The Anwals are the last remaining migrating shepherds of the Indian Himalayas. Each spring, they take their flocks from the heat of the valleys to graze among the high alpine pastures of the Himalayas. They won’t return until Autumn. It is a way of life that has remained unchanged for generations. Follow in their footsteps on this incredible journey, hiking village to village, and staying in small community owned guesthouses along the way. This is some of the most dramatic and breath-taking hiking on the planet. But it’s more than that too. The Anwals traditional way of life is under threat. As the modern world encroaches ever further upon these villages, young people are forced to leave their rural homes and find work in the city, often in brutal conditions, for little pay. By following the annual migration of the Anwals, and staying in their villages, we provide economic empowerment to their community and a future for the next generation. This is a story about going beyond the end of the road, beyond the grip of the modern world. It’s a story about exploring one of the most remote, and staggeringly beautiful, places on Earth. And it’s a story about hope. In the footsteps of the Anwals, we discover peace and serenity and, perhaps, something about our own path too.

Highlights include:

-    Walking with the Anwals on their annual migration

-    Meeting lead Anwals, camping with them, hearing their stories

-    Staying overnight in small rural villages, discovering their unique culture that has remained unchanged for generations

-    Exploring one of the most remote, and untouched, places on Earth

-    Learning about the plight of the Anwals, and the uplifting story of how that’s changing

-    Reflecting upon the Anwal's simple existence, and how it can inspire positive change in our own values and way of life

Taking us on this adventure is award-wining travel writer, journalist, broadcaster and author Juliet Rix. Follow her on twitter at: https://twitter.com/julietrix1

As well as a number of guide books, which are beautifully written and informative, Juliet also has a children’s book, ‘Travels with my Granny’, which explores issues surrounding dementia through the adventures a young girl has with her grandmother: https://www.amazon.com/Travels-My-Granny-Juliet-Rix/dp/1910959340

BOOK THIS TRIP: 

This trip is run by award-winning sustainable tourism operator, Village Ways. To find out more about them, and book this trip for yourself, please visit: www.Village-Ways.com

For other eco-tourism adventure ideas related to the show, please visit the individual episode pages at: http://www.Armchair-Explorer.com 

The Armchair Explorer podcast is adventure storytelling set to music and cinematic effects. Each episode one of the world's greatest adventurers tell their best story from the road. No long-winded interviews, just straight to heart of the action. 

Host Aaron Millar is a multi-award-winning travel writer, journalist and author. He contributes regularly to The Times of London, National Geographic Traveller (UK), and many other national and international publications. He has presented travel documentaries for National Geographic TV, written two books for London publisher Icon - 50 Greatest Wonders of the World & 50 Greatest National Parks of the World - and is the 2014 and 2017 British Guild of Travel Writers Travel Writer of the Year, the IPW Best Destination Writer 2017 and Visit USA’s Best National Newspaper Writer 2014, 2016 & 2017. Aaron

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