Nepal on a shoestring tour

Planet

We aim to keep a balance between travellers, local people, culture, and nature.

On this trip, you'll see the real Nepal. In Chitwan National Park, home to elephants, rhinos, Bengal tigers, crocodiles, monkeys, and many birds, please don't leave or throw food, don't feed animals, and don't approach them for a selfie. Please stay quiet and respectful, and never leave rubbish on the ground, because hungry animals may eat it. There are projects supporting the national park, and we'll tell you about them when we get there, whether by volunteering, donating or sponsorship.

Tap water is precious here, so please keep it in mind when showering or brushing your teeth. Bring a reusable bottle and treat refilled water with purification tablets, so you don't need to buy plastic bottles.

Please avoid bringing single-use travel kits such as shampoo, toothbrushes, and bags, and try not to take hotel toiletries with you, to cut down on waste. Please decline plastic bags when shopping.

You'll visit plenty of cultural heritage on this trip, including monuments still being restored after the 2015 earthquake through local and foreign initiatives.

We travel by public and private bus. Sightseeing walking and cycling tours are available.

People

All our guides, drivers, and assistants are local people. We employ them, provide training once a year, and encourage them to learn languages beyond English to widen their job opportunities. We provide a salary, insurance, equipment, and meals.

In the major cities, we stay in locally owned hotels and eat in locally owned restaurants. We visit handicraft shops that train and employ women in Nepal, and we recommend buying souvenirs there.

Customs here are traditional, so please dress modestly, take off your shoes where signed, and don't take photos where they aren't allowed.

Greet people, have a chat, share a masala tea, learn a bit of Nepali, and teach a few words of your own language. These small things help build connections, even with people who don't speak English. Take part in local celebrations and enjoy living like a local.