We talk a lot about traveling differently on Put the Guidebook Down, but this episode asks a deeper question: what happens when travel stops centering the traveler at all? Kiara is joined by Sivan of Sivan Travels Green, a responsible travel content creator, where they unpack what community-led tourism actually means, how to spot greenwashing, and why intention matters more than perfection when it comes to ethical, culturally respectful travel.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

* Why community-led tourism is more than a buzzword

* The difference between eco-tourism and truly community-owned experiences

* How to tell when “giving back” is real and when it’s performative

* What slow, intentional travel teaches you about power, privilege, and presence

* How content creators and travelers can center local voices instead of using culture as a backdrop

Key Takeaways

* Community-led tourism prioritizes local ownership, decision-making, and long-term benefit, not traveler convenience

* Ethical travel isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional

* If an experience feels performative, your intuition is often right

* Slow travel creates deeper cultural understanding and a more positive local impact

* Travelers are guests in someone else’s home, not the center of the story

Learn more about Sivan and her mission to show travelers how to travel more responsibly, focusing on community-led travel on Instagram @Sivan_TravelsGreen.

How to Engage with Kultura Travel

If this episode shifted the way you think about travel, keep the conversation going.

* Follow @kulturatravel and @puttheguidebookdown

* Subscribe to the Put the Guidebook Down Substack for cultural travel essays, reflections, and behind-the-scenes conversations

* Explore Kultura Travel’s growing network of community-led and culturally rooted travel partners

Because the goal isn’t perfect travel. It’s conscious travel.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kulturatravel.substack.com