We Plan, You Pack!
We Plan, You Pack!
The Field Expert Program by Konkan Travel Club (KTC) is designed for individuals who aspire to become immersive experience creators, responsible tourism ambassadors, and community-driven guides. This program bridges the gap between knowledge and delivery, ensuring that participants not only possess expertise but also master the techniques and skills required to interpret and deliver guided experiences effectively.
We shall explore key concepts of interpretive guiding, practical techniques, and best practices that will enhance your abilities in guiding and facilitating meaningful trips. Wishing you an inspiring and transformative experience as you become a Local Field Expert!
Things to know:
📌 Understanding the fundamentals of interpretive guiding & ecotourism
+ Introduction to the Local Field Expert Program and its significance in sustainable tourism.
+ Course Briefing & Expectations: Rules, objectives, and outcomes.
+ History, Culture & Ecology of Konkan: An open discussion on the unique heritage of the region.
+ Building a Strong Guide Mindset: The importance of perception, adaptability, and leadership.
+ Ice-Breaker Activities & Team Building Exercises: Establishing the Buddy System for peer learning.
+ Screening & Discussion: "Modern Eco-Friendly Perspectives in Tourism."
+ Critical Thinking Exercise: "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!" – A Zen practice on perception & self-awareness.
+ Home Exercise: Interpretive writing
📌 Learning how to craft engaging, meaningful, and immersive travel experiences
+ Arrive & Settle In at Stay: Welcome to your immersive training ground!
+ Introduction to Interpretive Guiding: Elements, Core principles, & thematic guiding.
+ How Interpretive Guiding Differs from Regular Tour Guiding
+ The 6 Key Elements of a Powerful Guided Ecotourism Experience
+ Planning & Designing an Interpretive Trail: Structuring stories, themes & activities.
+ Lunch Break & Discussion: How to balance information & engagement.
+ Engagement Techniques for Participants: The art of interaction & audience adaptation.
+ Social Games & Exercises: Understanding group dynamics.
+ Dinner & Reflection: Peer discussion on insights gained.
📌 Mastering storytelling, public speaking, and leadership for guided experiences
+ The Power of Storytelling in Tourism: What makes stories memorable?
+ Using Narrative to Educate, Engage & Inspire: Developing personal storytelling styles.
+ "Give Them 2+2, Not 4" – The Art of Subtlety in Storytelling.
+ Effective Communication for Tour Guides: Speaking techniques, voice modulation & engagement.
+ Lunch & Discussion: Exploring famous case studies in experiential tourism.
+ Professionalism & Ethics in Tourism: Understanding responsibility, authenticity & trust-building.
+ Mock Trail Sessions: Practical application of storytelling & communication.
+ Dinner & Reflection: Sharing feedback and refining delivery styles.
📌 Developing practical skills to manage, lead & troubleshoot guided tours & trails
+ Understanding Tour Logistics & Operations: Managing scheduling, equipment & on-ground execution.
+ Group Management & Leadership in Field Settings: Balancing engagement & authority.
+ Handling Challenges & Adaptability: Managing difficult participants, weather changes & unforeseen obstacles.
+ Risk & Crisis Management: First aid basics, emergency response & safety protocols.
+ Lunchtime Discussion: Insights from experienced KTC mentors.
+ Conflict Resolution & Complaint Handling: Turning negative feedback into positive experiences.
+ Outdoor Practical Exercise: Conducting a guided tour simulation with feedback.
+ Dinner & Peer Review Session: Strengths & areas for improvement.
📌 Research, Self-Improvement & Mastery of the Craft.
+ What Makes a Great Guide? The importance of knowledge, research & storytelling.
+ The Role of Research in Tour Guiding: How continuous learning enhances authenticity, credibility, and storytelling in guiding.
+ Studying the Past & Present: Geology, folklore, history & ecology of Konkan.
+ Conducting Personal Field Research: Identifying local narratives & cultural elements.
+ The Art of Asking the Right Questions: How to stimulate curiosity and encourage two-way engagement rather than just delivering information.
