Kolkata to Amritsar rail journey

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

e 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. This tour does a wonderful job of utilising India's public transport for the majority of the sightseeing. As a rail-focused itinerary, customers on this tour will be travelling predominantly by train, metro, tuk tuk, rickshaw and on foot. Travel between each of the major locations on this tour is done by train, with the exception of the Agra to Delhi journey which is done by vehicle.
As a travel company we're acutely aware of our impact on the environment. Each one of our tours displays a carbon footprint, and we're working to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our itineraries and embracing lower-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which aren't just better for the planet, but we believe offer a more enjoyable and authentic travel experience too. We're a Certified B Corp that's committed to creating unforgettable adventures while protecting our planet for future generations.


ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

On this tour, we visit the Wildlife SOS Conservation and Care Centre, which works to rescue and rehabilitate Asian elephants previously used for transport, tourism, or manual labour. In line with our Animal Welfare Policy, customers can observe and learn about these gentle giants, with their visit providing valuable support to the centre's mission of protecting these incredible creatures. The experience also raises awareness about the mistreatment of elephants—not just in India but in other countries as well—and highlights how animals can be exploited for tourism purposes.
With tourism steadily increasing in India, we want to ensure our groups have a positive impact on the country and lead by example. We do this by recycling and reusing wherever possible and ensuring that all waste is disposed of responsibly. On all our transport, we provide a large central tank of filtered water and encourage customers to bring refillable 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, our leaders encourage customers to dine out in locally-owned restaurants, eateries and street food stalls as food is a wonderful means of immersing yourself in Indian culture.
From day 2 on the itinerary, when the group explore Kolkata, customers will 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 in Old City Jaipur as well as a more rural walk around the less visited Shahpura village. We proactively avoid large scale commercial ventures aimed at mass tourism in favour of supporting smaller, more local artisans.
Our 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 believe that diversity is to be celebrated and as a Certified B Corp we're committed to championing equity and inclusion throughout our entire supply chain. We believe that an inclusive approach is essential, and that the best results occur when contributors have different opinions, experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table.