If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that travel isn’t just a one-way ticket to self-improvement; it can also change lives on the other side. Here’s our (non-exhaustive) selection for 2022 adventures that have the opportunity to make an impact—both for the traveler and destination.


We have a long way to go when it comes to equity in the industry, something the pandemic highlighted, from the lack of safety nets for communities dependent on tourism to vaccine equity and distribution. But when you can travel, make it count. We know right now there are restrictions and border closures in place but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream.

From helping to revive tourism in destinations which have experienced multiple challenges over the last couple of decades such as Nepal, to tracking koalas in Australia’s bushfire-stricken New South Wales to booking zero-carbon itineraries to staying in properties making an effort when it comes to equity, community and sustainability, we’ve pulled together a list of trips to inspire you for 2022.

They will still give travelers everything they crave—adventure, growth, challenge, excitement—but also raise awareness, shift perceptions, and provide resources to destinations in need. And in some cases, simply provide a much-needed cash injection into the local economies and communities.