Visitors’ Code of Conduct

1.1 Although Field activities involve risk; please make sure you are covered by insurance, including for high-altitude sickness accidental injury and medical cover;

1.2 The altitude in Angsai is between 3800m-4800m; please make sure you allow time to acclimatise before arriving, are aware of, and prepared for, high altitude sickness and arrange your activities accordingly;

1.3 During your Nature Watch trip, all visitors must follow their local guides and must not go in to the field without a local guide;

1.4 As in all mountain environments, weather conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly in the valley; please be prepared for extreme weather such as hail stones, electric storms, heavy rainfall and snow in any season;

1.5 Some parts of Angsai have basic road conditions; falling rocks, landslides and road icing can happen under extreme weather at any time of the year. Please be patient with any route changes due to unavoidable weather conditions;

1.6 Local medical capacity is very limited. Although the host families have been trained in basic medical treatment (such as altitude sickness and sprained limbs), there is limited capacity for medical treatment; Any accidents, injuries or illness should be reported to the community but the responsibility of for related costs such as emergency medical fees, incidental costs are the responsibility of the visitors;

1.8 Signing the ‘ Visitors’ Code of Conduct’ means that you are willing to take full responsibility for all risks and related consequences, including but not limited to the content stated above.

2. Respect to local communities

2.1 Host families are arranged by a strict rotation policy to ensure all families have an equal opportunity to host visitors; you must stay with the assigned host family and should not change host family or guide without permission from the community;

2.2 The minimum stay for Nature Watch visitors is 3 nights, any stay shorter than 3 nights will be charged as a 3-night-visit;

2.3 Please pay the full fee to the franchising local community co-operative and collect a receipt from community manager; please do not pay directly to the host families unless instructed to do so;

2.4 It is suggested that daily working hours for the guide should not exceed 12 hours; please communicate clearly with your local guide to arrange the timing of your field activities reasonably;

2.5 Please enter and leave the park according to your entry permit; contact the management station for permission in advance if you wish to change the dates;

2.6 Please respect local cultures and residents; do not abuse or threaten local families or your guide;

2.6 Do not paint, write or sculpt on rocks, cliffs or tree branches;

2.7 Tipping or any form of additional monetary reward is strongly discouraged as it could encourage negative behaviour such as baiting and chasing animals, and could cause conflict within the community.

3. Responsibilities to nature

3.1 Do not leave any rubbish in the valley; additionally, please help locals to collect any rubbish if found in the field;

3.2 Keep quilt while watching wildlife, do not make loud noises;

3.3 Keep at least 200 meters away while watching wild animals to avoid any disturbance;

3.4 Chasing, frightening, trapping and any other possible disturbance or harm to wild animals and plants are prohibited;

3.5 It is prohibited to attract wildlife with sound, odour, food, light and etc., as these activities may change wildlife’s natural behaviour;

3.6 It is prohibited to pick flowers, or collect any plants, animals, rocks or cultural relics;

3.7 Any form of fishing and hunting is strictly prohibited; 3.8 Smoking and use of fire is prohibited in the field;

3.9 The use of searchlight or flash light to look for wildlife during the night (also known as ‘spotlighting’) is prohibited;

3.10 Please contact the management station for permission if you wish to use drone or hide (photography tent)