As we yearn to travel again, the desire for responsible travel burns ever brighter. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are at the heart of Luxury Gold’s sustainable travel strategy and our just-released Impact Report shows how we, along with our sister brands at The Travel Corporation, are working to meet our ambitious goals. 

To see how you can enjoy responsible travel safe in the knowledge that you are leaving a lasting impact, here are 4 incredible MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences you can enjoy with Luxury Gold.  

Join a farmhouse cookery workshop in Ireland 

In the secluded paradise of Strangford Lough in County Down, you are warmly invited to step inside Tracey’s Farmhouse for the ultimate Irish home-hosted culinary experience. Learn how to make one of the most famous foods of the Emerald Isle as you roll up your sleeves for an Irish soda bread cookery workshop. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, you will have the privilege to meet with Tracey herself for a tour of her organic farm. Through this unique opportunity, discover everything you ever wanted to know about the slow food movement and sustainable farming. Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized as you savor a Farm-to-table lunch and leave with a wealth of knowledge and some new acquired cooking skills. 

At the heart of this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience is a focus on seasonal produce and organically grown ingredients sourced from the immediate community. Tracey’s Farmhouse is actively practicing and encouraging the slow food movement. With a focus on preventing the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, the movement believes that through our food choices we can collectively influence how food is cultivated, produced and distributed.  

UN Global Goals 

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience directly advances UN Global Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, through the promotion of sustainable farming methods and the support of locally grown produce.  

@traceysfarmhousekitchen

Discover on Ultimate Ireland 

Ride a rickshaw like no other in India 

Upon arrival in Rajasthan’s stunning capital of Jaipur, you can see the distinctive salmon hue across the city’s skyline. More affectionately known as the Pink City, this pretty destination owes its name to a visit from Queen Victoria in 1876, when all its buildings were painted pink as a sign of hospitality. Steeped in heritage, a tour of Jaipur is a heady cocktail of traditional folk song and dance, stunning architecture, textile markets, handmade designer shopping and exquisite local cuisine. 

 Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and explore the city in flamboyant style, aboard bright pink, custom-designed and eco-friendly rickshaws driven by local women. More than just a fun way to explore Jaipur, the Pink City Rickshaw offers a unique opportunity to help support more than 200 local women from low-income households. Hop in, hear their stories first-hand and discover how proud they are to have developed their skills by joining this inspiring organization. If you are looking for responsible travel experiences, this is the perfect way to explore the city and we guarantee you will delight in their enthusiasm and knowledge as you embark on a historical journey around Jaipur.  

UN Global Goals 

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience directly enhances UN Global Goal 5, Gender Equality, as through your custom you are both empowering women and supporting a women-owned business.  

Discover on Essence of India with Ranthambore and Spirit of North & South India 

Read more: A New Way to Navigate Jaipur – The Pink City 

@trishalalovebug

Saving the Iberian Lynx in Portugal 

In the exquisite landscapes of southern Portugal, join an unforgettable feline MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Visit the charming hilltop town of Serpa with its cobbled streets graced by olive trees, red-sloped roofs and white sun-baked houses and learn all about the Iberian Lynx, the world’s most endangered feline. Meet with experts and hear how Serpa has implemented conservation programs to protect and re-introduce the species to the local area.  

The Iberian Lynx has been gradually reintroduced to the Vale do Guadiana Nature Park since early 2015. This was once its natural habitat, but the lynx disappeared from the area due to direct hunting. Today, the population is booming and a visit to the region offers a unique responsible travel experience to get to know the extraordinary species and this beautiful, protected area.  

UN Global Goals 

When you visit Serpa, you’ll directly contribute to UN Global Goal 15, Life on Land, as the region aims to preserve the Iberian Lynx through concentrated conservation efforts.  

Discover on Spain & Portugal in Style 

A unique dining experience in Sweden 

Be treated to a delectable plant-based fine dining experience and bask in magnificent views over Stockholm on this mouthwatering MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Visit the iconic Fotografiska Museum, dine at their acclaimed restaurant which has been honored with the Michelin Sustainability Emblem, and meet the chefs and creators behind their inspiring food philosophy.  

 Striving to achieve taste sensations and increase awareness in equal measure, learn about the conscious kitchen and the benefits of hydroponic cultivation. Leave with a wealth of knowledge, including the concept of zero waste, upcycling and ideas of what to do with leftover buns and bottles.  

The culinary team at Fotografiska strive to explore the full potential of raw ingredients, with creative and innovative dishes. The five-course menu includes delicious creations such as celeriac confit flavored with pastrami spices, cream of fermented celery, pickled cucumber and deep-fried sauerkraut, and their signature Fotografiska curry featuring rapeseed shoots and mustard. The focus is largely vegetarian, however meat, fish, poultry or seafood are available as an option or side dish. 

UN Global Goals 

Your visit to the Fotografiska Museum restaurant will directly advance UN Global Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, as it helps to promote sustainable food experiences and small-scale farmer interactions through its food sourcing and zero waste strategies. 

Discover on Timeless Scandinavia 

@fotografiska.food

To find out more about sustainable travel experiences and responsible travel, take a look at our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences and read our Impact Report. 

Imagine residing in pure luxury in the beautiful expanse of Africa’s nature. Safari by day and dine on a candle-lit terrace at night, listening to the sounds of wild animals in the evening air. Truly at one with nature, a stay at the Lion Sands Game Reserve in South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park, is an unforgettable experience.

On many a bucket list is the thrill and excitement of seeing Africa’s Big Five: the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo. Here you can make those dreams a reality, and at the same time reconnect with life and one another.

