A Traveling Dog, The Travel Blog

Looking for a different way to stay abroad? Try an “untour”—a supported self-directed tour. You’ll stay in an apartment in the heart of the city furnished according to local custom rather than in a hotel. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in the country and culture at a depth that would be otherwise impossible.

Untours was founded in 1975 by by Hal Taussig and his wife Norma with a mission of offering Americans a profound exposure to other cultures. The company donates nearly all of its profits to charities since the Untours Foundation was founded in 1992. These donations take the form of low-interest social investment loans that build low-income housing, support Fair Trade certified products, and jobs for workers in the developing world and disenfranchised populations. Loan recipients include the Landless Workers Movement in Brazil (assisting over one million formerly landless people to reclaim fallow land and achieve self-sufficiency) to Fresh Look Hair in Delaware (a family business that offers all natural products to straighten  hair without harsh chemicals).

Tours are available throughout Europe, as well as New York City, Buenos Aires, and Quebec City. Since these tours are about total immersion, they must last a minimum of seven days. Visit the Untours site and book your own unique and unforgettable trip at untours.com.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 24th, 2010 at 8:42 am and is filed under Travel Ideas, Travel Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.