Climate Impact Expedition

An International Impact Expedition

today Dates : 28 Sep 2024 to 08 Oct 2024

access_time Duration : 11 Days

Grade : 2

? Grade 1 : Easy
Grade 2 : Moderate
Grade 3 : Challenging
Grade 4 : Hard

place Location : Ladakh, India

Available Slots : 10/15

USD $1950

Brief :

Join a team of 20 leaders from across the globe on a journey of sustainability and impact in the Indian Himalayas. You will be part of an amazing group of participants who will trek to one of the remote villages in the Himalayas to bring access to clean and renewable energy for the local communities. Soak in the hospitality of the villagers and leave behind a legacy of your visit as you truly empower the communities. A perfect mix of Adventure with Impact. 

The Expedition participants are selected through an interview process to curate a group that is unique. A typical group can comprise of members from across the globe with a passion and interest for sustainable development and climate action.  

The financing of the Solar Grids that are setup to make the expedition carbon negative is done by the participants as part of the expedition cost. The expedition fee will include your contribution to the cost of the Solar Grids for development of the Monastery along with all your ground logistics, food and accommodation.

Trip Highlights

Embark on an extraordinary expedition that perfectly combines global leadership with environmental stewardship amid the spectacular landscapes of the Indian Himalayas. 

  • Multiple days of community immersion in Ladakh
  • Create an impact with Solar Grids for Monastery
  • Partner with fellow travelers from across the globe.
  • Give back to the Himalayas and the local communities
  • Discover yourself in the remoteness of the mountains
  • A mix of Adventure, Sustainability and Impact

Gallery :

Route Map :

GHE_Tour_Route_Zanskar-Impact-Expedition.jpg

Itinerary Details :

  1. Day 1 Arrive in Leh, Acclimatize
    Arrive in Leh, Acclimatize_Day 1

    You will fly into Leh from New Delhi. Bounded by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Himalayas and the Karakoram, Leh lies at an altitude of 12000 ft. You will be received at the airport by the GHE team leaders and welcomed with the traditional Ladakhi silk scarf “Khatak”. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you will be stationed for the next two days. The remainder of the arrival day is for you to relax or explore the local market and the Leh city. 

  2. Day 2 Cultural Immersion and Team Bonding
    Cultural Immersion and Team Bonding_Day 2

    Today begins with a visit to the Leh City and a learning experience on the background of the ancient heritage. We will take a tour of the Old City and visit a Monastery, where we shall get in touch with the ancient religion of Buddhism and its ideologies

  3. Day 3 Mountain Biking (Optional) and travel to Kanji
    Mountain Biking (Optional) and travel to Kanji_Day 3

    Today is the day when we will leave Leh and only to return after 10 days of having experienced Himalayan Wilderness, Culture and trekked across the hidden valleys of Ladakh – The Zanskar. The journey will start from Kanji, a remote village outside for which we will undertake a drive of 4 hours from Leh. Kanji sits under a steep hill at the confluence of three valleys and the head of a canyon that runs north to the main Leh to Kargil Road. Today will be our first camping day and our camp will be setup by the tea house near the river, the village is above us, sprawling over several low hills.

  4. Day 4 Kanji to Kanjila Base Camp
    Kanji to Kanjila Base Camp_Day 4

    We will start our day by visiting the Monastery at Kanji Village. Kanji Village is almost like a trekking junction that leads pathways in three different directions. Today being the fourth day of the expedition, we will start our first day of trek by undertaking an easy day trek to the Kanji La Base camp. It will be a flat trek and fairly easy for the participants. On the way you will find Nomadic people settlements (Doksa) with Yak and Sheep. Sometime back this used to be a permanent summer place for many Kanji Dwellers. Overnight at Kanji La Base Camp

  5. Day 5 Crossing Kanjila Mountain Pass
    Crossing Kanjila Mountain Pass_Day 5

    Today will be a hard day of trekking. We will start early and will start a steep ascent to Kanji la pass located at altitude of 5246 m. It will take 3.5 hrs to arrive at the top of the Kanjila pass. From the top you will get a beautiful view of the nearby peaks. You can also find the view of Nun and Kun, the highest Peak in Ladakh region. From the top it will be a steep descent to the Base of Kanjila and will take 3 -4 hours. Overnight Camp at River Junction.

