ONE OF THE TENETS OF RESPONSIBLE

tourism is to take only photos and leave only footprints. In the newly-created state of Uttaranchal in northern India, even footprints are hard to find.

Shakti Uttaranchal Tours offer a rare opportunity for visitors to discover a ravishingly beautiful remote region where the trails are untrodden, unspoilt and off the beaten track. Here, the air is fresh, the sky is clear and the views of the Himalayas will absolutely take your breath away.

During the course of one of Shakti's four-day hikes - between villages that have no road access - you'll see no other foreigners but will instead experience a slice of Indian life in which visitors are welcomed into the homes of local people.

The accommodation is simple but clean and comfortable, and sitting inside a village house, watching the owner cook chapatis and listening to the laughter of locals sittings around their fires, it's easy to lose yourself in another world.

As an alternative to the Village Walks, visitors can enjoy the pristine grandeur from Shakti's luxurious, solar-powered lodge, 360 Leti. Comprising four private cottages and combining age-old dry-stack stone wall building techniques with innovative contemporary design, set in a stunning wilderness at 8,000 ft, 360 Leti is literally the height of luxury. Here is all the peace and tranquility a troubled soul could wish for.

This really is designed to be low-volume, law-impact tourism. Gemma Hyde, Shakti's manager explains: 'We have limited our village Walks programme to a maximum of four people at a time, and ensure it is not done voyeuristically. Villagers host tourists in their homes, allowing both groups to learn from a cultural exchange.

Shakti has brought benefits: a large number of local people are employed either directly or indirectly by the company, but guests are discouraged from indulging locals by giving them money directly. A village development fund has been set up which will be used for specific projects in the local area.

'After three years here.' says Gemma, 'We've not seen any negative social impact on the local communities who continue to lead their lives as before without being intruded upon.
www.shaktihimalya.com