India Women's expedition, small group

Planet

The transport on this tour consists of a mixture of Auto rickshaw, Bus, Car, Cycle rickshaw, Jeep, Metro, Overnight sleeper train, Private vehicle, Shuttle Bus. The use of a variety of public transport keeps our carbon footprint down as much as possible. Our group sizes are always small, in this case a maximum of just 12. As a result, the environmental impact of the group is much lower as we use fewer resources while in destination.

Travellers are able to experience genuine insights into the local culture in India as we ensure we include as much local transport into our itineraries. No trip to India would be complete without experiencing the overnight sleeper trains, where travellers and locals travel alike as it is an exciting cultural eye opener aboard the fastest and convenient way to travel. Not only are travellers fascinated by this style of travel, but locals often love to meet with travellers and get to know their culture a little better.

Wildlife and the environment are parts of our world that are precious and must be respected at all times. On this tour, we include a visit to the Bandhavgarh National Park that is home to an abundance of magnificent wildlife and the elusive tiger, and chances of spotting one of these magical creatures is high. The entrance fees to the National Park are included in the price of the tour which contributes to the upkeep and conservation of the Park, enabling tigers to live in a protected environment and travellers to enjoy it for years to come.

People

This trip support local communities in a variety of forms, but one of the main ways we do this is by supporting locally owned companies to ensure money stays in the local community. All accommodation and transport are locally owned and our tour leaders are all Indian women. In this trip we take the group on a tour of Jaipur operated by The Pink City Rickshaw Company, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide a new aspirational employment opportunity to 200 women from low-income households in Jaipur.

In Delhi, the group visit Dilli Haat market, where artisans from across the country are invited to showcase their wares for 15 days at a time, ensuring prices are fair and not subject to the inflation common in big cities. Are customers are exposed to the culture and crafts of various corners of India, all on display in one place, while supporting the local artisans.

In Chandelao Garh, the group visit Sundar Rang Crafts Centre. This is a project that employs local artisans, mostly women, while keeping traditional craft practices alive. More than 30 women are currently employed by Sunder Rang, with an hour of their workdays dedicated to their education.

Travellers are able to experience genuine insights into the local culture in India as we ensure we include as much local transport into our itineraries. No trip to India would be complete without experiencing the overnight sleeper trains, where travellers and locals travel alike as it is an exciting cultural eye opener aboard the fastest and convenient way to travel. Not only are travellers fascinated by this style of travel, but locals often love to meet with travellers and get to know their culture a little better.

The dress code in Asia is conservative, in particular when visiting temples, mosques and palaces. On this tour we visit Delhi’s oldest mosque, Jain temples and the magical Taj Mahal and care must be taken to respect Indian culture. We suggest travellers invest in some lightweight, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees when visiting India. Information can be accessed on our website prior to travel to help ensure travellers are able to follow appropriate dress codes and behaviours at these locations and your group leader will be on hand to advise throughout.

Our responsibilities don’t just stop when our tours end. We run and support a variety of projects globally, from healthcare, education, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development and environmental and wildlife protection. Our in house foundation, Our company foundation supports three projects in India, including the Asha Ka Jharna, which provides services to disabled children and adults, Deepalaya that focuses on building a better future for India’s street children and GOONJ, which channels vital resources such as clothes and household goods, into rural India.