2025 in Review: A Journey of Growth & Impact

This year has been a journey of growth, learning, and deeper commitment. 

From grassroots initiatives in Spiti that addressed everyday challenges, to expanding our travel experiences across new regions of India from Ladakh to North East India, each step was guided by purpose. 

Along the way, we worked closely with local communities, volunteers, partners, and travellers who believed in creating impact beyond travel. 

This blog brings together the stories, initiatives, and milestones that shaped our year.

Expanding Access to Oral Healthcare

Oral healthcare continued to be a major focus this year, with sustained efforts across North India and the Himalayas to reach communities with limited access to quality dental care. Through our Oral Health Treatment & Awareness camps, we focused on free checkups, treatments at nominal costs and preventive care awareness sessions.

Punjab Dental Camps

A month-long dental camp was held in Punjab at the beginning of the year. The camp moved to various locations wherever there was a need - from the Patiala School for the Deaf and Blind to Gurudwaras, Charitable Schools and Colleges, impacting over a 1000 persons with oral health awareness, 748 assessments and 163 treatments.

A heartfelt thanks to Karanbir Singh Sibia from Akal Group of Institutes, Col Karminder Singh from Patiala school of Deaf & Blind, Principal Amandeep Kaur Sidhu of Baba Sahib Das Charitable School along with others in Sangrur & Patiala and Haider without whose invaluable support none of this would have been possible.

At the end of the year, a dedicated 3 week oral health treatment and awareness camp was conducted again at the Patiala School for the Deaf and Blind in Punjab, resulting in 197 assessments and 175 treatments.

Uttarakhand Camps

A 20-day dental camp was held at Raphael Ryder Cheshire Home, Dehradun, providing much needed care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with 171 assessments and 116 treatments.

Dental camps were also conducted at Rajaji National Park among the Van Gujjar community where oral health awareness and access to dental care does not exist and at the Arthur Foot Academy at Biharigarh. These camps resulted in 145 assessments and 65 treatments. Thank you to Maee, Nature Science Initiative and Arthur Foot Academy for partnering with us. 

Himachal Camps

A 10-day dental camp was organised in Gushaini, Tirthan Valley in collaboration with Himalayan Ecotourism where 50 patients were assessed and 44 individuals received treatment. Now we are ending the year with another camp at Ghurali, Banjar. A big thank you to Stephen Marchal and Team Himalayan Ecotourism (Heco) for their on-ground support for both camps.

A 20-day oral health and awareness program was conducted across villages in the Kullu Valley, with 210 assessments and 50 treatments. Heartfelt thanks to Jagriti, a local NGO, and Mamta for collaborating with us on the ground.

All these camps went beyond clinical care and included education on oral hygiene, preventive practices to ensure long-term oral health.

MUSE Charitable Dental Clinic: Affordable and Accessible Dental care

Our charitable dental clinics continued to provide quality dental care and treatments at nominal costs, ensuring that rural and urban marginalized communities have reliable access to essential oral healthcare, especially in regions where treatment is often inaccessible, expensive or neglected.

Spiti

Over the summer, at our Kaza clinic in Spiti, we assessed 380 patients, providing over 700 treatments in this remote Himalayan region where access to dental care is limited.

Delhi

At our Delhi Clinic, 400 individuals were assessed and more than 1,000 treatments were delivered. 

Healthcare Awareness & Education with the University of Utah 

Since 2019, we’ve been collaborating with the University of Utah for their study abroad program where students visit us in Spiti and work alongside our team to create impact on the ground especially in the area of healthcare. 

This year, their efforts focused on raising menstrual health awareness especially among men, assessing vision health needs, and promoting hygiene and sanitation practices, reaching the villages of Demul, Langza, Komic, Pangmo, Kwang and Chicham. 

A heartfelt thank you to all the students from the University of Utah who joined us this year. 

Artificial Glacier: Tackling Water Scarcity in Spiti

Spiti is facing a growing water crisis. With decreasing snowfall, many natural springs—vital for drinking, farming, and daily use, are drying up. To address this, we’re building artificial glaciers, using a series of check-dams to capture surface runoff during the winter months to help recharge springs. 

This year, volunteers from Manipal University joined us in Demul village to help expand and strengthen an artificial glacier in Demul. A sincere thanks to everyone involved.

Greenhouse: Year-Round Nutrition in Spiti

In Spiti, growing vegetables is difficult and accessing them in winters is nearly impossible due to snow blocked roads.

This year, travellers joined the Greening the Desert program to build a greenhouse in Kee village. This initiative ensures year-round access to fresh vegetables, improving nutrition even during the harshest months.

