Wild & Ancient Himalaya: Nepal & Bhutan

The Himalayas are far more than the world's highest mountains — they’re the source of rivers that sustain nearly two billion people across Asia. Expedition Leader Conan Dumenil follows these rivers from glaciers and alpine valleys through forests, grasslands and floodplains, revealing how they connect landscapes that seem worlds apart. Along the way, meet wildlife ranging from snow leopards and bharal in the high mountains to rhinos, gharials and Bengal tigers in the lowlands, and discover why protecting rivers is essential to protecting the species, habitats and people that depend on them.

Rising from subtropical floodplains to the highest peaks on Earth, the Himalayas are shaped by dramatic geography, vibrant cultures and remarkable wildlife. Expedition Leader Conan Dumenil explores how the rivers and mountain ecosystems in Nepal and Bhutan influence biodiversity and human life. Meet wildlife from rhinos and elephants to tigers and sloth bears, learn how Nepal achieved landmark “zero poaching” successes, and discover why Bhutan is the world’s first carbon-negative country.

Each year, the arrival of the monsoon transforms Southeast Asia into a landscape bursting with life. Expedition Leader Conan Dumenil explores how seasonal rains trigger some of nature's most fascinating events, from the brief emergence of the elusive purple frog to the arrival of the Jacobin cuckoo and the synchronized activity of insects, reptiles and other wildlife. Discover why the monsoon is the ecological engine that drives life across India, Nepal and Bhutan, and how changing rainfall patterns could reshape these ancient rhythms.