Because we’re always telling travelers, “do your research” before visiting a new destination, so that your visit can benefit the local community. So you don’t come off as a bafoon and flout all the cultural norms. So that you can take more away from your visit. But that research isn’t so easy, is it?? Even as someone who does this for a living, it can be challenging (exhausting…mind-numbing) to sort through all the crap online. But this is my passion. I’m going to do it all for you.
With these guides you’ll navigate the pitfalls of commercial tourism in each country, support the local communities, and leave with a better understanding of the place. While they certainly offers specifics (activities, food, guesthouses, etc) , these guides are also designed to help you unearth what appeals to YOU about a country and find your own way rather than follow in my exact footsteps.
I read an incredible Substack Essay by Kayla Doris that really resonated with me while I was still forming this idea. It was called Sense of Place is what will change the way you travel. The gist of the piece is this…rather than create a list of places we want to see or things we want to do in a place (checklist or bucketlist-style travel), we should instead start learning about the culture of a place “music, art, crafts, natural heritage, spiritual practices, sports and so on – which means you’re switching from a mindset of consumption to a mindset of cultural curiosity.” When you do this, you will end up uncovering the real culture and feel of a place, while making your trip far more unique/memorable, and in turn help support the preservation of local traditions.
Sense of Place is made up of the things that define a location’s cultural identity…supporting people and heritage: small independent business owners, family-run cafes, artists and makers…Responsible tourism is about recognising “the big man” and choosing to support the “little man” instead.
Here are the guides for each country to help you start your trip on the right foot.
Immersive Travel Guides To Find Your Sense of Place
