BillyP

Queenstown, located in the lower half of New Zealand’s South Island, is the world’s best adventure destination. Surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains and the pristine waters of Lake Wakatipu, it offers an abundance of outdoor activities for student groups – from skiing and bungee jumping, to jet boating and cave tours. 

But it’s not all adrenalin. Queenstown is also the perfect base for student groups to develop strong insight into New Zealand’s history, geography, national identity and Māori culture. Here are just some the topics you can weave into a Queenstown educational itinerary. 

Queenstown didn’t emerge from geographical isolation overnight. To discover how this place became one of the most recognised destinations in the world, it’s best to start with a Māori history lesson.  

Your students will step back 200 years to a time when Māori people searched for greenstone. They’ll learn about the walking trails carved during seasonal hunting expeditions to the region and come to understand how Māori overcame the challenging weather and rough terrain. 

Next, engage your students in Queenstown’s 1850s-era. This is the period when British colonisers arrived, and pioneer settlers began looking for pastoral lands around Queenstown. Take your students on cruise on Lake Wakatipu’s iconic TSS Earnslaw steamship to encounter the region’s pioneer history. Or visit a high country farm to learn about pastoralists’ lifestyles and see sheep shearers at work. 

There’s no better place to study New Zealand’s gold rush than in the historic village of Arrowtown. A one-hour drive from Queenstown, Arrowtown’s main street is lined with well-preserved 19th Century heritage buildings that evoke everyday life during ‘gold fever’. In the 1860s, over 7,000 hardy gold miners sought their fortunes here. Your students will explore the village on foot, stopping by the site of an old Chinese settlement, before visiting a local museum to see gold rush era relics up close. 

Queenstown’s natural beauty meant it was only a matter of time before a thriving tourism industry emerged. Today, the town is central to New Zealand’s successful tourism marketing campaign, 100% Pure New Zealand, and attracts international tourists in large numbers. 

Why not explore the characteristics of tourism through a unique Queenstown case study? Your students will start on the ski field, and finish in a film studio! 

First, they’ll learn how Queenstown’s ski fields established the area as a winter tourism destination. They’ll hear how New Zealand invented the now-famous jet boat, ideal for travelling Queenstown’s braided rivers at speed, and how white-water rafting followed soon after. They’ll also find out about the famous AJ Hackett bungee jump, launched in Queenstown in 1988 and the first of its type in the world. 

Finish your students’ tourism study with behind-the-scenes access to New Zealand’s film industry. Learn why film shoots began flourishing in Queenstown in the mid-1990s, then visit a location where Mission Impossible 6, Vertical Limit and X-Men Origins: Wolverine movies were filmed. Those who like to be scared can even join a trip to Queenstown’s unique ‘fear factory’ experience – featuring live actors, special effects and horror themes. 

Queenstown’s natural wonders offer amazing learning opportunities for students interested in physical geography and renewable energy. As you travel through the great outdoors, your students will get a firsthand understanding of the benefits of forward-thinking environmental policies, sustainable tourism practices and effective long-term planning. 

Begin by taking them on an overnight trip to Fiordland National Park to explore Doubtful Sound by boat. Humbling in size and beauty and carved by glaciers, Doubtful Sound means ‘place of silence’ in the Māori language. Nearby, students will see a hydropower dam and consider the success of hydropower in powering New Zealand’s homes, towns and cities. 

More beauty awaits below the fiord’s surface. Fiordland National Park is home to bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and penguins, as well as humpback, minke and sperm whales, which students can view from on the water. Complement your wildlife discoveries with a visit to a sanctuary on land, where you’ll learn about New Zealand’s ongoing conservation efforts to protect the famous nocturnal kiwi. 

Need more natural beauty? New Zealand’s stunning Milford Sound, with its cascading waterfalls and glass mirror landscapes, is only two hours from Queenstown and will impress even the most seasoned geographer. 

Of course, Queenstown’s unique geography also makes it a year-round destination for outdoor pursuits. If your students have energy to burn, be sure to add extra action to your itinerary. 

