Volun-touring in India by Wendy Elks tourist coach is one way to see swathes of a foreign country, but slower modes of travel taking public transport, backpacking, or riding a bike are better ways to experience its real character. The sights, sounds and smells of everyday life, tasting authentic regional food and meeting local people are often the strongest memories of a trip; but too often, the pace and volume of tourist traffic can make such leisurely sojourns impossible. ‘Voluntouring’ - travel that includes volunteering for a charity – is a growing way of getting off the beaten track, meeting local people and discovering a country’s real culture, whilst contributing in a meaningful way to the community. Touring on horseback is another special way to experience the sensory characteristics of a place, though many horse-riding tours are brief, and only cover a small area. A In the deserts of Northern India, a marvellous combination of these two -voluntouring on horseback, is possible. Travellers who have taken these trips, including some Australians, say that riding large distances over spectacular country, whilst taking part in enjoyable and rewarding aid work, is the most incredible travel experience on the planet. Combining horse-riding tourism with humanitarian aid is the brainchild of Alexander Souri, a New Yorkborn producer, director and horse-lover with a rich cultural background and creative, global mind. In 2004 Alexander set up Relief Riders International. The idea developed out of his culturally rich childhood. With a French mother and an Indian father, Alexander was sent to boarding school in Nainital, a hill station located in the foothills of the Himalayas, from the age of 9. Resenting his ‘banishment’ at the time, the