Festivals going green, topless swimming in Berlin and parisian rooms with a view
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Good evening. In Uttarakhand, a forested northern state backing on to the Himalayas, responsible travel company Village Ways has spent the past two decades helping locals to protect the environment, creating income opportunities for vulnerable villages where there are few other options for earning a living. Guide Hem invites writer Lorna Parkes to his home for some spicy chai showing off his new homestay, funded by his work as a guide in the Binsar wildlife sanctuary. During her three-day mini itinerary, Lorna discovers that the sanctuary, created in 1988 to repair the damage caused by years of logging, has oak trees known as “green gold” because of their role in the forest ecosystem and more than 200 species of birds, including several types of eagles, parakeets, woodpeckers, forktails and the giant Himalayan vulture. But, most importantly, at its heart she finds that life inside the reserve for its human inhabitants is a “tricky balancing act”, with international tourism in India yet to pick up again after Covid. “Twenty years ago, Dalar was a bigger village with 20 families; now there are just six families left,” says Hem. When asked what can be done, Hem replies without hesitation: “Tourism is our only option.” | Nazia Parveen Assistant travel editor | |
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| ‘Tourism is our only option’: the community banking on birding in north India Read more |
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Our travel picks of the week | 1 | Berlin | Berlin welcomes topless female swimmers in victory for activists. Read more |
| 2 | Lake District | Rites of spring: the Lake District’s ancient stones marking the passage of the seasons. Read more |
| 3 | Paris | Paris in the springtime: 10 of the best hotels with a view. Read more |
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Featured Trip | Paris, Normandy and the Seine
| | Discover Paris on a trip like no other and experience the beauty of Monet’s garden, elegant châteaux and historic Rouen on this 10-night river cruise. | View deal |
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| BBC’s Race Across the World stirs Canadian hopes of UK tourist boom. |
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This week's favourite trips |
| | Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy Discover the art, architecture and cuisine of this unique region, including a night in a trulli house and a visit to the amazing rock hewn town of Matera. | View deal |
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| | Keswick - self guided walking Explore the beauty of the Lake District on foot on this centre-based walking holiday with a range of mostly circular walks to suit everyone’s level. | View deal |
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| | UK cottage breaks Whether you fancy a seaside escape or a countryside hideaway there’s a huge range of locations to choose from plus, there’s still time to plan an Easter getaway. | View deal |
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| Primrose-fringed lanes, orchids and cake: readers’ favourite UK spring walks. |
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Deal of the week | India's tropical south - save £100pp | From the backwaters of Kerala to the colourful temples of Madurai, this journey through India’s south is filled with unforgettable sights and memorable moments. | | View deal |
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| Image of the week | Music to eco-conscious ears: 10 sustainable festivals in the UK and Europe.
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| | | If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email [email protected] |
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