Privacy Policy
Last Updated: March 2025
“Your trust is our most important asset. At LWTC, we handle your personal information with the same care and respect we bring to every trek we guide.”
- Introduction
- Our Privacy Promise
- What Information We Collect
- How We Use Your Information
- Sharing Your Information
- Data Retention
- Cookies
- Security
- Your Rights
- Children’s Privacy
- Third-Party Links
- International Transfers
- Changes to This Policy
- Contact Us
1. Introduction
Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company (“LWTC”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting and respecting the privacy of every person who visits ladakhiwomenstravel.com or communicates with us to plan a trek or tour. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and your rights in relation to it.
We operate from Leh, Ladakh, India and welcome travellers from across the world. This policy is drafted in compliance with applicable Indian data protection law, including the Information Technology Act 2000, the IT (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures) Rules 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, and is mindful of international standards including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for our European visitors.
2. Our Privacy Promise
- We collect only the personal information we genuinely need to plan and deliver your trek or tour.
- We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.
- We will only share your data with trusted service partners (local guides, transport providers, permit offices) strictly to deliver the services you have booked.
- We store your information securely and limit internal access to authorised staff only.
- We will be transparent about how we use your data and make it easy for you to access, update, or request deletion of your information.
- We comply with applicable Indian data protection law and respect international privacy standards for our global travellers.
3. What Information We Collect
- Information you give us: Name, email address, phone number, nationality, passport number (for permit applications), dietary requirements, emergency contact details, and any other details you share when enquiring or booking.
- Booking & payment information: Trek/tour preferences, travel dates, group size, payment confirmation references. (Note: LWTC does not process or store credit/debit card numbers — payments are handled through trusted third-party processors.)
- Permit-related information: For restricted areas (Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Lamayuru routes), Indian government Inner Line Permits (ILPs) require specific ID documentation. We collect and submit this information to the relevant permit authority on your behalf only.
- Communications: Emails, enquiry form submissions, WhatsApp messages you send us.
- Website usage data: IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, time on site — collected automatically via standard web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics).
- Cookies: We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. See Section 7 for details.
4. How We Use Your Information
- To respond to your enquiry and plan your trek or tour itinerary.
- To process bookings and coordinate with local guides, homestay hosts, transport providers, and permit offices.
- To apply for Inner Line Permits (ILPs) and trekking/wildlife area permits on your behalf.
- To send you trip confirmation, practical information, and pre-departure communications.
- To send occasional newsletters or updates about LWTC treks and seasonal offers, only if you have opted in.
- To improve our website, services, and itineraries based on usage patterns and feedback.
- To comply with legal obligations, including permit regulations and tax requirements in India.
5. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We may share limited information strictly as needed with: Local female guides and porters (for trek coordination); Homestay hosts (for accommodation confirmation); Taxi and transport providers; Government permit offices (ILP, wildlife/trekking permit authorities); Payment processors (who have their own privacy policies); Professional advisors or legal authorities if required by law. All third parties are required to handle your data securely and only for the purpose for which it was shared.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as is necessary to deliver and support your trip, and to comply with our legal and tax obligations in India (typically up to 7 years for financial records). Permit-related documents are retained only for the duration required by the issuing authority. You may request deletion of your data at any time (see Your Rights, Section 9).
7. Cookies
Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your browser — to help us understand how visitors use the site and to improve your experience. Types of cookies we use: Strictly necessary cookies (to make the site work); Analytics cookies (e.g., Google Analytics — anonymised, to understand site usage); Functional cookies (to remember your preferences). You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies will not prevent you from using our site, but some features may work less smoothly.
8. Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously. We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. Our staff are trained in data handling. Please be aware that, while we do our best, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please be cautious about sharing sensitive personal data via unencrypted email.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have rights including: Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you; Correction — ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data; Deletion — request that we delete your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements); Objection — object to certain uses of your data (e.g., direct marketing); Data portability (for EU/EEA residents under GDPR); Withdrawal of consent — you may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time. To exercise any of these rights, email us at ladakhiwomenstc@gmail.com.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our website and services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. For minors aged 13–18 travelling with LWTC, parental/guardian consent is required at the time of booking.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external websites (e.g., media coverage, permit offices, festival calendars). LWTC is not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We recommend reading the privacy policy of any external site you visit.
12. International Data Transfers
By using our website or communicating with us electronically from outside India, you acknowledge that your data may be transferred to and processed in India. We handle all such data in accordance with applicable Indian law.
13. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. For significant changes, we will notify active clients by email where possible.
14. Contact Us / Data Queries
If you have questions, concerns, or requests about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact the Ladakhi Women’s Travel Company (LWTC) data contact:
Post: Shop 22, Hemis Complex, Upper Tukcha Road, Zangsti, Leh, Ladakh, India
Email: ladakhiwomenstc@gmail.com
Phone: +91 9469158137