Meaningful Local Encounters with EXO Travel
03-Feb-2026
Category: News Stories
Across our destinations, EXO’s community empowerment experiences invite travellers to go beyond the surface, immersing in local culture while directly supporting and uplifting the communities they visit.
Each experience is operated by local organisations, ensuring that tourism revenue is equitably shared and therefore creating jobs, funding community initiatives and fostering long-term social and economic impact. From village homestays to hands-on craft workshops with local artisans, these immersive activities offer authentic insight into daily life while uplifting the people who live there.
Read on to explore a few stand-out journeys that help communities thrive while enriching the travel experience.
Vietnam - Pu Luong Village Trek
Hit the trails for an unforgettable trek through Vietnam’s northern hills. Trek from village to village, surrounded by dramatic limestone karsts and fertile valleys of the Pu Luong region. Meet colourful ethnic groups and staying in local homestays, discovering the cultures and landscapes that make Vietnam so unique.
Malaysia — Family Run Homestay in a Bidayuh Tribe
Experience an amazing Sarawak jungle adventure staying at a cozy remote homestay run by a Bidayuh young woman, Saloma who will share her love for the Bidayuh community. Explore the jungle and connect with the tribe. Learn how the natives live with traditions which have been passed down through the generations.
Laos — Phongsaly Loop In the Depth
Escape to the rugged, wild Phongsaly province for an unforgettable voyage. The journey is an intrepid one yet richly rewarding. Encounter exotic hill tribes living amid spectacular natural landscapes. Get the blood pumping with adventurous treks then relax with a cruise on the scenic Nam Ou River.
