Costas Christ

Costas Christ is an award-winning travel writer and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler. Prior to that, he was the Global Travel Editor and World Class columnist for National Geographic Adventure. His column, “Tales From The Frontier,” appears in Traveler.

Costas' articles and essays have also appeared in numerous other publications, including the New York Times, Boston Globe, International Herald Tribune, and Sunday Times of London. He is best known as one of the world’s leading sustainable tourism experts, whose work and travels have taken him to more than 125 countries across six continents.

He serves as Chairman of Judges for the World Travel and Tourism Council—Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, which recognize best practices in the travel industry that support the protection of cultural and natural heritage. He also writes the Go Green travel column for Virtuoso Life, the largest circulation travel trade magazine.

Blueberry Fields Forever

Posted by Costas Christ in Taste of Travel on March 8, 2013
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holding-fresh-blueberries

Each spring, Traveler Editor at Large Costas Chris tucks his passport away and turns into a blueberry farmer, tending the crop on a 40-acre organic farm in Maine. Call it his double life.

5 Green Winter Weekend Getaways

Posted by Costas Christ in Beyond the Guidebook on January 18, 2013
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The lobby at Nine Zero. (Photograph courtesy Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants)

Costas Christ brings us five Friday-to-Monday getaways from Maine to Manhattan that deliver friendly service and great food along with a palpable commitment to caring for the environment.

Imagine There’s No Countries

Posted by Costas Christ on January 3, 2013
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Sign marking Zimbabwe-Zambia border near Victoria Falls. (Photograph by Samantha Geis, My Shot)

Although it’s not the first one, Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area could be the largest cross-border protected area in the world, spanning five countries in southern Africa.

Happy 850th, Genghis!

Posted by Costas Christ on November 14, 2012
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Painting showing the extent of the Mongol empire under Genghis Khan surrounded by depictions of a Mongol cavalryman, arrowheads, and scenes from the field. (Illustration by William H. Bond, National Geographic)

Mongolia is celebrating the 850th birthday of its founding father by proclaiming his favorite bird, the saker falcon, as its very first national bird. The move not only provides a fitting tribute to Genghis Khan; it will also help raise awareness about the importance of protecting this endangered species and launch Mongolia into the world of great bird-watching destinations.

A Film Legend Thrives: Francis Ford Coppola

Posted by Costas Christ on August 10, 2012
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Avid traveler Francis Ford Coppola will be in San Francisco to discuss his newest film tonight. (Photograph courtesy American Zoetrope)

At this point in his life, Francis Ford Coppola approaches film making the way a veteran traveler plans a great trip: it must be original (why follow the tourist crowds?), it must have a personal element (the best travel experiences mean we learn something about ourselves), and it must be self financed (you choose where you want to go and what you want to do, not what someone else wants because they are paying for it).

The Green President

Posted by Costas Christ on October 18, 2011
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President Nasheed (center) with Six Senses CEO Sonu Shivdasani (left) on Soneva Fushi (Courtesy of Six Senses)

Almost exactly one year ago, I sat with President Nasheed of the Maldives in the shade of coconut palms on the blue lagoon island of Soneva Fushi, where the sustainable tourism resort group Six Senses was founded in 1995. I listened intently as he explained his vision of the Maldives becoming the world’s first fossil…

Save the Ocean: Plant A Fish

Posted by Costas Christ on October 14, 2011
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"Soul Surfer" Bethany Hamilton at Six Senses Laamu (Courtesy of Six Senses)

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of Jacques, has a message for you: Plant a fish. The third generation ocean explorer woke up late one night with an idea–if we can save the forests by planting trees, we can help save the oceans by “re-planting” aquatic species in degraded marine environments. The idea evolved into his foundation, Plant A Fish, which aims…

Flying Green Class?

Posted by Costas Christ on October 12, 2011
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The author with Sir Richard Branson (Photo: Roger Moenks)

In my last post (Read: Slow Life in the Maldives), I talked about Six Senses Resorts, where “Intelligent Luxury” is a core mission and sustainable tourism best practices are put into action. Six Senses is hosting the three-day SLOWLIFE Symposium– a small gathering of sustainability leaders and visionaries on the tiny island of Soneva Fushi in the Maldives…

Slow Life in the Maldives

Posted by Costas Christ on October 11, 2011
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Photo: Soneva Fushi

Today I find myself back in the Maldives a year after I first met the nation’s President Nasheed– since dubbed “The Green President” for his steadfast efforts to lead this small island nation to become the world’s first carbon neutral country by 2020 (yes, fossil fuel free in eight years.) I’m sitting with a handful of sustainability leaders and…