Nepal cultural vacation, 11 days

Planet

This tailormade itinerary is based on private travel in Nepal, not in a large group. By traveling in this way we have minimal disruptive impact on the environment and the communities visited and are able to stay in small, locally run accommodation, where possible, that is not suitable for larger coach tours.

At the beginning of 2018 we launched our ‘One Bottle At A Time’ initiative to replace disposable plastic water bottles with refillable canisters across our destinations. We also send our guests a wooden toothbrush to help avoid using hotels’ disposable plastic brushes, and educate clients about the limited recycling facilities in Asia, and best-practice regarding waste-reduction.

In order to truly contribute towards a healthier planet, we believe in putting our efforts into traveling responsibly and donating towards conservation projects. This is why we’ve put together the Selective Earth Programme, which offers all our clients the opportunity to contribute towards conservation projects in Asia. We have teamed up with the World Land Trust (WLT) – an international conservation charity who actively conserve Asia’s rainforest whilst supporting local communities. We work closely with the trust to identify which projects are a priority for funding, to ensure our donations keep on making a difference. We are currently contributing towards the conservation of the Khe Nuoc Trong forest, in Vietnam, as well as planting fruit trees in the surrounding communities.

People

One of our core values is to collaborate with local, responsible companies and partners who share our focus, beliefs and passions. In Nepal, we work with local guides, local operators and hotel partners, and will always offer small, local accommodation where possible and boutique hotels in the cities.

Our vacations are designed to enable our clients to immerse themselves in local places and experiences, and we make sure that, wherever possible, the income they bring to a destination goes back into the community. This Nepal itinerary visits the village of Panauti. Several Panauti families have joined forces to establish a home-stay program and your accommodation for the night will be in the home of a local family. Also included is a night at the Neydo Monastery which offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily lives of the resident monks. The income generated from overnight guests contributes to the day-to-day running of the monastery.

In 2015 an earthquake ravaged parts of Nepal, destroying whole villages in some areas and reducing ancient temples to mournful piles of bricks. Repairs are underway and visiting Nepal now is a great way to bring much-needed income to the country.