Your top ethical holidays: From homestays in Kyrgyzstan to batik-making in Ghana| Ethical holidays

Crafting in Ghana

Global MamasThe production of traditional handcrafted items using traditional techniques creates financial stability for local women in Elmina. We joined them for a workshop where they made batik. Mavis Thompson Then, we stamped a piece of cream cotton after dipping our designs in melted wax. After dying the fabric with natural dyes, we dipped it in boiling water to remove any wax. We sat in low stools to watch the Global Mamas create larger and more complex designs while the cotton was being sun-dried. The vibrantly colored tablecloths we made are a lasting memory of an afternoon spent with Mavis and other mamas.
Helen Jackson

Sicily anti-mafia tour

When you mention Sicily, people think of The Godfather. Join us for the 3-hour excursion to get beyond the cliches. Addiopizzo walking tour of Palermo (€32), organised by the local grassroots anti-mafia movement of the same name. They support business owners who refuse to pay. pizzo – protection money extorted by the mafia. The tour also includes a visit to the Wall of Legality mural, which depicts mafia victim images. It also takes you into the courthouse and courtroom where stories of those who stood up against Cosa Nostra can be heard. Relax your tired feet after the tour with a panelle (chickpea Fritter) at pizzo free businesses.
Selena Daly

Cloud forest adventures in Ecuador

Santa Lucía Cloud Forest Reserve The community-run ecoproject is located in Ecuador’s rain forest. Enjoy a hike through the misty jungle, swim under cascading falls, and enjoy home-cooked food in cozy cabins while local researchers track elusive wildlife. Andean bears And assist in community outreach initiatives. This is genuinely sustainable tourism – protecting one of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems while creating vital income for local families. The local bus ride through the Andean Foothills and the availability of pickup trucks from Quito is a memorable way to get there. It’s a truly unique “holiday” – wild, breathtaking and genuinely impactful. Visitors can join birdwatching and guided hikes while staying at the ecolodge. Stays of two days and one night start at $190.
Bobby

Biodiversity and organic vineyards near Bordeaux

In Bordeaux, we observed that more and more winemakers use environmentally friendly practices such as biodynamics. They also prefer to use horses to cultivate the soil rather than machines. The estate tour was much more than just a few glasses of wine. Our guide educated and informed us about the benefits and advantages of organic farming and winemaking methods. Château de La DauphineThe permaculture vegetable garden and the beehives were on display. At the Caves de Rauzan The biodiversity trail winds its way across the countryside. We hired ebikes in Bordeaux to explore the vineyards.
Nigel

Walking tours with all-inclusive tickets in Edinburgh

Edinburgh struck me by its dynamism Mercat Tours‘ Our Stories, Your City – a community initiative funded by visitor donations. It enables disadvantaged residents to experience five-star tours and historic attractions on their doorstep so they encounter first-hand the history which shaped their community – without financial barriers or stigma. This creates a sense pride and belonging in those excluded. Tourism is also a force of good. It’s a beautiful, meaningful example of how a travel company and its world-class storytelling can not only employ local people, but also provide unexpected benefits to vulnerable locals.
Carron

Kyrgyzstan: Stay with the locals

Kyrgyzstan is a country with a growing economy Community Based Tourism Association Visitors can stay overnight with locals. We spent the night in Kyzyl-Oi with a local family. Tinatin Saidinova Her family. Located on the ancient Silk Roads, the small village is surrounded by red mountains, with the Kökömeren River nearby. The room was simple, with only single beds. Our guide and driver shared the bathroom. Tinatin, our guide, ensured we were fed with Kyrgyz cuisine, including chakHoney-drenched deep-fried dough. We bought Russian beer from the shop and drank coffee at a small cafe.
Roy Messenger

Win a cottage in County Tyrone

The Sperrin Mountains used to be a place that only a handful of holidaymakers visited because of the Troubles. But some pioneers have worked tirelessly to encourage more adventurous tourists. The best example of this is An Creagán in Tyrone, near Omagh, which offers two-night stays from £340 or three nights from £360.50 in cottages of varying sizes, One complimentary breakfast is included. The resort is owned by the local community and has provided employment for about 300 people. Accommodations are in the form of traditional cottages. A much-needed restaurant and bar is also available, with locals supporting it all year. Its paths and cycling trails are popular with nature lovers, while stargazers enjoy the unpolluted sky. About an hour away from Derry or Belfast but a world apart from both.
Tom