India culture and wildlife tour

Planet

We are a local tour operator based in Raipur, Chhattisgarh in Central India. Our strategic location helps us to get first hand information so that we can keep our guests updated on the current information that plays an important role in the success of the tour: be it a change in national park rules and regulations or something as simple as the discovery of a fine new restaurant.

Our mission is to provide our clients with the adventure of a lifetime by offering them a means to experience diverse cultures and explore unfamiliar landscapes in a safe, exciting and responsible way. We have always been a firm supporter of responsible travel practices and we actively promote this philosophy within the company, to our travellers and to our business partners.

We make every effort to minimise our impact on the environment by reducing waste by recycling, repairing and reusing what we can, and being careful of delicate ecologies, wildlife and their habitats.

We look for home stays, lodges and hotels which are safe, comfortable and operated in a sustainable way. We specifically pay attention to the lodges and camps located around national parks for their waste disposal and eco-tourism policies.

Travel to national parks and wildlife areas can bring positive economic benefits as entrance fees contribute to the maintenance and conservation of local flora and animal species, while visitors benefit from the educational aspects of the area and take away with them an increased awareness of the need and place for conservation. Our tour leaders and drivers follow strict policy while visiting national parks to minimise pressure on Wildlife Tourism.

Our vehicles comply with strict Euro IV emissions or Bharat Stage III control regulations set by the European Union and Indian Environment Ministry. We regularly check and maintain vehicles to the highest possible standard in order to limit carbon emissions and ensure the comfort and safety of our passengers.

Local resources such as water and electricity are often in short supply and tourism can put pressure on these services and supplies which can in turn reduce the supplies available to local people. In order to mitigate this, we make every effort to impart information to travellers to help them act responsibly in order to minimise tourism impact on local resources.

People

In this tour you will have the opportunity to stay in the rural area close to nature at Panna National Park. This will give you a chance to stay at jungle camp which is run by local villagers who are part of Sabbal Shah Society working for the protection of flora and fauna of Panna. You will not only generate understanding of local ecosystem but will also have an opportunity to interact with locals living in the jungle. By staying at the camp, you will also contribute to the sustainable development of the area as well as the less advantaged rural communities living in the tiger reserve.

Group size plays an important role and we keep the numbers low to minimise negative impacts on the environment and to ensure that the interaction with the guide at historical sites is more on a one to one basis. The guides we employ on this tour are locals who know about the sites thoroughly. In this tour you will be meeting with many guides from different areas sharing real experiences from their own lives and insights into family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing you with a deeper understanding of the places you visit.

Travellers’ visits to historical and heritage sites on this tour will contribute to the maintenance and restoration of these unique places in a form of the entry fee. As per our sustainable travel policy, we ask that travellers respect signage, take only photographs and leave no litter or graffiti behind, even if others have done so. Do not attempt to bring home any rocks or stones or other souvenirs of the location and don’t purchase such items from vendors as this can encourage the ongoing destruction of local areas of interest.

We encourage our guests to dine at locally-owned restaurants to experience dishes cooked by local cooks. This not only supports the local economy but also offers a chance to enjoy local customs and cultures along with their cuisines.

We are associated with Aakanksha School in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), an extraordinary institution that helps under-privileged children with special needs reach their full potential. This non-profit making organisation teaches children basic self-help and vocational skills, helping them fit more easily into society, and where possible finds them work placements. It has an outreach project that works both to assist families with special needs children in rural areas, and to educate villagers in an attempt to challenge prejudice. We not only helps the institution financially but one of our founder members, works there as a volunteer. We encourage any guests who have some time in Raipur to visit the school.