Everest Base Camp trek
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
On this trip: Our policy of staying in locally owned accommodation, having local guides and group leaders and using transport owned and operated by local people wherever possible is continued in Nepal. Our small groups (maximum of 16 people) have a minimal impact on the Himalayas' fragile environment as we explore predominantly on foot. All tour guides are responsible for ensuring that the guests understand the nature of the environment that they are in and minimise the impact that they may have. We stay in tea houses owned by local people along the way, collect and dispose of all litter, boil all drinking water instead of using bottled water, and use responsible cooking fuels (kerosene) instead of wood. Our porters in Nepal are equipped with suitable clothing and footwear for the type of trek they are about to work on, and this is recorded at the start of the trek. In addition the actual size and /or awkwardness (e.g. fluids, mattresses etc.) of the load to be carried, as well its weight is assessed prior to porters setting off on trek, ensuring that only comfortable loads are allocated.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Being Responsible is at the heart of everything our company does - full details of our code can be found on our website. The local supplier for this trip will promote our responsible travel code throughout your adventure. You will also receive specific information on this trip’s responsibility in your trip notes.
Charity Partnerships: As a company we support The Travel Foundation, a UK charity that has been established to promote responsible travel practises throughout the whole of the travel industry. We also work with a number of charity partners who work in the destinations that we visit; including Friends of Conservation and Born Free Foundation. We partner with many small grassroots projects throughout the destinations that we visit - they all share our responsible vision.
Carbon Balancing: All of our customers are invited to offset their international flight emissions. Contributions go to the Blue Ventures Carbon Offset program, a non-profit organisation which provides solar stoves for subsistence communities in Madagascar, benefiting the people and protecting the environment. We also contribute £2 per person towards offsetting of your in-country travel. We fully offset all emissions from our staff travel and run an energy efficient office.
Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book.
Community
Money from our stay reaches a wide number of people - many of the teahouse owners now gain thier sole income from trekkers.
Together with our local agent in Nepal we have helped to build a community / sports facility that can be used by schools and villagers in surrounding areas. This consista of a football pitch and centre, with the primary aim of creating a club around sports activities and teaching practical skills that will help communities operate as just that.
We hope the $5 pp contribution we make for every person travelling with us to Nepal will help to maintain this facility, assist with the development of the Trisuli Young Leaders Club & fund facilities for a local school in Nuwakot.