Spiti Valley Ecosphere links native Tibetan culture with travelers

Travelers looking to visit a place that boasts a rich cultural and environmental heritages amongst the Tibetan countryside while having a positive impact on the surrounding community can now look to Ecosphere Spti, a collaborative effort of the local community of Spiti and professionals from diverse backgrounds with a wide spectrum of skills and experience, effectively spanning the bridge from the general to the niche.

Ecosphere Spiti’s focus is to re-establish the critical link between the custodians of Spiti’s natural and cultural resources and consumers, through a product line ranging between travel, organics and health, subsequently nurturing sustainable livelihoods that are linked to conservation. It iscommitted to the development of the people and resources of the region, while aiming to spread this rich natural and cultural heritage and the traditional knowledge of healing and health.

For example, one of Ecosphere’s trips called Exploring the Trans-Himalayan Desert initiates visitors through homestays with local Spitian families where you might enjoy tasty local momos while reducing your environmental impact by using traditional dry toilets. A five day trek ensues that might include glimpses of Blue Sheep and the oldest temple in the area as well as lunch at the high mountain Dhankhar Lake. One your final day, you are treated to a chance to wander about this area abounding with Buddhist monasteries and sample the “Wonder Berry” Seabuckthorn products harvested and processed by local women.

To promote its core philosophy of enabling culture and nature conservation, Ecosphere sets aside 5% of all income generated from the travel products for conservation-based activities. With Spiti undergoing a transition phase it is imperative that efforts are made now to preserve the traditional practices and livelihoods. Ecosphere is a small attempt to bridge the gap between the traditional and the modern, to ensure the development of sustainable livelihoods for the inhabitants of this unique cultural and ecological microcosm.