Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, following the Mekong River

Environment

On this itinerary you a boat ride out from Kep to Rabbit Island. There are no developments here other than some very simple family-run bungalows and restaurants and seaweed farming is the only other activity on the island. By traveling exclusively in small, private groups we cause a minimum of disruption to the local environment which much of the community still relies on for their livelihoods.

The carbon emissions created in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos by this vacation are all offset in Southeast Asia through our partnership with a local environmental charity. These offsets are paid for out of our company profits so that you can travel with a green conscience and at no extra cost to you.

Many travel companies offer their customers the chance to offset the carbon emissions from their international flights too but we have gone a step further and offer to share this cost with you 50/50. If you select to compensate for your international flight emissions when you book with us then what you put in, we put in too!

To ensure that we are offering ground-breaking itineraries and are always keeping up-to-date with the latest developments abroad, our UK staff travel regularly to our destinations. This ‘work’ also leaves a carbon footprint and we compensate for all our staff travel by donating carbon-mitigating funds to our charity partners.

Our UK office takes a leading role in setting the standards for an environmentally friendly work environment. We work with local government to recycle our waste and continually look for new ways to be greener.

Community

Talk to one of our tailor-made specialists and ask us about Packing for a Purpose. This initiative allows you to use some of your luggage space to take supplies to Pakbeng Lodge in Laos. Here even the most basic supplies will help to support the great work of the associated free community health clinic.

We employ local guides and support staff who we pay fair wages, often exceeding government standards which we still consider too low, and thereby remove the reliance on tipping from travelers for livelihoods.

Our accommodation choices make use of locally owned properties where possible and often include adventurous, authentic choices such as local homestays which therefore involve local people and their communities in the very fabric of our vacations.

We encourage all our travelers to research local customs and read your trip notes before you depart to ensure you are conscientious and respectful in a different culture.

In most cases we strongly recommend that you do not give money to children beggars. If begging is a successful enterprise, parents are encouraged to forsake their children’s education in pursuit of this opportunity.

Talk to us about packing for a purpose and see if you can get involved by making a small material contribution to the communities you are visiting. We have developed partnerships with charities and accommodations throughout Southeast Asia and are constantly working to extend our reach with the help of our travelers.