The Green Lion

Who is The Green Lion?

The Green Lion is a changemaker and trendsetter, built by travellers with a shared belief in purposeful, meaningful travel. For over 25 years, we have created authentic travel and volunteer experiences that go beyond the ordinary. Unlike many travel providers that simply resell programs, we design and operate every experience ourselves, working closely with local communities to ensure meaningful impact and deep cultural connection.

The Green Lion is guided by a strong international management team with decades of combined expertise in sustainable tourism, community development and global education travel. Together, they ensure every experience meets the highest standards of safety, quality and social responsibility, delivering journeys that transform both travellers and the communities they engage with.

The Green Lion story

The Green Lion began in 1998 in Thailand under the name Greenway, with a simple idea: to create travel programs that truly support local communities. We started with a focus on a blend of responsible tourism and grassroots volunteer project, then quickly became known for meaningful, hands-on experiences.

As we grew into new countries, we evolved into The Green Lion, a name that reflects our bold, adventurous spirit and our commitment to positive social and environmental impact. Over the years, we expanded across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific, always staying true to our family-run roots and close community connections.

Today, The Green Lion is powered by passionate teams around the world, welcoming travellers who want to explore with heart and purpose.

Along the way, our founder, Leo Emmanuel, established the Wyld Orange Foundation to make sure giving back stays at the core of what we do. Through the foundation, we support schools, kindergartens, and animal welfare initiatives in the communities we work with and call home. Even during challenging periods, including the global pandemic in 2020, our commitment to supporting local communities never wavered.

Wyld Orange is the not-for-profit arm of The Green Lion Group. The foundation runs community-driven projects in countries around the world, focusing on education, environmental protection, and wellbeing. Our aim is to support and strengthen grassroots initiatives that help build resilient, self-sustaining communities.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support people and communities by encouraging cultural understanding, social awareness, and responsible development. We aim to create meaningful experiences for travellers while working closely with local partners on projects that have real value. The impact goes both ways, travellers gain perspective and personal growth, and communities receive long-term support through genuine collaboration.

At The Green Lion, we focus on building respectful, two-way relationships and creating positive change that continues well beyond the time spent on the program. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our work supports education, community well-being, responsible travel, and environmental care, ensuring each program benefits both people and the places we work in.

What makes The Green Lion different?

We design and operate our own programs rather than reselling third-party trips. This allows us to plan carefully, work closely with local teams, and prioritise safety and quality at every stage. Our participants are never treated as numbers, they are travellers with purpose, supported by our team from the moment they join until they return home.

Where we are

The Green Lion is based in Thailand and operates in over 100 destinations across 45 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific. In every location, our grassroots teams work closely with local people to design and run programs that are safe, meaningful and truly connected to the community. Wherever you join us, you’ll be welcomed by dedicated teams who know and love their home and are eager to share it with you.

View our destinations here

Who makes it all happen?

A global network of passionate local teams brings each experience to life on the ground. These local teams aren’t just staff, they’re hosts, mentors and community champions who know their home inside out and are excited to share it with you. Together, we make sure every journey is safe, meaningful, and truly unforgettable.

Our Leadership Team

Behind every program is a dedicated global headquarters team, working from different corners of the world to ensure every experience runs smoothly. United by passion and purpose, our team combines international expertise, local insight, and unwavering commitment to deliver exceptional journeys and meaningful impact across all our destinations.