Travel isn’t just about checking destinations off a list — it has the power to change lives. That’s at the heart of G Adventures’ G for Good Moment projects, a global collection of community-driven initiatives that make a real, lasting difference. In partnership with our nonprofit arm, Planeterra, these G for Good projects champion local economies, empower women, preserve culture, and protect the environment, all while allowing travellers to dive into authentic, meaningful experiences that go far beyond the typical tourist trail.
Women’s empowerment projects
G Adventures’ G for Good Moment initiatives put women at the heart of change, supporting projects that empower female entrepreneurs, artisans, and creators around the world. From an arts and crafts centre in India to an eco-fashion cooperative in Turkey, these projects provide skills, income, and confidence while preserving traditional crafts and local culture. Travellers get a front-row seat to these inspiring stories, meeting the women behind the work and taking home not just souvenirs, but also experiences that truly make a difference. Here are a few examples of these projects in action.
Sthree Craft Shop and Café
Sthree Craft Shop and Café is more than just a charming spot for shopping and dining — it’s a vibrant hub empowering at-risk women and youth in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Visitors can savour authentic Sri Lankan food and sip freshly brewed tea while checking out a selection of handmade crafts, from woven textiles to intricate jewellery. Every purchase directly supports the artisans, helping them gain financial independence, build confidence, and preserve traditional skills. Beyond the products, visitors have the opportunity to meet the creators, hear their inspiring stories, and see firsthand how sustainable tourism can make a difference in local communities.
Experience it for yourself on: Sri Lanka Encompassed
Penduka
Penduka is a thriving social enterprise in Windhoek, Namibia, that empowers disadvantaged women by providing training in textiles, pottery, and other artisanal crafts. Visitors can enjoy delicious local meals in a welcoming café setting while watching live craft demonstrations, gaining insight into the skill, creativity, and dedication behind each piece. Every purchase and experience directly supports these women, helping them achieve financial independence, build confidence, and create sustainable futures for themselves and their families. Beyond shopping and dining, travellers leave with a deeper understanding of Namibian culture and the meaningful impact that socially responsible tourism can have on communities.
Experience it for yourself on: Cape and Namibia Adventure
Cöp(m)adam
This unique, women-run cooperative in Ayvalik, Turkey, transforms recycled materials into stylish, sustainable fashion accessories. By turning waste into wearable art, the project combines economic empowerment with environmental stewardship, giving local women the skills and income to support themselves while promoting sustainability. Travellers visiting Cöp(m)adam can see the creative process in action, meet the artisans behind each piece, and purchase one-of-a-kind items that tell a story of innovation, resilience, and community impact. Every bag, bracelet, and accessory is more than a souvenir; it’s a tangible way to support women and the environment simultaneously, making every visit a meaningful and inspiring experience.
Experience it for yourself on: The Best of Turkey
Nyamirambo Women’s Center
The Nyamirambo Women’s Center in Kigali, Rwanda, is a shining example of how tourism can empower communities. Female guides lead visitors on walking tours through the vibrant Nyamirambo neighbourhood, offering an authentic cultural immersion filled with storytelling, crafts, and local culinary experiences. Every tour provides income for the women who lead them, supporting their livelihoods while giving travellers a deeper understanding of Rwandan culture, history, and daily life. Beyond the sights and flavours, participants gain meaningful connections with residents, making each visit educational and inspiring.
Experience it for yourself on: Journeys: Wild Encounters in Rwanda
Community tourism projects
Travel becomes truly memorable when it connects you to the people and traditions of a place, and G Adventures’ community-based tourism and cultural heritage projects are designed to do just that. These initiatives invite travellers to step off the beaten path to explore villages and historic neighbourhoods and engage directly with local communities. Beyond sightseeing, visitors help support sustainable livelihoods, preserve centuries-old customs, and experience the history, artistry, and everyday life that give each destination its unique character. Here are a few inspiring examples of these types of projects.
Anoothi India
Anoothi India is a vibrant social enterprise in Jaipur, part of India's Golden Triangle, dedicated to empowering marginalized women through skill-building and textile workshops. Visitors are invited to step inside this creative space, where they can participate in hands-on experiences, including block printing, embroidery, and traditional weaving, gaining a deeper appreciation for centuries-old crafts. Every workshop supports the women’s livelihoods, helping them achieve financial independence, confidence, and long-term stability. Beyond purchasing textiles to take home, travellers leave with a richer understanding of local culture, the stories behind each artisan, and the knowledge that their participation directly contributes to positive social impact.