Our gratitude goes out to all who made this possible- Vijay, Harshita. Mamta. Bhawna, Meenakshi, Urmi, Mini, Anukriti, Gayatri.

Eye Camps: Bringing Vision Care to Spiti

In Spiti, even a simple eye check-up often requires a 1–2 day trip to the nearest city. To bridge this gap, we’ve been conducting free eye camps in the region for the past two years.

This year, a week-long camp across Spiti included eye check-ups, spectacles distribution, awareness sessions, BP and sugar tests, and identification of cases requiring further treatment such as cataracts and pterygium. Over 1,000 people were assessed, and 106 cataract patients were identified for follow-up care.

A heartfelt thank you to our partners, Eicher Group Foundation and Dr. Shroff Charity Eye Hospital, for making this possible.

Spiti Water Project Ride: Creating Access to Water

In collaboration with Royal Enfield Social Mission, we addressed one of Spiti’s toughest challenges: water scarcity during winter. When water sources freeze, villagers often walk kilometers or have to resort to melting snow to meet daily needs. 

As part of this ride, participants helped build a solar passive facility to house insulated water tanks, ensuring water remains usable even in sub-zero temperatures. This was further connected to a solar water pump that lifts water from near the riverbed up to the village, making water easily available close to one's house, reducing daily struggles, improving health and hygiene, and giving families more time for education and livelihood.

Thanks to Royal Enfield Social Mission and all who helped bring this project to life- Anikait, Tanveer, Surbhi, Wafa, Prerna, Priyambara, Ravi, Vaibhav, Ravi, Utkarsh, Aswin, Ramakrishna, Vignesh, Shubham, Amit, Rushikesh, Issa, Himashi, Saba, Dr. Pankaj, Dr. Pranay.

Solar passive rooms: Reducing Cold & Carbon Emissions

In a region where temperatures can drop to -30°C, families often rely on burning large amounts of wood 24×7 to stay warm, huddling in smoke-filled rooms. This practice not only fills homes with smoke but also emits significant CO₂ and black carbon into the fragile Himalayan environment.

Solar passive rooms change this reality. Using a simple design that captures and stores the sun’s heat, indoor temperatures stay above 10°C without external heating, reducing emissions and dependence on costly fuel.

This year, we built 3 Solar Passive Rooms in Demul, 3 in Lidhang, and 1 in Langza. Each household reduces over 2.5 tonnes of emissions annually, leading to a combined reduction of over 17.5 tonnes every year. We’re grateful to Crystal Crops for collaborating with us on this initiative.

Ensuring Food & Care for Spiti’s Stray Dogs

Stray dogs in Spiti face hunger and risk going feral during the harsh winters, leading to larger problems of livestock killings and wildlife conflicts. Together with local women and fellow dog lovers, we ensure these dogs are fed, even in the coldest months.

This year, we fed over 200 stray dogs in and around Kaza. Thank you to all the dog lovers who contributed to this initiative- Abhay, Haider, Mahesh, Priyanca, Purnima, Pranay, Gayatree.

Expanding Horizons and New Beginnings

This year, Ecosphere trips went beyond Spiti to explore the broader Himalayas, both in the north and the east, offering travellers new adventures and experiences.

Ladakh

Experiencing the high-altitude lakes, dramatic mountain passes, and vibrant local culture of the northern Himalayas.

Zanskar

Exploring remote valleys, ancient monasteries, and the pristine wilderness of this untouched northern region.

North East India

Discovering the lush landscapes, waterfalls, hidden villages, and unique tribal cultures of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Nagaland, showcasing the beauty of the eastern Himalayas.

India Bike Week

We were at India Bike Week in Panchgani, to launch our 2026 bike trips across India and abroad, marking the start of our international adventures in 2026.

Our New Hospitality Ventures

Sol Eco Hotel & Black Pea Cafe

This year, we opened the doors to our boutique Sol Eco Hotel, an eco-friendly stay built with mud and natural materials, surrounded by the raw beauty of the Trans-Himalayas. 

Our in-house Black Pea Café serves multi-cuisine dishes in Kaza, Spiti, offering a cozy spot for travellers.

Taste of Spiti Rooftop 

Meanwhile, our Taste of Spiti restaurant in Kaza shifted to the rooftop, serving local flavours fused with global cuisines alongside panoramic views of the valley.

Volunteer and Making a Difference

At Ecosphere, volunteering is about becoming one with the place you visit—living local lives, hearing their stories, and making a tangible impact. From managing our social cause Sol cafe and helping locals in farming to teaching at the nunnery, their time and effort directly goes into meaningful, on-ground work.

