Eternal Landscapes offers small-group trips in Mongolia focused on local communities. On the five-day Erdenedalai Explorer tour, guests stay with a herding family in the vast steppes of the Middle Gobi. This region is often skipped by travellers heading to the southern desert. The tour provides an authentic look at local life and includes a visit to Ulaanbaatar. Guests explore projects improving community life and visit towns often overlooked by mainstream tourism. All trip assistants are women, supporting local employment. Prices start at $1,045 per person for a group of six, with meals and transfers included outside the capital.
Amba Yaalu, Sri Lanka’s first hotel fully managed and staffed by women, opened in January on a mango plantation by the Kandalama Reservoir. Less than 10% of the country’s workforce is female, making this hotel an important project for gender equality. Guests can enjoy cooking classes, village visits, and other cultural experiences that immerse them in local life. Rooms start at $120 per night on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
Intrepid Travel’s 11-day South Morocco Discovery tour combines desert landscapes with community-focused experiences. Guests stay in family-run mountain lodges and visit Amazigh homes in Tafraoute to learn about traditional life. The trip also includes a visit to a women’s cooperative producing argan oil outside Essaouira. Travelers can enjoy a camel safari, camp under the stars, and explore ancient sites with local guides. Prices start at £662, including accommodation, meals, and activities.
G Adventures integrates community tourism into many of its trips. In Tanzania, the Masai Clean Cookstoves project helps villages replace traditional stoves with modern ones to reduce dangerous household air pollution. An all-female engineering team has installed 4,000 stoves in 60 villages. The 12-day Serengeti Safari and Zanzibar trip includes a visit to this project. The package starts at £2,649 per person, including hotels, camping, breakfast, and some meals.
Wild Frontiers offers a 13-day Adventures with Purpose: Georgia itinerary. Guests explore social enterprise projects preserving traditions and supporting locals while visiting Tbilisi and the Gergeti Trinity church. Highlights include staying in the Tusheti region, managed by the Tushetian people, and visiting Nukriani Workshops in the Kakheti wine region, which supports local crafts. Prices start at £3,090, covering accommodation, some meals, and transport.
The Rukha Ayllu project in Huilloc, Peru, allows visitors to engage with local families in traditional weaving villages. The project improves infrastructure and promotes responsible tourism. Travellers stay with families, experience local food, crafts, and daily life, creating new revenue streams for the community. The 14-day Colours of Peru tour costs from $2,607, including accommodation, breakfast, and project visits.
Community tourism trips worldwide offer authentic experiences while supporting local communities and women-led initiatives. Travelers gain insight into cultural traditions, sustainable projects, and small communities often missed by mainstream tourism. These trips are not only immersive but also make a positive impact on the lives of residents. From Mongolia’s remote steppes to Peru’s Andes, these journeys provide meaningful travel experiences. Guests return home with memories of real cultural connections, all while contributing to the sustainability of the communities they visit.
When planning a community-focused trip, check the operator’s commitment to sustainability, gender equality, and local employment. Look for projects that involve guests in meaningful experiences, such as volunteering or cultural immersion. Small groups often provide better opportunities to engage with local people authentically. Community tourism trips worldwide continue to grow in popularity, offering travelers adventure and cultural education while supporting meaningful causes.
