Tourism, conservation and local goodwill all work together and India Cycle Trails works hard to maintain the delicate balance between each one. Operating responsibly is vital in any destination in the world however in India even more it paramount for us to lead by example given the challenges our nation faces.
OUR RESPONSIBLITIES
Our responsibility to society
- Encouraging genuine and real interactions between locals and tourists.
- Respecting local laws and customs.
- Planting indigenous trees and vegetation rehabilitation on tour itineraries with the approval of relevant nature reserve officials, assisting travellers to offset the carbon footprint or ‘cost’ of traveling. On a number of tours, we arrange for groups to plant trees with the help of people from local communities. To date we are planted trees in Shelang Village, Kausani & Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), Khimsar & Jamba village (Rajasthan)
Our responsibility to the local economy
- Purchasing locally made goods and sustainably harvested products, where possible.
- Encouraging tourists to purchase genuine crafts from local suppliers.
- Actively seeking out and using local suppliers that practice responsible tourism policies.
Our responsibility to you the traveller
- Every precaution is taken on tour to ensure client’s safety therefore we plan our tour itinerary to focus on countryside routes.
- We provide you with legally qualified tour leaders with appropriate experience to lead the designated trips
- All drivers are suitably qualified with appropriate professional driver’s licenses.
- We outsource certain activities to companies that are bona fide legal entities, and have suitably experienced and qualified tour guides to lead appropriate activities.
- We go out of our way to do safety inspections on accommodation establishments prior to us contracting the services of that establishment.
What India Cycle Trails asks clients to do:
- To not give anything to beggars or any village children during your tour. If you would like to support those in need we can connect you with reputable organizations to support.
- Where possible, remove the wrapping of packaged goods before you leave on a trip and think about packaging when purchasing goods i.e. refusing plastic bags.
- Acknowledge that the tour leader is in charge of the tour and to comply with all lawful requirements.
- To comply with the law and customs of India and its states that is being visited.
- To comply with ICT’s requirements of conduct and no in anyway constitute a nuisance to any other persons on the tour.
- Obtain appropriate comprehensive travel insurance that covers the activities that are included in the itinerary booked. This insurance is a compulsory booking condition.
How We Reducing & Managing Waste
Water
To reduce our water consumption during tour we don’t give 1litre mineral bottles of water to our guests, we carry refill 20litre water containers with treated water and provide travellers with re-usable water bottles to ensure that no litter and plastic bottles are left or dropped on the tours.
Picnic Lunches On Tour
On most cycling days we provide our clients with a picnic lunch. We do not use any disposable cutlery or crockery. Lunch is served on melamine pates with stainless steel cutlery and water and juices are served in crockery glasses on tour.
We provide seasonal fruits and snacks that are sourced locally wherever possible and in some tour itineraries we can and actively try to provide food that is grown organically.
Our Support of Local Cultures
The areas in which we operate have very strong dance traditions and we actively support these traditions, both by including performances in all our guest activities and financially supporting the purchase of costumes, training and transportation.
We include programs that minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. We organize local dance performances in our trips so dancers see a reward in continuing to maintain their skills as well as pass them on to the next generation. With support from tourists, local families can support themselves.
