Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
After 15 years in rural tourism, based from his home in Samthar, retired Lt. General Jimmy Singh is working with our company to start village homestay holidays. He believes that village self help schemes are the way forward to tackle rural unemployment and does not benefit financially from this scheme. The start up costs (US $3,000) and ongoing operational costs (until the tours provide suffienct income) have and will continue to be funded by General Jimmy Singh, who has also funded the building of the houses and is donating money for the education of the village children.
Guests live in homestays within the village, learning with the local craftsmen who in turn get a direct income from their trades. The wider project includes educational support for school children and vocational training. During your stay in the village, you'll be able to join in village activities such as ploughing, sowing, harvesting, collection of firewood and fodder, cow herding, goat care, cooking, mat and basket making, and blacksmithing. You can explore the countryside, join in the cricket and football matches, play cards with the village elders, or relax in peace in your homestay.
Approximately 35% of the cost goes to the host family, 18% to the project and 7% covers transportation with a local driver. All the money for activities goes directly to the villagers.
Our tours are listed in the Ethical Travel Guide, published by Tourism Concern. We charge carbon tax to our guests for their flights according to the rates given by Climate Care and pay Climate Care yearly.
This holiday is part of the responsibletravel.com and Conservation International Community Based Tourism Programme to support and promote community based tourism ventures that offer significant conservation and development benefits to local communities. To see other community based tourism holidays and find out more about the programme click here.
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