Duara Travels

10/02/2020

Dear friend, we have sad news to tell: from this month onwards, we don't take any more bookings. We have kept on receiving wonderful feedback from both the travellers and the villagers, but unfortunately our resources are limited and the market is global.

But what a ride it was! We are so happy and proud of our achievements together:
- 1700 sold nights to 570 customers from around 40 different countries and 6 continents.
- 67 host families in total of 27 villages in 9 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
- 38.000 euros of income generated to rural underserved villages outside tourism streams.

Warm thanks to all our hosts and contacts in each location, and everyone who stayed in Duara villages! You should have known how much we loved every booking we received. Not because of the money, but because of the hope it gave us – that one day rural villages around the world could benefit from sustainable tourism.

In addition to support from the state this was done without outside investments, without any experience in travel platforms - or startups - and without almost any knowledge in international online marketing campaigns.

We have learned more we could ever have imagined.

We still strongly believe in this concept and would like to do our best to help our village network to host travellers also in the future. That is why we have asked if the local coordinators in the villages want us to put their contact details on our website so that the travellers can contact them directly if they wish to book a stay in the future. You can find these contact details on the village profiles on our site until the autumn 2020.

Thank you for everything. What a journey it has been! Let's hope the future of sustainable tourism will shine bright.

- Duara Team ###

17/01/2020

Check out how Joanna, from the blog The World In My Pocket experienced her stay in Lembeni village, in Tanzania! 😍😎🍛🌄

"Spending a few days with the locals in Tanzania is a wonderful cultural experience in which you will learn a lot about how the family duties are spread between the members but also about the local traditions and how the daily life goes by, without any modern technology."

https://www.theworldinmypocket.co.uk/what-to-expect-from-a-homestay-in-tanzania/

I have just returned from my trip to Tanzania and oh, how amazing that was!

15/01/2020

Beautiful article about Duara Travels published by the South African magazine Responsible Traveller 📰✍️🌍🌴

Check out from page 84 ->

In this edition we get off the beaten track and show that great experiences can be had without contributing to over-tourism at iconic, popular sites and destinations. Experience the wonderful city of Bangkok differently - as the locals do... take commuter trains, buses and water taxis, walk side str...

13/01/2020

An interesting blogpost explaining for example why Duara is doing what we are doing.

" ...according to a report from the World Tourism Organization (W.T.O.), only 5% of every dollar spend by a tourist stays with the local people and their communities."

https://thecoupleinrow51.com/all-our-stories/ensure-money-stays-local

Many travellers, younger travellers, in particular, are looking for authentic and real travel experiences. They are longing for a true connection with local people and they want to travel more responsibly. That’s why it’s time to talk more about the topic of responsible travel. Read more...

13/01/2020

Thanks for mentioning us thecoupleinrow51!🙏😍

https://thecoupleinrow51.com/all-our-stories/the-7-best-responsible-travel-websites

In the ocean of information we call the internet it’s quite tough to find the right and responsible travel websites. They will ensure that your next activity or trip is local, meaningful, socially conscious and fun. But where to start? Don’t worry, we got you covered. In this article, we will sh...

06/01/2020

from our traveller 😍🙌

*****

Kizimkazi

Thank you Aisha for letting us into your village's and family's life for three days! Even though we didn't have a common language it was an eye opening experience to explore the village life in Zanzibar and notice that maybe our ways of living are totally different but we all are still the same people. This experience was something not to forget. Thank you for making this kind of experience possible!


@ Kizimkazi

03/01/2020

Maaike from Travel a Lut visited a Karen village called Pha Mon in Northern Thailand in November. Read her blog to find out how she liked it! The blog is in Dutch, but you can easily translate it into English with just one click.

Wil je weten hoe het is om te leven bij een bergstam? In het Doi Inthanon National Park in Noord-Thailand is het mogelijk. Hier lees je er alles over!

27/12/2019

Have you heard of Pha Mon village in Northern Thailand? 🤔

Nestled in the Doi Inthanon National Park, this picturesque hillside village is ideal for couples on a romantic trip, coffee enthusiasts, nature lovers, hikers, handicraft fans and those looking for a deep dive into the magnificent Karen culture. ✨

23/12/2019

Are you escaping the holiday season and heading to somewhere warm? For the quickest ones there is still a chance to celebrate New Year in an unforgettable way. Book your village stay now!

