Going travelling is fantastic, but it’s all too easy to find yourself doing and seeing the same things as thousands of people who’ve trodden the same well worn paths before you. It doesn’t have to be like that though! Even though the world’s getting smaller and smaller, there are still places you can go and things you can do that are a little out of the ordinary…

Not possible you say? Here are just a few travellers who tried something different, from heading deep into the Himalayas to build greenhouses to learning the art of Thai boxing on a tropical island…

Razan Alzayani helped to build a greenhouse high in the Himalaya

In July of this year Razan, 23, and her old school friend Ismat, also 23, went on a life-changing journey to Spiti, a ‘forgotten’ valley high up in the Himalaya, on the border between India and Tibet. At over 4,000 metres above sea level, building a greenhouse was certainly a challenge; but the knowledge that the finished article would help local farmers grow much-needed food in the winter months kept the duo going.

Ismat described her highlights as “how stunning the Himalayan landscape was, how incredible and beautiful the Spitian people were, and how the partner organisation involves itself in amazing projects in order to enhance the lives of the Spiti community.”

See photos from the girls’ trip (including ones of the finished greenhouse!) on Campfire (http://www.i-to-i.com/campfire/groups/198-India/photos ) or read more about their adventure here (http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090926/TRAVEL/709259882/1087/LIFE ). If you’d like to experience the majesty of the Himalaya for yourself AND make a difference at the same time check out http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/building-in-the-himalaya-india.html.

David McDougall embarked on a volunteer adventure from Kruger to Mozambique

David, 22, left his native Scotland behind in June to embark on a 4-week adventure taking in Kruger National Park in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. Seeing the ‘big five’ in Kruger Park must certainly have been incredible, but David, 22, said the highlights of the trip for him were volunteering with kids in laid-back Swaziland and swimming with sharks in the hidden gem of Mozambique.

Jessica Pridmore, also 22, who was on the same tour as David described the trip as “three very different experiences (safari, volunteer and beach) in 3 fabulous countries.” If you’d like to learn more about this amazing experience visit http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/volunteer-in-south-africa.html.

Claire Hazelton did the Machu Picchu and camel conservation experience in Peru

As one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is firmly on the worldwide tourist trail – but learning how to weave camel wool high in the spectacular Andes Mountains? That’s a bit different – and is exactly what friends Claire, 19, and Jessica Onacko, 18, did in Peru this July. And that’s not all either – as well as getting to know some friendly camels, they also explored magical Cusco, Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and not forgetting spectacular Machu Piccu!

Claire said the highlights of her trip were: “Meeting the amazing people of Peru, the beauty of Cusco, the great nightlife, riding a Llama, building an oven, learning to weave, seeing the Amazon river and making great friends and just generally laughing all the time.”

Summing it up, she said it was “an insanely surreal, but equally wonderful and exciting experience!” Find out more by visiting http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/machu-picchu-camel-conservation.html!

Rob Peachey learnt Muay Thai on a tropical Thai Island

Muay Thai (very different from the rum-based cocktail Mai Thai), or Thai boxing, is regarded as one of the hardest martial arts in the world. So, on arrival in Thailand last December, self-confessed overweight 30-something smoker Rob did have a few second thoughts about the experience, saying “the whole idea of Thai boxing seemed like madness!”

But his doubts soon melted away: I trained twice a day, with a Thai instructor called Bang in the most beginner friendly gym. Everyone in the gym was great and really trained me well – they were so much fun.”

“I am a much more focused person because of my training and experience, with i-to-i,” he said “my trip and experience has made a big difference in my life!” Rob’s now saving up to go back to Koh Tao again – if you’d like to give it a go too visit http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/thai-boxing-sports-training-in-thailand.html.

Have you done something different with i-to-i? Tell us all about it!

• travel
• travellers
• South Africa
• africa
• india
• peru
• Thailand