Feedback from our guests

Naila Franca, Drammen, Norway
Responsible tourist along River Nila, India - October 2009

I was in Kerala with ETP in October this year! I found out about Responsible Tourism and ETP when I was working on my master thesis about tourism. After all the theory with the thesis I was glad to finally see and experience how responsible tourism really works.

It was a very intense tour, full of impressions, nice surprises, delicious homemade food and unforgettable meetings. I thought it was so beautiful to see how excited people were to tell me about their lives, culture and tradition. They were proud of their culture and they wish to keep it alive.
I am glad I was part of this tour that contributes to all these projects supported by ETP. The very best thing of the tour was definitely the meetings with the locals! I met so many wonderful people. It was always really sad to say goodbye. I will for sure go back to Kerala!

Fredrik Pettersen, Oslo Norway
Responsible tourist in Nepal - October 2009

I travelled with Ansvarlig Turisme/ Ethical Travel Portal to The Gambia in 2008. Based on that trip my expectation for this trip to Nepal was enormous. Would this trip and experiences be at the same level as I had in The Gambia almost two years back??

We reached Kathmandu airport after twenty hours journey. Here representatives from socialtours were waiting for us with a warm welcome. After arrival, transfer to the hotel and information about the trip and responsible tourism program we enjoyed our welcome dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant. The next day we spent time at socialtours office and learned about their work and efforts in responsible tourism. Later our Heritage Trail started to the many of the UNESCO heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley. The culture difference from Europe is a paradise for a photographer!

A memory I will not forget is our three days trekking in Chepang Hill Trail. We stayed at two homestays where we got an insight in the real Nepalese way of living, the Chepang Hill Trail background, how the network of homestay is organised and the porters’ role in Nepal. An unforgettable experience! Even if the trek was a bit hard I really recommend it!

In Chitwan we saw tourism in a bigger scale. The elephant safari reminded about a station where groups of four people continuously went into the jungle on the elephant searching for wild animals. In Chitwan we also learned about responsible tourism initiatives like the elephant dung paper project, Bio Gas Village, community library and more. We also got to see the negative side of tourism, the impact it has had for some of the poorest in the area, in good and bad.

Back in Kathmandu we visited an orphanage where homeless children are taken care of. We got a good understanding how it is organised. It is great to see the efforts from the management and staff to make this a good place for the children to live.

I could have written a book about my experiences in Nepal – but in short I recommend traveling with Ethical Travel Portal if you search a different kind of experience. Their trips are really something extraordinary, with great travel company as well. This is the reason why I join travels organised by ETP time after time

Pictures from the trip can be seen at :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredriks/sets/72157603816848457/

Andreas Poppe with family, Arendal Norway
Departement Manager, Dahlske Secondary School, Grimstad
Responsible tourist in The Gambia - March 2009

Although more than a year has passed since our visit, I can still recall the feeling of Gambia in my body: The colours, the scents, the warmth, the humming of voices, and of course all the people, looking you in the eye, smiling, hoping for a conversation and a sale of whatever they have to offer. We have since been to other holiday resorts, but the kids still talk excitedly and affectionately about their African adventure: The hotel breakfast, swimming in the sea or in the pool and the occasional ice cream of course, but more than that I think their meeting of the African culture, the people and their ways of living and struggle for living standards have made lasting impressions on all of us, mom and dad and the three kids aged 9 and 10. We experienced hardship and struggling to make ends meet, but also an incredible lust for life, smiles and happiness.

And as highpoints of our visit, trips out in the countryside arranged by Ethical Travel Portal. We visited a paper recycling factory, engaging a handful people in a society where jobs are scarce and more than half the population is unemployed. We also visited a holiday camp for tourists called Tumani Tenda, driven by a local village, whose chief kindly greeted our visit with a ceremonious conversation on his porch, in front of the village inhabitants.

Most people going on a faraway destination holiday are hoping for recreational moments as well as everlasting impressions. During our 14 day stay we experienced lots of both, and the feeling of Gambia still remains in our system. We are grateful for an everlasting holiday underneath the African sun those winter days in 2009!

