News release

08 December 2016

New meal, wheel, and homestay experiences that give back in 2017

- G Adventures adds five new social enterprise projects to its tours -

New sustainable travel experiences in Belize, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, and Nepal have been announced by G Adventures for 2017, empowering travellers to support local communities while offering them a truly local experience.

The five new social enterprise projects include a guided cycle tour on Caye Caulker, Belize, local meals at restaurants in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and Nakuru, Kenya, and homestays near Chitwan National Park in Nepal, and inside Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park in Java, Indonesia.

The initiatives, known as G Adventures for Good projects, aim to support women, indigenous communities and at-risk youth, while offering travellers immersive experiences in culturally unique parts of the world. The new additions mean more than half of G Adventures travellers will visit a G Adventures for Good project during their trip.

G Adventures' founder, Bruce Poon Tip believes travel and tourism can be a force for good in developing nations where tourism is one of the most important means of income.   

“When we travel the right way, with like-minded people who care about making a positive impact on the places they travel to, we can do a world of good. Our new projects are examples of the sharing economy our world needs, and the sharing economy I want to see thrive.

“The United Nations has designated 2017 as its Year of Sustainable Tourism Development, and with increased awareness I believe tourism can be the biggest means of wealth distribution the world has seen,” says Poon Tip.

The five new experiences join G Adventures' list of 31 projects around the world, and are part of its commitment to launch 50 new projects by 2020 – 10 per year – also known at its “50 in 5” campaign. More details on the projects, and how travellers can experience them follow:

• Bike with Purpose - Caye Caulker, Belize - On Caye Caulker, children often drop out from school by age 12. G Adventures sends 4,000 travellers a year to the island, and by taking a Bike with Purpose tour, travellers give students from the Ocean Academy (the island's only community high school) the opportunity to practice their guiding skills while offering travellers a unique experience. The two-hour ride embraces the island's motto of 'go slow' and highlights the area's idyllic nature, history, and culture. A 12-day Mayan Encounter trip is priced from £849pp* travelling from Antigua to Caye Caulker.
• El Hongo Community Restaurant - Playa del Carmen, Mexico - Playa del Carmen has become built-up by mass tourism and this project takes travellers to see 'the other side' with a home-style meal at volunteer-run restaurant El Hongo. G Adventures groups enjoy a meal at the restaurant and tour the neighbourhood, learning about the vivid street art the kids created with support from this social enterprise. A 10-day Yucatan Panorama trip is priced from £949pp travelling from Cancun to Playa del Carmen.
• Ubuntu Training Cafe - Maai Mahiu, Kenya - This training café empowers communities and creates jobs along the only route to the Maasai Mara. Travellers enjoy a delicious lunch sourced from local organic farms. The café also provides a market for marginalised women to learn to make, and sell handicrafts as meaningful souvenirs. Proceeds from the businesses help support the nearby Ubuntu School, which serves children with special needs by providing therapy, education, and vocational training. An eight-day National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures Kenya Safari Experience is priced from £2,349pp travelling from Nairobi return.
• Barauli Community Homestay - Chitwan National Park, Nepal - G Adventures travellers visit the Barauli Community Homestay while they are in the Chitwan region, learning about the traditions of the Tharu people. Over 1,500 travellers visit this region annually, bringing sustainable tourism revenue for the community. The homestay project aims to diversify the income of women in the region. A 15-day Delhi to Kathmandu Adventure is priced from £1,069pp travelling from Delhi to Kathmandu.
• Tengger Community Homestay - Java, Indonesia - G Adventures travellers to stay in a traditional home inside Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and enjoy day trips as part of a community developed hike. The new homestays will be fully owned and managed by the Tengger tribe and allow for older residents to diversify their income, while creating jobs for the next generation. Select tours that will empower travellers to contribute to this community's well-being include the nine-day Best of Java, priced from £849pp and travelling from Jakarta to Sanur.

For more information or to book, please call 0344 272 2040 or visit www.gadventures.co.uk.

ends

*  Prices do not include flights. For inclusions, see trip links above.

About G Adventures

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2015, G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the widest selection of affordable small group tours, safaris and expeditions to more than 100 countries on all continents. It was the first adventure travel company to offer 100% guaranteed departures in 2013. Powered by an international team of passionate travellers, the award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travellers on a first-name basis with the planet's people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife. The intimate, authentic and sustainable approach to small-group travel introduces travellers to the highlights of a destination while offering the freedom to explore it on their own. Whatever age, interest, ability or budget, G Adventures has a genuine life-changing experience. For more information please visit www.gadventures.co.uk.

For further information, interviews or images please contact:

Casey Mead

PR and Communications Manager

Phone : +44 20 7243 9872

Email: caseym@gadventures.com