Ladakh and Changtang cultural tour, India

Planet

1. We provide a reusable water bottle with an in-built filter that removes 99.9% of any impurities. A reusable water bottle removes up to 24 single-use plastic bottles per traveler. On average, we remove up to 7500 single-use bottles per year from going into waste.

2. Our vehicles comply with the latest emission standards applicable in India. Responsible driving by our drivers ensures your safety and keeps the fuel consumption low.

3. During the hikes and village walks, we educate you on local waste management practices that use compost. Villages in general have a less negative environmental footprint, and it is worthwhile to adopt some of these practices back in our cities.

4. Raw material for your meals is sourced locally. Therefore, there is less fuel consumption during transportation.

5. Cooking at most places is done by LPG gas or kerosene stove rather than on firewood. Ladakh has scanty vegetation, and this helps in the lesser use of wood. Only in a few remote places of Changthang, firewood may be used to keep warm.

6. The lighting used in homestays and in camps is solar-powered with low-energy-consuming CFLs or LED lights. Water is also heated by solar power in homestays. Electric geysers are available as backups.

People

1. Training of locals in best practices to get better yield of vegetables and apricots, building greenshouses with involvement of SHGs. Ladakh is in rainshadow area of Himalayas, and gets scanty rainfall. If proper training in farming is not given, the yield may be low and not of good quality.

2. Marketing of the farm products in metropolitan cities of India to get direct benefit for the farmers in Ladakh. Help in preparing uncultivated fertile land for production and in setting up small production units in villages.

3. We execute small groups to be conscious about the consumption of natural and human resources of the village.

4. The homestays in Leh and Saspol are run by the families themselves that have been provided training in responsible travel and hospitality. It gives direct empowerment to the locals.

5. Before you start the tour, we will share with you detailed information through the e-brochures about Changpa people, their life and migrating patterns. This is to ensure responsible cultural exchange.