InsideAsia Tours: Travel with care

Being a holidaymaker no longer simply means ticking destinations off a bucket list. Travel is increasingly about getting to the heart of a destination, experiencing something a little different and, most importantly, giving back to local people that call your destination their home.

In answer to this growing demand, Southeast Asia specialist, InsideAsia Tours has created a range of trips featuring experiences that allow visitors to step away from the usual tourist trail, give back to local communities, benefit local people and provide a tangible, positive impact through visiting the destination. These include:

Vietnam: Going Green in Hoi An

InsideAsia Tours takes visitors away from the tourism-dominated areas of Vietnam’s Hoi An to the rural islets and villages across the Thu Bon River. Home to almost 150 families whose livelihoods still revolve around heritage activities such as farming and weaving, the village of Triem Tay provides the perfect opportunity to explore Vietnam’s traditional side.

Not only is there the chance to explore the villages and visit families’ homes to learn about the region’s traditional culture, but there is also the option to visit an organic farming project created by a group of volunteers to improve locals’ standard of living. As a social enterprise, Green Youth Collective works hand-in-hand with villagers to educate and encourage the implementation of sustainable agricultural processes to benefit both the present generation and those in the future, too. Visitors can also join volunteers and villagers in helping with gardening activities.

Experience Going Green in Hoi An as part of the 15-night small group tour, Indochina Encompassed. Priced from £2,790 pp (two sharing), this trip includes 14 nights’ B&B hotel accommodation, a one-night B&B Halong Bay cruise, all transfers, internal flights, six lunches, four dinners, excursions and experiences as listed, together with expert guides. International flights extra. Departs 17 February and 5 November 2020.

Laos: The Living Land

Just outside of Luang Prabang, InsideAsia Tours takes clients to The Living Land farm that specialises in organic vegetable and rice farming. This community enterprise works closely with the Agricultural College of Luang Prabang to support people with low educational achievements – many of whom are from remote villages where limited access to education can be a barrier to finding work – with employment opportunities.

The rural enterprise has opened its doors to anyone wishing to learn about Laos’ traditional farming techniques and, depending on the time of the visit, there is the chance to help with planting, harvesting or ploughing using the traditional water buffalo method, as well as learning about the 14 stages of rice production.

Experience The Living Land as part of the nine-night fully-tailored trip, Flavours of Laos. Priced from £2,535 pp (two sharing), this includes nine nights’ B&B accommodation, transfers, internal flights, seven lunches, seven dinners, and guided activities as detailed. International flights extra.

Cambodia: Phare Circus

The Phare Circus of Siem Reap is a highly professional troupe of performers who tell stories through dance and acrobatics. Their performances, set to music and subtitled, address important Cambodian social issues in a light-hearted and entertaining way through impressive choreography and breath-taking acrobatic stunts.

The Phare Circus states that its social missions include providing employment for young Cambodians from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing financial support for the Phar Ponleu Selpak School, and contributing to the rebirth of Cambodian modern art. A visit to this circus is therefore not only a fun, vibrant and memorable experience, but one that also transforms the lives of young people – funds generated from ticket and merchandise sales support the free education, training and social support work being done at the NGO school of Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang.

Visit the Phare Circus as part of the 10-night fully tailored To Angkor and Beyond trip. Priced from £2,055 pp (two sharing), this trip includes 10 nights’ B&B accommodation, transfers, private boat tours in Siem Reap, luggage handling, activities listed, drinking water, cold towels throughout and expert guides. Flights extra.

For more information, or to book, call InsideAsia Tours on 0117 244 3380 (www.insideasiatours.com).

NOTE TO EDITORS: InsideAsia Tours Ltd is an award-winning travel company offering group tours and tailored travel and cultural experiences across Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Press enquiries: Please contact Kate Chapman or Laura Forbes at Travel PR, tel: 020 8891 4440; email k.chapman@travelpr.co.uk or l.forbes@travelpr.co.uk. For more details, please contact James Mundy, PR Manager, InsideAsia Tours, tel. 0117 370 9733 or email james@insideasiatours.com.​