Our Story

OUR STORY

HISTORY

Our Story

GHE has pioneered a legacy of enabling travellers to leave behind a tangible impact on the destination through its Impact Expedition. By blending adventurous expeditions with energy access projects, we drove sustainable development and uplifted isolated communities through innovative, on-ground technological solutions.

our-story

Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE) was founded by Paras Loomba in 2013 with a mission to bring energy access to remote Himalayan villages through conducting impact expeditions.

The inspiration for GHE came from Paras’s participation in the 2012 International Antarctic Expedition, where he returned with a vision to create positive change for off-grid communities.

Till 2015, GHE had electrified numerous off-grid Himalayan villages and started expanding its impact by promoting sustainable tourism.

In 2016, Jaideep Bansal joined GHE, having initially participated in the 2013 expedition and subsequently leading teams until 2015. Jaideep’s dedication to GHE’s mission led to the formation of global partnerships through the World Economic Forum, further amplifying the organization’s reach and impact.

Today, Paras and Jaideep, along with their passionate team, continue to drive holistic development in rural villages. Their journey exemplifies the power of vision, passion, and relentless commitment to making a lasting impact.

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A Decade of Impact

OUR EVOLUTION

OVER THE YEARS

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Empowering communities since a decade,
ensuring equitable development.

Setup of Third Pole Education Base in Ladakh

Setup of Third Pole Education Base in Ladakh

In 2013, GHE was launched when 19 travelers from 13 countries came together in Leh, Ladakh to set up an Education Base powered by solar energy. Constructed with locally sourced materials and designed with passive solar architecture, the Third Pole Education Base played a crucial role in offering the 200 students of Mahabodhi School in Leh an opportunity to engage in experiential education and learn about climate change.

First Village Electrified - DC Solar Microgrids

First Village Electrified

Building on the success of the first expedition, which established a solar-powered educational base, the next logical step was to provide energy access to remote off-grid villages in Ladakh that still relied on fossil fuels for lighting. A self-designed DC microgrid, installed by travelers from 12 different countries, demonstrated the power of tourism as a force for good.

IEEE Smart Village Partnership

Scaling up Impact Expeditions

In 2015, GHE started working on scaling up the Impact Expedition model to enable more travellers to be part of the life changing experience. In addition to this, the GHE Alumni model was also developed with several past expedition participants coming back to lead the expeditions as team leaders.

2020_UNFCCC_Award

UNFCCC Award at COP 26

In 2020, GHE received the prestigious UNFCCC Climate Action Award for its innovative approach to financing climate change mitigation through tourism. This recognition marked a proud moment for GHE, as it became the first tourism operator to win the award. Additionally, GHE was given the opportunity to showcase its on-ground climate action initiatives at COP 26 in Glasgow.

Health-Centre-Setup---Meghalaya

Homestay Trips Expansion

In a post COVID world when the travellers wanted to experience slow immersive tourism, GHEs homestay experiences catered to several intrepid travellers who wanted to have a meaningful and sustainable trip, while being able to take part in activities with the communities. Some of the highlights were copper experiences, pottery making and life with nomads.

2022_Partner_Expedition

Partner Expeditions Launched

For the first time, GHE collaborated with a tour operator to organize an expedition for a group of trekkers from Austria. These partner expeditions enabled GHE to expand outreach for its impact expeditions through various other tour operators specializing in adventure and responsible tourism. 

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