You can choose from outdoor adventures like: 

• Skiing and snowboarding: Hit the slopes within an hour’s drive of Queenstown, where you’ll have your pick of ski fields for first-time skiers and snowboarders.
• Jet boating: Send your students speeding through gullies, gorges and across wide shingled riverbeds, spinning 360 degrees and accelerating up to 90kmph in a thrilling jet boat ride.
• White water rafting: Feel the exhilaration as your students go white water rafting or river kayaking down grade 2, 3 or 4 river rapids.
• Bungee jumping: Defy gravity with a quintessential Queenstown bungee jump, whose platforms offer rope lengths of 134 metres.
• Luge: Descend the surrounding hills in a luge – a light toboggan for two people. During the descent, your students will be challenged to navigate corners, tunnels and dips in the track.
• Bike trails: Take students of all experience levels cycling down Queenstown’s world-class mountain bike trails, which travel through farmland, country lanes and rugged terrain.
• Kayaking and maze-solving: Take a short drive across a mountain range to the township of Wanaka, where students can enjoy leisurely lake kayaking, or get lost in a maze.
• Cave touring: Explore the famous glow-worm caves of Te Anau, two hours southwest of Queenstown.

With so many incredible learning experiences on offer, Queenstown is a must-see, must-do destination for any educational tour to New Zealand. When it’s time to depart, your group will have the option to fly directly out of Queenstown’s international airport to Australia, or via international airports in Christchurch or Auckland to reach other parts of Australia and beyond. 

Check out our sample itineraries for more information about our educational tours to New Zealand. 

What’s changed in Vietnam and Cambodia since the pandemic? Plenty! Find out what makes these destinations ideal for your first trip back – from stress-free airports to tourist-free cultural experiences. 

Air travel in Asia was hit hard during the pandemic. In Vietnam alone, borders were closed for a full two years.  

Now, with COVID restrictions easing and borders re-opening, flights are steadily returning to Asia’s major airports. Provided you have the right COVID documentation, arriving in-country is hassle-free. 

Edventure Travel’s director, Billy Penfold, describes his smooth experience traveling through Vietnam’s Hanoi International Airport in June 2022. 

“Passing through Vietnam’s immigration and quarantine was a breeze. All I needed to show was my passport and International COVID Vaccine Certificate, no questions asked,” he says. 

If your timing’s right, you might even get special treatment. Flying between Vietnam and Cambodia, Billy became the first passenger on the Cambodia Angkor Air route in over two years.  

“I was treated like a VIP guest while flying economy. I received a bunch of flowers, and even a photoshoot!” 

In another pandemic-driven change, many of the airlines flying into Vietnam and Cambodia are now focused on sustainability. Members of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, for example, have committed to a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. 

You’ll be pleased to know we’ve updated our environmental credentials, too. Whatever your flight path, we offset carbon for all international and domestic airfares within your trip. 

Have you ever wanted to visit popular cultural sites without tourists? Now’s your chance. Like Billy, you could enjoy a peaceful experience at a place like Angkor Thom in Siem Reap. 

“I was able to study a particular bas-relief wall at Bayon Temple in the heart of Angkor Thom, with no-one around,” Billy says. 

“The carving reveals how, over 800 years ago, sandstone was cut and carried by stonemasons and labourers to produce the Angkor temples. It depicts people fanning the stone carriers, labourers cutting rock with chisels and axes, and workers preparing meals for the stonemasons and labourers.” 

With tourists away, this kind of front row view can be yours, too. 

“It’s a fascinating carving, and the closest thing to a photo of the construction methods you’ll ever see. Looking at it up close gives you great insight into how the temples came to be,” Billy says. 

Across Asia, cities have used the pandemic as an opportunity to clean up their streets. A lack of visitors during COVID revealed empty urban spaces whose physical condition needed improving. As a result, authorities have put new solutions like waste management in place. 

“In Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi, the streets were cleaner and much more orderly than pre-COVID. The markets were tidier and there was very little plastic rubbish,” Billy says.  

Similar improvements have taken place in Cambodia’s second-largest city. 

“The streets of Siem Reap have undergone a remarkable transformation. During the last two years, the local government has repaired over 40 stretches of road around the city and the Angkor temple complex. Rubbish bins are now dotted around the city centre, and the place is nearly spotless!” 

The improvements have boosted urban amenity and liveability. And fortunately, they haven’t erased the bustle of daily life. 

“Other than a few hotels changing names and the odd shop closing or diversifying what they offer, street life continues as normal,” Billy says. 

During the pandemic, several local museums across Asia updated their exhibits. For instance, you can enjoy new displays at the Cambodian Landmine Museum.  

The museum was founded by former soldier Aki Ra, who once laid landmines for the Khmer Rouge. When the Cambodian Civil War ended, Aki Ra decided to help repair his country and remove as many mines as he could – by hand!  

