TMRC in Thailand: G Adventures & National Geographic Are Perfect Partners

My hunger for travel and passion for exploring diverse cultures was largely inspired by the groaning bookshelves in my family home, lined with canary yellow-spined National Geographic magazines.

The stunning photographs and evocative words opened my eyes to a colourful world far beyond the suburban sameness I inhabited.

And yes, in the interest of full transparency, the photos gave me insights into the female anatomy that went beyond the ‘foundation garments’ section of the Sears catalogue. Heady stuff for a hormonal boy in the 1970s.

Joking (not joking) aside, the work of National Geographic’s scientists, photographers and writers gave me a window on the world that I was determined to climb through and explore. 

Today, NatGeo remains one of the few global brands that has earned my enduring respect and admiration. G Adventures, the Canadian-born, small-group, socially conscious travel company, is another. Put the two together, and I’m in a happy place.

Today, that happy place is in southern Thailand, on a G Adventures travel agent fam trip. The tour is titled Journeys: Explore Southern Thailand, an 8-day, Bangkok to Bangkok trip. It’s my third G fam in less than two years, and the previous two – first to Belize and Guatemala and then to Ecuador and its jaw-dropping Galapagos Islands – rank at the top of the hundreds of trips I’ve taken in more than three decades of writing for the travel trade.

The immersive quality of G Adventures itineraries, the dedicated commitment to spending money in local communities, the strict animal welfare policies, the respect for local cultures and the giving back through funding of community improvement projects are just a few of the reasons I’ve come to love the G Adventures product and ethos.

Another is G’s people, both those who work directly for the company, and the Canadian travel advisors who sell the product with passion. Over these three experiences, I’ve learned that they’re my tribe – curious, open-hearted, resilient and a whole lot of fun. 

My previous two trips were from G’s Classic collection, which the company describes as being in “that sweet spot between independent backpacking and organized group tours.” 

Accommodations are local and unique, there’s a mix of included meals and independent opportunities and the itineraries feature included visits to major landmarks, cultural contact and active experiences, with free time for personal exploration. 

G Adventures’ National Geographic Journeys offer an elevated experience, with a maximum of 16 travellers, more inclusions and a focus on experiencing local culture through meaningful encounters, with activities designed to go deeper into the history and traditions of a place. The tours emphasize National Geographic’s commitment to storytelling, conservation, and education.

G Adventures advisor fams are typically accompanied by a Global Purpose Specialist – the sales and support staff who work with the trade – as well as a Chief Experience Officer – G’s name for the demanding role of tour director and guide. 

In this case, we’re lucky to have Jenna English, the Victoria, BC-based GPS, accompany our tour. She was on my first G Adventure and her deep passion for the company and ever-smiling personality made me very happy to travel with her again.

“National Geographic and G Adventures partnered in 2015,” said English, “NatGeo wanted to expand its customer base at a more accessible price-point. We are NatGeo’s most casual line, while for us National Geographic Journeys is an upgraded line – in fact, a significant upgrade from Classic tours.

“We’re honoured to be partnered with a prestigious brand that selected us for reasons including our animal welfare policy and our child welfare policy. The relationship also helped people take G more seriously – we were often pigeonholed as offering tours only for young, fit backpackers, when we offer so much more,” English added.

G Adventures National Geographic Journeys itineraries include educational and enthralling highlight moments. On our trip we had an amazing lunch and tour of the Kao Thep Pitak organic farm, fruit orchard and rubber plantation, where support from G’s philanthropic arm Planeterra has helped 140 families achieve self-sufficiency.

Another highlight moment was exploring the incredibly lush rainforest of Klong Phanom National Park alongside one of the locals who call this region home. It was daunting but rewarding doing an evening rainforest walk on slippery ground, and the payoff was an amazing meal cooked in bamboo tubes over an open fire.

A third highlight came later in Krabi, where we took a longtail boat to a riverside restaurant, then climbed in tuk tuks for a fascinating tour of local mostly Muslim villages and farming communities. 

For English, the tour was the seventh fam she has accompanied. “I love these trips because of the deep connections formed with agents as they get a firsthand view of the product. You can do all the training, but until you experience it for yourself, it’s just not the same.”

Chief Experience Officer Phichet Mueangduang (aka PC) is a very experienced guide, and an exemplar of the CEO role, which English describes as “the magic of our brand.” Over a long career, PC has worked with G competitors, but he has found the place and people who make him happy.

“I love G because they support the people, they create happiness,” said PC. “With G you see the changes over the years, in local communities supported by G visitors. And the company supports its staff as well. They care about us. We have to work hard, but G changes our lives too.”