dtours’s Profile
About Me
Both myself and Drea had such an amazing time exploring some of this world by ourselves. We had such incredible memories of off-the-beaten-track moments and were touched by so many kind hearted local people that we met while travelling. We both felt that these experiences were life changing for us. The inspiration for setting up a travel company was to help other like minded travelers try and capture the same moments and get amazing travel experiences. Having also had experience on group tours, we felt that most companies offer run of the mill travel that bypass some of the best local highlights. Our aim is to create tours that take travelers to places where they can live and breathe the local cultural and gain an incredible insight into culture and life outside of their own.
We aim to run 100% local supported tours that also benefit the local community and help them. It’s also saddened us to see many tour groups on our travels that had very little positive impact on the local communities. This inspired us to build a company that one day will become 100% local in the countries we operate and that can not only provide employment opportunities within local community, but provide them with the platform of training and back up support that can help them build and diversify the tourism industry within their communities and ensure a finically secure future where income generated by tourism can support an ever increasing network of people.
D’Tours Original has a 100% local policy which means that when we operate a tour, the business, guides, services and products we use or visit are 100% owned by people from the country, not just that but for example if we are trekking in a certain village area, we will use guides from that area, buy produce from the villages etc ensuring that money goes into communities that would not normally get a slice of the tourism dollar.
Our main focus at the moment is in Nepal. Nepal’s economy is based largely on tourism. But the problem here, with the massive draw card of Mount Everest and Nepal, a lot of international tour companies operate here through a "local" agent who get a very minimum amount of profit. Up to 80% of the money for a trip booked through an internationally owned company does not even come to Nepal.
Currently we are setting up our own program called “A Simple Thing.“ This project is funded by donations and profits from D’Tours trips and treks. The idea behind the project is the use the funds to invest in villages and areas of need in rural Nepal. We don’t intend to just dump money in the villages, but to invest in areas that will enable villages to build themselves up finally so that in the long term future they can be self support instead of relying on hand outs from NGO’S and INGOS.
Through A Simple thing we aim to focus on improving life in the villages, giving villages a chance to build business and hopefully encouraging people to go back and live there, elevating the environmental and economic strain and potential food crisis. We can do this by providing water supply, electricity, access roads( of course that properly management for environmental impact). We also plan on helping villages in certain areas to develop trekking routes, train them in tourism and hospitality, establish home stays and educate them about the benefits of locally based eco friendly tourism.
We think that most things about D’Tours are pretty interesting. Running a company and living and trying to integrate ourselves into another culture is an everyday adventure! Sharing an office with an adopted street dog that only responds to Nepalie and eats all our paperwork, dealing with banks that run out of money when we need it and facing up to 12 hours a day without electricity mean we have to be pretty inventive at times to get our tours up and running.
As far as our service to our customers goes, we offer more of an adventure than a package tour. As any traveler to Nepal will fast find out, that in Asia the “best made plans” never seem to go according to plan. As any of our guides will tell you, the ability to think on ones feet is a huge asset when they work for us. On one recent trip, a cultural village trek, a gas shortage had left the porters with nothing to cook the lunch on. The guide went into a local house in the middle of nowhere, procured their kitchen and our guests go treated to an amazing local feast with a family of farmers who where only too happy to put us up! The old lady of the house was so taken by our guests that she would not let them leave!
Here's What I Offer
940
Nepal Village Trek
An intriguing insight into village life and culture in Nepal, Locally based tourism at its finest
1,090
Adventure Nepal - 18 Days
An action packed tour into Nepal, Asia’s fastest growing adventure play ground. Not one for the feint of heart.
950
Mountain Bike Nepal - Pokhara to Kathmandu
For the mountain bike lover, this off road ride through the Himalayan foothills is the ultimate chance to get intimate with the culture of Nepal and the rugged biking trails on offer.
1,350
Everest Base Camp Trek
Follow your dreams and challenge yourself on this epic trek to the base of the world’s tallest mountain. Along the way meet the incredible Sherpa People who inhabit this region.
995
Sun Koshi River Rafting & Kayaking Expedition - Nepal
For the white water lover this is an epic journey into the heart of rural Nepal and through some of the BEST white water in the World!
85
Chitwan National Park Elephant Safari
Get intimate with the gentle giants of the jungle on Safari in one of Nepal's finest National Parks.
1,790
The Best of Nepal
An all encompassing tour that takes in the highlights of Nepal. Pack your bags for adventure and head into the cultural heart and soul of this mystical Himalayan paradise.
1,149
Absolute Nepal
This Nepal adventure is exclusive to D'Tours, allowing you to enjoy all the popular sites as well as other charming places you just won’t see on typical tourist trails.
220
Kayaking Clinic in Nepal
Amidst our team of river guides, we have some veteran kayakers who will employ their many years of experience at their craft to train you in the ways of the kayak.
780
Explore Nepal
A roving energetic Mountain Bike Tour that explores the highlights and culture of rural Nepal