Ladakh, 30 July 2021: CEAT Tyres, India’s leading tyre manufacturer, has partnered with Wander Beyond Boundaries (WBB) to organise two 4×4 extreme terrain driving expeditions called ‘Zanskar & Beyond’ to promote responsible and sustainable travel. The drives will cover less-frequented territories in Ladakh, with the first one planned from August 1 to 14, and the second from August 21 to September 3.

The fleet will comprise about 9 vehicles and a total team size of 25 participants from various parts of the country. The vehicles will include the Thar, Fortuner and Gypsy, – a locally hired mixed convoy.

The back-to-back expeditions will start and end at Leh, covering 1100kms in approximately 14 days, with an average of 8-hour driving daily. From Leh, the participants will go to Dha, Sasila, Kargil, Umba La, Drass, Rangdum, Padum, Shinkula, Singe La, and Lamayuru before making their way back to Leh.

The expeditions will highlight, showcase, and promote the culture of responsible travel, reaching remote corners of Batalik, Drass, Kargil, Zanskar and revealing contours of the land and its people. It will showcase the natural grandeur, diversity, culture, and people of the forgotten lands. The expedition will aim to “Live the Journey”, demonstrating fine attributes that constitute responsible overland travel such as minimum impact with respect to waste generation, zero litter, cultural competence, benefit to local economy, etc.

Mr. Amit Tolani, Chief Marketing Officer CEAT Tyres Ltd, said, “Zanskar & Beyond is truly an adventure to experience.  In the next two years, given its cultural, historical, and geological wealth, it is set to become the most sought-after tourist destination. So, a responsible and sustainable tourism culture needs to become mainstream if the area is to survive the onslaught. This awareness must be deliberately built, embedded, and impressed upon – both with local and well-meaning tourists. Our expeditions will aim to showcase the beauty and culture of these forgotten lands in a sustainable and responsible manner. We are elated to be able to support WBB in this initiative.”

Nidhi Salgame, Founder & Director, WBB added “Zanskar is a pristine geography in Western Ladakh; had remained tucked away from the ballooning tourism in Eastern Ladakh, and therefore was insulated from its ill-effects for decades due to limited road access. But with two new roads opening in the last two years, there has been a sudden influx of tourism. Unless the pristine natural and cultural beauty is preserved proactively, it is a matter of time before we lose it. Zanskar & Beyond is a step in that direction.  It will not only increase awareness about the various contours of the region and its culture, but also propagate the culture of responsible travel”. Col. Satty Malik, SM (Retd), Co-Founder, WBB further reiterated “We have taken a lot of care to integrate local people, cultural performances etc. and have deliberately worked on ways to benefit the local economy by partnering with many regional associates. Building awareness on minimizing generation of waste and proper waste disposal has been a big part of our work in these areas” .