Nepal's landscapes, cultural heritage and communities are not infrastructure for tourism – they are the reason to visit. Protecting them is the most fundamental obligation of any Nepal tour operator. At Getaway Nepal Adventure, responsible and sustainable tourism has been central to how we operate since the company was founded. Not because it makes good marketing, but because it is the only way we can justify what we do.
Every guide we employ is a Nepali national on a permanent or long-term contract with fair wages, medical coverage and social security. We do not use freelancers hired trip by trip who carry no employment protections. Porters, when included in trekking programmes, are paid above the industry standard minimum and provided appropriate equipment and insurance. Drivers are permanent employees with regular vehicle maintenance schedules and safe driving training. The money that flows through our operation stays in Nepal to a degree that internationally owned operators and booking platforms cannot match.
We work with locally owned and locally managed hotels, restaurants and activity providers wherever these meet our quality standards. We avoid routing clients through international hotel chains when equivalent or superior local properties exist. We purchase from local craft cooperatives, arrange meals at family-owned restaurants and organise cultural experiences that pay directly into community hands. Tourism that benefits only hotel chains and international booking platforms does not benefit Nepal.
The fees paid by visitors to Chitwan and Bardia national parks fund ranger salaries, anti-poaching operations and habitat management. Nepal's dramatic wildlife recovery – tigers doubled, rhinos tripled – has been supported directly by this tourism revenue. We explain this connection to all our wildlife clients and work exclusively with lodges (Tiger Tops, Taj Meghauli Serai, Kasara Resort) that actively support conservation programmes in and around the parks they operate near.
We brief all clients on environmental protocols in each destination: national park rules, waste management on trek, altitude conservation practice. We do not use single-use plastic in our operations where alternatives exist. We support the pack-in, pack-out principle on all trekking programmes. We offset the carbon cost of our operations through verified local conservation and reforestation programmes.
A portion of every tour booking is directed to the Getaway Giving Project, supporting schools, healthcare access and sustainable livelihood initiatives in the rural communities our itineraries pass through. We publish updates on funded projects for clients who want to know how their contribution is used.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (GNA) aims to include activities that promote sustainable tourism like the family homestay tours, cooking classes with locals, evening tour around local market, eating dinner with a local family, visiting a local school. We love searching out these incredible experiences so you can truly experience the local way of life and have the opportunity to give back to the communities in which you travel. There are endless ways to contribute to local communities by giving a small food or clothing donation, sharing a piece of your country and culture with them, or buying locally made handicrafts.
With the help of local service providers, we organize trips all over Nepal. We take care in searching out local partners who make it their priority to uphold sustainable tourism standards with a positive impact on their communities. We require our suppliers to abide by local laws and regulations including operating with the proper licenses and insurance coverage.
It is important to remember that as travellers we are responsible for our actions and their effects on our eco-system. All of the transportation options included in our trips are by way of public transportation such as buses, shuttles, cars. By using existing means of transportation in each country, we avoid creating additional pollution, therefore reducing our carbon footprint to a minimum.
By working with different service providers, we increase demand for their services substantially, which in turn creates a need to hire more employees locally. Instead of sending someone from one place to next, we prefer all new-hires to be locally interviewed and trained so we know we are having a positive impact on the community.
Not sure what you desire yet? Nepal offers a variety of possibilities throughout the country. We offer tailor-made travel programs for you and your travel group. Create your own exclusive trip, step-by-step with us. We plan, you relax. We design, you do so if you already have specific wishes, let us know.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
TripAdvisor