Karianne Tananger, Kristiansand Norway
Student, International Development, Oslo University College
Responsible tourist along River Nila, India - February 2009

The meeting with the local people was what I enjoyed the most; to hear their stories and share and learn from each others cultures. My best memory is from the Thoni cruise. Here we experienced what rivers in Kerala have to offer. I had big expectations to this boat trip before hand and my expectation was absolutely met! I had a very nice trip. Staying at Kodeeri House also was a very memorable experience. Oma and Nambodri were very warm and friendly to us.

If anyone wants to experience the real India, travelling with Ethical Travel Portal/The Blue Yonder itinerary gives knowledge about an exciting, complex, interesting and colourful culture! I would definitely recommend travelling with them. In total my expectation was absolutely met.

Solveig Sletner, Oslo Norway
Student, Handelshøyskolen BI - Norwegian School of Management
Responsible tourist in The Gambia - January 2008

I travelled to The Gambia with Linda Veråsdal and Ansvarlig Turisme/Ethical Travel Portal in January 2008. I was then a student in tourism management and I saw this trip as a supplement to my studies as well as a personal interest in responsible tourism. For me the trip was absolutely all that I imagined and more. The group I travelled with was amazing and I experienced a lot in the week we travelled together.

During the week in The Gambia we travelled around the country visiting local organisations who in different ways were using local recourses to make products that would give back to the society. All the people I meet were very friendly and I really feel I got an amazing experience because I got to see The Gambia from a locals point of view.

The whole trip was very well organised and it is one of the best trips I have ever been on, that I
can recommend to everyone that is considering joining one of the trips with Ethical Travel.

Vigdis Jordal, Oslo Norway
Responsible tourist in The Gambia - January 2008

Vigdis attended our trip to The Gambia in January. After the trip she wrote two articles that was published in two Norwegian magazines.

"Et næringsrikt påfyll av farger, varme, og ekte engasjement som får sansene raskt ut av vinterdvalen. Mitt bidrag, som ansvarlig turist, er blant annet å gi energi til det aglige gambiskebrød, slik at lokalbefolkningen høster overskudd til å leve av turistnæringen."

Download the article published in Great Magazine here (in Norwegian only)

Fredrik Pettersen, Oslo Norway
Responsible tourist in The Gambia - January 2008

In January 2008 I travelled to The Gambia with Linda Veråsdal and Ansvarlig Turisme/Ethical Travel Portal. This was my first trip to an African country. If you want an experience that gives more that a “typical package” from the big travel companies I recommend Ethical Travel Portal at the strongest. We got a good insight in what responsible tourism is, how to be a “responsible tourist” in a developing country and the work Ethical Travel Portal is doing. Not only is it a good way to learn about a new country but it is also a great way of meeting new people and to get an experience for a lifetime.

I recommend a responsible travel to The Gambia with Ethical Travel Portal at the strongest.

Pictures from the trip can be seen at :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredriks/sets/72157603816848457/

Rolf Sørby, Kongsberg Norway
Responsible tourist in The Gambia - January 2008

In the autumn of 2007 one particular travel advertisement captured my attention - Are you interested in joining a trip to Gambia? Organiser: Ansvarlig Turisme attn. Linda Veråsdal. Once I had found out about Ansvarlig turisme I was convinced that this was something that I would like to do.

Your cooperation partners in Gambia gave us travellers a very warm welcome on our arrival. From the very first, we had the impression that everything was extremely well organised. The tour guide's friendly, well-mannered behaviour and pleasant personality were very noticeable. Owing to your excellent cooperation with the local population and your thorough preparations, the tour participants were well rewarded. All of us developed good relationships with the local people during our stay, and we felt that we experienced the real Gambia during the trip.

We saw, in practice, what Responsible Tourism/Ethical Travel Portal stands for - its achievements and knowledge gained through its various projects. There was absolutely no "dead-time" during the trip, and towards the end, we even had some extra "happenings" into the bargain. Following this trip, I can thoroughly recommend others to get acquainted with Ansvarlig Turisme and Ethical Travel Portal.

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