Writing in the High Himalayas
A transformative experience led by Adam Popescu, Deepa Anappara, Jonathan Miles, Kullu Suryawanshi, and Tara Khandelwal.
5th – 16th May, 2027
We’ll be staying at the Indus River Camp, House of Rumbak, and Shan at Uley. We’ll start on the banks of the Indus where we’ll acclimatize before moving into prime snow leopard habitat.
Days will be a mix of safaris and nature walks, workshops and mentoring with lessons on nature writing, finding voice, sense of place, developing characters, and more. Meals will be hearty and home-cooked and the views guaranteed to inspire.
Interactive workshops designed and led by literary stalwarts
One-on-one mentorship sessions and instructor feedback
The chance to write in the tranquility of the mountains
Eco-conscious luxury lodges run by locals who care about nature and art
Excursions into snow leopard habitat guided by Morup Namgail, Karamjeet Singh, and Tsewang Norboo, the expert tracker who helped BBC Planet Earth find the ghost cat.
Curated experiences to savour the local food and culture of Ladakh
Interactive workshops designed and led by literary stalwarts
One-on-one mentorship sessions and instructor feedback
The chance to write in the tranquility of the mountains
Eco-conscious luxury lodges run by locals who care about nature and art
Excursions into snow leopard habitat guided by Morup Namgail, Karamjeet Singh, and Tsewang Norboo, the expert tracker who helped BBC Planet Earth find the ghost cat.
Curated experiences to savour the local food and culture of Ladakh
Adam Popescu is an author and journalist who writes about conservation, power, and technology’s impact on nature for The New York Times, Bloomberg, NatGeo, Washington Post. He has reported from the Indian Himalayas for a decade, with a focus on snow leopards. His debut novel, NIMA, based on his BBC reporting on Everest, was called a “perfect fit for book clubs” by Publishers Weekly.
Deepa Anappara’s debut novel, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, won the Edgar Award for Best Novel, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and has been translated into over 20 languages. Her second novel, The Last of Earth, was named one of BBC’s “12 books to read in 2026.” She co-edited Letters to a Writer of Colour and teaches at Warren Wilson College.
Jonathan Miles is the author of the novels Dear American Airlines, Want Not, and Anatomy of a Miracle, and most recently Eradication: A Fable (Doubleday, 2026), hailed by The Washington Post as an “instant classic.” A former New York Times columnist, his work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. In 2024, he toured as a multi-instrumentalist with Jon Batiste.
Kulbhushansingh “Kullu” Suryawanshi is a scientist, conservationist, and one of the world’s leading authorities on snow leopards, which he has tracked and studied across High Asia for over two decades. His new memoir, The Ghost of the Mountains, was recently published to glowing reviews by Penguin Random House and Granta.
Tara Khandelwal is one of India’s leading book editors, with over 14 years of experience at publishing houses including Penguin, Bloomsbury, and HarperCollins. A literary agent and ghostwriting editor, her portfolio includes The Founder Manual, It’s Easy to Be Healthy, and Mango Millionaire. She curates the Literature Section at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and hosts Books & Beyond with Bound, a podcast ranked in the top 1.5% globally.
Unwind and relax at the edge of the Indus. Wander the trails, gather around fire pits, and bake a pizza in the camp’s pizza oven (yak cheese optional). Visit nearby monasteries and the Old Leh market, or simply enjoy the quiet of this private, peaceful camp.
Nestled at the edge of the famous Hemis National Park, you’ll stay in luxury-level cottages in this remote Himalayan hideaway. Expect freshly baked breads and sweets, stunning views of snowcapped glacial mountains, and the best stargazing anywhere on Earth.
Our final stop is the picturesque village where snow leopard conservation began. We’ll stay at a comfortable family-run lodge deep off the beaten path that prides itself on an eco-design and an ethos that revolves around protecting wildlife
Wildlife abounds in Uley: Tibetan wolves, red foxes, Ladakhi urial, and ibex are all active in the area. Locals say there’s more snow leopards here than in any valley in Ladakh.
Develop your fiction, non-fiction, or memoir through workshops and one-on-one mentoring with Adam Popescu, Deepa Anappara, Jonathan Miles, Kullu Suryawanshi, and Tara Khandelwal, then step out with expert guides into the world’s densest snow leopard country!
Bring the story you’ve been longing to tell.
Airport pick-ups in Delhi and two Nights at Roseate House in Delhi including cultural excursions and welcome dinner
Transformative workshops on creation, craft, and publishing
Quiet time to work on your writing in peace and solitude
Airport pick-up in Leh, Ladakh and all other transportation here
One-on-one mentoring sessions with widely published authors and industry experts
Experiential tours and local explorations
Ten nights lodging in Ladakh: Indus River Camp, House of Rumbak, Shan at Uley
Real-time feedback from mentors and peers on your writing
Wildlife and national park permits
All meals in Ladakh: hearty breakfast, lunch, dinner, and lots of tea and coffee
Double occupancy: $8,500 USD
Single occupancy supplement: $2,500 USD
Guidance from trained naturalists, professional trackers and seasoned photographers
Note: The Program Fee includes everything once you arrive in Delhi.
