Operating in the Himalaya in the present tense is a responsibility. This
page sets out the practices we follow today — and where we are honestly
still working. We make no claims we cannot evidence on a quiet audit.
Last reviewed 13 May 2026.
Suppliers — vetted, not aggregated
Every property we use is visited by an atelier composer before it joins our roster — no OTA-feed inventory, no never-seen partners.
We prioritise locally-owned and locally-staffed properties. Where international brands sit on our roster, we choose the ones whose general managers and head of housekeeping are from the region.
We do not place guests in properties that depend on diesel generation when grid or hybrid alternatives exist locally.
Wildlife encounters are arranged only through partners who follow distance-based behavioural protocols. We refuse closer-than-100-yard wildlife framing in editorial and in the field.
People — the journey supports the people who make it possible
Local guides are paid at rates that exceed the regional average for the work — not industry-low day rates.
Tipping is included transparently in your final estimate so it isn't pushed onto guides as a variable income.
We commission directly from artisans (pashmina weavers, namda makers, copper-smiths, papier-mâché workshops) at workshop-set prices, not bazaar-floor margins.
A portion of every journey funds the Pashm Road artisan trust, supporting apprenticeships in declining Kashmiri crafts.
Environment — measured choices, not slogans
Itineraries are composed to consolidate transfers. Where two short flights can become one long road segment by adding a day's pace, we suggest the slower option first.
Single-use plastics are kept off our vehicles and pack lists. Filtered refill stations are provided at every overnight.
For carbon, we publish a per-journey estimate (vehicle + aviation + accommodation) in the final itinerary. Verified offsetting is offered as an option, not a default — and we route offsets through Gold Standard or Verra projects, never voluntary spot markets.
We work within the carrying-capacity guidance issued by regional tourism boards (especially Bhutan's high-value low-volume regime and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council's Inner Line guidance).
Where we are still working
Honest in-progress list
Formal third-party certification (GSTC, Travelife, B Corp) — under preparation; nothing claimed until awarded.
A public per-journey carbon model. The internal version is live; the published version is being reviewed for honesty before we share it.
Property-level scoring sheet — supplier audits are happening informally; we are formalising the rubric and will publish the criteria when it is stable enough to evaluate ourselves against fairly.
How you can ask us about all of this
Write to hello@thehimalayan.guru
with "Sustainability" in the subject. We answer specific questions —
about a property, a route, a supplier — directly and honestly, including
cases where we have not yet got to the answer.