...change the way you travel.

What has backpacking become since the first Intrepids hit the overland trail to Australia in the 60s? Is backpacking really greener that mass tourism? And does the old adage 'Take only photographs, leave only footprints' still apply when your Thai taxi driver has an iPhone and your Goan waiter has a Facebook profile?

In 2009 The Day12 Project is organising conferences in universities from London to Sydney, speaking to NGOs, local media and, most importantly, local people to find out what we as travellers can do to make our journeys more sustainable. You can follow More than footprints? here at Day12.com and we'll be publishing the results in the Day12 Magazine following the journey. On the next few pages you'll find everything you need to know about our plans and how YOU can get involved. Many websites give advice on sustainable tourism but what do those people who LIVE along the backpacker trail have to say about it? With YOUR help, we're going to find out.

Latest 22/12/08
Happy christmas to all of you who've supported the day12 project over the last 12 months. We've got a special announcement about a major boost to the project come the new year but for now, your latest donation has taken us well past the German border and we're on our way to Berlin so enjoy the holidays, many thanks to everyone who's bought a kilometre so far and see you in January.

Martin

The Day12 Project
Making the tourism industry work
for local people, not just
the other way round
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every year 200,000 British students take a gap- year from university

120,000 British backpackers visit Australia every year

A 'Round-the-World' traveller spends, on average, US$12,000 on their trip

Backpacking has grown far beyond its 'hippy trail' origins