Nepal, Bhutan and India tour

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Our trips feature a mix of transport options to reduce the need for flying where possible. While internal flights are sometimes unavoidable, we prioritize alternative transport like modern people-carriers or minibuses based on group size. This approach allows you to fully experience the country you're traveling through while staying refreshed for each stage of the tour.

While our accommodations in Nepal, Bhutan, and India currently do not exclusively rely on renewable energy sources, they are committed to other practices that reduce their carbon footprint. In Bhutan, for example, hotels are strictly regulated and must meet quality standards that include environmental measures to obtain their licenses. Additionally, our homestay experience in Gangtey offers an authentic, low-impact stay within a local Bhutanese community, providing a sustainable travel alternative by supporting local homes.

In India, we'll take the metro from Connaught Place Station to Old Delhi, allowing you to travel alongside locals and experience the city authentically. This metro journey reduces our carbon footprint compared to private transport and provides a unique perspective on daily life in Delhi before we explore the historic markets of Chandni Chowk and the bustling streets of Chawri Bazar.

Human-powered transport, particularly walking, is an integral part of this trip. Several days include guided walking tours and hikes, allowing travelers to fully experience each location on foot. In total, these immersive walks span 8 days throughout the tour, offering a sustainable and enriching way to engage with the destinations.

We advise customers on ways to reduce the carbon impacts of their vacation through our tour notes. We acknowledge that air travel is essential for global exploration but also a significant contributor to CO? emissions. To help minimize their travel footprint, we recommend that customers consider the CO2 emissions of different flight options when booking. Several airlines and flight search platforms, like Google Flights and Skyscanner, provide emissions data, allowing travelers to make informed choices. Many airlines are also increasing their sustainability e orts, and selecting a greener flight option supports these positive changes while enabling a memorable travel experience.

In both Bhutan and India, vegetarian food is widely available and deeply rooted in the local cuisine, making it easy to enjoy plant-based meals each day.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

This tour actively supports nature conservation and environmental responsibility across Bhutan, India, and Nepal:

• Supporting Conservation Through Sustainable Fees: In Bhutan, every visitor contributes to the country's Sustainable Development Fee ($200/night), which supports environmental preservation efforts across the country. This fee directly benefits Bhutan's natural habitats and helps fund conservation of local
biodiversity.

• Contributing to Local Conservation Projects: Our visit to the Phobjikha Valley aligns with Bhutan’s efforts to protect the vulnerable black-necked cranes. These graceful birds are celebrated with the annual Crane Festival, promoting awareness and supporting conservation initiatives for this unique species.

• Protecting Heritage Sites: Entrance fees to iconic sites like the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Kyichu Lhakhang, and Agra’s Taj Mahal help fund the preservation of these culturally and ecologically significant areas, ensuring they are maintained for generations to come.

• Empowering Local Communities: The Gangtey homestay experience connects travelers with local families, fostering cultural exchange and supporting sustainable tourism practices that benefit Bhutanese communities directly.

• Guided by Local Experts: Local Bhutanese guides accompany our travelers, sharing knowledge of the region’s environmental and cultural treasures, promoting responsible travel practices, and enriching your journey with their deep expertise.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Locally Owned Accommodations: On this tour, the itinerary incorporates locally owned accommodations, including an authentic homestay in Gangtey Village, Bhutan, offering guests a rich experience of local culture. This homestay immersion in the Phobjikha Valley allows travelers to share meals with Bhutanese hosts, participate in community activities, and support a family directly, rather than staying in international hotel chains.

Maximizing Local Economic Opportunities: Local economic support extends through employing local guides and visiting markets and cooperatives in Thimphu, Bhutan. Stops such as the Thimphu weekend market and the School of Arts & Crafts, which promotes traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship, help fund local artisans and sustain cultural heritage. The tour also features visits to Paro's incense factory and Agra’s Sheroes Hangout Café in India, a unique cafe empowering acid attack survivors through employment and community support

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Local Employment: In Nepal and India, we prioritize employing local professionals, with all our guides and drivers being from the country. This ensures an authentic experience for our travelers and provides direct support to the local economy.

In Bhutan, our tours are exclusively led by fully trained Bhutanese guides who accompany you throughout your journey. These guides, often highlighted as a memorable part of the tour, bring invaluable local knowledge and insights.

We exclusively work with local guides and drivers across all destinations. This approach not only enhances your cultural immersion but also fosters meaningful support for the local communities.

Empowering Marginalized Communities and Promoting Diversity: This tour involves marginalized groups through income-generating opportunities:

1. Women Empowerment: The tour includes a visit to Sheroes Hangout Café in Agra, India. This café is run by acid attack survivors who previously faced social exclusion. It provides them with employment, a supportive community, and income-generating opportunities.

2. Local Communities: During the Mughal Heritage Walk in Agra, guests are guided by locals, supporting community employment and infrastructure development. The villagers share insights into their lives, including farming and traditional cottage industries like leather shoe-making.

3. Homestay in Bhutan: The tour features a homestay experience in the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan. Tourists stay with local families, contributing to their income while experiencing authentic Bhutanese culture.

4. Thangthong Dewachen Dupthop Nunnery: The visit to this nunnery provides insight into the lives of female practitioners in Bhutanese Buddhism, a domain traditionally dominated by male monks. While not directly income-generating, the experience raises awareness and appreciation of their role, indirectly fostering gender inclusivity and respect for their contributions.

Fair Staff Wages: Fair wages and ethical treatment of staff is emphasised. All guides, drivers, and porters are locally employed, with porters in Nepal being paid higher-than average wages in line with international guidelines set by the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG).

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity: We warmly welcome all travelers, including LGBTQ+ guests, on our tours. It’s important to note that while Nepal is considered one of the more LGBTQ+ friendly countries in the Indian Subcontinent, societal attitudes in India and Bhutan can vary, with some areas being more conservative. We are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive environment for all guests, and our team will ensure a welcoming experience throughout your journey, offering support as needed.

Accessibility Considerations: This tour is not recommended for travelers with limited mobility, vision, hearing, or cognitive challenges. The itinerary includes physical activities such as a 2-3 hour hike to Taktsang Monastery, steep trails, and visits to sites with uneven terrain, stairs, and narrow pathways. These may be difficult to navigate without full physical ability. While the tour is designed to offer cultural immersion, the nature of the activities and landscapes visited may not be suitable for those requiring additional accessibility support.