Eco-friendly travel initiatives are changing tourism across Visakhapatnam and the Eastern Ghats

Four nature-based tourism initiatives in Visakhapatnam and the Eastern Ghats are shifting focus toward local communities, low-impact experiences, and environmental conservation ahead of World Tourism Day.

Pravaham Eco-Stay

In Mettavalasa village near Araku, the eco-stay Pravaham uses locally available soil, hay, timber, and bamboo for nearly 90% of its construction. Founder V Samved notes that mud, cob, and hydrated lime plaster naturally regulate indoor temperatures. The property sources food, workers, and experiences from nearby villages while running a Black Box digital detox programme. Practices include composting, waste reduction, carpooling, and the Plant a Memory initiative.

EcoHikes Treks

For trek leader Ravi Teja, sustainability means managing group sizes. EcoHikes has conducted over 600 treks and guided more than 8,000 participants across nine years, reducing its group size from 30 people down to 12. The group uses gas stoves instead of gathering firewood, serves home-cooked meals on banana or Bauhinia leaves, and closes certain trails to protect them from excessive footfall driven by viral social media reels.

Coastal and Marine Projects

Along the Visakhapatnam coast, the East Coast Conservation Team led by Deepu Visweswar and Priyanka Vedula runs tidepool walks. Groups are limited to eight participants per instructor, and visitors are instructed not to touch marine animals but instead photograph them for citizen science platforms like iNaturalist. Meanwhile, Platypus Escapes founder Subhash Chandran combines scuba diving with conservation dives and underwater clean-ups to address marine pollution, helping participants witness the impact of plastic waste on coral reefs and marine species directly.