In an era where ethical tourism is shaping the future of travel, we invite you to discover a world where luxury meets sustainability, where every step you take contributes to a better tomorrow. Here’s a list of 10 sustainable experiences in India that will empower you to travel responsibly and make a positive impact on the planet.
10 Sustainable Experiences in India
Live like a Local in Delhi
Visiting a city as a tourist and experiencing it like a local are vastly different. The latter is fully immersive, leading you to places and experiences that are not written about in guidebooks. India Untravelled offers an opportunity to stay with a local family in a traditional Delhi neighbourhood. Your host introduces you to a side of the city that is not often talked about. Expect to hike in the Aravallis which are home to hidden lakes, enjoy the cuisine of Tibetan people, and traverse the lanes of East Delhi that are home to obscure crafts. After a whirlwind tour of the city, immerse yourself in a pottery workshop, enjoy qawwali on a non-busy evening at Nizamuddin Dargah, and get a taste of a city that is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines.
Book your stay at The Park New Delhi via Agoda.com here
Book your stay at The Park New Delhi via Booking.com here
Spot Elusive Wildlife in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Perched at approximately 4,419 metres, Chicham is one of Spiti’s highest villages. This remote land has a population of approximately 400 locals. Located inside Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, the village is a haven for snow leopards. The area is becoming increasingly popular amongst wildlife photographers, who reach here to get a glimpse of the elusive cat. Being totally rural, accommodation options in this region are typically homestays. This means getting an opportunity to live like a local in mud homes, share their meals, and possibly even exchange stories. treksandtrails.org
Book your stay at Snow Valley Resorts and Spa, Manali via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Snow Valley Resorts and Spa, Manali via Booking.com
Sample Feni in Goa
The traditional alcoholic drink of the sunshine state is coming into its own. The Floating Feni experience at Goa’s (actually the world’s) only feni cellar of Fazenda Cazulo is not to be missed. Designed like some of the best international wine tastings at vineyards, the entire experience is for about two hours, which includes a peek into the craft of making feni, its history, and finally, tasting it. You sit at a table with your feet immersed in river water, tasting different varieties of feni and tucking into local food that pairs well with the drink. urbanaut.in
Book your stay at Sea Queen Beach Resort & Spa, Goa via Booking.com
Book your stay at Sea Queen Beach Resort & Spa, Goa via Booking.com
Bike Through Himachal Pradesh
Beat the crowds at the predictable tourist hotspots in Himachal Pradesh, and explore the Himalayas on your motorcycle. Discover scenic roads, quaint Himalayan villages, and get to know the people and their cultures—the mountains hold many opportunities to go off the beaten path. The thrill of the motorcycle coupled with the cool breeze caressing your face is unmatched. Take your pick from a choice of camps, homestays, or guesthouses to hang your boots at the end of each day. Every tour is customised and you can make it as adventurous or as relaxing as you like. If you want to make it even more eco-friendly, you can opt for a mountain bike and ride through paths that are inaccessible for motorcycles.
Become a Green Activist in Auroville, Tamil Nadu
Sustainable and eco-friendly living are almost a part of life and a must-experience at Auroville, India. Auroville began as an experimental community that promotes sustainable living practices like the use of renewable energy, waste management, and organic farming. These practices, however, are not limited to just the residents. Visitors can also participate by volunteering in community projects, attending workshops on sustainable living, and exploring the community’s sustainable infrastructure. Even if you’re not living in the area, you can still be part of this initiative by registering online and learning as well as spreading the word about the preservation of nature. atmasanga.com
Book your stay at FabEscape Queens Paradise, Auroville via Agoda.com
Book your stay at FabEscape Queens Paradise, Auroville via Booking.com
Sleep Under the Stars at Jamtara Wilderness Camp, Madhya Pradesh
Jamtara Wilderness Camp maintains a fine balance between luxury and behaving responsibly towards its immediate environment. Combining the two, Jamtara has launched a revenue-sharing model with a villager wherein guests can experience what villagers have access to daily—sleeping under the stars. The experience involves sleeping in the fields with stars overhead, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle. Since villagers are incentivised with money, they also benefit from keeping the local wildlife alive and more.
