Each fall, parents gear up their children to head back to school. The list of school supplies is long and sometimes never ending and parents swell with pride as their kids embark on the school year. This brings to mind the schools we get to visit on some of our Backroads trips and the difference we are able to make with our support.
Several of our trips offer the chance for Backroads guests to truly get in touch with the local community and lend a helping hand. This comes in the form of offering support to museums and other national treasures or providing donations and supplies to local schools.
For example, our Walking and Hiking Trip to Peru stops in Ollantaytambo, where we visit a local school, join in sing-alongs and visit classrooms. Backroads works with the school to help them purchase much-needed supplies and games. In the Sacred Valley, also in Peru, we visit a small community where we dance with the locals, interact with the children—soccer anyone?—and bring school supplies.
In Bhutan, where poor waste management threatens the health of residents, Backroads leaders and guests have installed garbage cans along the trail, contributed basic necessities and are currently raising money to build a new kitchen in Chorten Nebu, along with a clean drinking water supply.
Why do we do this? Because Backroads is not just about active vacations, we’re also about Responsible Travel. We understand that any travel has an impact on an area, and we get the amazing opportunity to visit some really interesting and authentic places, some rarely seen by the outside world. So we do what we can to make our impact a positive one. And that means supporting the local environment and culture.
What do our guests think about it?
One guest says: “This was the best trip we have taken with Backroads. Peru was wonderful, the cultural experiences were amazing, the local guide was fantastic and his support crew was off the charts. They are individually excellent and together seemed to work so well. We loved the experience with the local people, children’s school and the village we visited. Backroads giving to the people made it all the more special.”
Another says: ”The trip was great. Our local guide was a fabulous addition to the trip, and I truly enjoyed his talks on the Incan culture and history. The visit to Huilloc will forever be etched in my mind – the people, the culture, the community and the weavings. Everything we could have possibly wanted all brought together for us to experience.”
Check out all the ways we offer Responsible Travel to Backroads guests and let us know what you think! Better yet, let us help you reserve a spot on an upcoming trip so YOU can help us make a difference.