by
Photo: Soneva Fushi
As the world becomes more concerned with environmental issues, many luxe hotels, resorts and tour companies these days are injecting more effort into their sustainability and community programmes. For those who want to make a conscious impact when travelling, why not try impact travel? When visiting these countries, you’ll get to learn about meaningful initiatives to give back to the community. These also include wildlife and marine conservation, to help the local wildlife.
These impact travel destinations not only relax your mind and body, you’ll help make a difference through your philanthropic efforts.
1. Bhutan
Credit: Gangtey Lodge Bhutan
Your off-grid journey to Bhutan’s Gangtey Lodge will undoubtedly enrich your life. This all-suite accommodation which takes farmhouse living to new levels of luxury is nestled in a remote corner of the eastern Himalayas. This hideaway surrounded by mountains and forests also affords some of the world’s most spectacular outdoor activities.
Khin Omar Win Co-Founder of Gangtey Lodge Bhutan says, “We donate a part or full amount of the fee guests pay for many of our experiences to the community, so that our community stakeholders benefit from tourism. We are currently assisting the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature to raise funds to buy up land from local villagers to protect the wetlands from encroachment from development and assisting in establishing a long term waste management plan.”
The community minded property shares Phobjikha Valley with Gangteng Monastery, one of Bhutan’s revered ancient Buddhist sites. Gangtey Lodge’s guests are able to connect with the local community, and participate in blessing and breakfast ceremonies at the monastery, meditation sessions with the monks, butter lamp rituals and others.
Guests are also invited to visit local farming families to make cheese and butter, and help with the harvest. The environmentally conscious boutique hotel also ensures recyclable materials are saved and donated to the community to be reused by the local school and monastery. Furthermore, every room at the lodge is equipped with energy efficient fireplaces, fuelled by sustainably sourced firewood from government managed forests.
2. Cambodia and Nepal
Credit: Shinta Mani
Shinta Mani Wild – A Bensley Collection is an all-inclusive luxury tented camp located in the South Cardamom National Park in Cambodia. You will experience the most unique arrival via a 400m zipline above the forest canopy and across a river and waterfalls into the Landing Zone Bar – here you’ll be greeted by your Bensley Adventure Butler and the resort’s general manager.
The Shinta Mani Foundation works with NGO Wildlife Alliance at WILD whose armed rangers go on anti-poaching patrols and protect the forest and wildlife. Shinta Mani Wild’s guests can join the rangers on their daily patrols to see how this important work is carried out. This non-profit foundation was created by Sokoun Chanpreda, the founder of Shinta Mani Hotels, to support health, education and development programmes for the less fortunate in the community. The foundation’s operation costs are fully funded by Shinta Mani Hotels.
Meanwhile, in March 2023, Shinta Mani Hotels, in partnership with Kathmandu based Sherpa Hospitality Group, will open the 29-suite Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection luxury lodge. This will be Shinta Mani Hotels first international property outside Cambodia.
In keeping with Shinta Mani’s philosophy of giving back to the communities, the luxurious Himalayan lodge will work closely with the Psang Lhamu Foundation, a non-profit, non-political, non-government organisation with the core pillars of Education, Vocation Training, Health and Immediate Assistance.
Find out more: Shinta Mani
3. Langkawi
Credit: The Datai
This luxury resort in Malaysia is focused on moving towards net zero carbon and stewardship of local marine and wildlife. The four pillars of The Datai Pledge – Pure For The Future, Fish For The Future, Wildlife For The Future and Youth For The Future – aim to support marine life, terrestrial wildlife and local youth, as well as achieve more sustainable resort operations.
Some of the programme’s success stories to date include achieving zero-waste-to-the-landfill, saving 146,704kg of waste and 69,115 glass bottles; and collecting over 4,361 seedlings, including critically endangered species, to be germinated in the resort’s Native Tree Nursery. Among the many initiatives, the resort has also began work on creating an in-situ hatchery and conducive turtle environment in Datai Bay, welcoming its first turtle landing in over 10 years.
Families can join the upcycling workshop activities at the resort. At The Lab, you’ll be introduced to a range of craft-making skills such as soap and candle making. Local artists are also invited to featured their artworks and provide workshops. At the Garden, discover the Stingless Bee or Trigona Itama and learn how to harvest honey from the hive (in a beekeepers’ outfit) and taste freshly extracted honey.
Find out more: The Datai
4. Maldives
Credit: Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi is situated in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest islands in the Maldives. The resort has launched an ambitious programme to restore coral reef systems and create a coral hub for the Maldives. A partnership between the Soneva Foundation, the Swiss environmental organisation Coralive, and the global ecosystem restoration organisation Ark2030, the project aims to protect and regenerate this marine habitat.
The coral restoration programme, located onsite at Soneva Fushi, is the largest conservation initiative to be supported by the Soneva Foundation. The restoration site will be constantly monitored via an Aqualink Smart Buoy, which records temperatures at both the surface and the ocean floor, with all data accessible through the cloud. In phases two and three of the project, the resort’s guests will be invited to join in the restoration efforts of one of the world’s largest coral nurseries.
Meanwhile, you can participate in other sustainability initiatives at the resort. For instance, touring Soneva Fushi’s Eco Centro and organic gardens at Fresh in the Garden. See how island-grown coconuts are used for food and materials, and gain understanding of the principles of permaculture before picking greens and herbs for your lunch.
Art lovers can also learn how to blow glass in Soneva Fushi’s Art & Glass Studio. All works created here are made using recycled glass bottles from Soneva Fushi and other nearby resorts. The experienced team of glass specialists will work closely with you to create your own masterpiece to take home. A personalised tour of the Soneva Art Gallery and the Soneva Glass Boutique is available upon request.
Find out more: Soneva
5. Namibia
Credit: Wild Frontier Travel
Namibia is the first African country to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution. Thanks to the creation of communal conservancies, ground-breaking research projects and anti-poaching directives, the lion, rhino, cheetah and zebra populations have increased over the years. Visitors have the chance to experience one of Africa’s most stunning landscapes, as well as witness first-hand these incredible conservation projects and play a part in ensuring their ongoing success.
Wild Frontier Travel’s Namibia Adventure with Purpose tours gives you the chance to explore the privately-owned Namibrand Nature Reserve, which was established to protect the unique wildlife species of the Namib Desert. The itinerary includes a stay at Etendeka Mountain Camp, a community project focused on low-impact tourism. You’ll get to visit the Ongava Nature Reserve and Research Centre, an important hub for the conservation of both white and black rhinos. And learn about the AfriCat Foundation, a non-profit working alongside local communities and researchers to protect cheetah and leopard.
Find out more: Wild Frontier Travel
READ NOW
Yolo Solo: Seasoned Travellers Share Their Best Tips For Travelling Alone
The Peak Weekend Guide: Travel According To Your Chinese Zodiac
Travel Inspiration: Offshore Oil Rig-Turned Luxury Extreme Amusement Park in Saudi Arabia
