The Explore Nepal

Our Environmental, Social and Heritage Preservation activities:

Environmental Activities

• Energy
  We try to minimise consumption of energy in the office and in all of our owned or contracted establishments. Our policies are:
  
  • No air conditioners
  • No elevators
  • Use of solar water heating systems
  • Minimize electricity use
  
  
• Water
  
  • Minimize the use of water while still focusing on maximum hygiene for bedding and towels
  • Toilets flush with 3-5 litres of water [unlike the commonly used 12 litres flush]
  We have also funded a drinking water reservoir in the center of Kathmandu
  
  
• Waste Management:
  Rather than just managing waste, we try to minimise waste prodcution with our plastic and can free policy. Any glass, aluminium, steel, paper and organic waste is collected and sold in Kathmandu for reuse. We also have the following Waste Management Policy:
  
  • No plastic, polythene and cans, where possible
  • Glass, aluminium, steel, paper and organic waste sold for reuse.
  • No plastic mineral water bottles. [Approx 42,000 litres of water provided annually thus 42,000 plastic bottles saved]
  • All waste generated during treks brought to Kathmandu for disposal
  • Partially used soaps, candles sold to their manufactureres for reuse
  • Trekking routes used are cleaned by extra porters
  
  
• External Environmental Activities
  We have run various campaigns and have gained award winning recognition for our environmentally sustainable work:
  
  • Carbon Offset: Planting a native tree for every guest who books a tour
  • Ban on Plastic Bags
  • Clean up of trekking and mountaineering routes
  • Banning of diesel tempos (pollution generating small 3 wheeler taxis) in Kathmandu
  • Getting rid of congestion in the Bishnumati Link Road
  • Traffic Management Activities in Kathmandu
  
  

Social Activities

In addition to our environmental activities we also have various social policies:

• Training, education, employment to communities outside Kathmandu
• Training, education and above average wages to own employees
• Build relationships between our staff and local communities
• Briefings to visitors on local environments and communities

Heritage Preservation

The company in relation to heritage preservation has launched various campaigns:

• A traffic free zone: Kathmandu Durbar Square
• Tripureswor Mahadev Temple renovation
• Preservation campaign for Ranipokahri, the historic lake in Kathmandu
• Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, a conservation role model
• Transformation of Balaju Park, Kathmandu
• Swayambhunath area clean up
• Clean up of the historic park Tundikhel

The Explore Nepal Group has restored buildings in Kathmandu for its own use:

• A building renovated and converted into a Nepalese restaurant - Bhojan Griha
• Kantipur Temple House Hotel – our eco-hotel with traditional decor