Many perceive meaningful travel as limited to volunteering vacations; however, it encompasses various avenues to enhance your travel experience.
2. Definition of Meaningful Travel
Meaningful travel enriches your life by discovering new cultures and contributing positively to the communities you visit.
3. Practical Ways to Travel Meaningfully
Explore different methods to make your travel more enriching for both yourself and others.
Many people feel that meaningful travel is strictly about going on a volunteering vacation, but there are many ways to make your travel meaningful. Dave and I have always added meaning to our travels. Be it traveling responsibly, raising money for a cause, stopping at sanctuaries or projects, and interacting with the locals, there are many ways to enrich your travels while making your life and other people’s lives better.
How To Make Your Travel More Meaningful
What is Meaningful Travel?
To us, meaningful travel is when travel enriches your life in some way. That could be done by focusing on making your own life better by discovering and learning new things about the world and yourself.
It can also involve enriching the lives of the people you meet, the communities you visit, and the environments you explore. Meaningful travel is about being aware of your footprint and doing what you can to help the places that you visit.
Ways to Make Travel Meaningful
1. Travel For A Cause
When we started ThePlanetD.com, we focused on changing our own lives by cycling through Africa, but it evolved to helping others. We decided to ride for Plan Canada and raise funds and awareness for the “Because I am a girl campaign.” We stopped at projects along the way to see the work they did and share it with our readers. The trip may have started with us wanting to do something epic in our travels, but it evolved to become a journey of discovery, education, and helping others.
The more we learn about the world and cultures we visit, the more enriched our lives become. The more you give back, the more fulfilled you feel. When volunteering or helping others, you expect nothing in return, yet it ultimately provides you with immense joy. It is a wonderful feeling to know that you are contributing to making the world a better place in your own unique way.
There are numerous ways to make travel meaningful. While the first thought that comes to mind is volunteering or donating money, thinking responsibly can enhance your travel experiences as well. When we travel, we aim to support the local economy by hiring local guides. Upon arriving at a destination, we seek out people who run their own businesses and have their own small enterprises.
2. Support Local Businesses
Similar to supporting small businesses in Canada, we extend this practice to our travels. Small businesses propel the world forward, and by purchasing goods at local markets, employing local guides, and dining at family-owned establishments, you contribute to the economy of the places you visit while creating a more meaningful travel experience for yourself.
We have maintained friendships with many of our guides, yielding a more authentic local experience by keeping our travels based locally and avoiding resorts and packaged tours.
3. Raise Money for a Charity
In the Mongol Rally, we traversed two continents for the Christina Nobel Foundation, which provides support and education for orphaned and abandoned children. While cycling through Africa, we raised funds and awareness for Plan Canada.
Being present at these destinations, we visited projects that demonstrated where our money was going and how donations were implemented. This gave our efforts more purpose, as we could see the direct impact of our contributions. Witnessing these benefits firsthand motivated us to continue our support.
4. Visit a Charity
Finding a project to assist or visit while traveling is reasonably straightforward. Simply converse with local residents to gather advice.
In Sri Lanka, we met Ajith, a tuk-tuk driver who became our friend. As our acquaintance grew, we visited a charity he independently established to provide shoes to local children attending school barefoot in challenging conditions. He diligently raises funds to provide them with footwear and consistently strives to help the local economy.
Our guide Makau, in Kenya, initiated a project to empower his village. We met his family and friends, learning about his efforts to provide water to his community and empower women, ensuring they have the means to attend school, along with providing a cement mixer for constructing a new school.
In China, we visited a school designed for children with disabilities. We engaged with them, purchased crafts they created, and promoted awareness about their organization.
Visiting these charities allows us to witness firsthand where contributions are directed and how they benefit others. Subsequently, we can share their stories, buy local crafts, and engage in conversations to better understand their challenges and explore how we can assist.
5. Hire Local Guides
Opting for local guides not only supports the community but also enriches your travel experience. During our treks to Mount Everest Base Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro, Gunung Batur, and Mount Kinabalu, we hired local guides upon arrival. It’s an excellent way to contribute to the local economy while establishing relationships with friendly locals.
We still communicate with our guides from Everest and Kilimanjaro. Additionally, as we traveled with locals, they were mindful of their footprint, respectful of their culture, and excited to share valuable insights about our destinations.
6. Shop Local
Local artisans depend on tourism for their livelihood, as do farmers and local markets. To ensure a meaningful experience, avoid duty-free shopping or visiting your resort’s gift shop. Instead, explore local markets, buy handmade products, and connect with the people who create them.
