This is because quality assured properties are purposefully set up to cater for visitors.

Look for accommodation providers which have been awarded accreditation by Green Tourism scheme. It’s one of the best ways to find a place to stay with a high standard of green credentials.

Choose from a wide range of green hotels and eco-friendly accommodation, or browse award-winning Green Tourism accommodation.

4. USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Once you arrive at your destination, try to travel around as much as possible by foot or bike. For longer journeys, opt for the next greenest option – Euregio Meuse-Rhine’s extensive public transport network, which includes bus and rail. Using public transport is highly recommended if exploring popular destinations where the roads can become congested and sometimes blocked by higher volumes of traffic and larger vehicles.

If public transport is not an option for you but you still want to access these areas, consider booking a private tour in a mini-van or bus. This will help reduce the overcrowding on small country roads and carbon emissions.

Be sure to also investigate what car share schemes are available in the area – a system which offers a greener alternative to renting a car or booking a taxi.

Learn more about driving responsibly.

Find out more about car sharing schemes available in

5. GET OFF THE BEATEN (TOURIST) TRACK WITH A LOCAL GUIDE

There is so much more to see and do in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine than what you can see on Instagram. Book a private or small-group tour with a local guide and reap the rewards of their insider knowledge. From a food tour, a guided hike, or a chauffeured road trip, discover sights, tastes and once-in-a-lifetime experiences you might not have had on your own.

What’s more, any reputable tour operator or independent guide will allow you to experience a more authentic side of the Euegio Meuse-Rhine while supporting local businesses, shops, restaurants, distilleries and more along the way.

Browse a wide range of tours in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

6. VISIT DURING OFF-PEAK SEASONS

Visiting the Euregio Meuse-Rhine during its off-peak or ‘shoulder’ seasons is highly recommended – and not just for your bank balance. If you have ever dreamed of visiting Maastricht, Liège and Aix-La-Chapelle, autumn, winter and spring are great times to do so. Accommodation providers drop their rates, flights cost considerably less; while roads are far quieter and crowds small to non-existent. The weather may be cold, but the welcome you receive will still be warm.

Find out more about autumn and winter breaks.

7. DO YOUR RESEARCH

The more time you spend on themoderngrandtour.com, the better an understanding you’ll have of the region you want to visit and how much time to spend at each. Take Aix-La-Chapelle, for instance. There are a wide range of hidden gems located in and around the city to suit all kinds of interests. In short, learning as much as you can about an attraction or destination in advance will allow you to spend your time more wisely, and make your visit much more rewarding.

Be sure to plan your route ahead of time, even if it’s simply how to walk from one stop to the next. Help reduce travel congestion on roads, buses and trains during peak periods by exploring as much as you can on foot. After all, it’s by far the best way to explore!

8. LEAVE NO TRACE BEHIND

Whether camping or pulling over at a lay-by to take some pictures or lingering at a well-known beauty spot, always adhere to the simple rule: ‘leave no trace’. Sadly, even in the most remote areas in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, it’s not unheard of to find bags of rubbish dumped at roadsides, bothies and beaches.

Visitors can also damage environments unknowingly through other kinds of behaviour, namely through ‘love locks’ fastened to bridges. An act which cause damage to man-made structures. Set an example by refraining from vandalism which litter cities, UNESCO designated sites, and other beautiful places.

Whether wild camping or visiting, educate yourself on how to respectfully and safely visit the natural spaces by reading the Outdoor Access Code.

Learn about the Outdoor Access Code and responsible camping.

9. SUPPORT A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ORGANISATION

Local social enterprises are a great way you can explore a city while also helping fund businesses which channel their profits into enhancing the well-being of their local communities. Gain a unique insight into the daily life of locals and how they are working together to meet the social, economic and environmental challenges facing their communities. Guides and representatives are also usually eager to provide useful insider tips and recommendations for places to see, shop and dine during the rest of your trip.

One such organisation is ? which offers completely unique tours of Maastricht led by guides.

You can also download the ? is new audio tour of ? which helps visitors to support altruistic businesses and initiatives across the city.

Tip: 

10. Volunteer

Voluntourism is a great way to help off-set your carbon footprint and make a positive difference to the environment.

The ? offers dozens of volunteering holidays all over with its ? working holiday programm which provides conservation holidays where volunteers can get involved with everything from archaeological digs to surveying wildlife. You can even help restore what remains of the ancient forest, an organisation which undertakes tree planting and other essential conservation work.

Learn more about ?.

There are so many ways to enjoy eco-tourism; from booking with local eco-friendly tourism companies, to doing in-depth research into your accommodation options. Eco-tourism truly is the best way to enjoy nature and cultural heritage.