Salon: Your vacation is unethical

March 26, 2013

Pay attention to a few simple things, however, and your money and travel can do a lot of good

If you want to get more ambitious in applying ideals to your itineraries, you can plan your next trip through a nonprofit organization that sidesteps global corporations where possible and strives to put revenue in the hands of local communities....

In Cambodia, Journeys Within runs tours and operates a B&B in Siem Reap with a swimming pool and garden. (In fact, the organization runs tours in several Asian countries.)

Read more at salon.com

Asia Newswire: Journeys Within extends its philanthropic reach underwater

March 21, 2013

Turning an old friendship into a new partnership, Journeys Within founder Andrea Ross has joined forces with a former classmate in an effort to preserve the world's largest underwater animals.

Journeys Within is proud to announce Ross as the newest board member to join long-time friend Dr. Andrea Marshall's Mozambique based organization, Marine Megafauna Foundation. Created in 2009, the Marine Megafauna Foundation works to research and protect populations of large marine species including sharks, rays, marine mammals and turtles that are found along the Mozambican coastline.

“We have long known the power of philanthropic travel when it comes to community development and our work in Southeast Asia has only highlighted that. When done right, travel can have a truly positive impact. The trips run by Marine Megafauna not only raise money for conservation, but also give travelers a new appreciation for the oceans and their creatures,” said Ross. “To me the power of these travelers in ocean conservation hasn't even been tapped into yet so being on the board and looking at how this might happen is incredibly exciting.”

Read more at asianewswire.net

Way Beyond Borders: ‘Pinch me’ moments in Southeast Asia

January 26, 2013

As the stars fade and the colours of the sky slowly begin to change, the dark shadows of the immense temple walls gradually emerge. The anticipation builds among the hushed crowd as the temple’s towers and their reflection in the moat surrounding the vast complex become increasingly clear. And then, this visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking scene reveals itself in full glory, rendering viewers speechless; its a truly amazing moment.

Seeing Angkor Wat was just one of many such ‘pinch me’ moments I had during my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia with Journeys Within, an award-winning Southeast Asia tour company. I actually stopped counting them after just a few days into my fascinating cultural odyssey; they came so fast and furious, one after another, all I could do was continue to pinch myself to ensure I wasn’t dreaming....

Read more at waybeyondborders.com

Viajologia: Angkor inspira doadores a melhorar qualidade de vida no Camboja

January 16, 2013

A guerra civil no Camboja e as barbaridades impetradas pelos guerrilheiros Khmer Rouge assombraram o mundo na segunda metade dos anos 1970. Mas o choque daqueles que conviveram in loco com o massacre foi bem maior. Conhecer vítimas das atrocidades, encontrar milhares de órfãos, descobrir centenas de crânios empilhados ou visitar antigos campos de torturas são experiências que mexem com as emoções de qualquer pessoa, de qualquer raça....

Read more at colunas.revistaepoca.globo.com

Your Travel Choice: A Sustainable Journey in Angkor Wat

January 15, 2013

Seeking a Sustainable and Authentic Angkor Wat Experience

The massive temples of Angkor Wat were left to the mercy of the forest for decades while the Cambodian government restructured and its people recovered from years of tragic genocide and conflict under the Khmer Rouge regime of the 70s. Since it became a World Heritage site in 1992 and international development funds have supported its restoration, Angkor Wat quickly flourished as a major tourism attraction in the region. Last year alone, it attracted an estimated 2 million tourists.

I asked myself, how do we experience the highlights of this amazing place without having the mass of visitors steal its authenticity. One sure bet is to find a sustainable tour operator. In Cambodia, we got in touch with Andrea Ross, who runs Journeys Within, an acclaimed operator in Southeast Asia that offers customized tours. Andrea’s reputation and expertise has been recognized internationally; for the past 5 years she has been listed in Wendy Perrin Travel Specialist List, published by Condé Nast Traveler.

Read more at yourtravelchoice.org

The Dreammakers: Wendy Perrin's Top 150 Travel Specialists (pdf)

January 2013

Download PDF brochure from cntraveler.com