The Lion Sands Game Reserve

Situated in the Sabi Sands, which boasts one of the planet’s highest concentrations of animal species, the Lion Sands Lodges offer exquisite treehouse-style rooms, and luxury suites with private decks and plunge pools. Relax in open-air lounges and dine overlooking the Sabie River. With impeccable service, guests reside like royalty with every need taken care of.

Having such majestic animals on your doorstep is one of life’s great privileges. And from the lodges of the Lion Sands Game Reserve, you can look out on Africa uninterrupted. Arise with the sunrise and watch elephants moving about in the fresh morning mist, while you sip delicious coffee and breakfast. Spend your days on safari, seeking out the Big Five with expert trackers, going on bush walks and relaxing in the hotel’s Africology Spa. Then, as the sun dips beyond the savannah, enjoy candle-lit dinners and spectacular feasts of slow-cooked meats, seasonal vegetables and sweet treats. Soak up the magic of the African bushveld illuminated by the sinking sun and fall asleep listening the distant calls of hyenas and lions, under a blanket of stars.

The thrill of going on Safari

Going on safari means stepping into a thrilling world of excitement and anticipation. What will you see and when? Can you track a herd of elephant to their watering hole or discover a pride of lions roaming the savannah? Be sure to have your camera in full working order before you go and brush up on wildlife photography skills, you won’t want to miss this chance to capture the moment.

The Lion Sands Game Reserve, in Kruger National Park, forms part of an ecosystem boasting the largest concentration of wild animal species in the Southern Hemisphere. Hop in your private open-air safari vehicle for exhilarating game drives, hosted by professionally qualified rangers and trackers. Highly skilled, the trackers analyse animal spoor and read the bush like a book.

Sunrise is often the best time to spot predators; huddle down under blankets as you’re driven through the fresh morning mist in search of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for leopard, as you pass rocky outcrops, and scan the bush for buck and giraffes. Learn about the complexities of termite colonies, see crocodiles and hippopotamus at watering holes and discover many exotic bird species.

Early evening is the ideal time to spot members of the Big Five, including rhinoceros, buffalo and lion. And, as well as safaris, you can hone your tracking skills on bush walks with an expert ranger and experience the thrill of locating animals for yourselves.

Exquisite Dining

Whether under the stars, out in the bush, or on the atmospheric terraced restaurants, every meal at the Lion Sands Game Reserve becomes an experience in itself. Be it appreciating the landscapes or wildlife, dining with amazing views is guaranteed. Expert chefs transform local recipes into contemporary dishes, giving you a taste of Southern Africa, paired with wines from a hand-selected collection of premium Cape labels.

The in-house chefs specialize in a variety of cuisines and are able to offer everything from vegetarian to traditional fare. Popular South African dishes to try are: Bobotie, a delicious mixture of curried meat and fruit with a creamy golden topping; Potjiekos, a traditional Afrikaner stew that is slow cooked and never stirred: Biltong, dried cured meat and Boerewors, a farmer sausage.

Spectacular South Africa

If a luxurious safari sounds perfect for you, then take a look at our Spectacular South Africa luxury guided tour. This stunning 9-Day journey takes you through the spectacular sights and landscapes of South Africa, including a three-day safari. Explore Cape Town and its surrounding areas, visit an acclaimed wine estate and see the UNESCO World Heritage site and former prison of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island. And all the way staying in exquisite hotels and dining on fine local cuisine. There is also the option to extend your journey to visit the majestic Victoria Falls.

As the CEO of Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold I am so pleased to announce that we have created the position of Sustainability Officer. This is a big step for us and goes to solidify our commitment to our HWTR strategy implementation over the coming years. I am so proud of the work that has already been done. Travel can and should be a force for good and as such we are formalising the role of Sustainability Officer to spearhead our efforts.

Valerie Furphy – Sustainability Officer Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold 

I started out my career as a nurse because fundamentally I am a carer. Through my work post-Masters in Public Policy with development agencies, it became clear that to raise populations out of poverty and develop in-country capacity sustainably, one had to think more broadly than focusing solely on humans.

This questioning sparked a passion for sustainability in me and it is one that I try and live by daily. I am delighted to be the Sustainability Officer for Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold because I am 100% supported in implementing our How We Tread Right Strategy (HWTR) by our CEO Ulla Hefel Böhler. I remember some years ago, I suggested that we swap the materials we use for our on-trip collateral to recycled materials, and where that wasn’t yet possible we offset the carbon used in production. Not only did Ulla say yes, but she didn’t need much convincing!

At Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold we understand that the Travel and Tourism sector is a powerhouse of global economy and a crucial part of community development and success. We are deeply committed to advancing the United Nations SDGs through our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences because we believe travel can – and must – be a force for good. We have been in business over 100 years and it is our mission to continue that legacy. The only way we can continue to take guests on vacations that delight and inspire is to protect the people, places, and wildlife we visit.

Two years ago, we were the first brands at The Travel Corporation (TTC) to launch a ‘Global Volunteering Day’, a day when as many of our global team as possible come together to give back to the communities where we live and travel. On our inaugural Global Volunteering Day, we logged over 1,000 volunteer hours, supported grassroots organisations and connected with each other and our communities. It was a resounding success that we were ready to surpass in 2020, but unfortunately the Covid 19 pandemic had other plans for us. That said, I think the ongoing constraints of the pandemic highlight that our journey is a marathon and not a sprint. This year we’ve adapted our efforts and have logged many hours of volunteering under challenging circumstances in support of our HWTR Goal #10, to complete 30,000 volunteer hours by 2025 across all TTC brands.

Our commitment to our HWTR strategy is profound and its implementation will take dedication, perseverance, and innovation. Our culture of continuous improvement is the ideal environment in which to grow. I’m excited for what is ahead!