Kerala hiking vacation in India

Planet

Carbon Reduction
Throughout India we try where ever possible to use small locally owned hotels that reflect the character of the place we are staying. We work in partnership with our local in-country ground agents to introduce environmental policies which help to conserve water usage and energy expenditure. On this trip we stay in a combination of houseboats, simple homestay accommodation and locally-ran hotels throughout the trip and groups are encouraged to minimise use of water in order to help the owners manage their resources.
We have worked hard in India to reduce the number of internal flights on our itineraries, instead replacing these journeys with vehicles that are appropriate to our group sizes, or by utilising India's excellent public railway network. There are no internal flights on this trip, with journeys being taken in small buses, by boats, and of course on much of our sightseeing is done on foot, a far more immersive experience than from behind a bus window.
As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.

Environment and Wildlife
On this trip we visit several natural wonders, such as the tea plantations of Munnar, the spice gardens of Thekkady, the backwaters of Kerala and of course Periyar National Park. The entrance fees that we pay contribute to the upkeep of these special places.
Tourism is steadily increasing in India, and we therefore want to ensure our groups are having a positive impact on the country, and are leading by example. We do this by recycling and re-using wherever possible, and ensuring that all waste is disposed of appropriately. We provide a large central tank of filtered water on all of our transport, and encourage our customers to come with re-fillable water bottles.
We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.
We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

Local Economy

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travelers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.
The focus of this tour is experiencing an immersive introduction to south India's by traversing on foot through Kerala's diverse tropics.
As well as walking and hiking the main points of interest, we get off the beaten path at a couple of points to explore tea estates, verdant plantations and local villages that can only be reached on foot. To fully immerse ourselves in this rich environment, we spend 3 nights camping in the Silent Valley; a National Park in Kerala known as the "jewel of the Western Ghats". Camping in this National Park allows us to contribute directly to the conservation efforts of protecting this wonderful part of Kerala.

Employment, Inclusivity and Diversity

We work with a local partner in India that is entirely Indian-owned and Indian run, providing employment opportunities for local people across the many areas of India where they operate. Tour Leading has traditionally been a very male-dominated profession in India, but they are actively working to recruit more female Tour Leaders and are joining the movement to provide more equality .
We believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.