Guardians of Himalaya

Following points should be followed for Responsible Tourism:

• Take permission from the local people before photographing them or their property.
• Put your rubbish in the garbage bins and give the organic waste to your guesthouse or some other people who have animals to feed.
• Don't waste and pollute the water.
• Keeping all pollutants and garbage away from watercourses and put them at the disposal site .
• Try to avoid plastic bottles and plastic bags it already bans in Ladakh.
• Prefer dishes made from local products and which are of organic.
• Try to avoid water flush toilets and prefer Ladakhi style compost toilets.
• Try to use of bio-degradable and natural products such as soaps and detergents.
• Buy local products for snacks like dried apricots, applesand ladakhi biscuits.
• Use ecological soap and wash yourself a little away from the river as the water is used for drinking in many villages.
• Be sensitive to when and where you take photos and video of people.
• Do not urinate or defecate near water or in the fields.
• Try to make as little environmental impact as possible in this part of India and help to sustain the indigenous populace.
• Respect the natural environment. Never touch or harass animals. Always follow designated trails.
• Support conservation by paying entrance fees to parks and protected sites.
• Never buy crafts or products made from protected or endangered animals.
• Do not leave any litter along trekking routes or on camp sites.
• Take your shoes off before entering a monastery.
• Do not touch the statues or thangkas at monasteries and refrain from smoking on the premises.
• Don't use flash photography inside monasteries as the flash tends to damage the color of the frescoes inside.
• Wear sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen at all times, as the sun is extremely sharp at this high altitude.
• Do not make public displays of affection.