Northern India culture and wildlife holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Throughout India we try where ever possible to use small locally owned hotels that reflect the character. We work in partnership with our local in-country ground agents to introduce environmental policies which help to conserve water usage and energy expenditure. Several hotels we use on this trip use solar-powered heaters for water, and have a system of providing water in re-usable glass bottles in the rooms. We cut down carbon emissions on this trip by using low carbon methods of travel such as cycling, rail and boat rides where possible, and on this trip we make use of India's excellent public railway network, taking two overnight train journeys to cover large distances rather than flying.

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 areas of outstanding natural beauty, places of deep historical significance as well as several National Parks. We treat each place with the utmost respect, ensuring we leave nothing behind. The entrance fees that we pay contribute to the upkeep of these special places.
In Ranthambore National Park, the park fees directly support the ongoing tiger conservation efforts towards ensuring the survival of these endangered animals, as well as supporting the other flora and fauna found in the Park.

At Chambal we stay in the Chambal Safari Lodge which employs sustainable and ecological business practices. The lodge is actively involved in reforestation and habitat regeneration, supporting the planting of indigenous trees and shrubs and creating a self-regenerating nature reserve. It also supports the conservation of animals by working with the Forest Department to establish eco-development schemes, and with the WWF to create the Chambal river basin management plan.

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

In India we work with an entirely local crew, from tour leaders, to drivers, guides and even cycle mechanics. The hotels we use are locally owned. On this trip we stay at the Chambal Safari Lodge which has a policy of employing staff from the local area, providing a source of much needed income and helping to raise awareness of conservation practices and the importance of protecting the environment. We also stay in a heritage hotel on the trip which was built in 1896 and maintains much of the original furniture. Our use of the hotel helps to provide a motive to keep it maintained for future generations.
We only include breakfast on this tour so that passengers eat out at a variety of small restaurants and street stalls, thus spreading their spending wealth and also getting to sample the best of the fantastic local cuisine.

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 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.