Sustainable travel is on the rise, with people all over the world embracing the movement with enthusiasm. But one traveller is going a few extra miles and is currently cycling from London to Istanbul in order to raise awareness for eco-friendly tourism and to support the World Wildlife Fund.
Lauren Pears set off from London last May. Image by Lauren’s Travel Diary
A freelance travel writer and blogger from London, Lauren Pears set off on her adventure last May, beginning a journey that will see her travelling over 400km across Europe. Estimating that it will take her around three months to complete, Lauren’s route will see her passing through France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria, before finishing up in Turkey. Documenting the journey on her blog, Lauren’s Travel Diary, she has been sharing updates and images from the road.
The view of the Doubs river from the Citadel of Besançon in Franche-Comté, France. Image by Lauren’s Travel Diary
“I sort of just got the idea in my head and decided to go for it! Anyone who knows me will know how much I love to travel, and how much I talk about sustainability. It was time for me to practice what I preach and start travelling in more eco-friendly ways. My dad also loves cycling and has been on lots of trips himself. Earlier this year he travelled through Thailand and Cambodia. It made me realise that it’s a great way to get about and see places, as you experience things slowly and uncover hidden gems that tourists travelling faster would otherwise miss. Perhaps that sparked something in me,” Lauren told Lonely Planet Travel News.
Lauren arriving in Switzerland. Image by Lauren’s Travel Diary
Lauren’s father joined her for the first ten days of the trip, and her first blog entry discusses the trials and tribulations so far, including how she felt when he left and she was cycling completely solo. “It was a serious rollercoaster of emotions. I felt a lot of apprehension, but worst of all I felt lonely. These negative feelings quickly passed, and right now I feel very confident. I’ve found my rhythm and the loneliness has been replaced by a content solitude. Some days I feel a wonderful sense of freedom – everything I need is packed on my bike and I can just go where the road takes me. I arrived in Switzerland yesterday, and the feeling of making it to a new country just reminds me that I can do this,” she said.
Lauren is using the trip in order to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund, and contributions can be made through her JustGiving page.
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