Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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UK office
It all starts at home so we have first worked to reduce our carbon footprint in our UK offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies in place, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
Leaders & local suppliers
We have had a long-term relationship with our operator who has experience with and supports responsible tourism initiatives, following many years of working together on various schemes. The leaders always provide a briefing on Responsible Tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce your impact and maximise the benefits of your visit.
Whilst in Nepal, we advise all clients against buying mineral water on trek as currently there are no provisions for disposing of the empty plastic bottles. Alternatively you can bring water purification tablets to treat your drinking water or buy boiled water. We also ask you to consider only taking a shower at lodges where they have electricity or solar power to heat the water. The use of biodegradable soaps and shampoos is recommended. We recommend bringing a spare plastic bag for rubbish that cannot be burnt. Burnable rubbish can be left in the lodges. Non-burnable rubbish should be taken back to Kathmandu.
Himalayan Community Support Projects
After organising tours to the Himalayas for over 35 years, we have developed many long lasting partnerships and friendships with our operators and leaders as well as some of the local communities we visit. We therefore now seek ways to give something back and we usually help with small-scale practical projects that can help local communities and preserve or improve the environment, whilst giving the maximum possible long-term economic benefit. In the past, we have focused on supporting children and their educational needs, supplying basic resources to communities, such as fresh water and sustainable wood supplies, as well as introducing some alternative technologies to help the environment.
A few of our major achievements have been:
In March 2006, we opened a new home for children (Nava Kiran Orphanage) in Kathmandu in March 2006, and now we are now involved in helping fund their education.
- By Autumn 2010, we installed 60 solar cookers across the Everest region.
- In 2010, we donated 28 smokeless stoves to Thulopatel Village (which uses less wood and provides a safer and healthier alternative for the women to cook on).
Group size
We operate small group tours that have a low impact on the communities we visit and we always ensure our operations do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. This allows us to stay in unique and characterful accommodation that would not have benefitted from tourism due to their limited size.
This tour operator was the first to get access to China over 30 years ago and the first to take a truck to Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side. They have since expanded into 91 countries. Their product is driven by their clients because they listen to feedback and have to constantly evolve to provide a greater experience and better value. The exclusive centres they use have been grown organically and are often owned by ex-leaders. The holidays remain innovative, though you will now be travelling in a Mercedes 16-seater sprinter coach rather than a rusty old Bedford overland truck.
Listen to the podcast below:
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!