This pic is from a tiny beach village in Mosambique, where Annika, a traveller from Finland, spend her New Year 2015 with locals and got the idea to start a company that gives travellers a possibility to stay with local people and learn about their life. That company is now called Duara Travels 😁

Hopefully this village of Tofo is also one of the Duara villages one day...

22/12/2019

Thailand is your dream destination but you don’t know where to go to? Have a look around Tung Lakorn village in Northern Thailand! 🤩

21/12/2019

🌲⛄ Spending Christmas in a Kenyan Village 🌎📝 Bloggers visiting Nepal and Lombok - https://mailchi.mp/29daaff620bd/duaratravels-newsletter-december-2019

20/12/2019

In November, two Finnish travellers stayed in Gacharageini village in Kenya and had a great time despite the weather conditions due to the rainy season. 🌧️ They especially enjoyed the “very beautiful scenery from the homestay” and said that “the family was also very welcoming”. 😊

Thanks for sharing your experience and pictures, Susanna! 🙏

18/12/2019

Two of Duara's destinations listed in the Top islands to visit in 2020: Sri Lanka and Bali! 🇮🇩🇱🇰
For those looking for less crowded destinations, we highly recommend especially Sri Lanka 😎🌴☀️

https://traveladvo.com/2019/11/top-5-islands-to-travel-in-2020/?fbclid=IwAR3_-YYxVoI9cxpLiujqipDv2zemlMPDI80o3WbGyo5zEure393W_BTa9YM

Sri Lanka takes the first place in the list of top 5 islands. Here are the Top 5 Islands to Travel in 2020 according to the travelers' choice.

15/12/2019

Makuyu is a small village with a big heart in Central Kenya. ✨
Its inhabitants are very inspiring to talk to about gender roles, generational differences and small scale economics in Kenya. This is also a dream place for those who love organic, locally grown food and fresh fruit and veggies, 🍈 especially during mango season (December-February). Step in the everyday life of this village and experience Kenya like a local. 😎

10/12/2019

Lately, two travelwriters from Pink Pangea stayed in two Duara villages, and they loved the concept of Duara, which offers authentic stays with local host families in rural areas. 🏞️ This is the best way to approach the local community and feel part of the family as well as being away from the crowded touristy places.

Alicia () was in Kotaraja village, Lombok, Bali. ✨
“Here, there was quite literally a 0% chance of running into another tourist. It was nice to have the chance to get away from the growing crowds of Bali for a little while during this homestay in Lombok.”

https://pinkpangea.com/2019/12/more-than-place-to-stay-my-homestay-in-lombok/


@ Lombok, Indonesia

My homestay in Lombok was a special experience, unlike anything else I experienced in a month in Indonesia. Homestays give a different travel experience.

07/12/2019

Ashley from USA stayed in Sindu village in Bali in October. Read her story to find out how she liked it 😍

https://www.duaratravels.com/stories/best-part-of-my-vacations-in-bali-stepping-out-from-the-hostels-and-cheap-shopping-opportunities

05/12/2019

Thank you for Cristina from Pink Pangea for the beautiful story about her stay in Manikhel, Nepal! 😍🙌🇳🇵

https://pinkpangea.com/2019/12/living-nepali-village-life-manikhel-homestay/

Nepal is not just Kathmandu or trekking or nice resorts or yoga retreats. Nepal is Nepali village life, this warm, simple, rustic existence.

04/12/2019

Experience Kenya like a local in Gacharageini village, stay with a host family, support the local community and find out more about their everyday life. 🌾Nature lovers and authentic experience seekers, this is the place to spend your winter holidays! 🤩🌄😎

25/11/2019

Salia from Duara got interviewed for Travindy, a sustainable online travel magazine! 👏🧐

https://www.travindy.com/2019/11/interview-with-salia-binaud-from-duara-travels-about-how-tourism-can-support-local-families/

Salia Binaud, Chief of Operations of Finnish responsible travel company Duara Travels, speaks with Jeremy Smith about the company's business model which seeks to connect travellers with local families.

22/11/2019

Our French speaking followers; Have a look on Marine's blogpost from her stay in our villages Pha Mon and Tung Lakorn last week!

