Breakfree Adventures Pvt. Ltd. is a leading trekking and travel agency with dedicated travel professionals who are well trained to show you the best of what Nepal has to offer. Our professional team follows a social philosophy that accepts responsibility for the local people and the environment in which we work. We respect the natural environment and the culture of our country, and we help travelers from around the world discover the natural beauty and cultural treasures of Nepal. We know that responsible travel tries to minimize the impact of tourism on the environment and maximize employment and income-generating opportunities for local communities. The whole of Nepal, including those living in remote rural areas that have very few other opportunities for development, benefits from sustainable tourism.
Breakfree Adventures is passionate about preserving the environment. As responsible tour guides in Nepal, we strive to maintain a symbiotic relationship with the local communities through which we travel. While trekking to different destinations, we choose environmentally – friendly lodges that respect the needs of their staff members. We take care of our staff as well as our valued clients. During our treks and other trips, we follow a zero garbage policy (“pack in, pack out”) and leave nothing behind in the campsites.
We always welcome your feedback and comments regarding responsible travel, so please send an e-mail to let us know what you think.
Economic Responsibility
We can develop tourism in ways which reflect the natural, cultural and social integrity of the destination, and which encourage appropriate forms of tourism. Tourism is one of the most prevalent industries in the world and it is the largest incoming source of foreign currency in Nepal. Tourism also provides economic incentives, promotes wild-life conservation, generates income for park management and brings much needed income to the rural populations. It also accepts reasonable business, charges fair prices, and builds partnerships with international companies related to tourism, thus helping to establish friendly and co-related relationships in the field of tourism. Sharing ideas with others creates the opportunity for all to benefit from the wonder of tourism. Moreover, local people gain economically from tourism by helping travelers through their guiding skills, working as porter etc. They are most likely to respond positively to tourists and work with them to protect and manage their natural resource base. Providing local people and locally run businesses (local produce shops and vendors, hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, taxis etc.) with business opportunities keeps tourism generated revenue within the local economy.
By facilitating trekking packages to many regions, we also bring wealth into those regions through job creation and sales. The money received by Breakfree Adventures Pvt. Ltd. also benefits the local people of remote areas. As well as donating tourism-generated income to local charity programs (such as school development within a remote area), we have also taken the initiative to introduce tourists to these programs to provide them with the opportunity to donate to such a cause, if they wish to. This collaboration creates an environment that allows for joined and effective participation from many helpful sources. Moreover, this too aids wealth creation within poor communities, which could have very profitable effects in the long run. Working within this industry, however, does not always come easy and the benefits come with high costs; long and irregular working hours, minimal job security or seasonal work, and comparably low wages characterize employment in this sector. Nonetheless, in such an economy, money creates more money and eventually better living standards. Wisely utilizing natural resources through proper implementation of the tourism policies can create sustainable income for businesses and individuals. It can also assist in sustaining indigenous culture, language and/or religion.
Environmental Responsibility
To preserve natural resources and conserve the environment, it is necessary to teach environmental awareness in local schools, in the community, at homes and in volunteer service centers. In Nepal, volunteers have formed student groups to work on environmental projects, relying on their personal expertise and addressing the needs of the village communities. They organize various activities, such as planting trees in the barren lands and teaching different methods of preservation, in order to educate the local people about the importance of preserving the environment. Other programs emphasize the importance of recycling, for example by making a smokeless stove, building a toilet pit, informing adults and children about the hazards of inappropriate garbage disposal, building a compost bin and teaching them how to maintain it, etc. We boil water and use water purification tablets to minimize the rapid growth of pollution. Our guides carry iodine supplies on treks and we encourage clients to have their own supply as well.
Social Responsibility
Because we are all members of a global society, we believe social responsibility is a major part of responsible travel. We assist many communities and individuals in supporting local communities, as well as setting up school buildings and drinking water projects in remote parts of Nepal. We enthusiastically maintain a connection with many schools in different parts of Nepal. We can provide travelers with volunteer opportunities in the areas of health, education, mountain resource management, environment and pollution, just to name a few. Basically, we provide services that allow charity groups and volunteer workers to donate their time while learning more about Nepal.
Staff Welfare and Porter Protection Policy
We are liable for our porters and guides and we care about all of our staff, from trek leaders and guides to sherpas, cooks and porters. We ensure good pay, life insurance, and helicopter evacuation, as well as the equipment and clothing needed for porters and each member of the trekking staff. We believe that guides and porters are the backbone of our company. Without them, we would not be able to assist our valued clients, and to give them the attention they deserve as we introduce them to the spectacular beauty of the Himalayas. Our guides and porters also do their best to ensure that visitors get the quality service that they expect and deserve. They possess in-depth knowledge of the trekking destinations.
We have adopted the following guidelines, which we refer to as our Porter
Protection Policy:
- Good & fair working wages.
- Weight carried is limited to about 25 kilograms.
- Same standard of medical care applies to porters / trek staff / trek members.
- Adequate food and accommodation.
- Accident / medical insurance.
- No porter is asked to return en route the trek.
- Adequate trekking gear for all porters, such as Gortex wind & waterproof jacket and trousers, fleece jacket, woolen warm hat, woolen gloves, woolen socks, trekking shoes / boots, sunglasses, etc..
- In no circumstance will a sick porter be sent back alone, without someone who speaks his language and understands the problem.
- Sufficient financial aid will be provided to any sick porter and a helper to cover the cost of their safe return and any required treatment.
Contribution to Local Communities
Breakfree Adventures Pvt. Ltd. offers many volunteer programs and charitable opportunities, by for example supporting schools and local communities in remote parts of Nepal and assisting the poor and needy people living in these areas. We also run community-based environmental projects and have launched many programs designed to address important environmental issues. We encourage local people and their communities to contribute to community development, education, as well as health, the environment, and their communities as a whole. Consequently, we believe that our program enriches the lives of individuals, and promotes the development of daily activities in the fields of education, health, environmental sanitation, and so forth.