  6. Day 6 Camping at Rangdum
    Camping at Rangdum_Day 6

    The Camp at River Junction of Kanji river and Pigdong river is at 4150 m altitude. Today we will start our trek from the camp, descending along the river and crossing it several times during the four hour long trek.  Sometimes we get to cross deep gorges along with great views of many peaks of the valley till we get our first view of the Rangdum monastery. Rangdum is the gateway to Zanskar and the monastery is 18th Century old .We will be camping overnight at fixed tents at Rangdum village or any homestays available at Rangdum

  7. Day 7 Impact Project at Rangdum
    Impact Project at Rangdum_Day 7

    Today is the Expedition Impact Day and the team will install two AC microgrids of 2.5kW each for the Rangdum Monastery. The Monastery is blocked for 6 months due to excessive snowfall in the winters and all the roads leading to Rangdum are closed. Currently there is no Grid line that has reached Rangdum and the monks for their prayers and higher studies and meditation require Adequate power for sustenance. GHE had introduced Electricity to Rangdum Gonpa in 2017 but this time we will upgrading them to a bigger grid 

  8. Day 8 Rangdum to Gharkhone
    Rangdum to Gharkhone_Day 8

    After an impactful day at the monastery, It is time to head back to Leh after having travelled 7 days in the Himalayan wilderness. Today the team will travel from Rangdum to Garkone by road, a journey of 150 kms. On the way to Leh, we will pass through the famous town of Kargil. We will be passing through village of Parkachik  where you can get a glimpse of the Islamic culture of Ladakh along with beautiful views of the Sankoo valley along the Suru River. We will reach Garkone by early afternoon, the region Garkone famous for Aryan Tribe. Overnight at Homestays

  9. Day 9 Garkhone to Leh
    Garkhone to Leh_Day 9

    We will start early today and after a brief village walk we will hit the road after breakfast. The journey from Garkone to Leh is a captivating adventure. The road winds through the Indus River's stunning landscapes. The lush greenery of the Aryan Valley gives way to the stark, high-altitude desert that Ladakh is famed for. Approaching Leh, the scenery blends arid mountains with the fertile Indus Valley. Leh itself is a vibrant city, blending ancient traditions with modern life, making this journey a memorable exploration of Ladakh's diverse beauty.  Overnight at Hotel In Leh

     

  10. Day 10 Leh & Reflection Day
    Leh & Reflection Day_Day 10

    Today will be a leisure and reflection day for the team to visit the Leh market and pick up souvenirs, including Pashmina, Apricot based food products and other local handicrafts. In the evening, we will have a debrief on how the Expedition experience was for everyone and what can be the next steps for development of the communities that has been impacted by our expedition members. After Dinner at a roof top restaurant, we will head to the hotel for our final expedition night. 

  11. Day 11 Departures
    Departures_Day 11

    “The mighty mountains beckoned, and we answered the call. “

    It’s time to say our farewell all around and make our way back to the airport with the GHE Team Leaders who will assure your safe departure. It's been an adventurous and impactful Climate Action Expedition 2024. 
     

Inclusions :

  • Airport Transfers in Leh
  • All breakfast, lunch and dinner all days
  • All accommodations including hotels, homestays and camping on shared basis
  • All local transportation including coaches and taxis
  • All meals as per itinerary (excluding drinks)
  • Boiled clean drinking water in Village 
  • Mountain Bikes included

Exclusions :

  • Flight tickets to and fro Leh
  • Visa Fees 
  • Travel Insurance 

Carbon Offset :

The expedition to bring Solar Grids to the Monastery will offset 30 Tons of Carbon annually from the environment through the clean energy infrastructure.
Our estimates suggest that the entire 11 days expedition Carbon footprint, including carbon generated during camping, hotel stay and through the participants return flight tickets, will be around 53 Tons. 
Overall Your trip to the Himalayas will be Carbon Negative!

