Location and Introduction to the expedition route:

LADAKH July 12- August 4, 2010   
This field expedition takes us to a remote region of the Western Himalayas. A journey through this isolated part of the world provides an in-depth look at the local culture, beliefs, medical practices and social structure of Western Himalayan families and nomadic Tibetan tribes of the Chang Thang Plateau.

A spectacular flight over the Great Himalayan Range from New Delhi to Leh (11,495 ft) takes us to India’s highest, least-populated, and most inaccessible area - Ladakh and the Chang Thang Plateau. Highlights include travel to ancient Monasteries of Alchi and Hemis, Khardungla Pass (18,380 ft) - the highest drive-able pass in the world and a day visit to HHE’s clinic site at the Tibetan settlement to witness health care delivery by it’s medical and dental team. Some sites in this region are so remote that there is little or no recognition of it on maps. Ladakh’s altitude and remoteness have preserved a centuries-old culture and provided a safe refuge to its exotic wildlife. Entry into this region was restricted due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet, and for the past 45 years only a few people have set foot on this land. North of Ladakh lies the Karakoram Range (of which ten peaks reach over 23,000 feet, the highest being K2.)