Guides and Stories

Born from Necessity

We started as travelers just like you, scouring the internet to figure out where to go and what to see. But the search usually ended in frustration.

When looking for a simple list of sights, you’re buried under a pile of subjective opinions: a “vibrant” corner, an “unimaginable” cafe, or a “must-visit” market. This flood of personal bias is confusing and builds up misplaced expectations before you even arrive.

On the flip side, when you’re ready to attempt some brave bit of madness in a new country, you find empty guides filled with stock photos but not a single word on how to actually get there.

With all due respect to our peers, this gap is exactly why we built this platform. We’ve created a clear divide between Guides and Stories. Our Guides minimize subjectivity, acting as a window into a destination with the practical info you need to decide if it’s for you. Our Stories are where people share their raw, personal, and detailed experiences.

Grown with a Mission

At Guides and Stories, we’re building a travel culture rooted in meaning, responsibility, and curiosity.
We believe the best journeys happen when you’re in control, which is why we don’t dictate rigid bucket lists or “must-do” attractions. Instead, we provide the context and the options, empowering you to curate a journey that aligns with your own interests and values.

By putting the choice back in your hands, we promote travel that truly matters—where you don’t just take from a destination, but contribute to it. We’re here to help you find the kind of journeys that support local family-run businesses, protect ecosystems, and celebrate cultural diversity, inspiring smarter choices every step of the way.

Rooted in Our Beliefs

Checklists Can be Useful

But only as inspiration — not obligation. They’re a collection of opportunities, not a set of rules to follow.

Travel Shouldn’t Be Consumption

Not for plastic-wrapped experiences, fake folklore shows, or yet another filtered photo-op.

Country Counter is Not the King

Travel is about how deeply you’ve felt, how much you’ve learned, and how consciously you’ve moved.

Beyong the words

Pushing For Change

We believe that improving travel is a dual mission: fixing the systems that host us and equipping the people who visit them.

Improving the Industry

We clean up the industry from the inside. Through our partnership program, we help businesses trade marketing budgets for local impact projects. We also engage with tourism boards to solve systemic issues and use our platform to "talk loud" against scams and exploitation. By holding the industry accountable, we ensure destinations are protected and local communities truly benefit.

Redirecting the Reader

We help readers navigate the world with clarity and purpose. By highlighting lesser-known destinations, we redistribute foot traffic to prevent the depletion of over-saturated regions. We also pull back the curtain on "greenwashing," revealing what is truly sustainable and what is merely masked. Our goal is to provide the honest context needed to make choices that are better for the planet and the traveler.

Our Progess

Transparent in Results

Free Visibility for Ethical Businesses in Vietnam

K1 Kitesurfing Muine Joins GNS as a Sustainable Partner

An Open Letter to Google About Fake Reviews — From the Guides and Stories Travel Community

Sustainable Partnership Initiative

focus on the joy

Beyond the Main Quest

We believe smart travel shouldn’t always be serious. That’s why we’ve introduced interactive Treasure Hunts, a playful way to connect with local culture and nature through on-the-road challenges. Think of it as a secret mission or a story within your story; it’s just one more way to make a journey unforgettable.

It’s never an obligation. Our Treasure Hunts are designed to add flavor, not pressure. They are built to spark curiosity, not to turn your trip into a checklist. Whether you complete every challenge or none at all, your journey is valid, meaningful, and entirely your own.

Let's build something together

Open for connections

With Travelers

If you’re a fellow traveler reading these pages, you’re already part of the mission. To go further, simply pay a bit more attention to the sustainability insights within our destination guides and help spread the word. Share our work on social media—or, if you’ve stepped away from those platforms, we’re even happier. A simple word-of-mouth recommendation is the most authentic support we can receive.

With Businesses

We are open to any type of collaboration as long as you share our commitment to sustainability. If you have an idea on how to make the industry better, drop us a line at [email protected] - Let’s create a plan together!