The cool climate and relatively small size of Darjeeling, India, make it a perfect getaway from the sultry temperatures and urban sprawl of India’s other major urban centres. Mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts will love the numerous trails to and through the Himalayas, as well as the different adventure activities. But, of course, there is so much more to Darjeeling than its list-topping tourist attractions, like new opportunities to interact directly with the local community.

Laura Payne, co-founder of Outdoor Albania and a local travel activist, believes that travelling is all about meeting and connecting with locals and experiencing their cultures – bringing real economic benefits to those who need it most. Laura paid her first visit to Albania six years ago and immediately fell in love with the country’s spectacular scenery and people. She saw the enormous potential for tourism and decided to do something about it that would help the locals too.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE. Created by thousands of years of the Colca River slicing through the highlands of Peru, the seemingly bottomless Colca Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the Americas. It is now an adventure traveller’s haven of roaring rapids and ambitious treks, as well as home to the distinctive cultures and lifestyles of traditional communities.