Nos followers francophones, lisez sur le blog de Marine, comment a t-elle vécu l’expérience dans nos villages Thaïlandais la semaine dernière: https://adventhaivoyage.wordpress.com/2019/11/12/1883/

Repost: Voyagez Autrement
✒Il y a quelques jours, j’ai terminé mon petit moto-trip solitaire que vous avez été très nombreux à interagir au sujet des rencontres et des paysages que j’ai partagé. Alors, j’ai pensé que vous seriez heureux de lire le récit de mon aventure en partenariat avec l’agence Duara Travels.
▪
Que ce soit dans mon quotidien ou lors de mes voyages, j’affectionne le bien-fondé et l’authenticité.
Lorsque j’ai découvert Duara Travels, j’ai instantanément apprécié leur conception du voyage.🦎🌏
▪
En quelques mots, c’est une agence éthique qui permet de mettre en relation des voyageurs conscients avec des communautés locales dans plusieurs pays.
Pourquoi, je dis volontairement conscients ?🤔
▪
Je vous invite à lire mon dernier récit d'aventure sur le blog, le lien se trouve dans ma bio et l'article se nomme : immersion dans la province de Chiang Mai.
Merci à ceux qui prendront quelques minutes pour laisser un petit coeur ou un commentaire sous l'article 😍

16/11/2019

The best way to explore off beaten paths in Tanzania, while giving back to the local community, is staying with locals for couple of days.
When booking a stay with Duara, part of your money goes directly to a local community organization.
In Kizimkazi, a fisherman village in Zanzibar, the savings go to the Maasai community school. 🎒 Funds are spent to feed students and to renovate the school building. 🏫

To learn more about the community savings groups in Tanzania, read the story of two Tanzanian villages in our latest blog post:

https://www.duaratravels.com/stories/giving-back-to-the-community-while-travelling-with-in-tanzania

When booking a village stay with Duara Travels in Tanzania, your payment is divided between the hosting family, the local contact person and the local village savings groups. The chosen organization varies from village to village, but their savings are used for common purposes such as improving livi

15/11/2019

👉 Bloggers discovering Duara villages! Follow and in Instagram this weekend to see their latest IG-stories from Phamon village in Thailand (in Dutch) and Kotaraja in Lombok, Indonesia ✨

12/11/2019

Thank you Voyagez Autrement for sharing these beautiful pictures and your experience in Pha Mon!
We are looking forward to seeing how you experience the Tung Lakorn village as well!

11/11/2019

Adorable French blogger Marine .autrement is currently in Pha Mon village in Northern Thailand (this is her with BooDee in the picture). After that she will also visit Tung Lakorn village. Have a look at her lovely IG stories from the village 👀📽😘

09/11/2019

FR/EN

Les prochains jours, suivez la blogeuse et conseillère voyage, Marine de Voyagez Autrement , pour découvrir ses expériences dans les villages de Thaïlande, Pha Mon, puis a Tung Lakorn! De belles photos et vidéos a voir surtout dans ces storys Instagram 😍👌!

***

Follow the French blogger Marine, from voyagez autrement, during the next few days and discover her experiences in the villages of Northern Thailand, Pha Mon and then Tung Lakorn! Beautiful pictures and videos to see especially on her stories on Instagram 😍☀️!

[ Un temps pour tout ]
La récolte du riz se termine et comme je vous le disais lors de mon dernier post, c’est l’heure de prendre un peu de temps pour moi-même.
Pour cela j’ai décidé de lier repos et découverte.
Oui, car je n’arrive jamais vraiment à lever le pied entièrement et vous ?
En effet, d'ici quelques jours, je souhaite m’évader avec 🌏
▪
J’ai le privilège de pouvoir aller séjourner quelques nuits chez des familles locales dans la province de Chiang Mai. L’idée est de me ressourcer mais aussi d’aller dégoter des adresses et lieux éloignés des itinéraires touristiques 🚣🏼‍♀️
▪
Pour ceux qui ne le savent pas encore, j’ai créé ADVENTHAI VOYAGE et l’objectif est de proposer des conseils personnalisés pour faciliter l'organisation de votre prochain périple en Thaïlande
Échanger ensemble afin de vous proposer une ligne conductrice afin de vivre le voyage qui vous ressemble.
▪
Je ne suis pas agent de voyage mais conseillère implanté en Thaïlande afin de vous faire gagner un temps précieux sans y laisser toutes vos économies.
Je reprends mon sac à dos pour quelques jours, vous me suivez ?
▪
Sinon, vous validez mon style pour la prochaine fashion week ? 😅