The tourism boom in Nepal, as in other countries, has had a mixed blessing. It has generated a sizeable share of Nepalese foreign currency revenue but few people in the tourist destinations have experienced an improvement in their standard of living.

In fact, for many communities, the influence of visitors has come at a considerable cost. In numerous places, trekking groups have left littered trails and degraded forest in their wake. Against this alarming backdrop, the practice of eco-tourism has been gaining increased momentum – both in Nepal and around the World. This alternative type of tourism seeks not only to preserve the environment and culture of a tourist destination but also to be of benefit to the local population…. By fostering environmental awareness, both among locals & visitors and by linking tourism to social and economic development, it is possible to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of an area through the promotion of sustainable tourism. This not only enhances the positive experience of those on holiday it also helps to increase the standard of living of the local residents.

Respect local traditions, customs, values and sentiments to help them protect local culture and maintain local pride.

• Let Nepal remain pristine for all times to come.
• Come, see and conserve.
• What’s made out of murder, do not buy. Ivory looks better on the elephant, and the shell on the tortoise.
• Pay fair prices for food, lodging and services. Buying local products benefits hill economies, but buying antiques and artifacts robs Nepal of its culture.
• Respect privacy when taking photographs. Always ask first, try to establish a friendly rapport and please don’t pay money. 
• Respect holy places and footwear is not allowed inside temples.
• Refrain from giving money to children as it encourages begging
• Respect for the local etiquette earns you respect
• No nudity when bathing please. Women should wear sarong covering them from chest to knees.
• Take hot showers only when the water is heated by non wood or fuel-saving stoves.
• Let the Himalayas change you - Do not change them
• Don’t hike too high too fast and don’t trek alone. 
• Stick to main trails to prevent erosion.
• Protect the natural environment
• Don’t buy bottled water on trek. Instead, use a canteen or water bottle and add iodine to treat drinking water.
• Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it
• Limit deforestation - make no open fires
• Burn dry paper and packets in a safe place and carry away all non-degradable garbage. Resist the graffiti itch.
• Keep local water clean and avoid using pollutants
• Plants should be left to flourish in their natural environment

Have a break and give the World one.

Our approach is to raise environmental awareness amongst those people who travel with us to Nepal. We provide information to our customers on how to minimize the negative effects of their stay here and we are actively involved in the preservation of this very fragile environment. We also are involved in efforts to help sustain the vulnerable indigenous cultures within the country. We are a member of other responsible travel companies in UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Canada and other many countries in the world, meaning we have chosen to adhere to a code of conduct for limiting the impact of tourism. We encourage all those who travel with Nature Trails (if they wish) to give feed back to the responsible travel companies nearest your country, on our approach to these issues.

We always pleased to welcome comments and suggestions from those who travel with on how we can continue to move with all of these issues.

Giving something back

Nature Trail Trekking is committed to the people of Himalayas. We are engaged in programs to support economically less beneficial people in the development of education, environmental and cultural conservation and various aspects

We sponsor and conduct educational classes in villages where we find the needy people. We believe that adult education is essential in order to get sustainable development in the mountain areas of Nepal. Adults who receive education are more likely to see the importance of educating their children. Ours is a modest effort, but we think it’s very important.

Besides popular basic trekking itineraries, we organize cultural tours and village tours also.

For village tours our guests are taken to unspoiled villages where they spend a few days living with the local people and being treated as honored family guests. While staying in the villages, guests enjoy comfortable accommodation, delicious local food and drink and a welcome that will remain a happy memory for a lifetime. While they are with us our guests can rest assured that they are always in a secure and safe environment.

We always buy food and vegetables locally to stimulate the village business and our packages are designed to ensure that supplies are sourced in the village communities we visit during the tours.

In this way we are be able to support the preservation of the priceless heritage that is Nepalese culture while improving the life style and well-being of the local people.