Trip Guidelines
Please adhere to all guidelines during your trip/adventure or trek.
Leave only footprints
(We aim to spread the " leave only footprints " message to respect nature, save the animals, birds, and nature as well as keep it clean. We encourage travelers to leave only footprints wherever we go, as we know when we climb mountains, trek, hike, camping, picnic, etc.
We have a habit of leaving things after using and that recyclable trash won't have a second life. Also making it messy in the mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, forests, and nature. We can imagine that when we leave our trash after finishing the trip, that trash nobody will carry down for recycling or reuse and locals will burn them which is not good and we should never encourage air pollution by creating more Co2.
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Our main concern is when we plan to do trekking or climbing the mountain then pack with different foods and packaging things. We trek. We enjoy the mountain view, eat good foods, buy food that we want during the trip then after we put in the mountain guest houses or side to the trail bins, etc. That trash goes end to end to landfill sites which are heartbroken issues in the recent scenario.
We only see beautiful pictures of the mountain and place but never know where all that mountain trash is so now we need to see beauty behind the darkness and now change starts from you. So our message is to leave only footprints, meaning to carry our trash back after finishing the trip, even one day hike or for a month trip please do not leave anything to accept your footprints. Your small actions can make a huge difference.
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Incentive - For every tour booked HGT will plant a tree in xxx (e.g. Big Valley Clean Up Project in Sindhupalchok ), or donate to the establishment of community compost pits in rural locations
Code of Ethics - We encourage responsible travel practices that pay attention to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
General Guidelines
Before commencing the trek, please remove any unnecessary packaging from belongingsPack items in reusable containers
Bring a reusable and waterproof bag to carry out non-biodegradable items
At the end of the trek, consider recycling unwanted trekking gear by donating it to porters
(Raj) As I am a tourist guide while guiding I have seen drastic changes in climate for the past 10 years. I urge all guides, travel companies, and travelers to act now to save the mountain by your action, it doesn't matter how small you are needed to help save the mountain it counts by leaving just the footprints on the mountain.
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TRAVEL
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When air travel is required, we try to book a carbon-neutral airline. (For example, in 2019 Yeti Airlines became Nepal’s first carbon-neutral airline)
Road transport options to be chosen from companies adhering to the ‘Vehicular Emissions Standards’ implemented by the Nepal government in 2003.
Use public transport where possible
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ACCOMMODATION
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Accommodation lodges on treks are to be chosen from those that minimize their impact on the environment.
1. Lodges provide filtered or boiled water for trekkers to purchase rather than bottled water. Trekkers to provide a wide mouth reusable bottle such as Nalgene bottle (Note- trekkers may also want to treat the water themselves, either by filter system or with tablets)
2. To reduce deforestation, we will choose lodges that cook with gas or kerosene instead of firewood
3. Lodges should have a rubbish disposal plan (eg separate rubbish into ‘biodegradable’, “recyclable’ and ‘landfill’ and dispose of accordingly)
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ON TRAIL
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Stick to established trails. Avoid walking off-trail and causing physical or environmental degradation.
Support conservation of natural areas and wildlife.
Encourage trekkers to minimize their rubbish along the way. For example, try to buy fresh local food rather than packaged, etc.; avoid buying bottled water; decline plastic bags.
Trekkers are encouraged to pick up any rubbish they see on the trails and take it back to the city with them. For example, the ''pack in pack out'' program whereby trekkers carry their rubbish from the mountain to the starting point or in a collection point. Also, any green traveler can carry 1 kg of rubbish/trash from mountain areas to their travel company for recycling. If everyone will carry out their rubbish and 1-2 kg trash from the mountain to recycle then we will be able to reduce the mountain's plastic pollution.
Never drop cigarette butts. These are not biodegradable, so should be collected and carried out
Toilet etiquette on a trail - If nature calls whilst on a trail, try and dig a hole away from the trail, water sources, or sacred spots. Do not leave toilet paper lying around. Above the tree, line paper will not decompose so do not leave it in nature. Remember to pack it out (e.g. in a zip lock bag).
If bathing or washing clothes in nature, please do so at least 100m from the water source and use a biodegradable wash, to minimize water pollution
Take only photos, leave only footprints
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CULTURE
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Respect the cultural tradition of the area you are traveling in
Be respectful of religious or sacred places
Promote local art and crafts by buying local handicrafts/souvenirs
Always ask locals before taking photos of individuals or their property. Respect their privacy.
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Our gift and appreciation for green travelers
Himalayan Green Trips and let's clean up Nepal initiated the green initiative to reduce mountain pollution and will provide reusable trash bags to carry trash back after finishing the trip and an appreciation letter at the end of the trip.
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Green Trips Highlights
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- Need to follow the pack in and pack out principle, - Leave only footprints on the mountain
- No single-use plastic bags enter
- Focus on local foods
- Priority is drink natural water, filter, boiled water
- Need to carry own reusable water bottle
- Need to carry out whatever will buy on the Mountain
- Clean up the trekking trails if possible
- Carry out 1kg reusable trash from mountain to city for the city to reduce mountain pollution,
- Support the Let’s Clean Up Nepal Green initiative by spreading an environmental message by attaching the posters on the guesthouses and educating guides, porters, trekkers, and locals, etc.