“Today, the museum houses thousands of deactivated ordnances. Videos and displays explain the different types of mines and their specific uses,” Billy says. 

“When you visit, you can’t help but think of the recent use of landmines in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria. It’s a sobering experience. Your ticket proceeds go towards de-mining teams and amputees, who help run the museum.” 

If you’re travelling in Vietnam, you can check out the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. The museum has made use of COVID lockdowns to create extra exhibition spaces, including a room dedicated to soldiers against war and a new photo exhibition.  

“Like the Cambodian Landmine Museum, the displays here are confronting. I’ve seen many a tour group moved to tears,” Billy says. 

Above all, the pandemic has changed how we support you. We’ve put in place new practices to make sure your trip has a lasting positive impact in the countries and communities you visit. 

For example, we’ve upskilled our team in best practice COVID-safe travel protocols. Our new processes cover everything from basic hygiene to medical care and are informed by Billy’s professional experience working in a COVID clinic.  

We’ve also trained our tour leaders and local guides in a range of eco-friendly approaches, like minimising the use of plastic on tour. 

“When there’s free time for shopping, our team will instruct students to not accept plastic bags from sellers to carry their purchases. Instead, they’ll encourage students to carry items in their own day pack,” Billy says. 

Finally, we’ve made sure all our staff understand the ‘why’ behind our work. So when you take part in one of our service-learning programs, your tour leader will be able to explain the genuine impact you’re having. To learn more about how we develop the ‘why’ behind every community project, watch our short video to see Billy and our team at work in Vietnam. 

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is our hard-working team. From Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, our committed staff are as eager as ever to teach you about their country. 

“Recently, our entire Siem Reap team gathered for a welcome back dinner at a hotpot restaurant. We celebrated travel opening up, and exchanged stories and travel experiences,” Billy says. 

“We’re all positive about the coming year, and we can’t wait for you to see what’s new!” 

What does the Edventure Travel team do when they’re not leading your tour? Take experiential learning journeys of their own, of course! 

To build his knowledge of Asia’s communist history and present day, our Director Billy Penfold travelled to North Korea in 2018. Here, he provides a glimpse of life in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, during one of the country’s most important annual celebrations. 

Want more North Korea insights for your students? Be sure to follow-up with part 2 of our North Korea series, which ventures inside North Korea’s education system. 

North Korea – known formally as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – is famous for its tightly staged mass ceremonies. Among them is the Victory Day celebration held each year on 27 July.  

Victory Day marks the anniversary of the Armistice Agreement, signed by military commanders from the US, China and North Korea, which halted the 1950–1953 Korean War. The Armistice Agreement took over 158 meetings and two years to realise. 

Today, the Agreement is kept in Panmumjom, a small village close to the North/South Demilitarized Zone. The village is known for its heavy fortifications and blue United Nations buildings, which straddle the border of North and South Korea. 

As a result of the Armistice Agreement, US soldiers left the Korean Peninsula. North Korea deemed this event a victory and today the date is an annual national holiday. 

Victory Day celebrations centre around Pyongyang’s city square, Kim Il-sung Square. The square is typically used for military parades or displays of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. But on this day, it comes to life in a colourful performance. 

‘On Victory Day, thousands of young Koreans join choreographed parades and mass dances. Each performance is elaborate and runs like clockwork, having been rehearsed for months in advance. Dancers are given special exemption from school or work to practise for hours each day,’ says Billy. 

‘In the lead up, chalk markings are placed on the ground, ready for the dancers who are trucked in each morning to rehearse. Guided by instructors with loudspeakers, they practise every step with precision.’ 

Each dancer wears a badge depicting North Korea’s former communist leaders, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. The badges are pinned on the left side of their shirts, to symbolise that the leaders are close to citizens’ hearts. 

Watching the Victory Day celebrations, Billy felt the performers seemed dispassionate and resigned to their routines. They danced competently, but without emotion. 

‘The young dancers went through their routines for two hours, performing delicate steps and swirling one around another. Their faces remained expressionless, as if they were simply going through the motions,’ he says.  

‘Traditional music blared, and national flags and banners fluttered overhead. It felt as if they were obliged to participate in the dance ceremony and had no personal interest in dancing; or possibly the months of rehearsing had taken the shine off the final routine.’ 

It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that the dancers disappeared quickly when the performance finished. Within 10 minutes, Billy says, the thousands-strong troupe dispersed from Kim Il-sung Square – off to enjoy what remained of their annual holiday. 

