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JOIN OUR THREE WEEK PROGRAM

Welcome to Nepal, a country of beautiful nature and rich culture. Every first and second Saturday of the month a three-week tour is organized with a minimum of two participants. This way it remains small-scale. So get some friends or colleagues together and have a unique experience!

Volunteer Society Nepal’s program gives you the opportunity to explore three different regions of Nepal and experience Nepal’s most spectacular natural, cultural and wildlife experiences.

This remarkable journey offers you the opportunity to discover as much as possible in a short time, but also to give something to the local Nepali community through volunteer work.

Whether your dream is to see crocodiles sunbathing, or swim with an elephant, or walk the medieval streets of Kathmandu, or relax on a boat in the Himalayan River: we make these dreams come true!

The tour starts in the Kathmandu Valley with its UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then you travel to Patan and Bakhtapur, before heading south to Chitwan for its unique and endangered wildlife. From there the journey starts north for the fantastic Lake City of Pokhara.

Your cultural trip through Nepal is enriched by the opportunities to volunteer in several Volunteer Society Nepal projects throughout Nepal; Teaching English, sports, IT in schools, working in childcare, or with disabled children, working with a group of women or helping in construction works.

The program is designed for travelers looking for a unique vacation that connects volunteerism, cultural engagement and sightseeing in the mountains and jungles of Nepal.

Week 1:
Orientation, Language, Cultural lessons and excursions

Day 1 – 5:
Orientation, Language, Cultural lessons and excursions in Kathmandu.
You will be picked up at the airport by one of our VSN employees, who will take you to your host family. There you will stay during your orientation and volunteer work in Kathmandu. You get your own room, and you get two meals a day. The easy bus routes in the city and the surrounding countryside are a perfect base for your introduction to Nepal.
After your arrival, these will be your next four days:

  • introduction of your stay, and your responsibility as a volunteer.
  •  Nepalese cultural orientation where the do’s and don’ts are described
  • Nepali language lessons (2 hours per day) and extra time to study
  •  sightseeing in Kathmandu heritage
  • getting to know other volunteers and employees

Day 2:
Kathmandu
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Nepalese and culture lesson
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Pashupatinath and Boudhanath Stupa

Pashupatinath Temple and Boudanath Temple
Pashupatinath is one of the world’s most sacred Hindu temples; During the annual festival of Shivaratri, thousands of believers come here for a pilgrimage. On the other side of sacred Bagmati is a cemetery, where the bodies are cremated before the charred remains are swept into the water that eventually flows into the Ganges.

The Boudhanath Stupa area is home to Nepal’s largest Tibetan community of twelve thousand people. The stupa itself is decorated with colorful flags and built in a sacred geometric mandala design with nine levels. All together 108 Buddha statues and 147 prayer wheels adorn the base of the enormous circular building.

Day 3:
Kathmandu
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM – 12:30 Nepalese and culture lesson
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Swayambhunath Stupa and Durbar Square

Swayambhunath Stupa and Durbar Square
The Swayambhunath Stupa is located on the outskirts of the city on a hill, and dates back to 500 BC. The story goes that a sage named Manjushree, who is credited with the founding of Kathmandu, saw a heavenly lotus blooming on the hilltop and blessed it. Swayambhu is an important pilgrimage site as a center of art, architecture, religion and culture in Mahayana Buddhism.

Durbar Square is the center of Kathmandu. Durbar Square holds the palaces of the Malla and Shah Kings who once ruled the city. Along with these palaces, the square also contains a series of temples, the oldest dating from the 16th century. The square is also known as Hanuman Dhoka, a name derived from the statue of Hanuman, the monkey god, near the entrance.

Day 4:
Patan
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM – 12:30 Nepalese and culture lesson
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Patan and Durbar Square

Patan and Durbar Square
Patan, also known as Lalitpur is the oldest of the three Kathmandu Valley cities, and is the oldest Buddhist city in the world. It is located on a plateau directly across the Bagmati River and is surrounded by four Stupas.
Patan Durbar Square is popular for its ancient palaces, temples and
The formal Patan Royal Palace is the center of Patan’s religious and social life. The houses and museums contain bronze statues and religious objects.

Day 5:
Thamel
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Nepalese and culture lesson
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Thamel + shopping
5:30 PM Briefing about the project

Thamel
Thamel is located in the north of Kathmandu. There are many tourists here who come to stay, eat, shop, etc. There has been a hippie atmosphere since 1970 and it has very alternative streets.

Week 2:
Day 6 – 13
Volunteering

  •  English lessons/sports/IT
  •  after-school childcare
  •  construction work
  •  working with women’s group
  •  working with disabled children
  •  working with the elderly

Week 3:
Jungle Safari in Pokhara Tour

Day 14:
Preparation Chitwan and Pokhara tour

Day 15:
Drive to Chitwan
Our trip around Nepal starts the day after an early breakfast with a five-hour bus ride in the mountains, along the Trishuli River to Chitwan.
After checking into your hotel, our nature guide will brief you about the jungle safari program that awaits you. The activities in the jungle are with a guide and also include a walk in a village along the Rapti River. There you can experience a beautiful sunset in the sub-tropical jungle. After dinner you can enjoy a cultural program, with a performance of the local community.

