5 REASONS TO JOIN AN OTW TRIP

Whether it’s gaining confidence to travel alone for the first time, getting to know a new culture or even something as simple as learning how to cook a new cuisine, our trip participants will all come away feeling like they’ve grown. Many of our destinations include volunteering or a visit to a trusted NGO or charity. We’re all too aware of the unethical aspects of some ‘voluntourism’ providers and only forge partnerships with ethical organisations that have proven impactful in their field.

OTW trips are adventures designed to make productive use of your time, while also enjoying new experiences. Be prepared to be active, do something different and see something new every single day. 

OTW firmly believes in sustainable, responsible tourism. Where possible we make sure our tourism dollars go directly to local people (e.g. by staying in local guesthouses rather than international hotel chains). This also allows for a more culturally immersive experience.

There is sometimes a volunteering element to OTW trips, with some time set aside in the itinerary for a local charitable organisation. To ensure responsibility while volunteering, these opportunities are currently limited to environmental, conservation and some animal-related rescue projects. We do not work with orphanages or medical clinics because these are notoriously difficult to vet and often can be unethical.

Unlike more established operators out there, we also like to keep our group sizes small, so we have minimal impact on the places we visit.

We believe travel should be an in-depth exploration of a destination’s culture. Yes, our trips are all-inclusive, but they’re not the type of all-inclusive holiday where you stay in a resort for a week and then go home. This isn’t enough to really get to know a culture.

We also understand that the numbers of days people might have off to travel is limited. With this in mind, all trips are around 12 days long, so you can make the most of your holidays while having enough time to really immerse yourself in your destination.

Whether it’s marvelling at majestic wild elephants in their natural habitat, catching your first wave on a surfboard, hiking through breathtaking scenery, learning a traditional dance or playing the national sport with local villagers, expect an action-packed and diverse itinerary that will leave you with core memories for life. Leave the planning to us – we’re the travel experts. 

If you’re keen on the idea of backpacking but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you. Come with a curious mind.

Our groups are made up of curious, like-minded people aged under 35. We want people to come away from the trip feeling like they’ve just gone on an adventure with new friends, rather than on tour with strangers.

For those who want a chance to lead and access exclusive subsidised travel opportunities, after your first trip with OTW you can apply to be a team lead on future trips.