ETG Give Back Experiences
From the moment you get in touch with us to the moment you step back through your front door having just returned home, every ETG holiday is created to do the right thing by your host community AND give you a remarkable, immersive insight into the country you’re visiting.
Small, tangible emblems of this overall philosophy are the Give Back experiences we include in each trip.
Enjoyable for you, impactful for your hosts and interactive for you both, each ETG Give Back experience is created to make a positive contribution to education or gender inequality, to cultural or environmental conservation.
Our pledge is simple - that every holiday you take includes at least one of our Give Back experiences.
The Transformational Benefits of ‘Give Back’ Tourism
ETG Give Back was inspired by our 2017 ‘One Meal at a Time’ pledge that saw over 500 guests enjoy delicious local cuisine at specially selected social-enterprise restaurants across Southeast Asia between 2017 and 2020.
The chosen enterprises worked with local community programmes to support young people by investing in education, vocational training, and jobs. Serving the finest flavours in Asian cooking – guests told us they’d enjoyed the home-cooked menus and enthusiastic service. In return, the neighbourhood’s young, often disadvantaged people benefitted from their custom, from chatting in English and general interaction with a new culture.
Using the pandemic lull of 2020/2021 to reflect on the positive impacts of something as simple as 'One Meal At A Time', we were inspired to explore the broader benefits of tourism by extending the project beyond restaurants.
The ETG Give Back Range
In 2022 we launched our Give Back range to cover a whole variety of projects across Envision 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Whatever the endeavour, we find and partner with the best on-the-ground people and organisations to make sure you always get a fun, immersive, mutually beneficial experience.
From acrobatic shows to hands-on farm-to-table experiences or immersion into authentic ancient traditions, these travel experiences help travellers learn more about the community, ways of life and culture whilst positively contributing to them.
They are NOT 'poverty safaris' or 'tug-on-the-heart-strings' attempts to get you to donate at the end. They are NOT voluntourism projects. You won't be expected to do any token work - it's a holiday and ETG holidays are all about fun, joy and enjoyment.
The essence of our Give Back experiences? A real-world demonstration of how immersive tourism can be a terrific, transformative force for good AND enormous fun. Never transactional the power of Give Back is truly participative as people come together to meet, talk, share and enjoy one another's company.
Give Back Going Forward
At the end of each year, we total the number of ETG travellers involved in each experience and publish details in a report. It’s an important way for us to measure the financial and social impact so that we can clearly communicate and build on the benefits – for example, by calculating corresponding revenue. By identifying the most powerful initiatives we’re able to make them even more impactful.
We’re always keen to bring in new projects and improve existing experiences, so if you have any ideas or suggestions, please do let us know.
ETG Give Back Experiences
See below for examples of ETG Give Back Experiences.
Art of Slow Living
Explore the countryside around Hue and learn about traditional ways of life with skilled artisans in their historic garden houses.
Bangkok's Hidden Garden
Support a fantastic little project while enjoying a delicious lunch in a lovely garden setting.
Coral Propagation Course
Learn how to propagate coral on this one day course run by trained experts, off the coast of the tropical island of Koh Kood.
Green Shoots Farm to Table Experience
Pick your own produce for lunch at this fully sustainable organic farm
Hospitality in the Hills
Enjoy a delicious lunch and contribute to life-changing opportunities for young Sri Lankans.
Kulen Elephant Forest
Spend the morning at Kulen Elephant Forest, a sanctuary for rescued elephants in a protected area about an hour north of Siem Reap.
Living Land Companys Rice Farm Experience
Organic community farm on the outskirts of Luang Prabang, offering hands on educational tours on rice farming
Lunch at KOTO Villa
Enjoy a delicious lunch and contribute to life-changing opportunities for young people.
Phare Circus
A terrific initiative and a great evening out. The Phare Circus is a must for anyone visiting Siem Reap.
Salaam Baalak Trust Walk
A fantastic walking tour through the narrow streets of Paharganj, this walk is guided by ex-street kids and is a hugely uplifting experience.
Sidab Women's Project
Enjoy hospitality and lunch and learn about this interesting project run by local Omani women.
Sigiriya and Village Farm experience
Visit local farms and learn firsthand about the life and work of the villagers, enjoy a home-cooked lunch and visit the stunning Sigiriya rock fortress
Featured Hotels
AMBA Estate, Ella
Rustic charm nestled in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Enjoy an authentic stay in the highlands whilst supporting a wonderful initiative.
Barefoot Eco Lodge, Haa Alifu Atoll
Experience the often unseen side of The Maldives on this beautiful, peaceful, but inhabited island.
Basic Accommodation, Various Locations in Sapulot
Simple accommodation during a 5 star experience.
Farmhouse Smiling Gecko, Nr Phnom Penh
A lovely place to stay, which makes a positive difference for local people. A must in any visit to Cambodia.
Mudhouse, Anamaduwa
Gorgeous jungle hideaway with unique accommodation, superb service and off-the-beaten-track excursions.
Nanga Sumpa Lodge, Batang Ai National Park
A simple lodge in the heart of the jungle. Experience the rainforest and the culture and lifestyle of the local Iban tribe.
