Planeterra was founded in 2003 by G.A.P Adventures, the largest independent adventure travel company in the world. Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to giving back to the people and places they visit. Planeterra selects the projects and works with G.A.P Adventures to arrange voluntour travel programs. Richard Edwards, Director, Planeterra Foundation: “We define voluntourism as travel experiences that provide the opportunity to contribute to local community projects and development initiatives with some time off to visit the highlights of that particular destination or country…

By Shelley Seale – There’s a trend in traveling that is sweeping the nation – it’s being called voluntourism. Foreign destinations are luring American citizens who want to sightsee, while at the same time engage in community service. The Miracle Foundation, a nonprofit based out of Austin, Texas, has been doing this in a big way for several years. The Miracle Foundation recruits donors and sponsors for children living in orphanages in India. I first went to India in 2005 on a 10-day volunteer trip, and it honestly changed my life.

GOPhilanthropic enters 2009 with a host of new travel programs aimed at providing support for the empowerment of communities worldwide and the protection of heritage and environment. The socially-conscious travel company embraces the combination of Travel Philanthropy, Geotourism and Sustainable Travel, coupling Vacations and In-depth Educational Tours with support for social and conservation projects worldwide. The result offers travelers meaningful and authentic exchanges with local communities and engagement in conservation efforts unique to each region