+ Lunch & Discussion: How to stay updated in the tourism industry.
+ Self-Reflection & Feedback: Participants will engage in a guided reflection exercise to assess their learning, strengths, and areas for improvement.
+ Departure: Participants leave with an assignment—to plan and research their final guided interpretive experience, which they will present after 3 months.
1. Please carry water bottles.
2. Do not consume intoxicating substances.
3. Follow all guidelines provided by the team at all times.
4. Keep all in-house discussions related to ecotourism and personal development.
Please go through the traveler responsibilities mentioned in the ‘Travelers Handbook‘ link.
Over a period of three months, participants will plan and manage weekly knowledge-sharing sessions, inviting subject matter experts, local heroes, and mentors from various fields to conduct focused discussions and training. The participants will take full responsibility for planning, managing, and executing this structured session series as per convenient dates. Through this, they will deepen their expertise in environmental conservation, local culture, tourism practices, and guiding skills, while also developing key leadership, event management, and community-building skills.
Unlike traditional training programs, this series will be entirely participant-driven, with KTC mentors providing guidance, structure, and approval, but never direct instruction. The goal is to empower participants to take ownership of their learning while fostering a sense of professionalism and responsibility.
Every week, participants will host learning sessions with local heroes, subject-matter experts, and professionals in various fields relevant to tourism, ecology, and cultural heritage. These sessions will be a mix of expert talks, practical demonstrations, and hands-on experiences.
These weekly sessions will be interactive and evolving, covering essential knowledge areas for a Field Expert. Participants will learn from local heroes, experts, and mentors while also adding new topics based on their interests.
KTC has identified some key resource persons who will share their knowledge, but participants will also have the freedom to seek out and invite additional experts.
After the completion of the Knowledge Series, participants will undergo their final assessment to earn their Certified Field Expert status. The evaluation will include:
This extended, research-backed certification model ensures that every Local Field Expert is not just a guide but a knowledge powerhouse, capable of shaping and leading sustainable tourism in Konkan.
📌 Program Director – Pratik Gawade
For overall program vision, approvals, and major decisions.
📌 Program Coordinator – [Name]
For scheduling, logistics, and participant support.
📌 Mentorship & Guidance Team – [Names]
For expert sessions, resource recommendations, and feedback.
📌 Evaluation & Certification Panel – [Names]
For final assessment, field tests, and certification.
🔹 KTC Official Contact: 8669810485
At KTC- we design tours, excursions, and camps in Konkan. Our catalog is continually being upgraded to include all range of stays and unique experiences in the region.
Our tours adapt to include the seasonal variety that each season has to offer. We pride upon the authentic Malvani cuisine, local hospitality, the comfort of homestays in our curated unique itineraries. We are a tourism company, but we are also more, as we are working to build a community whose connections exceed far beyond travel.
We mostly travel in our free time but with the kind of experiences we offer and to truly experience the beauty of Konkan, we would recommend freeing your time to travel with us. We offer weekend getaways as well as curated long tours.
Pre-designed tours are released but we primarily engage in private tours for groups. The best way to travel with us is to curate a trip for your group. Currently, all our experiences are available at throwaway prices for a time now.
OR
You could join pre-designed tours from our catalog.
Squeezed in the lap of the Western Ghats and the Arabian sea, every season in Konkan has something unique to offer. Summer is for exploring hidden beaches, water sporting, scuba, scenic mangrove boat safaris, fort trails, wild fruit trails, and more. Winter is for everything summer, plus a major mood for camps and a season of Jatras in Konkan. You get to witness the traditional Dashavtar live theatre in a Jatra. Monsoon is very underrated here. You could witness some of the best treks and waterfall trails in the monsoon. The Malvani cuisine also changes to adapt to seasonal variety and even the beaches hit different every season.
To make all the arrangements, we recommend a confirmation at least a week before travel.
Note that, in the tourism rush months of November, December, January, March, and April- stays may run out, and hence we need to plan the trip months earlier.
Worth the Hype! Read more at https://g.page/konkantravelclub?share