Experience it for yourself on: Journeys: Discover India
Pink City Rickshaw
An eco-friendly, women-driven e-rickshaw service in Jaipur, India, Pink City Rickshaw blends sustainable travel with social impact. Visitors can explore the city’s vibrant streets and historic landmarks on guided tours led by female drivers, gaining unique insights into local life and culture. Every ride supports these women, helping them earn a stable income and challenge traditional gender roles in the workforce. Beyond providing an alternative, low-emission way to get around, Pink City Rickshaw gives travellers a front-row seat to inspiring stories of resilience and independence.
Experience it for yourself on: Golden Triangle
Sheroes Hangout
Far more than a café, Sheroes Hangout in Agra, India, is a powerful space of resilience, hope, and empowerment. Run by acid attack survivors, the café provides meaningful employment that fosters dignity, independence, and a supportive community for women who have overcome unimaginable challenges. Visitors can enjoy delicious local dishes and drinks while learning the inspiring stories behind the café, connecting directly with the women who run it. Every visit contributes to their livelihoods and mission, offering travellers an experience that is both heartwarming and impactful, and a reminder of the transformative power of social enterprise.
Experience it for yourself on: Essential India
Sunder Rang
Sunder Rang is a vibrant arts and crafts centre in Chandelao, India, dedicated to empowering rural women artisans. The centre provides fair income opportunities while preserving traditional crafts, such as embroidery, block printing, and weaving, which have been passed down through generations. Visitors can participate in hands-on workshops, learning the intricate techniques behind each piece, while gaining insight into the rich cultural heritage of the region. Every purchase and experience directly supports the artisans’ livelihoods, helping them achieve financial independence and offering travellers a meaningful connection to the Rajasthan region’s history, culture, and creativity.
Experience it on: Northern India: Riverside Safaris, Ancient Fortresses & The Taj Mahal
Indigenous and environmental projects
Travel has the power to protect, not just landscapes but also the cultures and traditions tied to them. Indigenous and environmental projects give visitors the opportunity to experience the natural world through the eyes of the people who know it best. From community-led conservation initiatives to Indigenous-owned tourism experiences, these projects preserve fragile ecosystems, celebrate ancestral knowledge, and create sustainable livelihoods. For travellers, it’s an opportunity to connect more deeply with the land and its guardians while leaving a lighter footprint. Here are some inspiring examples from around the world.
Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op
Set high in Peru’s Sacred Valley, the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op is helping to keep centuries-old traditions alive while creating brighter futures for local families. Here, Quechua women use ancestral techniques passed down through generations, spinning alpaca and llama wool and colouring it with vibrant natural dyes sourced from plants and minerals. Each piece tells a story of culture and heritage, from intricate patterns to symbolic designs.
Travellers visiting the co-op can see the weaving process firsthand, meet the artisans, and purchase beautifully handcrafted textiles, knowing their support directly helps improve housing, fund children’s education, and strengthen the community’s independence. The result is a project where tradition and progress are woven together — literally and figuratively.
Experience it for yourself on: Inca Journey: Machu Picchu by Train & The Amazon
Parwa Community Restaurant
Parwa Community Restaurant is more than just a place to eat — it’s a model for how tourism can directly uplift communities. Tucked in the luscious heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley and entirely run by locals, this farm-to-table restaurant celebrates the flavours of the Andes with dishes made from fresh, regional ingredients sourced from nearby farmers. Guests enjoy hearty traditional meals while supporting a project that reinvests its profits back into the community, funding clean water systems, reforestation initiatives, and programs that empower women. Dining here isn’t just about savouring incredible Peruvian cuisine; it’s about contributing to a cycle of sustainability and opportunity that ensures both people and the environment thrive.
Experience it for yourself on: Peru's Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu by Train
New community projects
G Adventures and Planeterra aren’t slowing down. Our mission to make travel a force for good is always evolving. Each year, new community projects are launched across the globe to create opportunities where they’re needed most, from grassroots initiatives in remote villages to innovative programs tackling today’s biggest challenges. These fresh projects not only expand the reach of sustainable tourism but also give travellers even more ways to connect with people, traditions, and places in meaningful ways. The future of travel is being shaped right now, and these new initiatives are at the heart of it.
