Hey Travel Tales listeners, this week on Unpacked, we have a fantastic interview with travel legend Rick Steves.

Since he launched his company in 1976, he has sent millions of Americans abroad, either through his guided tours or via his many, many guidebooks. But his mission—to “curate culture shock”—comes with a cost. 

Rick has long been aware of the environmental impact of encouraging so many people to travel, but he found that carbon offset programs didn’t do enough to alleviate his concerns. So Rick and his team created the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment, which donates $30 for every traveler on their tours to a carefully selected set of nonprofits. 

Rick came on the podcast to chat about the program, as well as his views on ethical travel. But the conversation was so wide-ranging and rich—touching on everything from dual-narrative travel to his belief in the power of crossing borders—that we decided to split it into two episodes. 

This week’s episode focuses on Rick’s constantly evolving views on travel, his mission, and his belief in self-imposed carbon taxes. And next week, we’ll drill down into his Climate Smart Commitment with his chief operating officer, Craig Davidson. 

Resources

Read this week’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode.

Listen to Rick’s podcast, Travel With Rick Steves.

Learn more about the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment.  

Read our story about a climate change reporter who wanted to fly less.

Check out our primer on carbon offsets and the programs that can make a difference. 

Catch up on Unpacked, season two:

How to Make Hard Travel Funny, According to a Comedian

The Making of a Patagonian National Park

Are You Ready to Hand Over Travel Planning to the ChatGPT and AI Bots?

It’s Not Too Late to Plan Your Summer Travels—Here’s How