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While we all love to travel and experience the world around us, more often than not our touristic endeavours leave the places we visit drained of resources and their natural beauty. As eco-anxiety grips us, figuring out how to reduce our cumulative ecological impact on the world becomes all the more important. A new generation of travellers also visits places with a newfound perspective. They wish to have off-beat experiences all while being conscientious of their impact; practising eco-tourism and sustainable travel practices. For this new generation of travellers that want to experience a new side of the world but also give back to the community, a few travel collectives are diving into the world of responsible tourism headfirst.
At its core, responsible tourism aims at creating a sustainable model wherein those in local communities can benefit from tourism, while they extend their natural resources and traditional ways of life to an audience that wishes to experience it in an eco-friendly and conscientious manner. It is in this vein, that Homegrown has curated this list of responsible travel companies and social enterprises that allow you to travel across India while giving back to local communities.
I. Grassroutes
Through rural engagements, Grassroutes aims to create a more conscientious society. Their curated tours and experiences across rural areas are an attempt to further their mission of creating a sustainable community centred around experiential platforms so as to allow visitors to better understand rural living. With their work so far they have been able to create 6,000 - 8,000 days of employment annually per village. Also with conservation of biodiversity at their core, they only engage in eco-friendly tourism practices and have helped in building a sustainable culture for the local communities with the revival of local arts, crafts, and culture.
Learn more about them here.
II. Himalayan Ark
Based in Munsiari, Kumaon Himalaya, Himalayan Ark is considered to be a pioneer in nature-based community-owned rural tourism. It is people-centric and is committed to social justice. Since 2004, the Himalayan Ark Homestays are owned and run by the local mountain families as a rural and nature tourism enterprise. With guided tours with plenty of places to relax, they let you immerse yourself in daily mountain life at the village of Sarmoli, which is close to the trijunction of the international borders of India, Tibet, and Nepal.
Know more about them here.
III. India Untravelled
Launched in 2012, India Untravelled seeks to introduce travel enthusiasts to socially responsible experiences in rural and offbeat parts of India. As they partner with local communities to manage farm stays, home stays and village stays — they let you indulge in the local festivities, folk music, and detectable local cuisines all while trying to introduce a newer audience to traditional ways of living.
Learn more about them here.
IV. Kipepeo India
With responsible tourism at the core of their endeavour, Kipepeo India gives you the opportunities to explore the North-East of India. They firmly believe that “...responsible tourism is the medium through which we strive to build bridges between resources and needs, leisure and livelihoods, as well as between visitors and hosts in ways that are sustainable and beneficial to all.” For this their sustainable tourism model includes primarily using home-stays or community-run lodges for accommodating guests, using local staff as guides, cooks and porters, buying local produce, and using locally available renewable resources. They also provide training to the local community in tourism-related activities and work in relatively unknown locations so the local community can have an alternate source of livelihood.
Know more about them here.
V. Swadesee
A Mumbai-based travel collective, Swadesee curates immersive local community-led experiences as well as interactive visits to historical monuments, heritage walks, expeditions, art workshops in tribal villages, meditation sessions in ancient caves, and zero waste treks and hikes in national parks in Maharashtra. An eco-conscious venture, they place the women of the community at the forefront and also allow you to engage with local communities.
Know more about them here.
VI. Spiti Ecosphere
Building sustainability since 2002, Spiti Ecosphere is an attempt to give the local community of Spiti valley an alternative source of livelihood. On their curated treks and hikes in the region, they encourage a sustainable ecosystem where travellers get the chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature while giving back to the local community as they stay in traditional homestays and devour local cuisines that use indigenous crops like kala mattar (black peas) and barley.
Know more about them here.
VII. Tons Trails
Tons Trails is essentially a social enterprise that is working to bring economic development in the region of Tons Valley, Uttarakhand through tourism. What began in 2013 as a small way to put the tiny Kalap village on the tourism and Google maps, has now expanded to 37 villages of the Tons Valley. Aiming at bringing economic empowerment through tourism, Tons Trails wants to create a holistic and sustainable tourism ecosystem in this remote region.
Know more about them here.
VIII. Village Ways
A social enterprise that works in partnership with the host villages, Village Ways look at travel in a sustainable way that would benefit the community that is at the heart of the travel as well. By having just a small number of guests at a time they ensure that the traditional, agricultural and economic life of the host village continues alongside the low-footprint form of tourism. At your travels with Village Ways you get the chance to stay in unique, village-owned guesthouses where you are hosted by the local community as you enjoy tours with local guides, sample delicious local cooking, and get to witness the traditional ways of life in the area. Their travels allow you to experience the unspoiled regions of India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Know more about them here.
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