Monsoon Adventure

Exploration Tours in Asia

Responsible Travel

 

What is Responsible Travel?

Sustainable Tourism, Eco-Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Responsible Travel.
Many travel companies use these words as part of their marketing talk. With the emphasis on talk, but the way they operate their business is quite often the opposite of their talk. We believe travelling "responsible" is the only way to travel. Responsible Travel is one of the key reasons why we started Monsoon Adventure.

Responsible Travel is travel that respects local people and their culture, minimizing negative impacts on the environment, getting involved with local people, protecting the fauna and flora of the places we visit and giving something back to the local communities.

Monsoon Adventure organizes Exploration Tours in Asia. We want you to meet local people, learn about the history and culture, and enjoy the nature without damaging the environment. By traveling "responsible" you will make a positive contribution to local communities and environments. Below are the guidelines of our Responsible Travel policy. By following these you will have a more rewarding and positive travel experience.

Monsoon Adventure tries to support the local economy of the countries we visit as much as possible. We choose locally owned hotels, restaurants and handicraft shops whenever possible. We want that your tourist dollars/euros benefit the local people and don't end up in the profit sheet of multinational travel companies and flow back to the west.

 

We strictly adhere to the following principles of Responsible Travel

• Minimize impact of tourism / tourists.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
• We give priority to suppliers and grassroots projects that stimulate nature conservation and environmental awareness.
• Provide long term financial benefits and empowerment for local people. We support individual initiatives that promote local arts and crafts and projects involving the disabled and less fortunate.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.
• Support international human rights and labour agreements.

 

 

 

Before you travel

Try to know more about the country you will visit. Reading about the history, culture and wildlife gives you more understanding once you are there. Besides books, the internet can be a good source for information. See our Country Information pages for information about the countries we visit and our Travel Links for Web sites we recommend.

Because many countries do not have waste collection services, try to pack as little as possible. When buying toiletries use only biodegradable products.

Many countries have modest dress codes. Local woman and men cover a great part of their body. Revealing too much "flesh" is considered very rude and offensive in many cultures. And prevents you from real contact with local people. Leave high cut shorts, sleeveless tops and revealing swimming suits at home. Instead pack loose clothes that cover your arms and legs. This way you will be more readily accepted by local people, and also be protected against the sun and insects. Modest dress will also minimize the risk of sexual harassment, local men won't assume that you are "available".

Leave expensive jewelry and watches at home. You do not need them while travelling and there is no need to show off your wealth to local people. We are rich in the west, but there is no need to remind the local people of our wealth.

 

Local Customs and Etiquette

Meeting local people and discovering their ways of life is the highlight of an Exploration Tour. Other cultures are sometimes strange for us. Local people do things different than we do. Keep an open mind, do not judge their customs and traditions. And respect their way of life. Please respect the local customs of the people we visit.

• Nudity or inappropriate dress (revealing too much "flesh") often causes offence. Dress modest ("cover up") and you will get a lot more respect.
• Showing affection in public places is strongly disapproved in many countries. Holding hands with your partner and kissing in public is not done in many countries.
• Greetings and goodbyes are sometimes quite different than ours. Ask your Tour Leader for the appropriate way of greeting and saying goodbye, or look at the locals how they do it.
• Do not touch local people on the head, even children. The head is regarded as the highest part of the body. For many people the head is a holy place where the soul lives. Don't sit on pillows meant for sleeping.
• The foot is the lowest part of the body, spiritually and physically. Never point your feet at somebody or something. This is very rude in many cultures. Never step over someone, but walk around people or ask them to move.
• Learn some words in the local language, even if it is only "hello", "thank you" and "goodbye". Local people will appreciate your effort to learn some words of their language.
• Respect private properties. Ask permission first to enter a house. Take off your hat and your shoes before entering a house. You are a guest here; behave as you would a guest to behave in your home.

 

 

Visiting Buddhist Temples and other Religious Sites

Keep the following in mind when visiting Buddhist temples or other places of worship.

