India: Ladakh Volunteer Service Program I

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1 India: Ladakh Volunteer Service Program I Available June through October Ladakh, or "Little Tibet" as it is known, is a wildly beautiful desert region high in the Western Himalayas. It is a place of few resources and an extreme climate, yet it has been home to a thriving culture for more than a thousand years. Leh, Ladakh, a fabled city, looms as a sentinel on the ancient silk route from Sinkiang to West Asia and to the plains of India. In 400 AD, the great Chinese traveler Fa-Hsien visited the city and was amazed by its natural grandeur. Leh presents a mesmerizing blend of Buddhist and Muslim cultures. Lingshed is one of the most remote areas of the Ladakh region of Northern India. The Lingshed area consists of six villages and approximately 1300 villagers. The area is quiet, solitary, and surrounded by beautiful snowcapped Himalayan Mountains. Unfortunately, the Lingshed area is also one of the poorest and most isolated areas in India. Almost all the people are poor, and their standard of living is very low. There is no electricity or communications or modern health and sanitation services. The situation is made worse by the fact that there are no roads for motor vehicles leading to the Lingshed area. Nearly all essential foods and construction supplies must be brought in by mule-train or backpack. Moreover, the trip to Lingshed from the closest village of Walna takes four or five days under the best conditions, and the winter snows close the roads and passes entirely for 6 months of every year.

2 The villagers of Lingshed strongly believe that the area s dual afflictions of isolation and poverty can be substantially reduced through even modest advances in education, both modern and spiritual. For the last forty years, limited primary education has been available for certain Lingshed students. However, since educational opportunities were mainly limited to the summer months, the women and men who had to work the fields could not attend classes. The Lingshed Area Project has built a residential school in the capitol city of Leh in order for students to attend public schools in the area. This itinerary focuses on time at the residential school, where you will be living and working with these students. After the festival, you will go deeper into one of the surrounding villages to partake in more local festivals and live and work with a Ladakhi family in their home. Learn about and experience the lives of these amazing people. We ask you to enter their homes with openness and respect and with a willingness to ask questions, listen, and to offer friendship. By listening to their stories and partaking in their daily lives we honor their knowledge of place, and of a life well lived. This is an incredible opportunity to witness a people living simply, yet fully, and to understand how you might incorporate lessons from this journey into your own life. Likewise, learn how you can make an impact through your own experience, knowledge and time. "For my trip to Ladakh, I wanted something different than that of a backpacking consumer. I experienced an access to the life of the community that would have been difficult, if not impossible, to have had as an independent traveler." - Valerie B. "I chose Crooked Trails because they are committed to culturally and environmentally sensitive travel. Their dedication is unparalleled as evidenced by the level of commitment they put into developing and running their programs." Loralee

3 Highlights A cultural homestay at the Lingshed Residential School in Leh Experience living in the Himalayan Mountains and working with local school children Witness traditional Buddhist dances and ceremonies Try locally-made Ladakhi and Tibetan cuisine Enjoy and immerse yourself in the local community in Leh Difficulty rating: Moderate OPTIONAL EXTENSION: After your time in Leh, you will have the opportunity to take part in an extension to tour Delhi, a place that is fascinating and provides a glimpse into the uniquely hectic life of the Indian people. The extension will also include a train trip to Agra to tour the Taj Mahal, often described as the most extravagant monument ever built for love. Who We Are Crooked Trails is a non-profit community-based travel organization helping people broaden their understanding of the planet and its diverse cultures through education, community development and responsible travel. Costs The cost of the Volunteer Ladakh Program is $1,750. A $500 deposit is required to confirm your participation. Includes: all in-country transport, meals as listed in itinerary, all accommodations, activities as listed in itinerary, local guides and translators for activities and homestays, all permits and taxes. Does not include: international flights, international exit/entry tax, some meals as indicated on itinerary, personal items such as laundry, phone calls & internet and alcoholic drinks.

4 India: Volunteer Ladakh Program Itinerary Available june October ~ customizable ~ A note: All our itineraries are flexible. Our philosophy at Crooked Trails is to let the country guide our experiences and not to live by a strict itinerary. If unexpected events arise, we may change plans to take advantage of the situation or deal with an issue. However, we will do all we can to offer you everything that is on the schedule. Please be flexible yourself and allow the program to unfold. Meals included in the program cost are listed as B (breakfast), L (lunch) and D (dinner) for each day. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Leave U.S. at scheduled flight time. En route and possible overnight stop-over, depending on flights. Arrive in Delhi. Check into hotel. For those who arrive early, you will have the day free. Early morning flight to Leh in Northern India. First day in Leh to explore and begin acclimatization. B Day 5-14 Travel to the Lingshed Residential School for your volunteer program. As a volunteer at the Lingshed Residential School, you will have the opportunity to work with groups and individual students helping tutor or teaching special skills,

5 workshops and classes. If you have a special talent, you are more than welcome to create classes and activities for the students that are educational and fun. You will also be living at the boarding school and helping staff with daily duties and activities. Additional projects may include creating a native garden, environmental education program, health education, etc (depending on the needs at the time). Please remember to be patient and flexible as we do not ask our hosts to do anything special for our stay with them. In this way, you will learn what it means to be Ladakhi and have a better understanding of what life is like at the school. Day 15 Day 16 Return to Leh. A free day in Leh to do laundry, check your at an internet café, explore and pick up some beautiful Ladakhi souvenirs. Fly back to Delhi. Explore the amazing Indian city of New Delhi. Evening dinner and cultural entertainment before heading to the airport for flights home. B OPTIONAL EXTENSION AGRA & TAJ MAHAL Day 17 Day 18 Day 19 Take the train to Agra in the morning and spend the day exploring the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and surrounding area. You will visit some amazing marble and gem artists and be the guest at a local s home for breakfast. B Last day in Delhi to explore the old quarter and rickshaw ride through local markets. Visit various religious temples and enjoy your last Indian dinner before flight home. B Arrive back home. Extension pricing starting at $220; further options and customization available P.O. Box 94034, Seattle WA