Book your stay at Jamtara Wilderness Camp via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Jamtara Wilderness Camp via Booking.com
Soak in the Biodiversity of Manipur
Loktak Lake is considered a lifeline for the people inhabiting its surrounding areas in Manipur. Home to various species of birds and a rich aquatic life, the lake is the primary source of livelihood for fishermen who navigate around the hundreds of floating islands locally known as phumdis. Among Loktak’s many phumdis is Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating national park. Keibul Lamjao National Park is especially important as it is the last natural refuge of the critically endangered Sangai deer, Manipur’s state animal. An unmatched way to experience this haven is by staying at a homestay on one of the phumdis. Built like traditional straw huts, the homestays offer added perks of going on daily boat rides with your fisherman host and enjoying home-cooked Manipuri food.
Book your stay at Shalom Farm House, Manipur via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Shalom Farm House, Manipur via Booking.com
Sign Up for a Heritage Water Walk-in Rajasthan
Water is a valuable resource, especially in the middle of a desert. And interestingly, it is the people in the desert who have learnt how to maximise water through ancient wisdom and scientific knowledge. Heritage Water Walks in Jaipur is designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan and specifically how it helps in water conservation. Covering topics like history, architecture and engineering, local traditions and beliefs, and even politics, Heritage Water Walks unravels some ancient and modern ways in which this valuable resource is preserved and conserved in Jaipur. Born out of a passion project, it brings to the fore gems that may have been in clear sight but remain hidden due to our lack of awareness.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE OBEROI RAJVILAS JAIPUR VIA BOOKING.COM
BOOK YOUR STAY AT FAIRMONT JAIPUR VIA BOOKING.COM
Explore the Lesser-known Flavours of Assam
Assam is home to different communities that are cocooned in an indigenous way of life. If you like exploring regions through their cuisine, an eight-day tour that deep dives into the flavours of Assam is just the one for you. Start your trip in Guwahati, make your way up to Kaziranga, and continue through Majuli, Sibsagar, and Dibrugarh. Along the way, relish the cuisine of four different ethnic communities of Assam, visit local village markets, and immerse yourself in the diversity of local ingredients. Even though the traditional cooking techniques in Assam include steaming, roasting, fermenting, and grilling, each community enjoys different flavours and dishes. However, the tour is not limited only to food, you will also see the most popular sites of Assam, both natural and man-made. This tour also includes a jeep and elephant safari through Kaziranga National Park as well as river rafting in Nameri.
Book your stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati, Assam via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati, Assam via Booking.com
Tour a Tribal Village in Arunachal Pradesh
Tribal tourism is an integral part of sustainable tourism. Arunachal Pradesh is home to 26 tribes and has 3,649 tribal villages. Most of the tribes have an inherently eco-friendly way of life. They have also recently opened their homes and hearts to let people get a glimpse of their lifestyle. Staying in a tribal home is definitely one of the finer ways to experience the natural beauty of this land. Dulcimer Tours conducts tribal tours with 10-day itineraries that give you a complete feel of the varying landscape as well as tribal lifestyles. The tour starts in Guwahati and takes you into the heart of Arunachal Pradesh to Nyishi, Apatani, Hill Miri, Tagin, Galo, and Adi Gallong tribal villages.
Book your stay at Hotel Su Pinsa, Itanagar via Agoda.com
Book your stay at Hotel Su Pinsa, Itanagar via Booking.com
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Related: 11 Sustainable Hotels In India That Should Be On Every Conscious Traveller’s List
Shibani Bawa is a food and travel writer based in New Delhi. She has been writing on luxury lifestyle for 20 years now for some of the best print and digital magazines published in India, including Travel+Leisure India South Asia, BBC Good Food, BBC Good Homes, Cosmopolitan and India Today, among others. Shibani has her finger on the pulse of all the latest trends and developments in the world of travel and tourism across the globe, and has a special interest in responsible luxury and conscious travel.
