Highlights of Northern India holiday 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.
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. On this tour, there are no internal flights, with journeys being taken in small buses of by boats. Much of the sightseeing is done on foot to allow for a more immersive experience.
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 and 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 labor. In line with our Animal Welfare Policy, customers can observe and learn about these gentle giants, with their visit providing valuable support to the center’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’re committed to supporting nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects. For every customer who travels with us, we make donations to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth. We also encourage customers to avoid single-use plastics on tour, with our leaders providing advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn’t safe to drink, we recommend Water-to-Go bottles—filtration bottles that allow you to drink water safely 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 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 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 and 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.
In this tour we include a Old Delhi street food tour ran by the wonderful Salaam Balak Trust. The tour is led by former street children and alumni of the trust who are non-profit, non-governmental organisation. Their mission is to provide invaluable support to street children and vulnerable youth through skills workshops, education and mental health support. By included a tour by the Salaam Balak Trust, we are helping to generate income for the more marginalised members of Indian society.
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.