More Than Guides: Authentic Travel Companions

"I was a sound engineer at Radio France when I decided to take my first trip to Southeast Asia. It was 1997, and I visited Thailand and Laos. The people of these countries fascinated me with their way of life, their good humor, their philosophy… It was almost as if nonchalance was no longer a flaw! In 1999, I decided to leave my job in Europe and move to Laos. At the time, communication was underdeveloped. There was no internet, no Facebook, no Skype. Laos was a forgotten country, quite simply another world. I fell in love with it. But globalization quickly arrived, and Laos began to experience tourism: organized tours, tour operators, and backpackers following their guide books or online forums. The local people were less inclined to talk to visitors. Even the small children, once so bold, had become more timid. I thought something could be done to give the local population the leading role in discovering a country. From this came the idea for these trips: to present a group of independent people, not necessarily tourism professionals, but who enjoy meeting and interacting with travelers. In 2005, I contacted French responsible tourism associations through the ATES network. The program in Laos was already prepared. I went to live in Cambodia for a year to set up a program there. From 2006 to 2017, we worked with two of these associations, Vision du Monde and La Route des Sens. In 2010, I present a trip to Vietnam, and in 2014, to Myanmar. I am responsible for organizing the trips, training the tour guides who also become translators, and researching new excursions. Also, since 2007, I have been using the solidarity fund of the associations and of Solidarasia to address villages or local associations development needs."

"The first time I worked with Solidarasia, I was very happy because it was finally possible to communicate with the local people. We were welcomed like friends in all places we went. It was quite new for me, even extraordinary. We slept by the villagers and it was always interesting because I could share a lot with tourists: on the daily life of my country, the customs, the cuisine, the specialties of each province visited.I particularly like the walk around Daem Po village, in Kampot province. It enables us to see a lot of the life in the countryside and to climb up on a hill to enjoy the view over the beautiful landscape of coconut trees surrounding the village.For me, these trips are really wonderful experiences."

"This is truly a journey like no other. It is not just simple tourism. This is what I want to say, but you'll have to discover by yourself !!"