Himalayan Silk Road adventure

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

The transport logistics for this trip are more complex by nature of the high-mountain roads. We keep our groups very small (maximum 8-10) as only 5-seater vehicles are feasible for these journeys.

We have gone to great length to source wonderful ethically minded properties both in regard to the environment and the community. In Srinagar, Nadis Hotel is a locally-owned boutique property who grow their own fresh food in garden as a conservation initiative and employ many local people; similarly the houseboat on Lake Dal are a legacy passed on for ten generations and the team are working to preserve their history. In Ladakh, we use a variety of properties all of which are doing great work in this area. Ule Ethnic Resort is entirely solar powered, the first in the region to do so, and source the majority of dairy and produce on-site. Ladakh Eco Lodge has been in the hands of the village's original families for ten generations and their mud cabins offer a luxurious stay alongside a look into the traditional ways of life in this part of the world. Finally, Lchang Nang Retreat in the Nubra Valley is a property where ones rooms are found in traditionally built cottages and are fully solar powered, they monitor plastic, waste segregation, and ensure low-impact constructions in their successful effort to reduce their carbon footprint to a minimum.

All diets can be catered for, including vegan and vegetarian. All we need is advance notice so that we can prepare our local team, and the hotels and restaurants you will be visiting; during the trip, your guide will be able to assist with ordering meals that meet your requirements.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

Broadly, we use local guides who have intimate knowledge of the places you visit and how they are fairing in terms of restoration, degradation, and therefore how best to navigate them. We always ask our clients to respect our outlook on this, in being mindful of rubbish, and trying to recycle whenever you can.

We encourage all our clients to bring a reusable water bottle, ideally with a filtration system to replace the need for single-use plastics. We offer a free Water-To-Go bottle (just pay for postage) to all of our UK-based clients when they book, which provides a great chance to try out these amazing filtered bottles in the hopes of converting more travellers to using them on all of their travels

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

As regular travellers, one thing that never ceases to amaze and inspire us is the kindness and generosity of local people, often people who have very little to their name. We firmly believe that they are who make these places special and that they should benefit from our visit so we do our best to ensure that the benefits of our tours reach as widely as possible into the communities where they operate.

This tour features stops in rural towns and villages that see far fewer visitors than other Indian destinations such as the Golden Triangle or Southern States. As such, tourism here brings a significant avenue towards economic growth. For example, the Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum and museum in Hunderman are family-owned and the head of a local effort to preserve the history of border-families and this forgotten part of the Silk Road, which has brought new industry to the town.

This tour is also designed to be led by three separate local guides, in the regions of Srinagar, Kargil, and Leh / the Nubra Valley. This not only spreads economic benefit between them, but also their truly local expertise is often more valuable and in depth than what one guide could provide.

Our first preference for accommodation is always locally owned properties, which often provide a better boutique experience, but also minimises the economic leakage from tourism spending. The same goes for restaurants and shops.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY, AND DIVERSITY

One thing which is true across all of the countries in which we operate, is that we are passionate about ensuring the partners we have on the ground are those with the best knowledge of them. Our local team in India is entirely staffed by Indian people, who are from a variety of regions and cultural backgrounds thus diversifying their expertise and providing equal opportunity to their staff.

All of our guides, drivers, and other staff are paid at least minimum wage, if not a living wage or above for fair compensation of the incredible work they do.

We frequently employ women guides on our tours in India, and we are LGBTQ+ friendly on all of our trips. We are always willing to have discussions with those who may have questions about safety on the ground, visibility, and any other concerns to ensure that our clients are comfortable and confident whilst on our trips.