Big Canvas Adventures - A state of mind!
"Keep things on your trip in perspective, and you'll be amazed at the perspective you gain on things back home while you're away...One's little world is put into perspective by the bigger world out there."
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy, and our objectives are very simple, to share our passion of travel and adventure, and the huge diversity and beauty of the world. We believe strongly that not only are we "guests" in the countries that we visit, but by a similar token, that we are merely stewards in this beautiful world upon which we live.
At Big Canvas, we know how important your holiday is to you. Whether choosing one of the more strenuous "classic" treks, one of our "active" options, or one of our more leisurely "Experience" tours. Whatever your choice, we hope that, in some small way, you will return with a keener understanding both of the beauty and variety of the world, but also its fragility.
This site is for those people who love the outdoors and are active in mind, even if the realities of life sometimes get in the way! People who are adventurous and want to visit new places, to experience local cultures, traditions & cuisine. Nepal, at the roof of the world, straddling the Himalay devide between Tibet and India offers all this and more.
We strive to be flexibile & to provide as much choice as possible, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday.
The best trips are measured in friends, made and met, rather than in miles. Our aim, is that by travelling in a small group, you will have the opportunity to meet & socialise with like minded people, and come back from your trip with us, both with new friends, but also an understanding and love for the country and its people.
"A Desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world." - John Le Carre
BigCanvas - Our Commitment To You
Personal service
Throughout your experince with BigCanvas we offer a professional, personal and dedicated service. Every group will have their own english speaking Group Leader, on all treks your bags will be carried for you, leaving you free to take in the views, enjoy your trek & take as many photographs as you would wish.
Small groups and trek leaders
It is our mission to ensure you have an enjoyable, safe and interesting experience. We endeavour whereever possible to use local English speaking leaders & Sherpas so that they can share their knowledge of the area visited. The minimum size for the majority of our treks is six members, with no additional small group surcharge, and the maximum is generally twelve.
On every trip the safety of our customers and trek staff is our top priority. This begins at the planning stage from designing a well thought out itinery which allows for the necessary time to acclimatise to the increase in altitude. All our guides are well trained and highly experienced in leading groups in the Himalayas. In Nepal, all guides are required to be licensed, and to have passed a strict examination process with the Nepales government.
On the majority of treks we provide "2 way radios" to enable the guide to keep in contact with others walking at a different pace, this prevents the need for the whole party to walk in one large group.
Good value
All our treks are good value for money. We provide an excellent service at competitive prices. We do not compromise on the quality of any aspect of the trip and always ensure our local staff are paid a fair wage.
Responsible tourism
We run all our trips in as responsible manner as possible, socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. We are dedicated to responsible & sustainable tourism with the aim that clients will have an rewarding & enjoyable holiday, and are confident in the fact that they have put something back into the community they have visited.
Low volume and low impact travelling is one of the most effective ways of preserving the fragile areas we visit and provides more opportunities for contact with locals and for cultural exchange. We work within guidelines set down by the Nepalese government, and International welfare associations such as the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) and Tourism Concern.
We encourage clients to consider offsetting the environmental effects of international travel by contributing to Climate Care.
Big Canvas has developed its own Responsible Tourism policy.
Satisfaction
We rely heavily on recommendation and repeat custom for our bookings, so it goes without saying that we do our utmost to ensure that you have the best holiday possible.
Feedback
At the conclusion of every trek or tour, you will be provided with a questionnaire that we request you to complete. We rely on your feedback to maintain and improve the quality of our holidays.
Accuracy
We do our utmost to make sure that the information provided on our web-site & in any literature we produce is accurate. However, things can change due to circumstances beyond our control.
Group size
All our groups are small, each trip description will state minimum and maximum group sizes. Normally these will be six and twelve respectively. We feel that small groups provide a better social experience for you, and in many cases are essential to preserve the integrity of the more remote places that we visit.
Your travelling companions
Many different kinds of people travel with us. They may be 18 or 65 years old, of either sex, alone or with a friend, experienced travellers or complete beginners, but you can be reasonably sure that they will share an interest in travel and exploration, and have a similar attitude of mind.
BigCanvas staff
Our staff are one of our key assets, and are very carefully selected and qualified to ensure that your trip is as trouble-free and enjoyable as possible. Some of our local staff may live in or originate from the area you travelling, take advantage of their local knowledge and ask about the villages you are passing through, and the sights and people you see along your journey. Regardless of their position, all our staff share a passion for travel.
Where we stay
The accomodation throughout your stay in Nepal, is selected for their charm and local character. It is likely that for many, you will stay at the Kathmandu guest house, a charming hotel in Thamel in central Kathmandu. Over the years it has hosted an impressive record of guests including famous climbers, writers, researchers and numerous world celebrities from the Beatles to Ricky Martin and Oscar winning actor Jeremy Irons. Many books, articles and reports have been written in the famous garden of KGH. In places where there aren't any hotels you may find yourself roughing it for a short time, whether in a tent or a local "tea house", It all adds to the experience, and whereever you stay you can be assured of a warm welcome.
Some treks are based on camping, because of the area and the activities ( your trip itinery will clearly state if this is the case). When we do camp, we supply all the necessary equipment, of a high standard, so that all you need to bring is a good pair of boots, your own cold weather gear, and your camera.
Is it for you?
Our trips are for active, adventurous open-minded people who are seeking out the different and the exotic. The mountain treks in particular are walking focussed holidays that can be quite strenuos, each trek is graded on how difficult they are, so you should be reasonably fit and sure that you will enjoy the activity, please see the grading on each trek description. In the high mountains the weather and temperature can be quite extreme, and you will need to dress accordingly. There will also be times when you will have to put up with temporary lack of civilised comforts, such as a hot shower, and entertainment such as TV or Radio, for the majority of our clients, this is exactly the experience they are seeking. If you simply cannot cope without your creature comforts and are unwilling to embrace anything unexpected or unusual, irrespective of the fact that you are half way up a mountain, then this is probably not the holiday for you..
Trip Notes
For every Trek or Tour on this site there are detailed Trip Notes, these contain background information on each trip giving details such as what to bring and wear, the weather to expect, a bit about the local geography, history, and customs. They also include an extended itinerary and other details including visas and vaccinations requirements.
The Trip Notes are part of the Trek or Tour description on this site, a copy of these will be sent to you with your booking confirmation. These details are the definitive statement of inclusions and trip details, and it forms an essential part of our contract with you. Both to aid your understanding and to avoid any misunderstandings, we strongly recommend that you have read and are totally confortable with their contents before making any booking with us.
Financial protection
Financial security We provide complete financial security for all our clients and adhere to all government regulations concerning the safety of our clients’ money. You can book with BigCanvas in complete confidence that all monies paid to us for trips are fully secure.
Many thanks and happy trekking from all the team at Big Canvas.
Enjoy!!