Northern India culture and wildlife holiday

Planet

Most of the journeys on this trip are by train which means we get to mingle with the friendly locals as well as reduce our carbon footprint, avoiding travel by air and long journeys by road.

At Chambal we stay in the Chambal Safari Lodge which employs sustainable and ecological business practices. The lodge is actively involved in reforestation and habitat regeneration, supporting the planting of indigenous trees and shrubs and creating a self-regenerating nature reserve. It also supports the conservation of animals by working with the Forest Department to establish eco-development schemes, and with the WWF to create the Chambal river basin management plan. The lodge also has a policy of employing staff from the local area, providing a source of much needed income and helping to raise awareness of conservation practices and the importance of protecting the environment.

We also stay in a heritage hotel on the trip which was built in 1896 and maintains much of the original furniture. Our use of the hotel helps to provide a motive to keep it maintained for future generations.

Our wildlife viewing at both Chambal and Ranthambore is conducted in a way to minimise any negative effects on the environment. Both are conservation areas where the wildlife is protected and access controlled. We use small vehicles in both to minimise any disturbance to the wildlife

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

Our Indian tour leaders are passionate about their country and have a strong desire to help travellers experience all it has to offer, encouraging our groups to eat in small local restaurants, try the local food, and support local shops and businesses. We run an annual dedicated training course for all our leaders, with a strong focus on responsible tourism practices, ensuring that our trips run in accordance with our code of practice. For example, at the start of each trip they provide guidance concerning local customs and culture so as to ensure that local sensibilities are understood and respected.

At several locations, including Agra and Jaipur, we visit local artisans who are keeping alive traditional crafts and ways of working. Our visits gives them support and an incentive to continue these age-old traditions.

All the hotels on the trip are locally owned and run, ensuring that the communities we pass through gets some benefit from our visit.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.