independent traveller
Thinking globally makes local tourism a heartfelt choice
Sometimes it takes a global village to help the one just down the road. For Fundación En Vía of Oaxaca, Mexico, that means not only reaching out to touch the lives of a nearby community through microfinancing loans and free English classes, but sharing the experience with people from all over the world who would […]
Bringing local to a global audience in Darjeeling, India
I personally believe that there is a difference between a tourist and a traveler. On the one hand, a tourist visits a country, a monument and checks the box: India – check, UNESCO World Heritage Sites – check. On the other hand, a traveler seeks experiences. Yes there will always remain a bit of that […]
Thoughts about Local Travel in Colombia
As globalisation takes over in most industries – a phenomenon to which tourism is no stranger – it is fundamental to connect people to what is really important and unique about a place: Its culture, the idiosyncrasies of its people, the traditional food. One should even go further and show international travellers how local people […]
Creating community through volunteering in Oaxaca, Mexico
The women filed one by one into the dirt courtyard, taking seats on a long log bench after greeting each other quietly in Zapotec. They wore traditional full aprons over their everyday dresses; most had ribboned braids and dusty sandals. There was an electric air of anticipation, as though something important were about to happen. […]
Developing an inspiring search engine for the Local Travel Movement
The Local Travel Movement More and more travellers desire extraordinary travel experiences off the beaten track. They want to immerse themselves in the local cultures and environments of the countries they visit. They want to get the real thing. There is a steadily growing Local Travel Movement that is promoted by various people and organizations […]
Local Travel in Greece?
Local Travel is a great movement. We are really happy to know that there are lots of people that like to travel like we do – experiencing the true life of the locals. Living and working in Thessaloniki, Greece, we see thousands of tourists every year visiting our country and living nothing more than the […]
Six storybook guesthouses in the northern Albanian Alps: a photo essay
Local-minded travelers in Albania love to get deep into the heart of Albanian nature and culture. That is why they choose traditional, family-run guesthouses for visits to Theth and the northern Albanian Alps. These wood-shingled stone structures have long endured the harsh winter-weather conditions of the region and now exhibit a visual charm captured by […]
Think locally, transform globally – a manifesto
I started the Portland Untourist because I believe in the power of travel. I believe in its potential to awaken our senses to the vast wonders of this world, in the transformative power of place and people, in the zen-like clarity that arises from finding oneself in a situation that feels completely foreign yet completely […]
An encouraging read for local travelites: The Lunatic Express by Carl Hoffman
If local travel means putting oneself in the shoes of a local, then travel writer Carl Hoffman has earned status as an expert local travelite with a compelling story to tell. In his latest book, The Lunatic Express: Discovering the World via Its Most Dangerous Buses, Boats, Trains, and Planes, Hoffman relays his round-the-world jaunt […]