World Press Photo Award winner, journey across the icy river.

Olivier Föllmi, an internationally renowned humanistic photographer, writer, director, and adventurer. Born in France, he spent thirty years traveling in the Himalayan region and is known as an expert in Tibetan rural culture. He has published 36 books, translated into nine languages, and his work "My Himalayas" is celebrated worldwide. He won the World Press Photo Award for "Journey Across the Icy River," and his works have been exhibited in major galleries around the globe, earning him recognition as one of the top photographers of the 21st century. In 1992, he founded the educational aid association HOPE in the Himalayas, dedicated to serving global education. His profound love for the Himalayas has shaped his extraordinary life.

"In silence, we all speak the same language."

 

Set foot in Asia at the age of 18 and visited the mystical Zanskar Valley at the age of 21.

Olivier was born in the French Alps in 1958. With a passion for travel and adventure, he first set foot in Asia at the age of 18, crossing central Afghanistan and climbing the 6,059-meter peak Mir-Sa-Mir along the Panchir Valley. This lifelong adventure determined his destiny.

In 1979, during a hiking trip, Olivier discovered the Zanskar Valley in India. Zanskar, isolated beneath the grandeur of the Himalayan mountains, has an average altitude of 3,600 meters and is scattered among peaks reaching up to 7,000 meters. It is one of the most remote inhabited regions on Earth and the last stronghold of ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture. In the Ladakh region where Zanskar is located, there is a saying: "The land is so barren, the passes so difficult, that only our fiercest enemies or our dearest friends would visit us."

Olivier became one of its dearest friends. He said, "I divided myself between Zanskar and the West, belonging to the values of both worlds. Driven by a thirst for exploration, I spent four winters in Zanskar, isolated by snow. One winter, I lived at the Phuktal Monastery, situated at 4,000 meters, where the spiritual leader Tashi Tundup told me that everyone who stays here carries the seed of Buddha in their heart."

 

A child adopted from the Himalayas.

Olivier was deeply influenced by Tibetan culture and the philosophy of living in harmony with nature. He developed a profound connection to the Himalayas and the people who inhabit the region. Each year, he provided guidance through the ARTOU travel agency based in Geneva, specializing in Himalayan journeys. He frequently traveled to the mountains, working as a mountain guide or studying and living in Buddhist monasteries. The Himalayas became his destiny, and he evolved into one of the most sensitive and insightful observers of Tibetan life.

Zanskar not only shaped Olivier into an exceptional photographer but also provided him with a home.

In 1979, as Olivier traveled across the land of Zanskar, the local residents had never before encountered an outsider. It was there that he met the parents of Motup—a young farming couple named Lobsang and Dolma. He became friends with the young father, Lobsang, who had never left the region and was unaware of the world beyond the mountains.

Olivier took him to the Indian plains on the other side of the Himalayas, where Lobsang saw electricity and running water for the first time, leaving him astonished. Wanting his son to experience another world, Olivier suggested that Motup should attend school. Lobsang entrusted his child, Motup, to Olivier and his wife, Danièle, for education, and they became Motup's second parents.

Crossing the frozen river at its limits to take his son to school.

Three years later, Olivier and his wife brought the 11-year-old Motup home from a school in Ladakh, 150 kilometers away from his parents' village, for a visit. The only way was to cross the frozen river of the Zanskar Valley. Due to heavy snow and harsh conditions, the ice could crack at any moment. They slept on the frozen river in temperatures ranging from -20°C to -30°C, relying solely on traditional Tibetan tsampa (roasted barley flour), butter tea, and salt tea for sustenance. Often, when the ice on the river broke, they had to climb along steep cliffs.

When embarking on this crossing, they knew when it would begin but never when it would end. The adventure ultimately lasted two weeks. After Motup was reunited with his family, his father, witnessing the changes in his son, entrusted his eight-year-old daughter, Diskit, to Olivier and his wife as well. They later escorted both children back to school along the frozen river.

In 1989, Olivier's series of photographs titled "The Children's Journey to School on the Frozen Winter River" was selected by *Life* magazine as one of the most beautiful human adventures of the 20th century and won the World Press Photo Award. This adventure pushed every participant beyond their physical limits. In his photo collection of the frozen river, Olivier wrote: "Every step reminds us of the burden our bodies bear and the fragility of life; every step tells us how hard-earned happiness truly is."

 

Establishing an educational aid association to build a bridge between Tibet and the world.

In 1992, Olivier and Danièle co-founded the educational aid association HOPE (Hope), which supports the connection between education in remote regions and the wider world. They also use photographs to share with the outside world the stories of where they come from.

Twenty-five years later, they returned to Zanskar to celebrate the weddings of Motup and Diskit, surrounded by both sets of parents. This marked the beautiful continuation of a story between two families and two worlds.

Upon returning to the Himalayan region once again, Olivier gained new insights into Tibet. He said, "Today, Tibet is also a victim of modernization. It is no longer the great human traditional civilization I knew forty years ago, but I am glad for its development. Because now there are schools and hospitals in the Himalayas. The Tibet I once witnessed had its wonders but also endured much suffering due to lagging living standards. Yet I focus on the positive aspects of life. I love capturing the beauty of the world and of humanity, because beauty is everywhere."

"My Himalayas" Photo Collection

Showcasing 35 years of travel imagery, aspiring to build a better world.

Between 2003 and 2009, Olivier traveled around the world in search of great traditions and truths. From these adventures emerged the "Wisdom of Humanity" project, consisting of seven books featuring 365 reflections. These books have sold over a million copies and have been translated into multiple languages.

Olivier said, "I wanted to showcase images from 35 years of travel to express how, through the blending of diverse cultures, humanity can unite—no matter who they are or where they are from. I do not agree with the media's tendency to dramatize the world and focus only on violence. In my travels, I have met wonderful people. Yes, there is violence—it must be condemned and stopped—but that is not all. To change the world, you must change the way you see it. To build a better world, we must not dwell on negativity but extend a helping hand. You must let go of your own ideas and open up to others. Humanity is beautiful and worth defending by everyone."

In his sixties, he came to understand humility, yet the adventure of life never ceased.

In the vast world, he also discovered that humility is a common trait among the people of Tibet. This humility is found in the lives of farmers who depend on nature for survival. It can also be seen in the spiritual realm, where people, regardless of religious belief, remain humble before "God." Olivier said, "In silence, we all speak the same language. I truly enjoy engaging in dialogue with the spiritual aspects of all religions."

Entering his sixties, Olivier believes his role is evolving. He no longer engages in dangerous adventures, but his profound love for human life and all living beings remains undiminished. He said, "Since 1976, I have experienced many honors and setbacks, but my passion has allowed me to face everything with equanimity. I carry one piece of advice with me as I continue my life's adventure: 'Never ask for directions from someone who knows the path well, for then you will never get lost...'"

Olivier’s more than thirty years in the Himalayas echo through the most beautiful fragments of his memories. He embraced everything about the Himalayas with complete openness, honoring every piece of land and every life with sincere devotion. Without bias, he dedicated his love to this place and, through action, proved that the world is one, without boundaries.

In Tibet, each butter lamp lit carries heartfelt prayers in its gentle, flickering glow. The burning light illuminates a world without borders.