Seeking authentic travel experiences?
There’s a growing trend among travellers choosing small group tours, authentic cultural encounters and sustainable, low-impact trips.
Rather than just ticking attractions off a must-see list, holidaymakers are seeking more immersive experiences, while considering the impact of travel, both culturally and environmentally.
Scooting through towns and villages on a rushed itinerary provides little opportunity to learn about local culture.
Travelling at a slower pace, you might not see every castle, museum or tourist hotspot, but it offers a chance for more meaningful encounters along the way.
Get off the beaten track, go beyond the tourism brochures and discover more about other people’s way of life with these experiences.
Meeting the locals
The sights, sounds and aromas of Egypt and Jordan are intoxicating, with a culinary history dating back thousands of years.
Join a Jordanian cooking class and try your hand baking kusmat – a soft, fluffy bread made with locally pressed olive oil – or learn how to make maamoul, a delicate butter cookie filled with nuts or dates.
Memorable experiences like this are available through small group travel operators like Australian-run Bunnik Tours.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan make up the 5-Stans in Central Asia. These unique locations are only just beginning to attract travellers.
In remote Kyrgyzstan, visitors can learn how to build a traditional yurt in a local village. In the stunning Chong-Kemin Valley, pop into a welcoming family’s backyard for a home-cooked meal of authentic delicacies.
In the Peruvian Andes, join a traditional Pachamanka ceremony – an ancient ritual using hot stones to cook meat and vegetables underground.
“It’s a delicious meal that’s as much about community and tradition as it is about the food,” Sacha Bunnik from Bunnik Tours says.
Nestled among summery green hillside terraces, Hoshino Village is home to some of Japan’s finest tea. Prepare your tastebuds for the delicate flavour of Hoshino’s award-winning green tea, as you learn the region’s traditional tea-making methods, beginning with raw leaves.
Sri Lanka is renowned for its stunning beaches, ancient temples and warm hospitality.
There’s great joy in being welcomed into a family home to share a traditional Sri Lankan lunch. It’s a heart-warming experience that offers a true taste of local hospitality and culture.
In a remote corner of Kenya, visit Samburu Unity Village to learn about Samburu women and their families.
Hear how this women-only community was established as a haven from oppression and inequality, and see the intricate handiwork in their colourful handmade jewellery.
Supporting sustainability
Travellers are increasingly aware it’s important to protect the places, cultures and communities they visit.
Sustainable travel means respecting the environment and supporting local people, to ensure the planet’s incredible locations are preserved for future generations.
“We don’t want to spoil the very things we’ve come to enjoy,” Sacha says.
Joining a small group tour not only allows greater travel flexibility, it also reduces environmental impact and ensures tourism dollars go directly to local shops, eateries and artisans.
Local transport providers, who may not have the resources or desire to move large groups, can whisk guests off to locations away from overcrowded tourist spots.
Kenya’s vast Maasai Mara National Reserve is teeming with Africa’s iconic wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, zebras, big cats and wildebeest. Embrace the sensory marvels of the African savannah as you bed down in a tented safari camp, which is staffed by locals and contributes to the surrounding communities.
“Wherever we can, we stay in locally-owned boutique accommodation that adds something to the experience and gives back to the community,” Sacha says.
Small group, sustainable tours not only provide a genuine connection to local people and cultures, they also help preserve the diverse environments we travel through. And there’s a good chance you’ll make life-long friends as well.