Away from the Victory Day festivities, other Pyongyang residents enjoyed the national holiday in a more relaxed way. They gathered at the city’s parks and lakes to spend time with their families. Some drank beer and enjoyed picnics, while others took part in traditional dancing. 

Walking through one of these parks with his tour group, Billy enjoyed friendly exchanges with local families. 

‘Kids were sent over to break the ice. They’d introduce themselves, then their parents would follow them. They asked to see photos from abroad on our phones, offered us beer and challenged us to some good-spirited arm wrestles,’ says Billy. 

‘Parents would nudge their children to practise their English. Through their children, our translators or Korean-speaking members in our group, they’d ask questions about our lives at home. They wanted to know why our hair was messy; why, if we were rich, we didn’t wear smart clothes; and what we thought of their country.’ 

These informal interactions helped Billy gain insight into people’s opinions and ambitions.  

‘I was told by several middle-aged men that they were sick of seeing nuclear missile propaganda posters in the city, and that no one cared for them at all,’ he says. 

Despite the State’s control of media, the absence of foreign books in North Korea and lack of internet access for citizens, he found most North Koreans are aware of the world outside. 

‘Many people said they’d secretly viewed South Korean films, TV series and K-pop music videos on USBs smuggled into North Korea from China. They said they find South Korean soap dramas fascinating, because they show the ‘other’ Korea’s way of life.’ 

Above all, Billy says, the value of caring for family shone through in each exchange. 

‘Everyone cared about providing for their family. They hoped their kids would get a good job and someday travel – specifically, to South Korea.’ 

If you’re keen for your students to learn more about North Korea, be sure to check out our exciting incursions! Packed with case studies, photos and more, incursions are a great way to bring our expert knowledge of the world straight to your classroom. 

Have you heard of the Anthropocene? It’s the name scientists have given to the new geological era we’ve entered. Sadly, this new era is defined by humanity’s severe impact on climate and natural ecosystems. It’s a time marked by rapid biodiversity loss and declining wildlife populations worldwide. 

A recent report by leading international wildlife conservation organisation WWF offers a sense of the problem’s scale. Their report found that global wildlife populations fell by an alarming 68 per cent, on average, between 1970 and 2016. That makes wildlife conservation one of the most important issues of our time. 

Travelling to the Asia and Pacific region gives you a valuable chance to expand your awareness of species loss and what changes you can make to help protect wildlife. Where better to learn about wildlife conservation than in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots? 

The region’s tropical forests, coral reefs and large river deltas are home to countless unique species of wildlife, many of which are in urgent need of protection. Learning about this problem is the first step to turning it around. 

Perhaps you’re travelling on a student trip, and would like to learn about wildlife protection for your school’s geography, sustainability or environmental science curriculum? Maybe you’re taking a private tour with eco-conscious friends and family members, and want to make a difference? You might even be travelling as part a special interest group of nature photographers? Whatever your group’s interests and needs, learning about wildlife conservation can fit easily into your itinerary. 

On tour, we’ll connect you with local ecology experts who’ll deepen your understanding of how wildlife species are being threatened. You’ll hear from the likes of national park rangers, ecologists, conservationists and even wildlife activists from local NGOs.

You’ll come away with a better knowledge of a wide range of ecological impacts – from habitat loss and fragmentation to unsustainable hunting and harvesting, the spread of invasive species and disease, poaching, pollution and, of course, climate change. 

No matter which country you’re visiting, there are exciting opportunities to learn. For example: 

• On tour in India you can visit Satpura Tiger Reserve to spot a Bengal tiger, understand human-animal conflict in national parks and learn about ethical tourism and safari ventures. 
• While travelling through Laos, you can study the plight of Asian black bears, find out how to protect their natural habitat and analyse the ethics of bear sanctuaries. 
• On a trip to China, you can discover why giant pandas are facing habitat fragmentation and see conservation in action at Chengdu’s Giant Panda Breeding Centre. 

Along the way, you’ll come to know several local wildlife-focused NGOs. And at the end of your trip, you can choose to nominate any of these organisations for a $50 donation from Edventure Travel. Our $50 traveller gift is part of our commitment to creating positive impact in the places we visit. 

You’ll be pleased to know we also walk the talk back home. Species loss in Australia is just as dire. According to WWF, Australia has ‘the worst mammal extinction rate of any country in the world, and the bushfires of summer 2019-20 have only made it much worse’. 