Thank you everyone for being part of the change- Sreejan, Barsha, Yashica, Ishaanth, Neev, Madhava, Ridhima, Nandini, Musfera, Samina, Om, Pragya, Ranjit, Vallari, Richa, Disha, Payal and Sneha.

Awards and features

Our founder, Ishita Khanna, was featured in Outlook Traveller.

 

 

Ishita Khanna was selected as a jury member for the 8th TOFT India Wildlife & Nature Tourism Awards 2025.

She was also selected as a Jury for the Indian Responsible Tourism State Awards – Rajasthan 2025.

She was invited  to the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference at Ganpat University as a key speaker for the National Seminar on Adventure Tourism.

Our team member, Chhering Norbu, was featured in Outlook Traveller, for his work preserving the ancient tradition of Amchis in Spiti.

New Team Members

We welcomed Vaishali Singha who joined us in December as the Partnerships & Communications Manager at MUSE. She brings valuable perspective to building meaningful partnerships and strengthening our communication efforts.

Deepak Santosh joined us full time, curating immersive adventure experiences, blending culture, sustainability, and offbeat exploration. He also plays a key role in developing new travel programs and enhancing outreach efforts. 

Partners

We’re grateful to our partners for standing with us through every initiative — your trust and collaboration made this impact possible. 

None of this would be possible without several individuals and volunteers who support us along the way, and while we can’t name everyone, we remain truly thankful to all.

Abijit Bora 

Arthur Foot Academy

Col Karminder Singh from Patiala School of Deaf & Blind

Crystal crops

Dr. Shroff Charity Eye Hospital

Dr. T.P Singh

Eicher Group Foundation

Haider

Karanbir Singh Sibia from Akal Group of Institutes

Maee

Mamta & Jagriti

Manipal University

Nature Science Initiative

Principal Amandeep Kaur Sidhu of Baba Sahib Das Charitable School 

Raphael Ryder Cheshire Home

Royal Enfield Social Mission 

Stephan Marshal & Himalayan Ecotourism (HECO)

University of Utah

As this year comes to a close, we carry forward more than milestones — we carry stories, shared effort, and the quiet impact created on the ground. None of this would be possible without the trust, time, and belief of our communities, volunteers, supporters, partners, and travellers.

This is not the end of a chapter, but a continuation of work rooted in purpose, responsibility, and long-term change. We move ahead grateful, committed, and ready to do more.

 2024 in Retrospect: A Journey of Growth, Impact & New Horizons

As 2024 draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on a year filled with challenges, triumphs, and meaningful change. From expanding our community initiatives to memorable trips and impactful volunteering, this year has been a testament to the collective effort we’ve all invested.

None of this would have been possible without you—our incredible travellers, dedicated volunteers and passionate supporters. 

Thank you for being part of this journey, for believing in our mission, and for becoming a part of the change we all wish to see. Here’s a summary of what we’ve accomplished this year with your support:

• Eye and Ear Camps in Spiti, assessing 904 patients

• Treated- 500 + patients at our MUSE Charitable Dental Clinic in Kaza.

• Oral Health Awareness & Treatment Camps in Dehradun covering 1057 patients

• Distributed 80 menstrual cups & held Menstrual Health Management training across 12 villages.

• Holistic Health assessments conducted with the University of Utah across 4 villages

• Installed 1 solar bath at Kwang Nunnery

• Built 3 greenhouses in Lingti and Lidang villages of Spiti

• Built a solar-passive water storage facility in collaboration with Royal Enfield riders

• Constructed 7 solar passive rooms across Spiti

• Inauguration of Solar Street lighting in Jispa

• Feeding of stray dogs through the winter

Bringing Vision and Clarity to Spiti: Eye and Ear Camps Transforming Lives

Spiti lacks an eye care center, forcing residents to travel 1-2 days to places like Manali or Shimla for basic check-ups—an unaffordable journey for many. To address this, our founding NGO, MUSE conducted free eye and ear camps across Spiti in collaboration with Dr. Shroff Charity Eye Hospital and Eicher Group Foundation.

In total, 904 patients received eye and ear tests, and custom-fitted spectacles were provided at no cost. We also offered routine checks for blood pressure and blood sugar to promote overall health.

It was truly heartwarming to witness the impact—everyone  experiencing clearer vision and sight. Small efforts like these can dramatically improve quality of life in remote areas. We’re grateful to our partners.

MUSE Charitable Dental Clinic: Revolutionizing Dental Care in Spiti

This season, we treated over 500 patients at the MUSE Charitable Dental Clinic in Kaza, providing essential care such as RCTs, extractions, crowns, bridges, fillings, Partial Dentures and scaling. 

