Responsible travel: on rivers and with riverside people

Use local boatmen. Pay for rides and tours at fair local rates. Ferries and village boatmen are livelihoods, and the families of boatmen have seen their incomes change with new bridges.

Keep your distance from wildlife. River dolphins and birds should not be chased. A slow engine and a respectful distance reduce stress for the animals.

Take your waste with you. Rivers collect what is left on their banks. Carry reusable bottles and bags.

Ask before photographing. People bathing, washing clothes or praying by the water are not scenery.

Learn the seasons. Floods are part of a river's cycle, not an inconvenience. Listen to advice on travel in high water, and never take risks to keep to a schedule.

Buy from the people who make things. Fishers, weavers and boat-makers sell directly; support them when you can.