Meet Poonam Rawat-Hahne, a compassionate and determined traveler who has made it her mission to change the world through responsible tourism. Her remarkable journey began at the age of 14 when she took her first solo trip, marking the beginning of a lifelong love for travel. As fate would have it, her family’s connection to social work in Uttarakhand, a region of the Himalayas, laid the foundation for her passion to help the local community, especially women and children.

Poonam’s commitment to impact-driven projects led her to establish a women’s shelter and eventually create a Community Based Tourism structure in her village, challenging the norms and involving the locals in the process. Through her travel project, Fernweh Fair Travel, she offers immersive experiences that benefit both tourists and the community. With a focus on authenticity and empowerment, Poonam has trained local women, including widows and survivors of domestic violence, to participate in tourism, providing them with income and a voice.