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As a part of our continued commitment to responsible tourism, we operate this trip in a way that aims to reduce impacts and to give as much back as possible to the local communities
It is possible for to visit the Nava Kiran orphanage in Kathmandu. This orphanage, known as Nava Kiran (or New Light) is situated in Patan, in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It was founded by Savitri Pokrel and her son who look after 42 orphaned children between the ages of 3 months and 16 years. The orphanage is run entirely on donations with Savitri and her son looking after, clothing, feeding and sending all the children to school. Since 2002 we have been helping the orphanage in various ways.
In the later part of 2004 we embarked on a much bigger project to help these orphans. Their home was very small, in dire need of repair and had no security of tenure meaning that they could all find themselves on the streets at very short notice. After two years in the making March 2006 saw the opening of a new building, and a much larger home for the children living at the Nava Kiran Orphanage.
Today the children are now fully settled in their new home and all attend local schools or nursery school. They have transformed the gardens into small rice terraces and are producing enough rice each month to keep the kitchen stocked, this in turn frees valuable funds which they are putting towards a biogas dome. Once up and running, and with the help of 9 tonnes of cow dung, the dome will turn waste from the bathrooms into natural gas that can be used for cooking. Almost all trips to Kathmandu can visit the orphanage, and all our Nepali leaders will be happy to pass on up-to-date information.
The trek involves payment of the Annapurna conservation fee. This funds ACAP – Annapurna Conservation Area Project which has been instrumental in providing training for lodge owners and cooks and setting fair prices in the lodges. It is also instrumental in helping a lot of conservation work in the area.
We use a local operator who we have been working with for the past 30 years and have therefore built up an enviable long term working relationship. We have also worked with our operator to help train staff in all aspects of their jobs, so helping to invest in the people and to help improve their knowledge and future prospects. This included Responsible Tourism training and they talk about responsible tourism in their briefing in Kathmandu.
We have at our offices worked to reduce our carbon footprint through a reduction of energy use and energy conservation measures. We also actively reduce the waste produced by having active reduction and recycling policies in place. We run annual staff workshops on Responsible Tourism. Global warming is a reality and to help you make a difference by reducing the carbon dioxide that is produced when you travel we offer a chance to carbon balance your flights. We encourage all our clients to do this and do so for all our staff travel. Go on do your bit!
The three founders of this adventure company drove from London to Kathmandu in 1974 on an itinerary they made up as they went along, ending with a hike up to Everest Base Camp. Believing activity holidays offer you greater insight into a country, they set up as trekking tour operators. The staff all come from adventurous backgrounds, have led dozens of trips all over the world and have collectively climbed Kilimanjaro over 100 times. Whether you want a hardcore trek or a softer experience, rest assured your guide will have the expertise to take you firmly out of your comfort zone.
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