Making your travel matter in 2012

Travel Matters is an independent travel agency in Balham that actively encourages ethical and responsible travel. Owner, Karen Simmonds, is the founder of the Make Travel Matter Campaign which collaborates with specialist companies promoting fair trade holidays and also carries out educational work about the importance of responsible travel (Karen was recently found in the Make Travel Matter tepee at the Ethical Christmas Fayre running a storytelling session). The emphasis is on travellers engaging more with the local communities and ensuring that the people and the places that you visit will benefit from your tourism.

 

Lady Adventurer asked Karen for her responsible travel suggestions for 2012 and she has come up with three that “will enable you to respect all people whilst away...They’ll ensure that guides and others involved are paid a fair wage and will help you respect the environment, by minimising the impact on resources and the natural environment.”

 

Discovering Rural Thailand with Traidcraft Meet the People Tours

Thailand is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity. Setting off from Bangkok, this tour takes you through some of the northern areas, where you have a real opportunity to appreciate authentic Thai life. You meet the craftsmen and women of Traidcraft’s long term suppliers who draw on a remarkable heritage of craft techniques and styles to produce fine weaving, embroidered fabrics, bamboo baskets and silverwork.

An unforgettable stay with an Akha community in Chaing Rai provides an incredible insight into village life and an experience of the culture of this hill tribe. Travelling through stunning countryside, you visit villages high in the mountains, ancient temples and sanctuaries as well as development projects in the capital.

Tour details are 13 days for £1625 – including accommodation in hotels and guesthouses, 60% meals provided, 2 internal flights, 1 overnight train journey, 8 producer visits 2 visits to development projects. There are four departure dates  in 2012. Flights from UK approx £800.

 

ITC Giving with award winning partners People & Places - South Africa education and community project

This project is based in Port Elizabeth and the aim is to develop new learning experiences and to introduce township children to a wider experience of the world through education. You can learn about the cultural, social and economic context of education in the townships from local experts and engage with pre schools and primary schools in the most disadvantaged but vibrant communities in South Africa.

Your programme and time with the project will be designed to create a mutually worthwhile and fulfilling experience and you’ll gain real insight and knowledge of the project.

Day one begins with orientation and briefing, a social history tour of the townships and meeting the project leaders. Day two is the first day of work – observing, learning and preparing. On days 3 and 4 you will work on the project and then share an informal party with some of the project staff you have worked with. Day 5 allows you to take a few of the selected students on an outing – a trip to the Addo Game reserve or a  beach picnic – something the children have never done before.

Project details

Accommodation is the Singa Lodge, Port Elizabeth. Included are flights, preparation in the UK, transfers, lunches for the duration, a social activity with project staff and social outing with children

Cost is from £2450 per person based on two sharing.

 

Hands Up Holidays in India

Your 12 day adventure begins with a tour of the vibrant city of Delhi and then straight into your Volunteer Project. This will be a highlight of your stay as you get to interact meaningfully and help improve livelihoods. This trip only uses local guides (including your group leader) and you will eat in locally run and owned restaurants – the food is superb!

Your adventure includes 4 days volunteering in Delhi with:

1. A charity associated with Tear Fund, working in impoverished areas, helping renovate and beautify the slums, as a result vastly improving sanitation and living conditions; or

2. A charity dedicated to improving the lives of India’s poorest children - where you will help teach, or renovate the buildings, and relieve the teachers’ workloads.

A minimum of 10% of profit goes directly into funding the volunteer project partners. All costs of materials and administration are included in the trip price.

After your volunteering, travel to Agra, the ancient capital of India, and visit the famed monument to love - the Taj Mahal - described as the most beautiful building ever constructed.

The following day, travel to the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri and on to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in search of the spectacular, endangered Bengal tiger, as well as the elusive leopard.

The ‘pink city’ of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is your next stop, where you can stroll through the many jewellery and textile bazaars. Included is a visit by elephant to the nearby fort palace of Amber, which was the ancient capital of the Jaipur state.

Also explore the Maharajah’s City Palace, and museum and finish the day with a rickshaw ride through Jaipur’s colourful markets. You will return to Delhi, where you can extend your adventure into Goa, Varanasi, Kerala, or Nepal.

Cost from £2250 per person with accommodation and transfers excluding flights from UK.

Further information:

• www.travelmatters.co.uk
• www.maketravelmatter.co.uk