Kirtipur Community Homestay
Perched just outside Kathmandu, Nepal, the Kirtipur Community Homestay invites travellers into the heart of a traditional Newari village, where hospitality is as rich as the culture itself. This initiative is proudly female-led, giving local women the opportunity to become entrepreneurs by opening their homes to visitors. Guests can immerse themselves in authentic daily life, sharing home-cooked meals, learning about Newari traditions, joining festivals, and trying their hand at local crafts.
Beyond providing travellers with a genuine cultural exchange, the homestay generates vital income that helps fund education, improve infrastructure, and empower women to take on leadership roles in their community. Staying here feels less like tourism and more like being welcomed into an extended family, an experience that lingers long after you’ve left the winding streets of Kirtipur.
Experience it for yourself on: India & Nepal Adventure
Restaurante El Manglar
Restaurante El Manglar is a celebration of women’s resilience and cultural heritage, nestled along Guatemala’s Caribbean coast in Izabal. Founded by a local women’s committee, this coastal restaurant empowers female entrepreneurs to take charge of their livelihoods while keeping traditional recipes and flavours alive. Travellers are treated to freshly prepared meals that showcase the region’s bounty, from savoury seafood to classic Garifuna and Mayan-inspired dishes, all served with the warmth of genuine community hospitality. Every bite supports not just the women who run the restaurant but also wider community-based tourism initiatives, from education programs to environmental care of the surrounding mangroves. Dining here allows travellers to experience Guatemala’s rich coastal culture while directly contributing to a brighter, more sustainable future for local families.
Experience it for yourself on: Mayan Encounter
Ban Ou Community Tourism
In the peaceful surroundings of a rural village in Laos, Ban Ou Community Tourism invites travellers to dive into traditional life and craftsmanship. Local women lead hands-on sessions in noodle-making, weaving, and other artisanal skills, sharing not only techniques but also the cultural stories behind each practice. Visitors can try their hand at creating their own crafts or tasting the noodles they help prepare, making the experience both interactive and memorable. Beyond skill-building, the project provides vital income and training for women in the village, supporting their families and preserving traditions for future generations. This immersive visit offers a genuine connection to Laotian culture and a meaningful way to leave a positive impact.
Experience it for yourself on: Thailand and Laos Adventure
Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver
The Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver project is changing the way women experience work and travellers experience the bustling city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Female drivers offer guided tuk-tuk rides to Angkor Wat, local markets, and hidden cultural gems, providing both safe livelihoods and meaningful income opportunities. Beyond the convenience of getting from A to B, travellers gain insider perspectives, learning local history, traditions, and personal stories from the women behind the wheel. This initiative empowers women to take charge of their careers, fosters confidence, and breaks down traditional gender barriers, all while giving visitors a unique way to explore Cambodia’s vibrant culture. With every ride, travellers support independence, build community, and experience Siem Reap beyond the tourist hot spots.
Experience it on: Cambodia & Thailand: Angkor Wat, Koh Chang & Cardamom Mountain
Asociación de Mujeres Artesanas Zoológico Mágico
Set in the colourful city of Oaxaca, Mexico, Asociación de Mujeres Artesanas Zoológico Mágico is a women’s cooperative bringing traditional craftsmanship to life while empowering local artisans. The cooperative offers travellers the opportunity to witness and participate in creating handmade textiles, pottery, and other crafts that reflect the region’s rich cultural heritage. Each workshop and purchase directly supports the women, providing income, professional skills, and confidence while preserving artistic traditions passed down through generations. Visitors don’t just leave with beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces; they leave with stories, connections, and a deeper understanding of how tourism can nurture both culture and community. This immersive experience celebrates creativity, independence, and the power of women-led initiatives.
Experience it for yourself on: Mexico City to Oaxaca: Pottery & Aztec Pyramids
Why G for Good Moments matter
A G for Good Moment isn’t just about giving back; it’s about creating lasting impact through partnership and sustainability. By supporting these initiatives, travellers help local economies thrive through fair wages, training, and opportunities that build long-term resilience. Women gain leadership roles and meaningful employment, advancing gender equality, while Indigenous traditions and cultural practices are preserved for future generations. Environmental stewardship is also at the heart of these projects, with sustainable practices protecting fragile ecosystems. Every journey with G Adventures becomes part of this positive cycle, meaning that simply participating in a tour contributes to real change for communities, culture, and the planet.
