Travel to learn – and to give back

Today, enlightened travellers often say they want to go on vacation, but sense that the total experience should not be all about them. Reaching out to the world is also about generating positive results for the greater good.

This is exactly what prompted three adventurous women to travel to Peru on an off the beaten track expedition to Machu Picchu. They went with the help of Charity Challenge, a tour operator dedicated to benefiting charities, as well as giving help to the local communities where their travellers go. The tour operator has a unique and carefully planned program for trips to nearly 12 countries. You can trek, cycle, climb, or ski throughout the world with the organization, while raising vital funds for a charity you love.

“It was the best thing I did in a long time,” says Gerhild Neugebauer from British Columbia. “First of all it was just so well organized and the participants all had the same goal; making people aware of the charity of their choice and its purpose … Some of my friends offered to sponsor me without me having to ask for a donation because they wanted to be part of the adventure.” Neugebauer also pointed out that Charity Challenge is environmentally conscious.

“We all had to sign a paper agreeing not to use any environmentally damaging products etc. They also hire local people for the trek from the cooks to the guides. Some of the money they get from the participants is donated to needy causes… Tony, our guide and his people were fantastic on the trek and in Cusco if people needed helping us whenever we needed things like hotel advice and changing money.”

You too can go on many adventures that include raising money for a charity and giving back to the local communities you visit. For example, the leading human rights organization, Amnesty International, is just one of many charities that benefit from these exciting tours. More information is available at www.charitychallenge.ca.