Other Ideas To Add Meaning To Travel – Self Growth
7. Take a Cooking Class
Food provides a unique window into a culture and taking a cooking course is an incredible way to meet locals and learn about their culinary traditions.
We have participated in cooking classes in various countries, such as China, Morocco, Thailand, Italy, Spain, and Greece. Most classes involve a visit to the local market to gather ingredients, supporting the local economy while facilitating interaction with residents. We then head back to a private home or kitchen for hands-on preparation, culminating in a delightful feast.
8. Go on a Retreat
Yoga is incredibly beneficial for both well-being and fitness, garnering popularity worldwide. Our most fulfilling retreats have been those led by local instructors after arriving at our destination.
We spent a month in India with a Swami we met on the beach for just $2 a class! While others booked expensive retreats in North America, we had an authentic experience that deepened our understanding of spirituality and culture while supporting a local business.
9. Wildlife Conservation
Elephant sanctuaries, conservation areas, and national parks significantly enhance travel meaning. When local communities recognize that wildlife generates tourism revenue, they are less inclined towards overhunting and become stewards of conservation.
For instance, the tiger population in India is dwindling, but efforts are underway to revitalize their numbers, supported by the establishment of safe national parks. Organizations in Sri Lanka and Thailand aid in ensuring elephants live peacefully. We visited an elephant orphanage in Kenya, where orphans are rehabilitated for reintegration into the wild. The interest shown by tourists at these sanctuaries supports wildlife preservation efforts.
10. Attend a Festival
Attending a festival is an extraordinary way to immerse yourself in the local culture and meet new people. We have had some of our most memorable travel experiences during festivals. From the annual pilgrimage up Adams Peak in Sri Lanka, to Thaipusam in Malaysia, Holi in India, and Songkran in Thailand, these occasions have significantly enriched our travels.
These festivals deepen our understanding of the beliefs and religions of different countries while also fostering connections and friendships.
There are countless ways to make your travels more meaningful. All you need to do is take the first step. Reflect on what you value and how you wish to help, leading you toward a more fulfilling travel experience.
Why Meaningful Travel is Beneficial?
Engaging in meaningful travel not only benefits the communities you visit, but also enhances your personal growth. We’ve often stated that travel provides unparalleled education, breaking barriers and eradicating prejudice. Encountering diverse cultures opens minds, allowing you to return home with valuable thoughts, observations, and feelings about the places you’ve experienced.
As Mark Twain stated: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
Furthermore, meaningful travel contributes to sustainability. By volunteering or aiding conservation efforts, communities and wildlife reserves can prevent exploitation. Practicing meaningful travel involves being mindful of your surroundings and respecting local customs and cultures.
Meaningful Travel – Things to Remember
- Consider your impact and how you affect the local community.
- Reflect on whether your travels enrich their lives.
- Assess if you have the opportunity to embrace the culture, nature, and environment, or if you risk remaining isolated.
Meaningful Travel is Not Daunting
When venturing into adventure travel, we often recommend starting with small steps. The same principle applies to making your travel experiences meaningful.
It could be as simple as asking a local at your destination about volunteer opportunities or where you might help children, or donate to a school or organization. Taking that first step will unveil further opportunities for discovery and growth.
Our journey into more meaningful travel commenced in 2003 in Cambodia. While relaxing on a beach, a man approached us, inviting us to his class to assist with English conversation. He emphasized that while he spoke English, exposure to a native accent was beneficial for his students. That afternoon proved exceptionally fulfilling and sparked our desire to contribute wherever we travel. We absorbed immeasurable wisdom from their stories and struggles, which enriched our lives as much as we helped them improve their English skills.
How do you make your travels more meaningful?
Travel Planning Resources
Looking to plan your next trip? Consider utilizing these reliable resources that we personally recommend.
Book Your Flights: Discover the best flight deals on Skyscanner, a service we’ve relied on for years.
Book your Hotel: For price comparisons on hotels, if you’re in Europe, check out Booking.com; elsewhere, use TripAdvisor.
Find Apartment Rentals: For budget-friendly apartment rentals, visit VRBO.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without coverage. Here’s our recommendation:
- Safety Wing – Ideal for occasional travelers.
- Medjet – Global air medical transport and travel security.
Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? We recommend Get Your Guide.
For more assistance in planning your trip, visit our Resources Page to explore trusted companies we rely on during our travels.
