Volunteering abroad, also known as voluntourism, is on fire. More and more, all kinds of people are looking for travel experiences where they can serve the under-served, globally. Who can disagree with such noble intentions? In fact, voluntourism is often hailed as one of the most constructive forms of tourism out there.

Set against the jaw-droppingly gorgeous backdrop of the snow-covered Himalayas and surrounded by the phenomenal forests and streams of rural Darjeeling, India, the little village of Mineral Spring is a community knit together by strong cultural values that have made it a model of sustainable growth. Now, homestays with locals have been set up, satisfying the desires of both mindful travellers and responsible hosts.

Tours and treks regularly circuit the far-flung areas of Nepal to take in the astounding scenery, cultural diversity and the warm hospitality of Nepal’s rural people. Unfortunately, these remote places and the people who call them home have seen very little of the dividend from tourism. Today, though, at least one local organisation is currently trying to change all that. Outdoor Himalayan Treks seeks to share the benefits of travel at a grassroots level.

With the finalists of Wild Asia’s 2010 Responsible Tourism Award now announced, the honourable endeavours of six small- and medium-sized hotels and tour operators that champion responsible practices in the travel industry are being celebrated. The third of the finalists to receive a visit from the Wild Asia team was the PEPY Tours, a local tour operator and nongovernmental organisation working to improve access to education for underprivileged kids in Cambodia.

Ger to Ger – the self-styled ‘market-driven social enterprise’ based in Mongolia – is definitely doing something right. Founded in 2005 by Mr Zanjan Fromer, a native Alaskan with extensive experience in tourism and development, Ger to Ger aims to give travellers the ultimate, authentic Mongolian experience.

Over the coming months, we will be examining the many and various qualities of what we believe qualifies as responsible tourism. It comes in may forms and is known by many names – ecotourism, sustainable tourism, pro-poor tourism, ethical tourism, geotourism, community-based tourism, inclusive tourism, agritourism, tourisme rural etc. But with such a generous and…