Thailand and Vietnam experience tour

Planet

As part of our Small Change initiative, we support a range of environmental and community focused projects. In 2019, we partnered with Eden Reforestation Projects to plant 10 trees for every booking received. Since late 2023, we have also worked with Path Net Zero to measure the emissions associated with our tours and with Veritree to support verified tree planting projects.

We also support organisations such as Trash Hero in Thailand through beach clean up initiatives, and travellers may have opportunities to take part in informal beach clean ups during the trip where appropriate.

As tap water is not suitable for drinking in Thailand and Vietnam, refill stations are available at most of our overnight accommodation and many activity locations. Travellers are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle, and reusable INTRO branded bottles are available to purchase for those who need one.

We recognise that tourism can contribute to poor animal welfare practices when experiences are not managed responsibly. That's why we support local animal welfare organisations and only include wildlife experiences that meet our animal welfare standards. We also care for a number of rescue animals at properties owned by INTRO Travel.

During the Thailand section of the trip, we visit Tree Tops Elephant Reserve in Phuket, a sanctuary that provides a home for elephants previously used in logging and tourist entertainment. The experience is observation based, allowing the elephants to roam and socialise naturally without riding or performances. Local guides also share information about elephant welfare, forest conservation and wildlife protection in Thailand.

People

Travellers on this trip, have the chance to support the development of the Rungfah Farm Stay in Khao Sok National Park. The brain child of our enigmatic friend Mr You, the back to basics sustainable farm promotes eco friendly living, including using self produced and eco friendly fertiliser. Mr You built his homestay by hand and uses solar power to generate energy, with all funds paid to him being used to help support his young family, as well as the upkeep of the farm.

Throughout this trip we stay at locally owned and operated accommodation.

Our accommodation on the island of Koh Phangan, Sarana Bungalows, our receptionist has started English lessons. Between working full shifts as a receptionist, she gathered all our Burmese colleagues to teach them basic English. Helping them to learn everything from simple greetings to their favourite food, she's using her exceptional language skills to help her friends learn a new skill, while also giving them the confidence to advance in the world of tourism.

On top of this, she's also helping some of the class read and write in their native Burmese for the FIRST time - meaning they can understand simple written Burmese for the first time ever.

Mr Op and his family from the Mekong Delta in Vietnam started with humble beginnings and only a couple of bungalows on a small island on the Delta. After many years of support from our groups visiting and experiencing how the locals really live there, he’s been able to create enough bungalows for our groups to stay with him and his family on this tiny island on the Delta.

Our local guides / legends are the backbone of our operations. Several times a year we offer the opportunity for one or more of our local guides to travel to another one of our destinations or choose an experience they may not normally get to do, courtesy of and with love from us.