So, we’re doing our bit to help. In response to the Australian Government listing koalas as an endangered species in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory, we’ve adopted a koala to help prevent their extinction on Australia’s east coast. 

Our gift helps ensure sick, injured and vulnerable koalas get the care they need. It also helps fund wildlife corridors to connect fragmented forest habitats, so koalas can move around more safely. With our headquarters in leafy Warrandyte, Victoria, and many of our travellers from Australia too, it’s another way we’re bringing our positive impact pledge alive through our work. 

At Edventure Travel, we can help you engage meaningfully with wildlife conservation as part of your tour. Get in touch today to chat to us about how you can increase your environmental awareness while you travel, by exploring wildlife conservation on your next overseas adventure. 

When the coronavirus pandemic hit Australia, Edventure Travel director Billy Penfold seized the chance to work for a non-profit COVID-19 screening clinic in Melbourne. Now, after more than a year in the role, he’s educating others. 

“I took the role for an explicit purpose – to better understand the virus, so I could share the knowledge with my team. Together, we’ve built best practice prevention and infection control measures into every tour we run,” Billy says. 

As a company director, Billy takes the responsibility of managing COVID-19 seriously. His experience on the public health frontline has shaped Edventure Travel’s new COVID-safe travel protocols, and will ensure every traveller feels protected and arrives in-country prepared. 

Throughout all of 2021 and into Australia’s Omicron wave of 2022, Billy worked as a COVID-19 Support Worker for a screening clinic run by Eastern Access Community Health (EACH). Stationed in a swabbing room alongside nurses, doctors and COVID-19 educators, he developed professional skills in public health and patient-centred care.  

The COVID-19 Support Worker role, he says, was all-encompassing. 

“I screened patients and escorted them through the clinic, explaining preventative measures, what to do after their test, and how they should isolate. I handled COVID-19 testing materials, like swabs, vials and pathology forms.” 

Billy also learnt to apply environmental cleaning and disinfecting principles. He became skilled at managing transmission risks in small spaces, like included apartments, food preparation areas and poorly ventilated rooms. And, as you’ve probably guessed, he became an expert in handling and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), too. 

Edventure Travel director Billy Penfold wearing PPE. Billy worked as a COVID-19 Clinic Support Worker to build his public health expertise and keep travellers safe. 

Juggling an iPad and rapidly evolving public health advice, Billy made sure every patient received the most up-to-date directives and heath protocols – all while maintaining first-class infection control procedures. 

“I discovered early on that clear communication with patients helps alleviate their anxiety. It’s inspiring to see the resilience of young patients as they exit the clinic, or when they return for another test,” he says. 

For younger patients, a little humour helped keep things light. 

“I’d often tell the young children after sanitising, ‘The hand sanitiser is magic. Now you’ve rubbed it into your hands, it’ll make you want to go home and clean your room, pick up the clothes off the floor and read a book.’ The mums and dads always replied, ‘Can I take the hand sanitiser with me?!’” 

Billy awaiting his next patient at the Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) COVID-19 screening clinic. 

Part of Billy’s COVID-19 Support Worker role involved outreach work with the Rapid Response Testing Team. On those days, he’d travel to mobile and pop-up clinics at different locations around Victoria.  

The sites he worked in were diverse. They ranged from Melbourne Airport’s busy arrival and departure halls, to train station car parks, local government community buildings, apartment buildings, and in-home testing for young, elderly and disabled people. 

“Working in the airport arrival halls, travellers coming in for tests were very appreciative to be dealt with quickly and conveniently,” Billy says. 

The work taught him to recognise and help reduce travellers’ anxiety from the moment they entered the arrival hall. 

“It became second nature. From a distance, I could spot anyone showing signs of anxiety or apprehension. I learnt that a smile and a friendly manner go a long way – even when you’re wearing PPE!” 

Billy awaiting his next patient at the Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) COVID-19 screening clinic. 

To fulfil his role as a COVID-19 Concierge, Billy completed a suite of accredited training. He holds certificates in infectious control, child safety and respiratory clinic training. 

Complementing his formal training are skills he’s honed through decades of delivering educational travel programs overseas. Being able to understand and respond to patients’ varied needs and behaviours, for example. And, key to working in Melbourne’s most diverse communities: cultural awareness. 

