This October, I motored through the olive groves outside Monopoli, Puglia, under a low sky washed with apricot. I drove a comically large rental car (a company booking error) down narrow country lanes with white stone walls on either side, anxious I’d run into another car and have nowhere to go. Still, onward I drove, guided by the grumbling in my stomach and the promise of a home-cooked meal in a centuries-old farmhouse that had been in Mauro’s family for generations.
I’d booked the experience through EatWith, a platform that connects travelers with locals for meals around the world. Mauro’s mother was in the kitchen hand-rolling orecchiette, the ear-shaped pasta typical of Puglia, while his father poured glasses of their homemade red wine with a proud smile.
The plan was to stay for two hours. We ended up chatting long after dessert, learning about their olive harvest and the family’s history in this region. By the end of the night, there were hugs all around, a goodbye that felt like parting from new friends rather than hosts.
That’s the magic of community-based tourism. It’s travel that replaces itineraries with human connection. It trades checklists for conversation, letting locals be the storytellers, and remembering that the best way to know a place is to be invited inside someone’s home.
As more travelers seek authentic, slow, and sustainable experiences, community-based tourism has emerged as one of the most meaningful ways to explore the world. Whether it’s cooking dinner in a farmhouse, learning to weave in a mountain village, or joining a fisherman at dawn, these experiences bridge the gap between visitor and resident.
Here are 10 ways to put yourself back in the company of locals and travel in a way that gives back as much as it gives to you.
Meagan Drillinger takes in the view from a balcony above the winding streets of Polignano a Mare.
(Meagan Drillinger)
1. Eat With – Global
If you love the idea of being invited to someone’s dinner table, is the world’s largest social-dining platform. It connects travelers with local hosts who open their homes for meals, cooking classes, and food tours in more than 100 countries. You might find yourself sharing tapas in Barcelona, learning to make sushi in Tokyo, or, like me, enjoying a homemade Pugliese feast in an olive-studded villa.
2. Withlocals – Global
For a more flexible experience, lets travelers book private tours and experiences directly with residents. You can explore hidden corners of Lisbon with a born-and-raised guide, tour street art in Bangkok, or sip espresso in a Milanese cafe while swapping local gossip.
3. Traveling Spoon – Asia, Latin America, and Beyond
Think of as the culinary cousin of EatWith, but with an added hands-on twist. Guests cook alongside their hosts, visiting markets to show for ingredients before preparing the meal together. It’s available in more than 65 countries, with hosts from Oaxaca to Osaka.
4. ViaVii – Middle East and North Africa
Born in Jordan, is an emerging platform that connects travelers to authentic experiences run by local entrepreneurs, often women and youth in rural areas. You might visit a Bedouin family in Wadi Rum, learn traditional crafts in Petra, or take a storytelling walk through Amman’s old markets.
5. Grassroots Journeys – India
In Western India, brings visitors to small villages in Maharashtra and Gujarat for an immersion into daily rural life. Guests stay in village homes, learn farming techniques, and join evening gatherings with folk music under the stars.
6. Chalalán Ecolodge — Bolivia
Hidden deep within Bolivia’s Madidi National Park, is fully owned and managed by the Indigenous community of San José de Uchupiamonas. Reached only by canoe, the ecology offers jungle treks, wildlife spotting, and cultural storytelling by local guides.
7. ToursByLocals – Global
For travelers who still want the comfort of a guided tour, pairs you with independent local guides across 175 countries. Whether you’re exploring Havana’s architecture or the backstreets of Hanoi, your guide’s personal stories lead the way.
Colorful longtail boats bob in the crystal-clear waters of Koh Phi Phi, one of Thailand’s most picturesque island escapes.
(Meagan Drillinger)
8. Andaman Discoveries – Thailand
This community-based travel organization emerged after the 2004 tsunami, helping Thai villages rebuild through tourism. Today, offers homesteads, cultural exchanges, and eco-tours along Thailand’s Andaman coast.
9. Bangrong Community – Phuket, Thailand
Located on Phuket’s quiet eastern side, the offers mangrove kayaking trips, batik workshops, and cooking classes using ingredients grown on site. Every activity is run by locals, and profits fund conservation and cultural programs.
10. Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Cooperative – Peru
In the highlands of the Sacred Valley, the welcomes visitors to learn ancient weaving techniques from Quechua artisans. Guests can participate in spinning, dyeing, and weaving while supporting the women’s livelihoods.
How to Choose the Right Community-Based Experience
Not all “local” tours are created equal. To ensure your money truly benefits the community and not just a middleman, ask a few key questions before booking:
Who owns the business? Look for local or cooperative ownership.
Where does the money go? Reputable programs are transparent about how they reinvest in the community.
How many guests per group? Smaller is always better for a genuine connection.
Is it authentic or performative? Real CBT doesn’t stage culture for tourists; it invites you to participate respectfully.
It’s also worth checking the (GSTC) for accredited operators, or booking through recognized platforms like , which vets local partners for sustainability.
Meagan Drillinger lights candles at a temple in Cambodia,
(Meagan Drillinger)
How to Be a Good Guest
Community-based tourism works best when travelers meet locals halfway, with curiosity, humility, and respect.
Be present. Put down your phone. Look, listen, and learn.
Ask before photographing people. Always.
Go at the local pace. Not everything runs on Western time, and that’s the point.
Bring a small gift. Something thoughtful from home (like coffee beans or chocolate) goes a long way.
Support the local economy. Buy crafts or meals directly from hosts rather than nearby resellers.
Beyond the emotional payoff, CBT can have a measurable impact. According to the , community-based tourism can reduce rural poverty, preserve cultural heritage, and promote gender equality when done responsibly. In an era when travel can often feel extractive, these models put the focus back on where it belongs.
And from a traveler’s perspective, it’s far more rewarding. I’ve left five-star hotels without remembering the decor, but I can still picture Mauro’s father leaning on that wooden table in Puglia, insisting I take one more glass of wine “for the road.”
Travel doesn’t have to mean ticking off landmarks. It can mean stepping into someone’s world, even for an evening, and realizing that maybe the world feels a little smaller, and a lot more connected, when you do.