High School Study Abroad in New Delhi, India

India is bounded to the southwest by the Arabian Sea, to the southeast by the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean to the south. Along its northeastern frontier are the Himalayas, which form India's geographic boundary with the People's Republic of China, Bhutan, and Nepal. The Ganges is the longest river in India and along its western frontier is the Thar Desert, which is the seventh-largest in the world. The terrain varies from the Himalayas to flat river valleys. The climate is Alpine to temperate to subtropical monsoon. Four major world religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism – originated in India. On the other hand, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam arrived with traders in the first millennium CE and helped shape the region's diverse culture. While Hindi and English are the official languages, there are more than 1,500 dialects. Family life and school are central in India. Most of India is rural, though the cities are growing. AFS host family placements are located throughout India.

Join us for a trekking intensive program that explores environmental and rural community resiliency among one of the most stunning landscapes on Earth. This four-week summer abroad in North India is for students interested in engaging in environmental and cultural preservation, honing their trekking skills*, and learning about Tibetan Buddhism. Clinging to the far western flank of the Tibetan plateau, jagged peaks and windswept valleys have preserved mainly the indigenous mountain cultures of Ladakh. Our exploration begins close to the regional capital, Leh, where we acclimatize to the elevation. We examine how the unique Ladakhi heritage and fragile high desert ecosystem interact with the region's shifting cultural, ecological, and economic pressures. * Note: Participants receive Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification.