Asia has always played an important part in my life. From backpacking around India as a 19-year-old to meeting my Kiwi wife on a beach in Thailand, it’s been a huge part of my personal life. Professionally, too – it’s where I established the ETG “immersive holidays that give back” philosophy, starting in Sri Lanka in the early 2000s. There’s. Just. Something. About. The. Place.
With a 6-month interruption caused by the Asian tsunami of 2004 (during which my ETG partner Tom and I became ‘Aid Sri Lanka’), that time in Sri Lanka was the perfect opportunity to really research and develop the ETG approach.
By 2006, Melissa had joined us to explore Southeast Asia extensively for distinctive, experience-based holidays. We were ready to launch.
Nearly 20 years on, our team has grown from strength to strength in the UK and further in Asia, and we now have hundreds of partners and guides throughout the continent.
Proud? You bet. Proud that others ‘see it’ like we see it. Proud that we took an idea we believed in and ran with it. And proudest of all that thousands of other people have experienced Asia in the very best way – through travel done right.
The great thing about Asia is that there’s always so much more to see and so many more people to meet, which is why I spend so much time travelling with my wife and children (now cynical but still travel-loving teenagers).
And as a 6’6” farang (Thai for foreigner) who stood out like a sore lanky thumb, smacked my head on countless Asian door frames, and even accidentally took out someone’s house in Sri Lanka (they laughed about it later, somehow), I know all about the need for extra legroom. So if you’re tall, travelling with kids, or just curious, just ask.
Or even if you’re not super tall or travelling with teens in tow, it’d be great to hear what kind of experience you’re after and share a few ideas to help make it happen.
“Sluggish and sedentary peoples, such as the Ancient Egyptians, with their concept of an afterlife journey through the Field of Reeds, project on to the next world the journeys they failed to make in this one.” – Bruce Chatwin, The Songlines
Sri Lanka
Eagles Crest
Tucked away deep in the Knuckles mountain range of central Sri Lanka, Eagles Crest is a unique, homely mountain lodge. It’s a very special spot with plenty of natural beauty surrounding it.
Highlights
Highlights
Scenic spot,
Special atmosphere,
Unusual experiences
Best for
Couples,
Solo Travellers
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Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Gardenia Country Inn
Small beachfront resort located on an island off the coast of North Sulawesi, great for divers.
Highlights
Highlights
Volcanic views,
Nature all around
Best for
Couples,
Families
Gallery
Uttarakhand, India
Nine Furlongs
Perched high in the Himalayan foothills of Binsar National Park, Nine Furlongs is an intimate mountain hideaway with a storied past. Reached by a short forest trail or rugged drive, the property rewards intrepid travellers with remarkable views of the Nanda Devi range and an atmosphere of serene detachment. This is a place to soak up nature, history and horizon-stretching skies.
Highlights
Highlights
Epic Himalayan views,
Characterful cottages
Best for
Adventurers,
Couples,
Solos
Gallery
Feedback from ETG Travellers
ETG look outside the box
Experience Travel Group live up to their name
An Epic Adventure Across Southeast Asia
