Spend time with a Mongolian herding family.
Eternal Landscapes provides small-group and individual trips to Mongolia with an emphasis on supporting the local communities. The five-day Erdenedalai Explorer tour allows guests to stay with a herding group in the vast steppes that make up the “Middle Gobi”, a region often overlooked by tourists who prefer the more well-known sights found at the southern part of the desert.
This trip gives you a chance to see local life in an unspoiled landscape. You can also visit community projects in Ulaanbaatar during the tour. Eternal Landscapes is a member of The Conscious Travel FoundationThe tour also includes other small towns that are not visited by the mainstream tourist industry. This provides local women with employment by hiring only female assistants.
The following is a list of the most recent articles. $1,045pp (£773) in a group of six ($1,800 for a solo traveller or $1,265pp in a group of two)Included Transfers and meals outside the capital eternal-landscapes.co.uk
Book a room in a hotel that is run by women Sri Lanka
Amba Yaalu is Sri Lanka’s very first women-run hotel. It was opened in January on a mangrove plantation near the Kandalama Reservoir. In a country where less than 10% of the country’s workforce is female, the aim is to promote equality and provide employment for women – many of whom leave the island in search of opportunities in the Gulf states.
Amba Yaalu, part of eco-friendly hotel group Thema Collection, was created by Chandra Wickramasinghe. He was inspired to create the resort after seeing his mother raise eight children as she worked as a nurse. There are a range of immersive experiences available, such as cooking classes or village visits.
Rooms from $120 (£89) B&B, themacollection.com
Take the road less travelled in Morocco
Intrepid Travel’s South Morocco Discovery 11-day adventure takes you deep into Sahara and the Atlas Mountains. It also includes a number of community-led activities. Guests will stay in a mountain gite run by a local family and travel to Tafraoute for a visit to an Amazigh village to learn about their traditional lifestyle and its changes.
Visit a women’s co-operative outside Essaouira that specialises in the production of argan oil. Camping under the stars, a camel safari at sunset and discovering ancient sites with a local guide are also part of the package.
The following is a list of the most recent articles. £662Included in the package are accommodation, breakfasts, two meals and dinners, and activities. intrepidtravel.com
Serengeti Safari with Clean Cooking Initiative in Tanzania
Small-group adventure specialist G Adventures puts community tourism at the heart of many of its itineraries, with more than 130 projects built into its trips, working with nonprofit partner Planeterra. Local nurseries also grow a tree for every day a traveller is on a trip, providing revenue for communities too.
One of the initiatives it has undertaken in Tanzania is its Masai Clean Cookstoves initiative, which helps people to replace traditional stoves, that are responsible for deadly air pollution within households, with newer models. An all-female team of engineers has so far installed 4,000 stoves across 60 Masai villages in the Serengeti.
It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. 12-day Serengeti Safari with Zanzibar includes a trip to the Clean Cookstoves Project. £2,649pp, Included are hotels, camping, some meals and breakfast. gadventures.com
Preserving traditional customs in Georgia
Wild Frontiers is an adventure specialist that offers a variety of community-led trips. One such trip, Adventures with Purpose, includes a 13-day itinerary with emphasis on social enterprise initiatives that preserve traditions and empower locals. It also features classic sights like Tbilisi’s old town and Gergeti Trinity Church.
The Tusheti region is a landscape that has been protected by the Tushetians, who have contributed to the preservation of this area and village life. Nukriani Workshops is a program that encourages local communities to preserve traditional crafts and supports them.
You can also find out more about FRom £3,090, Includes accommodation, some meals, and transportation wildfrontierstravel.com
Village life in Peru
The Rukha Ayllu Project helps families living in Huilloc in the Peruvian Andes to enjoy the benefits of responsible tourism. Despite being located along a popular trekking trail, the village had poor living standards and was marginalised. Valencia Travel Cusco, a tour operator, launched an initiative to improve infrastructure.
Today, 25 families welcome visitors into their homes, sharing their food, crafts and cultural heritage. Tourism is a welcomed new source of income. Valencia Travel Cusco has been named a finalist for this year’s ICRT Global responsible tourism awards, the winners of which will be announced in November.
It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Colors of Peru 14-day Tour Trips are available for all ages. costs from $2,607 (£1,929), including a visit to the project, accommodation, breakfast and some other meals, valenciatravelcusco.com
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Safaris and storytelling on rural India
Village Ways’ newest trip takes guests to central Indian states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and to forest-dwelling villages to learn about their traditional lifestyles and crafts. They will also be introduced to ancient beliefs and the way of life of these communities. From staying in a community-owned guesthouse to discovering the Baiga and Gond people’s connection to the land, rivers and forests – and their medicinal use of local plants – the nine-night itinerary delves into village life.
Many highlights include a safari at Kanha National Park, storytelling and fireside dancing, as well as hiking through the forest. Village Ways has been a pioneer for sustainable tourism. It provides rural communities additional income streams, job opportunities, and helps reduce urban migration.
Forests of FablesA Discovery of Ancient India. £889ppTransfers, accommodations and meals are included. villageways.com
Volunteering in Ghana with Children
Gap360 provides a variety of trips from two to twelve weeks for travelers aged 18-30. These trips support local communities. The Ghana Teaching and Childcare Project is one option, where volunteers can work with locals at a childcare center or school. Spending between four and six hour a day supporting children is required.
Volunteers and staff live together. There is plenty of time to immerse yourself in Ghanaian culture, explore its national parks, and enjoy the beaches. Volunteers are also welcome to participate in the youth development program. Sports coaches can be hired for a variety of sports, from tennis to swimming.
You can also find out more about From £599 for two weeksAccommodation and meals are included. gap360.com
Bali’s rice fields and farmland.
Astungkara Way This 85-mile hike (137km), designed to promote tourism in the community and sustainable farming, spans across Bali. The 10-day trek can be self-guided, or a group of walkers can take the whole route. They will meander through forests and paddies, stay with local farmers, participate in daily activities and enjoy farm-to table dinners.
The project provides income for the villages, and the profits are used to support the regenerative rice agriculture along the trail. In addition to gaining employment, the young Indonesians have become national speakers for ecotourism and sustainable farming.
Tree to Waterfall is a four-day adventure. Hike 29 miles for only $9 6,100,000 The rupiah (around £276) All inclusive astungkaraway.com
Dinner in a South African township
Township and Village Finalists in the 2025 ICRT Global responsible tourism awardsVisitors are invited to visit the towns of Stellenbosch, and the surrounding vineyards in order to get a feel for the daily life in Western Cape.
The social enterprise, which was launched in 2023, offers a variety of activities. These include dining on traditional Xhosa food at a home in the Kayamandi Township to Djembe Drumming sessions and guided tours are available to explore the cultures and turbulent histories of the region. Local guides provide authentic encounters and visitors directly contribute to the local economy.
Enjoy a three-course dinner at home 550 Rand (around £23), townshipandvillage.co.za
