Walking the Annapurna foothills holiday

Planet

This trip explores the cities, Himalayan foothills and national parks of Nepal on foot. To help leave a lower carbon footprint we travel overland between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan rather than taking internal flights. The group takes a discovery walking tour of Kathmandu, allowing us to see the sights without the use of a vehicle.

We spend the last days of the trip in Chitwan National Park. established in 1973 this UNESCO protected area has a long history of biodiversity conservation. The government and the local community work closely together to maintain and protect the park’s rich flora and fauna, the park is home to one of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros. We take game drives by jeep instead of on elephant back, and ensure we strictly abide by park regulations to minimise disruption to the wildlife we have come to see.

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

Whilst in Kathmandu the group will have time to explore the cities bazaar's. Nepalese local life plays out in these market places, these lively neighbourhoods are teeming with people, stalls and temples. This is a great opportunity to interact with the local Nepalese and barter for local goods, you can buy anything from marigold garlands to dried species, textiles and fresh fruit.

Whilst trekking in the Annapurna Foothills we spend three nights in Tea houses. These were originally local homes where the family opened their doors to visitors and served drinks and simple meals and provided a place to sleep for the night. Over time these developed into a homestay-hotel hybrid and the concept of the 'tea house' was established. Staying in tea houses is a great way of meeting and getting to know the friendly Nepalese, giving the group a glimpse into the culture and daily lives of the local people in rural Nepal alongside helping to support the economy in these remote mountain communities. Meals will be taken in the communal dining area which also provides a place to relax and socialise after the days walking. The food is home cooked and locally sourced, the staple is the traditional Dal bhat (steamed rice and lentil soup accompanied by vegetable curry).

All of the porters for our Nepal trekking trips are local, know the region like the back of their hand and they are well-acclimatised to the altitude. We ensure that they are all paid fairly and follow the guidelines of the International Porter Protection Group which looks after their well-being and safety.

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.