Fair Trails Himalayas: A sustainable tourism project

Fair Trails – responsible Trekking

Together with ENNOVENT and selected Nepalese tourism and sustainability experts – because they know best about their country – we have developed the Fair Trails Himalayas program. This is based on three key aspects:

Fair Trails Tour operator:
Fair Trails Tour operator, like Trail Angels, commit to the following sustainability criteria:

• CO2 compensation for the flight to Kathmandu via www.climateaustria.at. Climate Austria is the compensation platform in Austria supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism.
• A transparent and fair business model for Fair Trails products, which includes a commission self-restriction and a Fair Trails licensing fee for supporting selected Fair Trails projects.
• Knowledge and technology transfer in support of regionally managed sustainable tourism in the Himalayan countries through the Fair Trails Academy, which is currently being developed

Fair Trails Trekking Agencies
We work exclusively with Fair Trails certified trekking agencies in Nepal for the implementation of the Fair Trails programs. These commit themselves among other things to:

• Fair wages and working environment, both for the trekking crews (guides, carriers) and for the office teams.
• The maximum insurance coverage available in the Himalayan countries for the trekking crews
• Fair prices for the service providers along the trekking route (e.g. lodges, homestays, campsites)
• Preference for lodge or homestay trekking (where available) rather than tent trekking to increase regional added value (additionally: preference for regionally operated lodges and regional food).
• Compliance with high ecological standards during the trekking trip (e.g. active waste management; no open fires etc.)

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• Long-term contractual commitment of selected professional experts for the competent accompaniment of Fair Trails expeditions. The experts are selected by Fair Trails Himalayas and explore the programs offered on their own explorations.

Fair Trails Destinations
The Fair Trails concept is to be used in very specific regions in the Himalayas that have hardly been subject to tourism development to date, with the following objectives:

• Increase in regional value creation through a sustainable tourism model while foregoing major infrastructural measures.

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• Integration of a Fair Trails fee in the tour price, in order to be able to support selected projects on site independently in financial terms.
• Networking of a wide variety of initiatives to be able to trigger an overall development, beyond tourism.

And these are our Fair Trails:

Snow Leopard Trail
On the tracks of the snow leopard

Our 1st Official Fair Trail covers a remote Himalayan area north of the mighty Annapurna Himal. There where the “Spirit of the Himalaya”, the mystical Snow Leopard still finds a largely intact habitat. Learn more about the Snow Leopard Trail and its bookable offers here!

Chitwan Ethno Trail
On lonely paths in Nepal’s exciting south

This breathtaking trail leads at the junction of two world landscapes – Himalaya and Ganges plains – and far off the beaten track in Nepal’s exciting south. You will hike from village to village, eat and spend the night in the houses of the locals, and occasionally lend a hand yourself in their daily work. You will get to know four fascinating ethnic groups: The Newar from the valley of Kathmandu; the Gurung, cattle breeders and farmers in the Mahabharat mountains; the Chepang, who have lived in isolation for a long time and still hunt bats, and the Tharu fishing people in the jungle of Chitwan. Finally, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Chitwan National Park, and be a guest at the legendary Tiger Tops Lodge. Soon bookable here!

Salt Caravan Trail
On the road with the last salt caravan in the Himalayas

The movie “Himalaya – A leader’s childhood” was a world success. Alone his images of crossing the Himalayas with yak caravans, whose last the so valuable Himalayan salt, extracted on the salt lakes in the inhospitable Tibetan plateau, are so beguiling to think they are real. Here the link to the film!
But modern times do not stop at the Himalayas. While road link after road link is being built across this world mountain range, connecting the two emerging economic powers of India and China, there is still a salt caravan in the remote province of Dolpo. We have decided to protect this cultural heritage. You can help and be a part of it by accompanying this caravan.
Incredible but true. And soon bookable with us!

We have you for our project “Fair Trails Himalayas” can inspire?
You want to know more about it. Or even participate yourself in one of the next exploration expeditions?
Then just send us an email!

Registration and further info:
Trail Info- & Booking Center
Tel: +43 4782 93093
E-Mail: info@bookyourtrail.com

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