Wildfire Summer: What It Means for How We Travel — and for the Planet

The Green Travel Guide — Mindful Travel for a Meaningful World

Early last summer I spent time in Athens staying next to the ruins of Hadrian’s Library and the Roman Agora. The heat was brutal. Intense 40C+ heatwave days. We would rise at dawn, venture out early, then spend most of the day indoors in air-conditioned rooms, until night would fall and the city would come alive — evenings spent eating al fresco, browsing in bookshops open until midnight, watching open-air films in cinemas beneath a canopy of stars, late-night chats on the steps of Plaka’s labyrinthine alleyways. We had planned to travel along the Attica coast, to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. On the morning of travel, I received a text alert (in Greek and English) — a warning of a fire nearby, the message telling us to get indoors. Everyone around me in the street received the same message - all the phones beeping in unison, yet few moved to seek cover.

This is the new southern European ‘normal’ in the summer months. Wildfires have become a constant rather than an exception — and they are becoming more dangerous.

Living in the Mediterranean, we operate on high alert through the warmer months, especially on those searingly hot days when the wind rises. One of our friends is a fire-fighter here in the Balearics. So much work is preventative — clearing out riverbeds full of dry leaves, clearing brush on the mountainsides before the heat hits and education work to remind locals, hikers and tourists alike to be careful and mindful. Visitors underestimate the heat constantly. The island, Mallorca, is on drought-alert. Tourists often fail to consider issues like water supply when they stay somewhere yet there are villages on the island that have their supply cut or rationed.

There is the reality and then the holiday brochure.

We yearn for that quintessential Mediterranean summer - slow days by the sea, fresh food and long lazy sun-dappled lunches, hammock siestas, warm evenings and late nights. The sounds of cicadas, the scent of night jasmine, the glimmer of sunshine on the water. Instagram curates an endless series of perfect getaways - Corsica, Sardinia, the Greek islands, Sicily - all beautiful and enticing.

Yet this month alone there have been wildfires raging in Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected. Homes and lives lost, livelihoods destroyed. Newspaper headlines read like a disaster movie: “thousands forced to flee” (Al Jazeera), “We’re being cooked alive” (CNN), “Wildfires rage across southern Europe” (BBC).

Friends had travelled to the south of France earlier in the summer, camping on the coast, only to report watching the sky turn rising orange and black, and beating a hasty retreat to a safer area. Both France and Spain have issued rarer red weather warnings as temperatures climb over 40C. Red heat alerts are in place across 10 major Italian cities including Rome, Florence and Milan. Many people have chosen to rethink their summer med plans.

So what is happening to the Mediterranean summer? Is it already a relic of tourism past? Will it become the Mediterranean spring instead, with travel patterns shifting accordingly?

I have been writing a lot recently about Coolcations - the travel trend based on retreating to cooler, northern climes in search of respite from the crushing summer heat. And I’m sharing some cooler destinations in the destination guide this week.

But this is not a problem we can ultimately outrun through booking travel elsewhere.

For another book project I’m working on, I’ve been interviewing glacial archaeologists in Norway, Italy and other countries about their discoveries as the glaciers melt and retreat — it is sobering research. Both landscape and climate is changing fast.

With over 2.4 million acres burnt across southern Europe as of mid-August 2025 (according to the European Forest Fire Information System), this year is sizing up to potentially be the worst wildfire year on record. The scale of impact on nature, biodiversity, on lives and families uprooted, on livelihoods lost, is hard to imagine.

The rising temperatures are only set to continue — we have only to look to places like the Middle East where temperatures of 50C+ are becoming more common in the summer months. Wildfires are a problem in many parts of the world — from California to Brazil to Australia.

Can Europe learn from other parts of the world? How we adapt, and how quickly, remains to be seen.

What is clear, is that travel, and how we move around our planet is being reshaped rapidly.

Essential Climate-Change Reads (2025 Edition)

For anyone who would like to understand more about how the climate emergency is impacting the planet, I’ve curated a reading list below:

1. The Heat Will Kill You First – Jeff Goodell

Goodell examines extreme heat’s deadly effects on humans, ecosystems, and infrastructure. He warns that billions could face life-threatening conditions by the end of the century.

2. Storms of My Grandchildren – James Hansen

Hansen’s prescient account warns of ice-sheet disintegration and sea-level rise—cornerstones in the scientific climate conversation that remain urgently relevant.

3. World Without End – Jean-Marc Jancovici & Christophe Blain

A bestselling graphic novel that explores energy realities, mass migration, and political upheaval. It asks us to rethink everything.

4. Positive Tipping Points – Tim Lenton

An uplifting take on the climate narrative, Lenton explores how historical social and technological shifts (like women's suffrage or electric vehicle adoption) offer realistic models for climate action.