Day 16:
Full day in Chitwan National Park and Jungle safari
The Chitwan National Park is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It has a variety of game and most of it is rare and on the verge of extinction.
During your visit you can spot water buffalos, tigers, leopards, bison and other animals.
There are various activities you can do here such as; swimming with an elephant, watching rare birds, riding through the jungle, etc

Day 17:
Drive to Pokhara
After an early breakfast you will have some time to do some activities before the drive to Pokhara. It is about a 5 – 6 hour drive from Chitwan. It is a ride in the mountains, along the rivers. Pokhara, also called Lake City, is one of Nepal’s most beautiful places. It gives a beautiful view of Dhaulagiri Manaslu and Machhapuchhare Mountains, the five peaks of Annapurna, and so on.
Pokhara is also the starting point of the trek to the Annapurna region. After arrival we will do a sightseeing trip in the shops of Pokhara. In the evening there is time to take a lovely walk along the lake.

Day 18:
Explore Pokhara
Today is a full day to explore Pokhara. In the early morning we drive to Sarangkot Hill to see the sunrise over the Himalayas. The rest of the day we do some sightseeing, which includes a walk along the shores of Phewa, admiring the beautiful reflection of Fish Tail Peak in the blue waters, a boat ride across the lake, and an hour’s walk on the other side of the World Peace Pagoda. We will also make a short visit to the sacred Gupteshwar Gufa Cave (also called Shiva Gufa). Some of the other places to visit are the Seti River Gorge, Devi’s Fall and the mountain museum.

Day 19:
Drive to Kathmandu
After breakfast we start our 200 kilometer drive back to Kathmandu, where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Himalayas. Upon arrival in Kathmandu you will be taken to a hotel. Here is plenty of time to organize your photos, complete your Facebook page and have a nice chat with your traveling companions. That evening you can relax, perhaps do some last minute shopping and enjoy a festive dinner together with the Volunteer Society Nepal employees.

Day 20:
Free day

Day 21:
Flight home, goodbye
Your trip in Nepal unfortunately comes to an end today! We hope you enjoyed it, and we hope you will come back to Nepal again. Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative of Volunteer Society Nepal will meet you to escort you to the airport. But there is no reason to feel sad about saying goodbye because we hope to greet you again at a later time.

Nepal – Kathmandu

From the moment you arrive in the country of Nepal, you are in our good hands, and we as Volunteer Society Nepal strive to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. From arranging airport transfers to providing comfortable accommodation and offering meals of your choice and assisting with logistical details and requests, we will serve you to the best of our ability

Airport Reception/Transfer
Newly arrived volunteers will be picked up from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu by a local staff member. The volunteers who are already in Nepal will be welcomed at a designated pre-arranged location in Kathmandu.

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in the local Nepalese family house or in the volunteer house, depending on availability. Both the homestay accommodation and the volunteer house are neat and comfortable and have hot and cold running water, electricity, WiFi, and all basic amenities.

Meals
2 or 3 Nepalese meals will be provided to all volunteers depending on your work schedule. Breakfast usually consists of bread and spices or a sandwich with tea, lunch and dinner usually consist of dal (lentils), rice, vegetables, chicken or other meat.

Costs
The costs of 3 weeks of volunteer work and travel are 1020 euros.

What is included?

  • Food and accommodation from the moment you land at the airport until the last day
  • In-depth language and culture training
  • Guided tour
  • Guidance from experienced host family
  • 24 hours availability of VSN Nepal staff for emergencies
  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • Support in booking further planning in Nepal
  • 15 nights in a guesthouse/volunteer house in Kathmandu
  • 3 nights in a tourist hotel in Pokhara
  • 2 nights at the lodge in Chitwan
  • Entrance fees to the most important cultural and heritage sites are approximately 40 euros (entrance fees for heritage, museums and others).
  • Breakfast during stay in Pokhara
  • Full board during stay in Chitwan
  • Farewell dinner
  • Uitstap naar Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath & Bhaktapur
  • Visit around Pokhara, Sarangkot tour including walk
  • 3-day visit to Chitwan National Park including visit to traditional Tharu village, visit to elephant breeding center and elephant bath (depending on weather), tour agencies including bird watching, tribal dance, etc
  • English-speaking guide during excursions and tours.

What is not included?

  • Visa costs
  • Vaccinations
  • Travel insurance
  • Miscellaneous such as personal items, extra drinks and entertainment (approx. 50 euros per week)
  • domestic flights
  • Flight to Nepal and vice versa
  • Additional meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Some entrance fees for the excursions
  • Insurance.