Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Community:
Your visit to our country, towns and villages will show locals that the outside world is interested in their way of life, giving them a sense of pride in their community and encouraging them to become actively involved in conserving their natural and cultural heritage. It will also contribute to local economy by the using the transports, hotels, lodges, guesthouses, farm stays and the camping facilities. To increase the productivity of our birding tours you will stay in tented camps where there are no inns and reduce unnecessary commuting for your comfort and reduction of pollution too. These camping grounds are managed by the locals of the regions with basic facilities like piped water and toilet, from fees collected from the visiting birding tours. Each birding season we hire 40 to 50 local camping crews who cater to our tours and they are dependent on your visit for their livelihood each season. We hire the same camping crews each year as they are the master of their regions. We don’t bargain for services and we pay fair price that allows for their self esteem in their work and room for improvement.
Our mission statement for 2011 is to support non-profit project called “RENEW”, (respect, educate, nurture and empower women) based in Thimphu, capital city of Bhutan. The RENEW is a Bhutanese cause to aid the deprived women and children of Bhutan. How you can help us is by donating in form of clothes, Books, toys, money and in kind. We don’t ask you to donate online- as and when you are signed up on our tours, your local guide will take you to the office of RENEW here in Thimphu for you to grace. It is our 2011’s resolution to donate 5% of your tour proceeds to the deprived women and Children’s cause.
Environment:
Bhutan, a kingdom under the reign of Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) Jigme Singye Wangchuck, has the environment as the centrepiece in its constitution and all of its national development plans. Bhutan has an excellent track record in the field of environment - more than 74% of its land is under forest cover and 26% of this cover is protected areas.
The Paro Resolution on Environment and Sustainable Development, declared in May 1990, states that Bhutan's natural resources base is central to a sustainable and prosperous future of the country. The development of a National Environmental strategy that will ensure the careful stewardship and sustained use of these natural resources was urged. Development should be pursued on a middle path thus ensuring that new industries, new agricultural markets and new forestry products will be carefully developed with respect to their broader environmental ramifications.
Bhutan’s success in preserving its natural resources has been possible because of the country's recent entry into the economic development process, as well as the Buddhist faith, an important factor in all aspects of Bhutanese life. Development in Bhutan is guided by principles that emphasise preservation of both natural and cultural heritage, as well as sustainability from subsistence to a more modern economy. These are our pride and identity as a small emerging nation among the giants.
Certain percentage of every tourist tariff goes to the government as royalty which aids in the implementation of plans for conservation of environment, free healthcare and free education. We don’t encourage camp fires but to bring appropriate clothes which we inform in our pre departure list. As we have garbage problem in the nation due non-proper disposal areas we will appreciate your notion on the waste disposal.
As our birding tours are run on the motor roads and in the dense forests we advise you to stay in a safe distance from the passing traffic on the narrow mountain roads. And do bring clothes that fit the surrounding so that you are more approachable to the birds and your birding holiday.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
