Schedule

Week 1

Monday to Friday

Arrive in Kathmandu and relax at our centre. During this week, you will learn about Nepalese culture through a series of introductory culture classes which are designed to help you develop your Nepalese language skills and deepen your understanding of the Nepali culture, complete with details on rituals and customs.

As part of your city tour and orientation, you will visit some amazing sites such as the temple of Boudhanath: one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Kathmandu.  In addition, you will have an introduction to yoga and meditation.

Weekends – Weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation with other volunteers or you can use this time to travel and explore Nepal more with your new friends.

Week 2

Monday to Friday

This week you’ll visit Royal Chitwan National Park, and Pokhara, heading out on a superb hike through rice paddy fields and mountains. Need a little excitement? We thought so! How about some whitewater rafting on the scenic Trisuli River?

Then we head on to the Royal Chitwan National Park where you can experience the exotic wildlife of Nepal. Then, we will spend some time sightseeing in the charming town of Pokhara, the second-largest city in Nepal, where you’ll also find a stunning view of the Himalayas.

Weekends – Weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation with other volunteers or you can use this time to travel and explore Nepal more with your new friends.

Week 3

Monday to Friday

This week it’s the Annapurna Trek! Begin your adventure trek up the Poon Hill, which is the viewpoint for two of the largest mountains in the world, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri!

This is a challenging but rewarding five day trek. On your return, you will receive a relaxing massage to soothe your muscles and allow you to reflect on the last week’s journey.

Weekends – Weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation with other volunteers or you can use this time to travel and explore Nepal more with your new friends.

Week 4

Monday to Friday

Community Work in Kathmandu: You will get the chance to give back to Nepal by helping out with some of our projects.

Your options to choose from are below:

Teaching in Local Schools

Teach at small local village schools and help children to build their confidence and language skills – hopefully also inspiring them to broaden their horizon through your experiences!

Renovation Projects

Help local communities by building infrastructure alongside local people and other participants.

Organic Farm/Community Development

Work alongside local people on an Organic Farm as part of this authentic experience during which you will stay with a local family.

Once you have chosen your project, we will arrange your stay accordingly.  We will try to accommodate you as best as we can but nothing is guaranteed as availability and circumstances may affect the options open to us at any given time. However, usually, your first choice of social work option on your application form is guaranteed. For medical options, relevant qualifications will be required.

Included in the Programme

• Airport transfers as per the policy – Airport Pickup in Kathmandu – Tribhuvan International Airport
• Experienced programme coordinator throughout your travel, at the projects and facilities
• Authentic Nepali and European meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for the duration of the entire programme
• Accommodation at hotels, tea houses and centre
• Local transportation to all venues
• Entry fees to all places
• Pre-departure information
• Overland local public transportation

Exclusions

• Personal expenses such as table drinks, room service items, laundry, telephone calls, tips,  bottles of water during your road travel etc.
• Our program does not cover any liability and does not insure participants. Participants must have appropriate insurance before joining the program.
• Any camera fee where applicable.
• Any service not specified above.

A few things to consider when you are with us!

• Returning to the accommodation after your personal trips before 22.00 every day
• You will not be allowed to hire any vehicle on your own
• Consumption of alcohol inside the centre is not allowed
• Our staff is there to support you, guide you and make your trip memorable. We kindly request you to follow their instructions at all times

Please Note: this schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Our 4-week Nepal Experience programme will take you on a cultural experience of Nepal, its country and its communities. You will travel Kathmandu to Chitwan and then into beautiful Pokhara, where you’ll hike to Poon Hill, before returning, once again, to Kathmandu.

About the Accommodation

During your trip, you will stay in traditional Tea Houses, hotels and monasteries, as well as our volunteer centre accommodation – and a spot of camping to boot! Also, you’ll find a range of facilities along the way, usually, but not always, with western toilets and hot showers.

Most accommodation is basic, with 2-6 people per room, and all on a single-gender basis. Of course, you may also opt for a private room, subject to availability.

Whilst staying at our volunteer centre you’ll find a mini library where you can read, a beautiful garden to relax in, as well as dining and lounge areas where you can hang out with your fellow volunteers. Importantly, be aware that there is a curfew of 22.30 at the house, to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Please note also, that no alcohol can be brought into the houses at any time. However, these rules will be provided during your ‘Nuts and Bolts’ session before you begin your journey, so you will have a good grasp of rules and cultural dos and don’ts before you set out.

Food

Nepali food consists mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. During your 4-week Nepal Road Trip, you will have three meals per day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends with a mix of Western and Nepalese food. Further, you can expect to have a chicken dish about once a week, although vegetarian options are always available. Also, if preferable, you can also choose to eat out at any of the local restaurants during the course of your stay.

Facilities

Our house is located five kilometres away from the city centre. Nearby, there is an ATM and, also, a supermarket, where you can stock up with treats for your journey! Furthermore, there will be shops en route, so you won’t be stuck!

Transportation

All programme transportation along the Nepal Road Trip route is included. However, any trips out with our programme must be paid for separately.

Population: Approx. 28.98 million
Capital: Kathmandu
Language: Nepali
Currency: Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Time zone: UTC +5:45

Namaste and welcome to Nepal, a country of high Himalayan Mountains, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife, and diverse cultures. Located between 80 12′ east longitude and between 26 22′ and 30 27′ north latitude, Nepal extends along the south slopes of the Himalayas in central Asia.

Although Nepal is small, it has the greatest latitudinal variation of any country. The land rises from the southern plains of the Terai, barely above sea level at 70 meters, to the top of the Mt. Everest, the highest peak on Earth at 8848 meters above sea level, in a distance of less than 200 km.

Book your volunteer travel  holiday and experience one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world as well as the highest mountain ranges. Nepal has lush valleys that team with exotic wildlife ready to be explored on your gap year adventure.  It is a beautiful country located in South Asia bordering both India and China.  As you enjoy your volunteer travel experience in Nepal you will come across many remote monasteries and villages that adorn the stunning landscape where you will experience the best of Nepal.  The outstanding beauty and friendly Nepalese people are the main reasons people book gap year holidays to Nepal and why they are a popular choice with us.   We have a compreshensive selection of gap year holidays in Nepal with a number of teaching and community programs on offer.

Have a look at our latest gap year experiences in Nepal or contact us for more about work & travel in Nepal or your questions about specific programs.  The volunteer Nepal program is a very good way for you to experience the most of what the spiritual and enchanted land of Nepal has to offer. You may also choose to trek Mount Everest or smaller mountain hikes like Poon Hill.