Smoker’s Guide to Trekking Through Rainforests

One of the most popular traveling trends right now is ecotourism, which is perfect for those seeking sustainable and low-impact, nature-based travel mass plans away from commercial tourism. Because of its growing demand, Million Insights projects that the ecotourism market will reach $385 billion by 2028, expanding at a year-over-year rate of 10.3%. Among the options available for ecotourists is rainforest trekking, with some popular destinations being found in Southeast Asia, South America, and even Australia. Of course, our article ‘Nine Ways to Explore the Rainforest Responsibly in Tropical North Queensland’ highlights the importance of being careful when exploring these natural areas. This is particularly true for smokers who are concerned about keeping these areas pristine. If you’re a smoker planning to go trekking through rainforests, here’s what you need to know.

Check the local smoking policies

Local and national governments across the globe can be very particular about their smoking policies within national parks or natural landscapes. This is to maintain the safety of natural landscapes, such as rainforests, from fires and pollution. Before venturing into rainforests, make sure that you check the local smoking policies to see what provisions they have made for smokers. In the US, for instance, all national parks are smoke-free zones, although some have designated smoking areas. In Australia, national parks have smoking bans in public areas, including campgrounds and walking tracks. Researching this info can help you anticipate how often you can smoke, and how you should prepare.

Dispose of cigarettes properly

Cigarette butts are primarily made of plastics, so they don’t fare well when being tossed away in nature. In fact, EarthDay.org reports that cigarettes are the most abundant form of plastic waste globally, with around 4.5 million individual butts polluting the environment worldwide. Not only do they take 10 years to degrade, but the toxic chemicals found in them can seriously harm wildlife and spread toxins in natural systems. So if you want to keep trekking sites undisrupted, it’s best to keep your cigarettes with you until you’ve left. You can store used ones inside a container or an empty paper bag and dispose of them once you’ve reached your accommodation or you’ve left the rainforest.

Look into cigarette alternatives

Of course, if you want a hassle-free trip, you can always explore convenient cigarette alternatives — most of which do not emit smoke, are easy to dispose of, and can be consumed easily. A popular smoke-free option is the nicotine pouch. You can use these pouches simply by tucking them under your lip for half an hour and disposing of them properly after getting your nicotine dose. The Rogue nicotine pouches on Prilla are sold in a multitude of flavors and in varying doses of 3mg and 6mg. This means you may choose a strength that correlates with your preferred nicotine intake. If you don’t want to worry about disposal, then you can also try the nicotine lozenges which are hard candies you can suck on. Commit lozenges are widely available over-the-counter since they’re an approved form of nicotine replacement therapy. This makes them easily accessible, so you can bring a few packs with you before going on your trip.Traveling as an ecotourist and trekking rainforests can be a rewarding experience, helping you connect better with nature and yourself. Even though smoking may be largely restricted, preparing well can help you have a relaxing time.