SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVANCY INDIA TRUST
The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT) is a not-for-profit organization run by a group of enthusiastic Ladakhi youth working at the grass-roots level. The organization was co-founded in 2003 by late Rinchen Wangchuk, a Ladakhi mountaineer and naturalist. SLC-IT had realized early on that snow leopards and other wild animals cannot be conserved without the support of local communities that bear the brunt of human-wildlife conflict. The Himalayan Homestays Program was pioneered to incentivize people’s involvement in snow leopard conservation and serves as one of the best wildlife conservation models in the world.
Our Vision
We envision a Ladakh inhabited by warm and prosperous people, practicing a vibrant local culture in a serene environment with a healthy population of snow leopards, and where people and wild animals together make Ladakh one of the most sought-after destinations in the world.
Our Values
We believe in compassionate, ethical and sustainable tourism that ensures prosperity of local communities, better habitats for wild animals and the long-term survival of local flora and fauna as well as visitor satisfaction. The Himalayan Homestays initiative is based on the principles of small scale, slow growth and local control of the business.
Responsible Tourism
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We believe that along with the privilege of adventure in the Himalayan range comes a serious responsibility, the responsibility to protect and contribute to its ecology, community, cultures and its tremendous beauty. Each one of us has a responsibility towards making such positive economic, social, cultural, and environmental impact.
Responsible Tourism has never been as important and relevant as it is today. The challenge is to maintain the fine balance between amazing holiday experiences and, at the same time empowering local communities to improve quality of life and to conserve their environment so that future generations can also enjoy the same life-changing adventures as we have experienced.
We believe travelling has the power to change perceptions and we encourage travellers to get in touch with grass-roots. We choose accommodations that are family run and encourage you to becoming part of that eco-system that infuses back into the local economic cycle empowering Ladakhi to sustain their livelihood. Plus, you are not just supporting the local economy but also get to learn from the rich and true culture of Ladakh.
Above all we are committed to the well-being of the communities that are our hosts and the natural environment that we are there to experience. Ninety percent of the proceeds goes back directly to the homestay.
DO YOUR BIT TO HELP TO PROTECT LADAKH:
​Carry a water bottle and refill it with spring or solarised boiled water.
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Avoid buying plastic water bottles as much as possible.
Generate minimum garbage and carry it back to Leh or Kargil for recycling.
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Do not drive off-road, especially near high altitude lakes like Tsokar and Tsomoriri, as this greatly harms ground-nesting birds, small mammals and reptiles.
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Where available, use solar showers for bathing.
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Keep all pollutants away from streams and lakes.
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Take special care to not disturb wildlife.
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Do not disturb breeding water birds on lakes and other wetlands.
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Respect the sanctity of holy and historical sites; take off your shoes before entering a monastery.
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Do not touch the statues or frescoes in monasteries and refrain from smoking on the premises.
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Do not use flash photography inside monasteries; the flash damages the colour of the centuries-old frescoes.
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Ask permission before photographing people and cultural features.
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Take home happy memories, leave only footprints behind!