Responsible Travel – The top line

Responsible travel is a new way of travelling for those who’ve had enough of mass tourism. It’s about respecting and benefiting local people and the environment – but it’s about far more than that.

If you travel for relaxation, fulfillment, discovery, adventure and to learn – rather than simply to tick off ‘places and things’ – then responsible travel is for you.

Responsible travel suits life’s curious adventurers and enthusiasts.

Getting more out of your holiday
Responsible travel is about bringing you closer to local cultures and environments by involving local people in tourism. It’s about doing this in a fair way that helps ensure that they will give you an even warmer welcome.

For example, a local guide from the destination will open your eyes to their cultures and ways of life far better than an expat guide could ever do – they will also earn a much needed income from you.

The responsible traveler prefers smaller groups, and to meet some local people (as well as fellow travelers) rather than be surrounded by 1000’s of people from back home. They don’t like being herded about in a large crowd like nameless faces and understand that travelling in smaller groups makes local people and cultures more accessible.

The responsible travelers want to get a little bit more out of their travels, and to give a little bit back to the special places and people that they encounter. They want deeper and more real travel experiences. The responsible traveler values authenticity – experiences integral to local people’s traditions, cultures and rituals – rather than those created for tourism, or those whose existing meanings and uses have become lost as they have been packaged up for tourism.

At the same time the responsible traveler understands that some cultural experiences are best kept private, and that their visit would be an intrusion. They believe that travelling with respect earns them respect.

Rediscovering nature
Responsible travel is about re-discovering how to experience nature and to be in it, feeling it, smelling it and learning about it rather than just looking at it.

Through this they replenish their souls. They would rather get out on foot than sit in a big bus, and are determined to leave no physical evidence of their visit but their footprints.

The responsible traveler understands local peoples relationship with environments, and that income from tourism can be a powerful incentive for conservation.

The responsible traveler values diversity – diversity of people, cultures and environments. They believe that they can grow as individuals through these experiences, and that their trip can make a positive contribution towards conserving global diversity.

Above all else the responsible traveler wants to cut loose and experience their world. The experienced responsible traveler knows how difficult it can be to do the right thing – and is humble and learns from their mistakes. Whether they travel independently, or through a leading responsible travel operator, the responsible traveler makes and experiences a difference.

When we visit beautiful places it’s natural to want our holidays to have a positive impact on local people and their environments.

Responsible travel is about more authentic holiday experiences that enable you to get a little bit more out of your travels, and give a little bit more back to destinations and local people.

All holidays have positive and negative impacts locally.
Responsible travel maximizes the benefits, and minimizes the negative effects of tourism.

Before you travel
• Read up on local cultures and learn a few words of the local language – travelling with respect earns you respect.
• Remove all excess packaging – waste disposal is difficult in remote places and developing countries
• Ask your tour operator for specific tips for responsible travel in your destination
• Ask your tour operator/hotel if there are useful gifts that you could pack for your hosts, local people or schools
• Ask your tour operator whether there are local conservation or social projects that you could visit on your trip, and if/how you could help support them

While on holiday
• Buy local products in preference to imported goods
• Hire a local guide – you’ll discover more about local culture and lives, and they will earn an income
• Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places – if in doubt ask advice or don’t visit
• Use water sparingly – it’s very precious in many countries and tourists tend to use far more than local people
• Remember that local people have different ways of thinking and concepts of time, this just makes them different not wrong – cultivate the habit of asking questions (rather than the Western habit of knowing the answers

When you get back
• Write to your tour operator or hotel with any comments or feedback about your holiday, and especially include any suggestions on reducing environmental impacts and increasing benefits to local communities.
• If you’ve promised to send pictures or gifts to local people remember to do so, many are promised and not all arrive!
• Enjoy the memories, reflect on your experience and start planning your next trip!

Get matched to top travel specialists
Anyone can dream a great vacation. But it can be hard work to make it happen — and to find a travel agent who truly specializes in your trip. At Opulent Routes, we carefully select the world’s best boutique tour companies to find the perfect travel specialists for you.

– Connect with the most knowledgeable travel specialists for your vacation.
– Go beyond your imagination with unique experiences recommended by experts.
– Experience the wonder of an exceptional itinerary crafted just for you.

The people who know best
There’s no easy way to say it: unless you are traveling with one of our specialists, you simply won’t get the depth of experience — the wisest guides, the closest wilderness encounters, the real people and events — that spell the difference between a regular package tour and a sublime, once-in-a-lifetime vacation. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to our travelers.

Find travel perfection, with the wisdom of experts.

4 steps to the perfect trip
Your trip planning begins the minute you send us the request. Using sophisticated technology and in-depth human know-how, we personally craft your specific vacation. They then compete to concoct the perfect vacation recipe — with a few little sweeteners thrown in!

• You tell us the destinations, dates and preferred ingredients of your dream trip.
• We match you with 2-3 top travel specialists and link them (and only them) to your private information.
• They compete for your business, offering expert advice and developing detailed proposals.
• You purchase the ideal itinerary after it’s refined to perfection with you.

Only the best specialists
 We are naturally head of the class when it comes to luxury travel planning, because we do more homework than anyone else. Each of our specialist partners undergoes rigorous screening before they can join our network. They get extra coaching to keep their services at world-leading levels. And they must show, on every trip, that our guests give them top grades for their hard work and creativity.

Perfect Client Support

At Opulent Routes, we believe our adventure tours are world class and to back that up, we are the only Indian travel company to offer a no strings attached 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

We want you to rest easy knowing that your luxury tour to Indian sub-continent will be the trip of a lifetime.

We want you to feel comfortable and reassured that you’ve found and chosen to travel with a tour operator that cares about the details, so you don’t have to.

What We Promise You?
If you’re not completely satisfied, then we want to prove you can have a world class luxury vacation in Indian sub-continent. So we’ll invite you back to experience another Opulent Routes tour of similar value, free of charge.

If you are not satisfied with any aspect of your tour, then raise it with your guide or any member of the office team and give us 24 hours to resolve it.

How it Works?
There are no strings attached.
In order to qualify for the guarantee, you must raise the issue with your guide or any member of the office team within 24 hours and while on the tour, so that we have the opportunity to take immediate action to rectify the situation.

If there’s an issue that we haven’t managed to resolve to your satisfaction, simply fill out the form and send it back to us within 30 days after you end up your trip.

We’ll discuss a suitable outcome with you which may result in a credit note up to the value of the trip price.

The 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies to all the adventure tours booked directly with us or bookings made via agents.