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An Introduction to G Adventures
by Kim McCabe
What if your vacation could be your way of giving back? That provocative question is what fires up the more than 2,000 people who power G Adventures’ innovative, guided tours in nearly 100 countries around the world. With more than 750 trips for people of all ages and interests, including 60+ “Active” adventures, the multi-award-winning company specializes in small-group travel that provides immersive experiences with local communities, while introducing travelers to some of the most iconic and wondrous places on Earth.
So, whether you like wild safaris or hard-core treks, G Adventures offers it. If you prefer river cruises with bikes or sailing trips with snorkeling, they have those too. Add family trips, train journeys, expedition cruises, local living experiences, active adventures and tours for nearly every budget, and you get a sense of just how diverse the company’s product offerings really are.
But that’s not all. When travelers and recreation leaders choose G Adventures, they become part of a social enterprise that helps make the world a little better -- supporting small businesses so communities can help themselves. That’s thanks to the company’s nonprofit partner, the Planeterra Foundation, which builds relationships with local communities who have unique talents, accommodations or one-of-a-kind experiences to share with adventurous visitors, then plays matchmaker with G Adventures to make them part of their global tour team.
It’s not charity. It’s not voluntourism. It’s just good business that spreads wealth, opportunity and happiness by employing local pros, empowering local entrepreneurs, and using local services to ensure that more of your hard-earned vacation dollars stay in the local economy. That’s where they do the most good. The bonus? You’ll experience a place like a savvy, welcome, well-connected traveler -- not a stereotypical “tourist”.
For its life-changing innovations as a business that transcends travel, Fast Company magazine and the prestigious Edison Awards both honored G Adventures with accolades in 2018. Tourism Cares also gifted the tour operator with a ‘Legacy in Travel Philanthropy Award’ in 2017. Couple those awards with genuine commitments to animal welfare, children’s safety and indigenous communities’ well-being, and you’ve got a travel partner that seamlessly blends recreation with responsibility. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that winning adventure?