5. The Great Derangement – Amitav Ghosh

A meditation on literature, politics, and the climate crisis. Ghosh critiques how modern storytelling has estranged humanity from nature and ties climate change to capitalist roots while maintaining a glimmer of hope in future generations.

6. Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming – Paul Hawken (ed.)

Publishes a ranked list of the top 100 solutions to reverse global warming. It’s a practical and accessible resource that spans energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and societal change.

7. Climate Change Isn’t Everything – Mike Hulme

This 2023 title argues that grappling with climate change isn’t enough without attention to inequality, biodiversity, and governance. A critical check on climate discourse.

8. Overshoot: How the World Surrendered to Climate Breakdown – Wim Carton & Andreas Malm (2024)

A sharp analysis of how fossil fuel interests pushed the world past 1.5 °C. Clear, urgent, and unapologetic.

Coolcation Destination Guides

Iceland

Jökulsárlón, a glacial lake in Iceland. Photo by Kenny Muir, Wikicommons. CC-by-2.0

Iceland is a shining example of how sustainable tourism can work in harmony with nature. With its commitment to renewable energy, conservation, and eco-friendly practices, Iceland offers travellers a chance to experience the stunning beauty of the North Atlantic while minimising their environmental impact. By embracing green travel principles, you can help preserve Iceland’s unique landscapes, wildlife, and culture.

Read the Destination Guide here: Iceland Green Travel Guide

Norway

Reine village in Lofoten, Norway. Photo by Petr Šmerkl, Wikipedia.

Norway is one of the world’s most eco-friendly destinations, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, commitment to sustainability, and strong environmental conservation efforts. From the dramatic fjords and towering mountains to its pristine coastal villages and lively cities, Norway offers visitors an abundance of opportunities to explore the outdoors responsibly.

Read the Destination Guide here: Norway Green Travel Guide

Mindful Travel Tips for A European Summer

1. Rethink When You Travel

Go shoulder season: Late April–early June or mid-September–October now offer better weather, fewer crowds, and lighter climate impacts.

If summer is unavoidable, plan activities early morning or evening—many southern European cities now adapt their daily rhythm to extreme heat.

2. Choose Low-Carbon Routes

Trains over planes: Europe’s high-speed network (Eurostar, TGV, Frecciarossa) makes intercity travel easy without the emissions of short flights.

Use night trains (ÖBB Nightjet, European Sleeper) for long distances—saving both emissions and hotel costs.

Combine modes: bike + train trips are increasingly well-supported in countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

3. Avoid Heat-Trap Itineraries

Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece) now regularly sees 40 °C+ in July/August.

Stay coastal for sea breezes, head to higher altitudes (Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians), or explore northern Europe (Scandinavia, Baltics).

If visiting hot urban areas, build in siesta hours: museums, shaded cafés. Avoid pools and sea from 12–4 pm. Stay indoors in hottest part of the day.

4. Stay Hydrated & Sun-Smart

Many European cities have free public water fountains—carry a refillable bottle.

Wear light, loose, breathable fabrics, plus a wide-brim hat and sunglasses.

Use reef-safe sunscreen, especially if you’ll swim in natural waters.

5. Support Climate-Resilient Tourism

Book with eco-certified accommodation (EU Ecolabel, Green Key, Biosphere).

Join tours run by locals who reinvest in community resilience (restoration projects, cultural heritage preservation).

Avoid “disaster tourism” that treats climate-hit areas as spectacle without contributing to recovery.

6. Protect Fragile Environments

Respect fire risk zones—wildfires are now a growing summer hazard. Follow local advice on trail closures.

Keep to marked paths in drought-stressed parks and reserves.

Minimise water use in hotels—especially in southern regions facing shortages.

7. Travel at a Slower Pace

Fewer destinations = less transit carbon, more immersive experience.

Base yourself in one area for a week or more; take day trips by train, bike, or local bus.

8. Have a Climate Plan B

In high-risk months, heatwaves or fires may force itinerary changes.

Keep flexible bookings or consider travel insurance that covers climate disruption.

What are your thoughts on this topic? If this post resonated with you, please share with friends, drop some ❤️ or comment.

For more on green travel tips, sustainable destination guides and slow travel stories, visit www.greentravelguides.world

Until next week,

Laura

Laura McVeigh

Author | Travel Writer | Founder, Green Travel Guides

lauramcveigh.com | lauramcveightravel.com | travel-writing.com |

Laura McVeigh is a Northern Irish novelist and travel writer. Climate issues are at the heart of her latest novel, LENNY (told between the desert sands of Libya and the Bayou in Louisiana). Her writing has been translated widely. She has authored books for Lonely Planet and DK Travel, bylines in national newspapers, featured in BBC, Newsweek, New Internationalist and many other publications. She is founder of Travel-Writing.Com and Green Travel Guides - a platform for sustainable, regenerative and slow travel content and community. Laura writes on storytelling, travel writing, and green travel issues on Substack.