Sustainability

Travel can put a drain both on the environment and local communities. While we recognize the environmental challenges travel presents, we also believe its benefits—cultural, educational, and personal—can outweigh the ecological impact when approached thoughtfully.

Our itineraries are designed to reduce internal flights as much as possible—both for environmental reasons and to avoid the inconvenience of air travel. However, given the vast distances and time constraints in certain regions, internal flights may be necessary. Where available, we provide a choice between flights and more sustainable options like overnight trains or buses, allowing travellers to select based on their comfort level and ecological awareness.

Moreover, in India, the complexity of travel and local infrastructure may sometimes necessitate private transportation. While this can be unavoidable, we encourage you to compensate by adopting more eco-conscious practices at home and during other parts of your journey.

By making thoughtful travel choices, together we can reduce the environmental footprint of your journey while still embracing the beauty and richness of travel. Small actions can make a big difference, which is why we offer practical recommendations to help make your trip more environmentally and socially responsible.

Our Recommendations for Sustainable Travel

Social Aspects

To ensure a respectful and responsible interaction with local communities, here are some essential guidelines:

  • Children and Begging: We strongly discourage giving money to child beggars as it may perpetuate their exploitation and prevent them from attending school.
  • Photography: Be mindful to always respect human dignity when taking photos. Make sure to ask for consent, especially when photographing women and children. Avoid taking pictures in sacred places (such as bathing areas, funerals, or religious rituals), as these may be considered taboo. Also, refrain from photographing military installations. In some cases, individuals like sadhus may request a fee for being photographed.
  • Ethical Conduct: We have strict guidelines in place to protect vulnerable populations. A separate document outlining the behaviour expected when interacting with locals, especially children, will be provided to travellers and must be followed. If you observe any suspicious behaviour, we urge you to report it immediately to your EKAM guide. Additionally, if you witness any incidents involving children, you can report them via the site https://dontlookaway.report/.

Cultural Awareness

For a more sustainable travel experience, we encourage you to adopt good habits while on your journey:

  • Cultural Research: Educate yourself about the local culture in advance. While our preparatory meetings will help you get familiar, doing your own research will further prevent cultural missteps and ease communication with locals.
  • Basic Language Skills: Learning a few basic words in the local language is always appreciated by locals and shows respect for their culture.
  • Support the Local Economy: Purchase locally made souvenirs, ideally from social projects or vendors who provide fair compensation to artisans.