“Cultural aspects, like being from a non-English speaking background, as well as social-economic factors, influenced how different local communities reacted to and dealt with COVID-19. But irrespective of these differences, I’ve experienced a deep respect and appreciation for healthcare workers from patients,” Billy says. 

Perhaps the greatest reward for Billy has been observing a positive shift in people’s attitudes. 

“Over time, as we’re learning to live with COVID-19, our fear is subsiding. In its place there seems to be a greater sense of community and social obligation – a feeling that ‘we’re doing this for the good of all’, not just for our individual benefit.” 

Travelling overseas with your students for the first time can feel a little daunting. But you needn’t worry – we take care of more than you might think!  

With Edventure Travel, you’ll become part of a productive learning partnership that pairs our in-country experience with your knowledge of your students. 

As a teacher, your primary role on tour is to make sure your students follow school rules and regulations. You’ll manage your students’ behaviour, monitor their wellbeing, make sure they meet any required dress codes, and deal with minor health incidents. 

In this way, being a teacher on tour is more of an accompanying role than you might be used to. You don’t need to do any lesson planning or organising of any kind – and we certainly won’t ask you to choose a restaurant for dinner! Because our tours are designed to be enjoyed by students and teachers alike, you can leave the learning and logistics to us. 

The key person who’ll take care of your students’ learning, along with all logistics, is your tour leader. Meticulously trained in both theory and practice, they’ll accompany you and your students throughout your entire journey and ensure its success. 

Our tour leaders are experienced professionals. They have a minimum of five years’ experience leading student groups and are adept at teaching to all personalities and learning styles.  

They understand students’ energy levels, their ‘window of tolerance’ for learning, and how to keep students engaged. Throughout your tour, they’ll act variously as a teacher, a cultural ambassador and a translator. They’ll also be your friend. 

Importantly, our tour leaders are locals – not foreigners imported at your students’ expense with no language skills or insight into the host culture. Having lived in-country for decades, they’re expert translators and trouble-shooters. They speak the local language, as well as fluent English, which makes communicating a breeze. 

Your tour leader is with you from breakfast until you return to the hotel in the evening. They’re contactable 24/7. And when they’re not in their home city, they usually stay in the same accommodation as you. They’re fully trained in all aspects of running your trip – from managing your itinerary and organising all your food, accommodation and transport, to filing travel insurance claims, applying first aid, and following our COVID-safe travel protocols. 

Above all, our tour leaders are passionate about showing you around their country or region. They live and breathe the culture as locals and are eager to share their deep knowledge of local history, politics and geography with you and your students. 

A tour leader’s role is comprehensive. It includes: 

• Taking care of all travel arrangements, including check-in, passports, and COVID compliance  
• Organising and facilitating activities, and reconfirming all bookings 
• Arranging and ordering all the included meals on trips, with a full understanding of food allergies, dietary requirements and special requests 

• Ensuring health and safety procedures are always adhered to 
• Providing daytime or evening briefings to prepare travellers for the coming day’s activities 
• Facilitating your immersion into new cultures and experiences 
• Explaining cultural norms, customs and traditions, to ensure everyone behaves in a culturally sensitive manner  
• Helping with room share arrangements and special requests 

Along the way, you’ll also be supported by knowledgeable local guides. Our local guides complement your tour leader’s skills and knowledge in certain regions, rural settings, cities, museums or attractions.  

Local guides live in the area or work at the site regularly, which means their knowledge is up to date. Our guides may be with you for an hour, a day or several days. They won’t accompany you on the entire trip, but rather join temporarily to make your journey as educational and informative as possible. 

Of course, as your experience in-country develops, your confidence will too. You might decide you’d like to have more input into the tour, such as by helping run daily briefings. This is entirely up to you – remember, there’s no obligation to do this! 

Ready to meet some of tour leaders and local guides? Check out their profiles to discover their expertise for yourself. 

Worldwide, the travel industry plays a major role in local job creation, socio-economic development and cross-cultural exchange. Yet the COVID-19 pandemic has brought travel to a halt. 

Many countries are reeling from the impacts of having no travellers. Whether in the highlands of Vietnam, or the usually bustling markets around Angkor Wat in Cambodia, small businesses, local cooperatives and self-employed workers who rely on travellers are struggling to make ends meet. 

As the world re-opens and we learn to live with COVID-19, travellers like you can play a key role in restoring people’s livelihoods. Here’s why choosing travel that positively impacts you and those in the countries you visit matters more than ever. 