• Dress neatly and modest. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are considered improper dress when visiting temples. Wear a long trouser or skirt and cover your shoulders.
• Take off your hat and your shoes when entering the holy chapel of a Buddhist temple. Look at the local people where they take off their shoes.
• Never point your foot at a Buddha image. When sitting make sure your feet point the other way.
• Never stand behind a Buddha image to have your photo taken. Never climb on a Buddha image!
• Women should never touch a Buddhist monk. If a woman wants to give something to a monk, hand it over to a man or place it on the ground in front of the monk. In busses and trains, women should not sit next to a Buddhist monk. If a monk is touched by a women he has to undergo ritual cleaning ceremonies.
• Never disrupt religious ceremonies or prayers. Keep your distance.
• Ask monks for permission if you want to take their photograph.
• It is appropriate to leave a small donation at the temple.

 

 

Visiting Hill Tribe People and Minority Villages

Visiting hill tribe people and minority villages can be a highlight of an Exploration Tour. Please keep the following guidelines in mind, your visit will be more rewarding for you and for the local people.

• Ask your local guide about the local customs and taboos.
• Many hill tribe people fear photography, so always ask for permission before you point your camera at people or houses.
• Avoid touching spirit houses, village totems, house altars and other religious objects.
• Keep your distance when there are ceremonies, unless you are invited to participate.
• Do not enter a village house without the permission or invitation from the inhabitants.
• Do not give presents to hill tribe people. Food, medicine or clothes are not always appropriate gifts. If you want to help the people, make a donation to the village school or other community fund. You can support the local people by buying food or drinks from the local village shop or by buying handicrafts made by the villagers.

 

 

Photography

Always ask permission when you want to take photos of people. Use "sign language" if you don't speak the local language. Respect people who do not wish to be photographed.
Please do not pay for taking photos of people, this can become another form of begging with the same consequences.

 

Begging and the organizations we support

Do not give money, candy or presents to beggars. This is not a solution for their situation and only encourages them to keep on begging. Such actions create a begging culture which undermines the social structures and traditional cultures. It also encourages children to skip school. Disabled adult beggars and begging children are often forced by gangs to beg. They are sometimes maimed or drugged to earn more money from begging. These beggars have to give all their earnings to these gangs.

You can help beggars and homeless people by supporting organizations who set up projects that provide housing, basic education, language courses and technical courses to children and adults.
Monsoon Adventure supports various organizations during our Exploration Tours. For example in Cambodia we support Friends in Phnom Penh by having lunch or dinner in their restaurant. Friends is an organization which helps street children.
In Stung Treng in the northeast of Cambodia we visit the weaving project of the Stung Treng Women's Development Center (SWDC).
Monsoon Adventure supports the project of Handicap International Belgium in Siem Reap, a project where victims of landmines can receive a prosthesis or orthosis and physiotherapy treatment. More information and photos about this Handicap International Belgium project.
In Hoi An in central Vietnam we support the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation.

We support these organizations by advising our guests to visit these projects. Every time we are in the area we also visit these projects our selves and give a donation.

 

Prostitution and Child Sex Tourism

Prostitution in the west and prostitution in developing countries are quite different. In the west prostitution is legal in many countries and prostitutes chose their profession out of "free will". Prostitution is illegal in most of the countries we visit. In many developing countries women are often lured, sold or forced into prostitution against their will. Therefore we ask you not to participate in this industry. If you break the law you will be asked to leave the tour.
In developing countries many people without morality exploit innocent children, prostituting them to travelers and locals. Sexual exploitation of children by travelers is one of the most saddest sides of tourism. Morally we can not accept the sexual exploitation of children and guests of our tours found to be participating in this activity will be reported to the police in the country of abuse and to the police in the country of residence of the customer.
To help the fight against child sex tourism you can support ECPAT (End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism), an organization for the prevention of sexual exploitation of children. Visit the ECPAT Web site for more information and to give your support.

 

 

Bargaining and Tipping

Be realistic about prices and treat bargaining like a game rather than a test of wills. The aim of bargaining is to come to a fair price for both parties. Haggling over 1 dollar makes you or the seller loose face.