With limited access to quality dental care in the region, residents often travel 1-2 days to reach the nearest city for treatment. By setting up this charitable clinic, we aim to make quality dental care affordable and accessible to all, right here in Spiti.

Bridging the Oral Health Gap: Making Quality Dental Care Accessible to All

Oral health is often severely neglected in both rural and urban areas of India, where access to dental care is either limited or too expensive. This neglect can lead to serious oral issues, affecting overall well-being. For the past three years, we’ve been addressing this gap by organizing dental camps in remote communities.

This year, we conducted our dental camps across Dehradun assessing 1057 patients, where we provided free dental checkups & low cost quality treatments along with awareness sessions on oral health education. We’ve treated a range of conditions including tooth decay, infections and gum diseases and provided treatments like fillings, root canals, crowns and more.

Our mission is clear: to make dental care accessible and affordable to everyone, no matter where they live. By combining treatment with education, we’re not just addressing dental issues—we’re equipping communities with the knowledge to maintain their oral health for years.

Thank you to our partners- John Martyn Memorial School, Aasra Trust and Purkal Youth Development Society. Your support has been instrumental in making our dental camps successful and impactful.

Empowering Spiti with Sustainable Menstrual Health Solutions

Last year we launched the “Spiti Monthly Matters - Greening the Red” program to promote eco-friendly menstrual practices. Spiti produces over 10 lakh pads worth of waste annually, harming the environment and posing a huge financial burden on the locals.

To address this, we introduced menstrual cups—a cost-effective  and a sustainable solution. We distributed 80 cups provided by Sirona, across 12 villages. We also held Menstrual Health Management training and awareness sessions for women with support from University of Utah volunteers and even included men in discussions on supporting menstrual health.

Thanks to Sirona and University of Utah for joining us in our mission to promote greener periods in Spiti.

Comprehensive Health Assessments in Spiti

In collaboration with the University of Utah, we conducted comprehensive health assessments in Chicham, Demul, Langza and Pangmo village of Spiti, to improve the well-being of its residents. 

These assessments covered several critical health areas:

• Menstrual health assessments and distribution of menstrual cups to women

• Mental health evaluations for men

• Nutrition analysis, focusing on vegetable intake and anaemia testing

• Water quality assessments

• Antibiotic resistance testing

• Men’s awareness sessions on menstrual health

• Oral health assessments

These efforts aim to bring essential health services to Spiti, where access is limited, ensuring a healthier future for the region.

Solar Baths: Reducing Fuelwood Use in Spiti

Bathing in Spiti is challenging due to limited availability of fuelwood to heat water. To address this, we have introduced solar baths in Spiti, using solar geysers and passive design principles to provide a warm, eco-friendly bathing facility. The availability of hot water has improved personal hygiene while reducing the reliance on fuelwood, cutting carbon emissions and lowering household expenses spent on fuel.

This year, a solar bath was  built at Kwang Nunnery by students of Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School under our Travel and Volunteer program.

Greening the Desert: Enhancing Nutrition with Greenhouses

Spiti is a cold desert with dry and harsh weather, making it challenging to grow green vegetables and creating significant difficulties for locals to obtain them during snow. To combat this, we built three greenhouses in Lingti and Lidang villages this year.

These greenhouses were constructed by our travellers as part of the ‘Greening the Desert’ Travel and Volunteer Program. The greenhouse will provide the local families with lifelong, year-round access to fresh green vegetables, greatly improving their quality of life.

Thank you Sharayu, Varun, Heeral, Aishwarya, Sumay, Joanna, Shoubhonic, Priyanka and students of Scindia School and Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School for their invaluable contributions.

Spiti Cause Ride: Building a Solar Water Facility for Year-Round Access

In partnership with Royal Enfield, a group of riders joined us in two batches to build a solar-passive water storage facility in Spiti Valley. 

Collecting water in Spiti is exhausting, especially in winter when sources freeze and are far from villages. This facility, equipped with solar pumps and tanks, ensures year-round access to clean water and prevents freezing during winter. The improved water availability enhances hygiene, health, and frees up time for education, childcare and livelihood activities.

Our heartfelt thanks to the incredible riders who joined us on this journey of change, making a meaningful impact on these remote communities.

Solar-Passive Rooms: Providing Sustainable Warmth for Spiti's Winters

In Spiti, families face extreme cold during winters, often burning fuelwood 24/7 in one room to stay warm. This leads to high fuel costs, environmental impact and health risks from smoke exposure.