Alongside the public health crisis and loss of human life, the pandemic also triggered a global economic crisis. The economic shocks have been felt everywhere, but the toll in the Asia and Pacific region has been huge. The pandemic pushed an estimated 80 million more people in developing Asia into extreme poverty.  

Your tour in Asia and the Pacific can help communities recover. Visit rural or remote villages, ethnic minority groups and economically marginalised communities, for example, and you’ll help stimulate the local economies of those most in need. Even better, choose a responsible travel company committed to long-term impacts, to guarantee your money stays in the community. 

To limit funds leaving the community, we encourage travellers to purchase fair-trade goods directly from makers at local markets. We urge you to eat at local restaurants. And we’ll always invest a portion of your trip directly into a community fund or NGO of your choice, to make sure those community members who aren’t directly involved in your tour still benefit. 

As COVID-19 restrictions were introduced, unemployment rates soared and working hours contracted. About 8 per cent of working hours were lost in the Asia and Pacific region alone. Among those most affected were people in poorer households and workers in the informal sector, such as people running roadside stalls. 

To get by, households have been skipping meals and selling assets. But relying on these coping mechanisms perpetuates the cycle of poverty and exacerbates inequality. That’s where you come in.  

On tour with us, your travel can help local employment bounce back. When you buy souvenirs, you support workers in fabric and handicraft production. When you eat at a local restaurant, or take a bus or tuk-tuk ride, you help staff in retail and services. Even the community service project you choose can boost jobs. 

For example, we pay local tradespeople to lead any construction projects you work on, local cooks to cater for you, and local families to host your homestay. And our tours also directly support entrepreneurship by hiring local tour guides, or engaging local farmers or fishermen to teach you how to use their methods. 

Despite the pandemic, the adage ‘many hands make light work’ holds true. Organisations across Asia and the Pacific still need volunteers to help carry out projects they’ve planned. In fact, some experts predict international aid and charity budgets will become smaller, as a result of wealthy countries over-borrowing. 

Many community leaders and local government departments have faced huge public health demands throughout COVID-19, with limited financial capacity. Local organisations have had to pause or switch their activities to provide COVID-related support instead. To emerge from the pandemic and recover well, these communities need every available pair of hands. That means you! 

When you’re ready to travel, there’ll likely be a backlog of projects that need support in a COVID-safe way. You can help fill the gap and support local communities to get back on their feet, sooner. The best projects to get involved in are those designed by communities, for communities. To find one that matches your skillset, has a lasting impact and doesn’t burden the community, be sure to choose a project run by a responsible travel company. 

The cross-cultural benefits of travel aren’t just for travellers. Every interaction is a two-way exchange, through which the locals you meet also build their intercultural skills. Your conversations offer local people a personal opportunity to learn more about other cultures, exchange ideas, develop relationships and, ultimately, bridge differences. 

By immersing yourself in a community, you’ll see firsthand both the complex issues they face, and the strengths they’re using to resolve them. Through this understanding comes trust, shared values and friendship, all of which can lead to further exchanges of information, ideas and opportunities. 

The pandemic has stopped travel, such that people in some communities haven’t been able to interact in-person with foreign travellers for over two years. Your next trip can change that. 

The pandemic has intensified gender inequalities. Women in Asia and the Pacific took on more unpaid care and domestic work during lockdowns, and lost their livelihoods faster than men. The negative impacts for women in ethnic minority groups have been especially damaging – spanning food security, livelihood, labour-employment, income, health care, education, cultural and social affairs. 

By travelling with a company that supports gender equality and equal opportunity, however, you can help communities build back in a gender-sensitive way. Why not join us on a tour that engages with women’s social enterprises, charities and workshops? You can support women’s committees in Vietnam, for instance, or take part in a women-led service-learning program in India. 

From design to decision-making, we ensure women are empowered by their involvement in our programs, as well as by their outcomes. Check out our positive impact page to learn more about how we’re committed to ending the gendered status quo through educational travel. 

How do you immerse yourself in the places you visit, without doing harm? And if it’s your first time travelling to a new country, how do you move beyond surface-level exchanges in a culturally safe way, or know which experiences are ethical and sustainable? 

A responsible travel company will guide you on these aspects – and more. They’ll encourage you to become aware of how your travel impacts local people, environments and species. And they’ll ensure your travel leaves lasting social, economic and environmental benefits for the destinations you visit.  

Keen to protect the world you love exploring? Read our checklist to discover the top things to consider when choosing a responsible travel company. 

