Sustainable Tourism Denmark

Our world has so much to offer us. From seas to oceans, from grasslands to deserts, from forests to mountains. No matter what, it is our responsibility to care for all the jewels of our only planet. This month’s theme is sustainable tourism as COVID-19 restrictions start to loosen and vaccines are rolling out to everyone, it comes time to think of vacation destinations. What if this summer you try to consider a more sustainable approach to your vacation?

UNYA’s own volunteers share some travel recommendations here in Denmark, from Stevns Klint, to Blåvand and more. Check it out and let us know which are your favourite sustainable destinations!

Sustainable Tourism is related to the following UN SDGs:

Goal #8 – Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all
Goal #12 – Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal #14 – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development

What is sustainable tourism, you might ask? Well, according to the World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities” (UN Sustainable Development)

We cannot avoid tourism altogether because many developing countries depend on income through tourism, but instead, we can turn to sustainable tourism. This way ensures we consider the economic, social and environmental impacts our actions have. Some examples of sustainable tourism include camping, biking, choosing resorts powered by solar panels, backpack rather than spend on unsustainable transport methods, volunteering in another country (planting trees, helping an orphanage, etc.), sustainable tours,

Below you will find some of UNYA’s volunteers’ favorite destinations throughout Denmark.

Daniela:
Stevns Klint Trampesti
Sjælland, up to 21 km pedestrian path

On your one side, chalk cliffs fall into the sea. On the other side, green meadows spread. You can hear the waves crashing on land and the birds chirping. In summer, the salty sea air mixes with the gentle smell of blossoming flowers. Walking on Stevns Klint Trampesti is a great way of enjoying the nature around Stevns Klint – a world heritage site. No noisy cars or cyclists will destroy the calm of nature because most of the route is reserved for pedestrians.

The trodden path runs from Rødvig in the south to Bøgeskov Harbour in the North, a total of approximately 21 kilometers. You can start wherever you want and if your legs get tired, you can rent a bike for the way back or between June and August, a bus drives along the coast. Find its route here, wave it down and hop on – it’s free of charge.

The path runs past several sights such as old chalk and lime quarries, a lighthouse or defence facilities from the Cold War, one of which now hosts a museum. Make sure to pass Højerup where you can visit the picturesque church on the edge of the cliff. Take some stairs down to the beach from where you can see the cliffs from up close and identify the different layers of rock.

The cliff at Højerup.

The view from the path.

Polli
Blåvand

This little corner of Denmark, which is also the most western point of the country, has its own special atmosphere. Blåvand is located close to the city of Esbjerg and offers several fun opportunities to discover. The bright green dunes provide the perfect location for an easy hiking experience and also bring you adventure with the hidden bunkers all over the area. After exploring the dunes, it is a great idea to just chill on the white sand beach and just enjoy the sound of the waves or even if the weather is good enough, have a swim, although don’t forget to watch out for the jellyfishes.

The most amazing view is presented by the lighthouse called Blåvandshuk Fyr, where you can go up and see this adorable half-island from above. If you are interested in history and or just want to know more about Denmark, you should definitely visit Tripitz museum, which is only a few minutes drive from the beach and built under the dunes. The museum offers an interactive experience to discover how Denmark has changed from the very early ages until the present times. It also gives you the opportunity to explore one of the biggest bunkers in the country in perfect condition.

Blåvand is the perfect place to visit with your friends or family and it is certainly a good experience for people with any kind of interests.

Tripitz museum:

Views from Blavand lighthouse:

Eva
North Jutland – Løkken & Rubjerg Lighthouse

Talking about sustainable tourism and COVID-19 restrictions, there is no better opportunity than to explore destinations within Denmark …and there are just so many amazing places surrounding Aalborg, where you can get by half empty bus or train directly! As I love the seaside, one of my favorite destinations is Løkken. Løkken is a small merchant town located in North Jutland, significant by its own culture and charming beach. By exploring cafés, restaurants and shops, you can support local entrepreneurs, however the best thing you can do in Løkken are various outdoor activities. I really appreciate the North Shore’s casual beauty, where the snow-white sand dunes are meeting the infinite shimmering North Sea. My preferred way to enjoy the sea with a combination of the sun and cold water is to grab a surfboard and hit the waves.

Another great option to enjoy the fresh salty air is to take a walk along the shore, do some clean-up, climb the sand dunes and in contrast with the peaceful atmosphere explore the WW2 bunkers that showed up because of the coastal erosion over the time. I always enjoy the walks there with a cup of hot tea in my hands, accompanied by my friends. If you dare, you can also continue your hike up to the Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse. The hike takes around 3-4 hours from Løkken (shortly from Lønstrup) and brings you to the other world, a world of desert terminated with a magical cliff, a unique lighthouse and overwhelming beautiness.

Løkken