To address this, we constructed 7 solar-passive rooms across the region, utilizing simple architectural designs to capture solar heat and better insulation to retain warmth. These rooms maintain temperatures above 10°C without external heating, reducing fuelwood use and cutting carbon emissions by 17.5 tons per year. 

Families now save money, enjoy cleaner air, and have more time for income-generating activities like handicrafts, enhancing both their livelihoods and well-being.

Solar Streetlights for Consistent Lighting in Jispa

We inaugurated solar streetlights in Jispa town of Himachal Pradesh installed by our founding NGO - MUSE in collaboration with Royal Enfield. Harnessing solar power, these lights ensure well-lit roads and uninterrupted illumination, even during harsh winters when powerlines often fail.

Feeding Spiti's Strays

In Spiti, over 750 stray dogs face harsh winters each year, often becoming feral due to a lack of food. Through our dog feeding program, in partnership with local communities and dog lovers, we provide food during these challenging months, preventing them from going feral and helping build a bond with the locals.

This year, we continued to feed and care for over 200 dogs, ensuring their survival and well-being.

Volunteer

Our volunteers play a crucial role in driving positive change across Spiti. Whether through hands-on projects or volunteering to support our initiatives & helping local communities, their dedication and hard work are creating lasting impact. 

We are deeply grateful for their commitment and passion in making Spiti a better place.

Run a cafe in the mountains

Under this program, volunteers manage our social cause cafes, Sol Cafe and Taste of Spiti, whose earnings directly support our community initiatives in Spiti. Sol Cafe is the best spot in town for coffee, bakery treats, and handmade chocolates, while Taste of Spiti offers a unique fusion of traditional Spiti food and ingredients with world cuisine. 

Thanking each of our Sol and Tos volunteers for being part of the change: Tanvi, Priyanka, Shoubhonic, Payal, Thomas, Theo, Rekha, Resham and Pratima.

Farming Feats

In this program, volunteers live and work on farms in Spiti, helping local farmers with essential tasks. Agriculture is the backbone of Spiti’s economy, but due to the harsh climate, farmers can only harvest once a year. Volunteers lend a helping hand, gaining a deeper connection with the land and the local community, while contributing to the region's agricultural sustainability.

Internship

Under our internship program, individuals joined us to support our research and documentation while gaining hands-on experience. They played a crucial role in advancing our community-driven projects as well. 

Thank you Pankaj, Sanchari and Manprit for your dedication and commitment to creating a lasting impact.

Awards and features

Our founder, Ishita, won GOLD at the Outlook Indian Responsible Tourism Awards in the

Sustainability Champions: Pathfinders category.

Our founder, Ishita, was nominated for the Inspiring Women in Travel (Asia) Awards 2024.

Featured in the Deccan Chronicle for our impactful volunteering initiatives in Spiti Valley.

 

Sol Cafe got featured in Conde Nast Traveller.

Biking trip across the Himalayas with Bigrock Dirtpack

This year, we embarked on an exciting biking trip in collaboration with Bigrock Dirtpack, traveling across the breathtaking Himalayas.The journey covered the rugged terrains of Spiti, Zanskar, and Leh, offering an unforgettable adventure through these stunning regions.

Welcoming Our New Team Members

We are also excited to welcome our new team member, Dr. Sapna, a dedicated dentist who has

joined us in making a positive impact. Alongside the dental team, Dr. Sapna treated patients at

the MUSE Charitable Dental Clinic in Kaza and organized dental camps in Dehradun,

bringing much-needed care to remote communities.

Partners

 

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners this year, whose support has enabled us to continue and expand our initiatives, making a lasting impact on the communities we serve.

• Aasra Trust

• Crystal Crops 

• Dr Shroff Charity Eye Hospital

• Eicher Group Foundation 

• John Martyn Memorial School

• Purkal Youth Development Society

• Royal Enfield

• Sirona 

• University of Utah 

Individual Supporters of Our Initiatives

A big thank you to our individual supporters, whose belief in our mission has helped us make a real difference.

• Abhay Gupta 

• Abhijit Bora 

• Adrian Reeve Sequeira

• Aishwarya Sharma

• Anu Mathew

• Anupam Parsheera

• Dr Paramita Suklabaidya

• Haider Singh Gill

• Maew

• Mahesh Lal

• Nikita

• Prerana

• Purbi

• Sangeeta Sindhi

• Shruthi Gowda

• Sonia Sharma Ray

A special thanks to all our travellers— your travels with us make all of this possible, as your

journeys directly support our initiatives and the positive impact we create together.

As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on a year filled with progress, collaboration, and

meaningful transformations. With gratitude for all we've achieved together, we eagerly

look forward to what 2025 holds.