Responsible travel companies strive to improve things for the communities they visit. Their relationships are based on mutual trust and a shared commitment to tangible, long-term benefits. Before offering an activity to travellers, they’ll first assess its net positive effect on a community, and on the wellbeing of the individuals and families living there. 

Take community service projects, for instance. A responsible travel company develops them in cooperation with local people’s committees, NGOs and women’s organisations. Typically, they use a community-led design approach to ensure they’re helping solve the most pressing problems while also building local capacity. 

Ask your company how they’re socially accountable to the people and communities they do business with – that is, their staff, suppliers and partners, as well as travellers like you. Ideally, they’ll have a social impact framework, policy, or a set of criteria that guides their business practices and helps them assess the ethical operations of local organisations they work with. 

To learn how Edventure Travel takes care in all our relationships, visit our positive impact page. 

A responsible travel company should teach you to be socially and culturally aware while you’re on tour. They’ll make sure your education starts before you’ve left home, so you can engage with confidence when you arrive. 

For instance, our pre-departure briefings teach you essential social etiquette and acceptable behaviour in-country. Things like when to remove your shoes, what to wear to a Buddhist temple, or why not to touch people’s heads. 

We also encourage you to learn at least a little bit of the local language. Being able to say basic greetings in a country’s national language, along with ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry’, shows respect. 

Your tour price is influenced by a wide range of things, from trip duration to flight distances. Responsible travel companies are upfront about what this price includes and excludes. They’re transparent about their administrative and operational costs, and will itemise the activities your choose without fuss. 

What’s more, responsible travel companies can demonstrate how each activity they offer has a lasting economic impact in a local community. Ask yourself: is your travel company transparent about each link in their supply chains? Do they engage smaller vendors and family-run businesses in communities? Do their community projects provide paid employment to local tradespeople, transport suppliers, cooks and homestay staff? If the answer is yes, it’s a positive sign. 

The best people to lead you through a country are the locals who live there. They know the most efficient travel routes, the best local restaurants, and where to enjoy the most magnificent views at the end of a busy day on tour. 

But more than just having expert local knowledge, your tour leader should also be a qualified professional. A leader who can teach travellers of all personalities, interests and abilities. An educator, interpreter and problem solver. 

At Edventure Travel, each of our passionate tour leaders has at least three years’ experience leading groups. They’ll warmly welcome you when your group arrives, take care of all of your trip logistics, and work responsibly to make sure you and your group stay healthy and safe. 

Responsible travel companies are prepared for any worst-case scenario. The best ones will offer both major international services for medical and crisis care, as well as trusted on-the-ground staff who speak the local dialect. This blended approach ensures you can access expert medical attention anytime and anywhere. It’s especially important outside of major cities, where some major providers’ services can be limited. 

Edventure Travel’s health and safety providers include companies like International SOS and Global Rescue. We complement their reach with expert knowledge of the nearest and best medical attention within every local area, so you can be sure you’re in the best hands, no matter where you are. 

To find out more about how we keep you safe on tour, check out our latest COVID-safe protocols and visit our FAQs page. 

Responsible travel companies go all-out to reduce their carbon footprint and help shift unsustainable views. They take their environmental responsibility seriously and see themselves as stewards and environmental educators both at home and on tour. 

For instance, we’re vigilant about the energy and resources we use, the waste we discharge, the carbon emissions we create, and their consequences for our living world. Visit our positive impact page to discover some of the ways we’re limiting our environmental footprint. 

No two groups of travellers are the same. Responsible travel companies will work hard to customise your tour itinerary to match your group’s specific learning goals, needs and interests. They’ll deliver a tour that’s tailored – a student trip to match your school’s curriculum, for example, or a private tour that complements the mixed ages, abilities and interests in your group. 

School groups in particular need sound educational outcomes from their tour itinerary. If you’re a teacher, you’ll want a customised itinerary showing quality and depth of engagement, so your students are learning the whole time they’re travelling. If your travel company can’t quantify how your group will benefit from the tour, then you might ask whether they’re the right fit for you. 

Similarly, a responsible travel company will offer private group tour itineraries that include meaningful cross-cultural interaction and authentic local experiences. They’ll avoid ‘off the shelf’ experiences, like the kinds of generic tourist activities you can find through a simple Google search. 

So, there you have it – seven signposts of responsible travel companies. Get in touch to find out how Edventure Travel delivers on them all, with every trip we take.