India tour with added comfort

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Throughout India we try where ever possible to use small locally owned hotels that reflect the character of the place we are staying. We work in partnership with our local in-country ground agents to introduce environmental policies which help to conserve water usage and energy expenditure. On this trip we stay in a combination of small-locally run hotels which are hand-picked for their character and central locations, meaning guests can step out and explore the town around them by foot, rather than having to rely on transport to take people around.

We have worked hard in India to reduce the number of internal flights on our itineraries, instead replacing these journeys with a wide variety of types of transport - offering a varied experience and of course a lower carbon footprint. There are no internal flights on this trip, with journeys being taken in small buses, by boats, on the railway and of course much of our sightseeing is done on foot, a far more immersive experience than from behind a bus window.
As a travel company we are acutely aware of our impact on the environment. All of our tours display a carbon footprint, and we strive to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our tours and embracing low-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which offer the added benefit of getting a closer connection with the destination and local community.

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

On this trip we visit a mixture of busy Indian cities, teaming towns, as well rural villages and remote countryside. This trip allows us great insight into the different subsections of Indian life, and the varied environments that we travel through, ensuring we leave only footprints behind.

Our local partner is a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration and is actively lobbying our local suppliers and hotels to consider their impact on the environment by providing recyclable water bottles in rooms and by utilising renewable energy. On this trip we have selected properties based on this initiative, with several switching away from single-use plastics and bringing in a reusable glass bottled water system in rooms, as well as utilising solar energy for heating water.

Tourism is steadily increasing in India, and we therefore want to ensure our groups are having a positive impact on the country, and are leading by example. We do this by recycling and re-using wherever possible, and ensuring that all waste is disposed of appropriately. We provide a large central tank of filtered water on all of our transport, and encourage our customers to come with re-fillable water bottles.
We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth.

We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Throughout this trip we dine out at family-run and locally-owned restaurants and purchase snacks from street food vendors on our city walking tours. This not only provides us with the experience of purely authentic North Indian meals but also financially supports the local community. This is especially important in the more rural areas we visit.

There are many opportunities throughout this trip to purchase local crafts and other locally produced souvenirs and contribute to the local economy. This is both directly from the artisans whose craft shops will will visit on our walking tours around the bazaars of Mandi and Chandigarh and from small independent shop owners. We purposefully avoid large scale commercial ventures aimed at mass tourism.

In Dharamasala we spend time at the Norbulingka Institute. Named after the Dalai Lama's summer palace in Lhasa, it was set up preserve Tibetan heritage and culture. Our visit helps the Institutes valuable work providing education to the next generation, as well as showcasing Tibetan arts and crafts.
Our local leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travellers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY & DIVERSITY

We work with a local partner in India that is entirely Indian-owned and Indian run, providing employment opportunities for local people across the many areas of India where they operate. Tour Leading has traditionally been a very male-dominated profession in India, but our partner is actively working to recruit more female Tour Leaders and are joining the movement to provide more equality.

For 2025, we are looking at partnering with the NGO 'Women For Wheels' to provide some of our city transfers. As well as campaigning to challenge social norms, Women for Wheels provide employment opportunities and livelihood opportunities for women as drivers, in an industry where woman were once not accepted.