GHE_Tour_Carbon_offset_Zanskar-Impact-Expedition.jpg
Expedition Essentials :

Important Notes

There are a couple of days of long travel in the Bus on mountain roads. However the jaw-dropping scenery should take away the fatigue of bus travel. Since we will be at an average altitude of 13000 feet or 3500m, it will help if you are at good fitness level overall. Also smoking and drinking is prohibited. The weather can be very unpredictable in the mountains. Kindly refer to the instructions in the Expedition essentials document you will find on this page.The homestay in the village will have very basic facilities, you will being staying with the local community and experience life from their point of view. 

Physical Rating: 2 (Moderate)

The trek will be long and overall the expedition will be moderate. We recommend that you undertake regular aerobic exercise in the months before you travel. Walking daily and cycling along with doing brisk walks or climbing long staircases with a small backpack is good preparation to enable you to enjoy the trekking to its fullest.

Arrival and Departure Details

The expedition shall begin from the city of Leh in India, and will also end in the city of Leh. Please note that due to the high altitude, we Include the days of acclimatization in the overall expedition itinerary. You don’t need to come early for acclimatization.  In case you would like to extend your trip beyond the expedition dates, please feel free to do so at your own discretion and cost. 

Additional Details 

You can read all the expedition essentials in the document shared below. For general enquiries or questions about your booking, please contact us at https://www.ghe.co.in/Help/Contact-Us/

 

Download Files :

Hear from our Alumni

Paulina
Paulina - Chile "Coming from South America, I was able to relate to the remoteness of the communities and the challenges faced by them. This was the most beautiful and satisfying experiences for me as a Traveler. Never could I have imagined that I would be able to bring light to someone while taking part on an adventure trek."
Staffan
Staffan - Sweden "This expedition has been one of the most positive influential experience of my life. Being out there in the remoteness and interacting with the locals gave me a sense of purpose. I was deeply moved on the issue of energy access for remote communities and hope to apply my learnings in this direction. "
Mark Appiah
Mark Appiah - Ghana "I come from Ghana in Africa and I have seen the problems faced by the local communities. The expedition exceeded all my expectations. I have never been so happy when I saw the Happy faces of the villagers seeing light for the first time. I am thankful to GHE for such a professionally conducted expedition. "
Jose Carlos
Jose Carlos - Peru "The expedition with GHE was one of the most life changing experiences I have had so far. I am motivated now to also start a similar initiative in my country."
Ashley
Ashley - USA "Joining hands in an unknown land to bring electricity to the beautiful people of a remote village was an extraordinary experience; one which not only cultivated strong friendships but also showcased the power of the human spirit when we come together to achieve greater good."
Archi
Archi - India "The journey you undertake with GHE, is a journey unlike any other. As you are thrown against the bare and stark backdrop of the Himalayas, you learn to overcome your fears, challenge your limits and appreciate the beauty around you, as you unite with those who were once strangers, to bring ‘light’ to a shared dream"
Rolf
Rolf - Denmark "GHE was for me an opportunity to bring back focus, dedication and a broader perspective to my life – it was extremely enriching and inspirational to see, live and change the lives of the people in the village. I can urge anyone who feels they want to do more with their life, to take the leap and join the cause of “Impact Tourism"
Ute
Ute Marke - Germany "Very seldom are we given the opportunity to make a measurable impact in the world. To be part of a team that helped to set up solar grids in the village and seeing the pure joy on the villagers' faces when we turned on the lights for the first time, is something I will never forget."

About GHE

A mix of Adventure, Sustainability and Leadership, the expeditions feature diverse individuals who come together from different parts of the globe with the goal to empower the remotest communities

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