Experiential Journeys
WE ARE GOING TO THE INDIAN HIMALAYAS!
October 11-21, 2026
During our time in the Indian Himalayas, we will experience the hidden gems of Uttarakhand, near the Tibetan border. We’ll immerse ourselves in authentic Himalayan culture through culinary adventures, stargazing by streams, treks across breathtaking trails, and visits to local villages. We’ll engage with local communities by learning traditional crafts, dining in villager’s homes, and experiencing their lifestyle.
This unique experience supports local development and environmental preservation, offering stays in an award-winning boutique farm retreat, a boutique spa, and serene off-grid forest cabins. This year’s Experiential Journey is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience regenerative rural community tourism.
We're partnering with Fernweh Fair Travel
RISE Travel Institute is proud to partner with Fernweh Fair Travel, a locally owned, women-led community tourism initiative based in the Indian Himalayas. The award-winning project offers small-group guided journeys that blend nature-based adventures, spiritual retreats, and Indigenous cultural experiences. Each expedition is designed to educate, connect, and transform travelers while generating positive social and environmental impact - supporting local livelihoods, empowering women, and providing opportunities for vulnerable community members such as widows and survivors of domestic violence.
Introducing Dr. Anu Taranath
Exciting news!!
Our esteemed guest instructor Dr. Anu Taranath will be joining us on this Experiential Journey to facilitate conversations on conscious travel, community development, and social justice as they relate to India.
Dr. Anu Taranath is an award-winning speaker, facilitator, consultant, author and educator specializing in issues of racial equity and social change. She's the author of Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World, which is the course text for our Flagship Program.
Check out Dr. Taranath's website to learn more about her work!
RISE Carbon Literacy and Climate Justice Workshop
(Special EJ Edition)
Embedded within our Experiential Journey to India, this special edition of our Carbon Literacy and Climate Justice Workshop combines an e-learning component with immersive, on-the-ground learning. Participants will engage directly with local communities to understand the real-world impacts of climate change and hear powerful stories from the locals about their resilience and adaptation strategies. Upon completion, you will earn a Carbon Literacy Certificate, awarded by the Carbon Literacy Project.
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What is an Experiential Journey?
The RISE Experiential Journey is an opportunity for our program participants to experience what they learned through our programs in practice with real-world examples. Experiential Journeys are curated with RISE’s commitment to sustainability and anti-oppression in mind. Participants will be ethical and mindful visitors, and will learn about how the tourism industry in each community strives to improve.
Who is our EJs for?
Participation in the RISE Experiential Journey is now open to anyone interested in and committed to practicing conscious travel. While RISE Flagship Program alumni and participants are strongly encouraged to join, prior participation in the Flagship program is no longer required. For those who haven’t taken a RISE program before, pre-departure learning resources will be provided to help ensure mindset alignment and a shared foundation for the journey.
Examples of activities
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Sustainable community development and empowerment projects such as:
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Indigenous-led tourism activities
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Women empowerment projects in rural areas
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Ethical interaction with animals and wildlife
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Regenerative conservation projects
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Sightseeing historic and culturally important sites
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Adventure and cultural activities such as:
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Cooking classes
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Traditional craft workshops
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Hiking, trekking and boating
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Community homestays
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Our commitment to sustainability and anti-oppression
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​Small group travel makes it easier to reduce environmental impact and support local restaurants, hotels, and other vendors
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We strive to achieve carbon neutrality in all of our travel and activities
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We aim to cut out the middleman by working directly with local and indigenous guides and service providers to ensure that money goes directly to the local economy
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We only partner with value-aligned organizations and businesses
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We tie the purpose of each activity back to our educational program
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All Experiential Journey participants will take a place-based course before departure to provide context for the trip and to ensure a more enriching experience
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We come together as a group for daily reflection to consider sustainability and anti-oppression in the local community
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We are committed to measuring and being transparent about the social and environmental impact of all of our Experiential Journeys
Have a question?
​If you have any questions about the itinerary or programming, or if you’d like to inquire about payment plans, please reach out to Jodi Suckle, our Experiential Travel Manager at jodi@risetravelinstitute.org.