If we are satisfied about a provided service, we show our appreciation with a tip. One dollar is nothing for us, but can mean a lot for local people. Many staff in hotels, local guides, drivers and porters are dependant on tips for their income. There is no minimum wage and no social security in many countries.
During our tours the tips for drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff are included in the tour price. Our participants do not have to worry about this, during the whole tour the Tour Leader will give the appropriate tips in name of the group. More information about the tips during the tour.

 

Food

The exploration of the cuisine of a country can be one of the highlights of travelling. Discovering special and unique dishes of an exotic cuisine is a delight. During our tours we try to eat in small, local restaurants to support the local people and communities. When eating out in the streets or in markets, eat only hot food prepared in front of you and eat in places with a high turnover, so that it is more likely that the food is fresh. Avoid eating raw or undercooked food and food washed with unpurified water. Avoid drinks with crushed ice or ice cubes. Unpurified water may have been used to make the ice.
Your Tour Leader can make recommendations for restaurants. Bon appétit!

 

 

Nature

Walking in beautiful nature is one of the highlights of a tour. To minimize our impact on the fauna and flora of the places we visit, we ask you to follow the following guidelines.

• When walking or cycling please stay on the trail wherever possible. Do not create of follow a new route or shortcut. This keeps erosion to a minimum. If there is no trail, please spread out so that the group footprints are spread out over a larger area.
• Only leave your footprints behind. No littering please. Keep cigarette butts and used matches, papers, plastic, etc. with you during the walk (carry a plastic bag) and dispose of properly later.
• Keep your distance to animals. Your local guide will inform you about the minimum approach distance. This is the minimum distance you can approach an animal without disturbing it or without bringing yourself in danger. Pay special attention to nesting or breeding animals, if you come too close, the parents may abandon their young.
• Be careful not to surround an animal or come between an animal and its young. You will disturb them or may even be attacked by the adult animal who wants to protect its young.
• Bring a zoom lens and binoculars with you.
• Keep noise to a minimum.
• Wear clothing that blends in the background.
• Do not step on plants. Watch where you put your size 42! Do not cut vegetation away from the trail. Do not pick flowers.
• Do not feed animals. Processed food can be harmful and even vegetable "leftovers" can cause animals to change their behaviour.
• Rabies and other diseases occur in many countries. Never touch wild animals, even those lovely looking monkey babies! Also do not touch domestic animals such as cats and dogs. A bite from a cat or dog means the end of your travel.
• Protecting water resources is vital. Keep rivers and lakes clean. When taking a bath or washing dishes or clothes, carry a basin of water at least 50 meters away from the river or lake. Never wash directly in the river or lake! Scatter the dirty water over a wide area rather than just emptying it in one spot. If you want to swim in a river, swim downstream from water collection points or villages. Monsoon Adventure tries to prevent water pollution during our tours.
• Avoid restaurants that serve threatened or endangered wildlife species.
• In many western countries it is illegal to import wildlife products like skins, shells, ivory, wild orchids. The penalties can be very severe. Buying wildlife products also encourages poaching. Don't buy souvenirs made from endangered wildlife or flora. Leave the wildlife in the wild.

 

 

Drugs

Drug use (even soft drugs) is illegal in most countries we travel. Breaking the law can put you in jail for many years! Don't encourage local addiction by buying and using illegal drugs. Stay away from drugs.

 

Safety

Monsoon Adventure will never knowingly risk the safety of our customers. We take every measure to make our tours as safe as possible. However you must also take responsibility for your own personal safety.

• Please follow the instructions of your Tour Leader.
• Make sure you are physically and mentally fit for a tour.
• Purchase a travel insurance (with medical emergency evacuation) before you leave home.
• Be careful with food and water. Ask your Tour Leader if you are unsure about the hygiene.

 

 

Thank you for choosing Monsoon Adventure as your travel partner and for following these guidelines. Sometimes it will not be easy or possible to follow these guidelines strict to the letter. But you can make a difference by being aware and by thinking about the result of your actions.

 

Experience the real Asia with our group tours or our individual tours.

 

 

Monsoon Adventure
More than just adventure travel in Asia. Explore Asia!