Himalaya Cultures & Ecology

Details on future programs coming soon!

There is no risk to apply! All InPlace applications are FREE, and students will get a full refund for any cost incurred for programs canceled before departure. Please note, itineraries are subject to change in alignment with safety protocols to protect students and the local communities we work alongside. Learn more about our response to COVID-19 or contact us if you have questions.

Ladakh, in northern India, is one of the highest and most remote human habitats on earth. Located between the Himalaya range to the south and the Karakoram range to the north, it is a region beset by water scarcity, fragile ecosystems, and extreme climatic variation. Ladakhis have resourcefully dealt with these harsh conditions for over a thousand years, using longstanding practices that integrate environmental knowledge with social and religious understandings.

Now confronting globalization and climate change, they are grappling with how to develop in a sustainable manner. These environmental challenges represent a unique natural setting for a first-hand understanding of social adaptation and sustainability.

The program is run in partnership with Western Washington University, but open to students from all universities. It is an intensive five-week course that encompasses academic studies in Himalayan culture, history, religion, anthropology, and wildlife conservation, with service learning projects. This trip will be physically and emotionally demanding. It involves very basic living conditions, high altitudes, and strenuous physical activity. It will culminate with a multi-day trek to altitudes of up to 17,000 feet. But for those who are up to the challenge, the trip will be an immensely rewarding and transformative experience.

Key Features

Study community-based conservation, cultural survival, and adaption to climate change
Work with the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust on wildlife conservation projects
Learn about Tibetan & Ladakhi culture, history, and religion
Spend 4.5 weeks in a remote region of the Western Himalayas
Trek in the dramatic Zanskar Valley
8 credits through Western Washington University

Program Information

sign up to learn about future trips

$6,405 est. per student

INCLUDES:

8 credits through Western Washington University
Daily living expenses (food, lodging)
Ground transportation
Admissions (temples, parks, etc.)
Trek and other excursions
Travel Health Insurance

NOT INCLUDED:

Airfare
Visa
Immunizations/personal medical expenses
Independent travel

APPLY NOW

Study abroad and work with the Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust

COMMUNITY PARTNER:
SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVANCY INDIA TRUST

The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT) is dedicated to promoting innovative grassroots measures that lead local people to become better stewards of endangered snow leopards, their prey, and habitat to the benefit of local people and the environment in the trans-Himalayan regions of Ladakh. SLC-IT believes that truly sustainable conservation comes from participation by the entire community.

The founding principle is to work with communities to protect snow leopards and their natural habitat while protecting community livelihoods. SLC-IT fulfills its mission through community-based conservation and livelihood programs, education programs, and wildlife research. For more information visit their facebook page and blog.

COMMUNITY PROJECT:
ARTIFICIAL GLACIERS

Most villages in Ladakh are agricultural and rely on glacial melt for irrigation. Some years, particularly now with climate change, the timing of the glacial melt has become erratic. If the water comes too late, the seeds dry out leading to widespread crop failure. For communities that rely primarily on subsistence agriculture to provide food for the harsh winter months, this can be devastating.

Recently, a Ladakhi engineer named Tsewang Norphel invented the idea of artificial glaciers in hopes of providing a more reliable source of water. Artificial glaciers are essentially large ice reservoirs, created by diverting near-freezing stream water behind rock walls. They are built at lower altitudes than natural glaciers so as the weather warms during the spring months, they melt sooner and provide crucial water for irrigation.

We have been partnering with Stongdey Village to pilot this idea in the Zanskar Valley. This summer, our team will be working on an evaluation of the project and developing lessons learned for other villages.