Would you believe us if we said that as much as 97% of Indian travellers are vying for sustainable tourism plans and don’t mind paying up a few extra bucks for it? Well, believe us or not, eco-tourism in India has taken a higher seat and given the distinguished and absolutely customised experience they offer, as opposed to the standard itineraries by most tourism companies; it’s no surprise that they are gaining more favour among tourists. If you’re on the lookout for a travel experience that makes for more than just selfies, souvenirs, and going from one place to another, we suggest you give these sustainable tourism companies a shot. By Shubhanjana Das
1. Kipepeo
Northeast India can easily be compared to a a Pandora’s Box of unexplored and unexpected surprises. To understand their distinct culture and a set of traditions that give us a real-life idea of the sheer diversity that India boasts of, it is imperative to look a little deeper, with more insight. And that is exactly what Kipepeo helps you do. Instead of taking the usual charted routes, Kipepeo takes its travellers closer to the people and lives of Northeast India by hooking you up with local homestays and making custom trips from the scratch.
2. Evolve Back
Evolve Back, operating in Karnataka through multiple resorts, is the shining testimony of the fact that eco-tourism and luxury don’t have to be two separate things. This hotel chain based in South India was perhaps the first of its kind to not only practice but also propagate responsible travel in every way possible, while also pampering its guests with unimaginable luxury and opulence. With resorts in Kabini, Coorg, and Hampi in Karnataka, Evolve back, given its responsible practices of waste management, energy and water consumption, ought to be on the top of your list for accommodation options when travelling to these places.
3. Spiti Ecosphere
Spiti Ecosphere is one of those tourism companies who are leading by example by incorporating every practice that needs to be inculcated while travelling in the delicate ecology of a cold desert region. Spiti Ecosphere makes it possible for the travellers to stay in community-run homestays, help supplement the meager incomes of the locals from farming, and also light up someone’s house using solar energy, facilitated by the money we spend during our travels. Given that Spiti has recently come under the radar of tourists from all across India and the world, it is imperative to make sure irresponsible travel doesn’t turn it into yet another high altitude garbage-bin in the name of a mountain destination.
4. India Untravelled
A very important aspect of responsible tourism is to help the local community grow, prosper, and gain advantage from the guests who come to witness the beauty of their hometown, city, state, or country. India Untravelled, operating across the country, makes that happen by reeling in rural farmstays and homestays in the remote parts of the country wherein you can interact with the locals, be a spectator of their traditions, cuisines, art forms, culture, history, and a lot more. In short, India Untravelled is for everyone looking for authentic travel experiences that are anything but mainstream.
5. Green People
At a time when the West has successfully sold us the idea of superfoods that travel from halfway across the world over what we grow on our native land, Green People has stepped up to do what is best to make reverse migration of farmers happen in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. How? They have created “Goat Villages” in Nag Tibba, kanatal, and Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, setting up a supply chain of the superfoods that grow in the region, like amaranth, goji berries, foxtail millet, and etc. They’ve hired and trained locals in hospitality who host travellers at luxury resorts built in the style of Garhwali-style houses.
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