Trying to have an authentic travel experience ironically can lead to the greatest exploitation. By trying to navigate to unknown territory we can open doors for unregulated tourism that can damage the local environment and community. By going off the marked path we can damage sensitive plants and wildlife. By being overinvolved in charity just for the experience of being a Western savior we can foster learned helplessness. When the hotel staff is accommodating and generous we can take for granted that what feels like easy friendliness to us is a responsibility of their job.
The opposite is also true I think. Instead of seeking an authentic experience we can seek the basic tourist attractions. These are regulated, have clear boundaries where locals can meet travellers in a professional capacity, and keep their privacy, and of course, provide lucrative income. By waiting patiently in long lines for taking a photograph on the same spot, we keep the surrounding environment pristine. After a few years of travelling and volunteering, I remember some of the most authentic and rewarding travel experience is what is understated, like leaving a tip for a job well done.
The wonder of travel doesn’t come from leaving our mark on the world and proving how big we are, but to feel how we fit in the world, as small as we may be, among the endless vastness of the world.
SUBLIME COURAGE 
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