Ganges tour, Delhi to Calcutta

Ganges tour, Delhi to Calcutta

How this holiday makes a difference

In our opinion the whole concept of Village India – where we steer our clients off the main tourist circuits and into the rural regions of the subcontinent, to interact directly with local people – is responsible travel at its most immediate and effective. On all of these tours we stay with local families, visit local industries (learning how to milk a buffalo, make a sari, cook a meal) and call on local organisation to learn more about the problems of the region and how we might help. Not only does this allow local people and visitors to interact and learn about each others culture, it ensures that the revenue generated by tourism goes directly to local communities.

On our ‘Slowly Down the Ganges’ trip which runs through Uttar Pradesh from Delhi to Calcutta and, most importantly, along India’s holy river, we will be visiting a number of local communities – from Sadhus to farmers – to learn about their lives and ways, all of which will be putting money directly into the local community. We will also be visiting one of our main Indian NGO partners, The Hope Foundation, in Calcutta to see where the financial support we give is going. Added to this on all our tours we employ local guides and drivers, stay in locally owned hotels and private homes, which again diverts important funds directly into the area. These are regions that have seen precious little from the boom in tourism, it is our aim to change this.

When you take one of our trips, we make a contribution to “Carbon Clear” – an organisation who work with hundreds of organisations to measure their carbon footprint and reduce their carbon emissions.

Ganges tour, Delhi to Calcutta

Reviewed 09 May 2010 by Kathryn Tomlinson

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Apart from falling in a pond and creating a large hole in my knee (!), rowing down the Ganges in the moonlight, just before camping on the empty sandy banks, was something I could not have imagined. Following that a few days later with another boat trip and floating offerings away from the boat at Varanasi was also beautiful

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Go for it! Expect a well-organised, fascinating trip. A fair amount of travelling but it never felt too much.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes. We went places where there were few tourists and gave our custom to local people.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Excellent, just what I needed - a fascinating holiday in which everything was taken care of.

Reviewed 28 Nov 2009 by Marilyn Jestes

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Seeing slivers of daily life in rural India. The Himalayan panorama, the wildlife, the boating experience and great eating were memorable as well.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Relax and embrace the unexpected.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

We certainly employed a number of people to help us on our way.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

An experience I am very glad to have had. Not so much a holiday or vacation as a journey.

Reviewed 01 Dec 2008 by Jane Graham

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Travelling down the Ganges on the boat and seeing Varanasi.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Be prepared to be blown away.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Very good indeed. Many fabulous moments.