16/02/2017

Travelling abroad is easier than ever before. We can check-in online, have our hotel details sent to our phone and even use our favourite travel apps in capital cities around the world. But a true adventure takes us far from these home comforts, to incredible places where internet access, public transport and local infrastructure are patchy, or don’t exist at all.

When you step off the beaten track and decide to really explore, the gains can be enormous, but so can the challenges. Simple tasks such as finding a place to stay, catching a bus or booking a guided tour can result in hours of frustration. One of the biggest problems travellers face is locating the places they wish to visit.

In the developing world, building addresses are often inadequate, or non-existent. Huge neighbourhoods, or sprawling markets may have no street names or signposts, and touristic sites such as lakes, canyons or ancient temples can only be found by following lengthy descriptive directions. Many travellers go in search of adventure, and spend most of their time lost. The best way to avoid this, is with local knowledge.

Indy Guide is the largest community marketplace for local guides in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. These are among the most remote and sparsely populated, but fascinating, regions in the world. It connects travellers to trustworthy local tour operators, guides and drivers. With a local’s detailed knowledge of the area and culture, visitors can enjoy a truly authentic experience, for less than conventional travel agencies charge.

With what3words integration, Indy Guide now displays simple 3 word addresses for places visitors to the area may need to find. This could be the meeting point for a local guide, a remote camping spot, or the site of a dinosaur fossil discovery in the desert. It even works offline, without a data connection. As a result, travellers can spend more time enjoying the vast wonders of Mongolia, and less time getting lost.