Overview
Be a part of 2 Weeks Special Volunteering in Nepal and contribute meaningfully by engaging in the Childcare and Teaching Programs. No matter how small your steps might appear, you can make a big difference in the lives of the little ones! It'll also be an incredible learning experience for you, and boost your career in the days ahead.
Apart from volunteering, you'll also get to travel extensively across Bhaktapur and Nagarkot, witness the gorgeous sunsets and the lush green valleys. The highlight of your trip would surely be the weekend in Pokhara where you'll get to soak yourself in nature's beauty and capture the picturesque views of the mighty Himalayas!
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.
Itinerary
Day 1 (Sunday) – Arrival at Kathmandu, Orientation .jpg)
Welcome to Nepal, the country of temples and the Himalayas.
As you arrive, we will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and will transfer you to the volunteer house. Pickup timings are between 6 am to 10.30 pm. Once you reach the volunteer house, you’ll get time to freshen up and then there will be an orientation session for you along with other volunteers. During orientation, you will be given all necessary information regarding the placement, locality, facilities, modes of transport, etc.
Meals – dinner at the volunteer house, subject to arrival time.
Day 2 (Monday) – Kathmandu City Tour
After breakfast, we will take you for a city tour of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. You will find many Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples along with other historical and heritage sites. You can also see the beautiful pagodas and shrines. In this tour, we will cover Durbar Square, Temple of Kumari (Living Goddess) and Pashupatinath Temple.
Meals – Breakfast and dinner at the volunteer house.
Day 3 (Tuesday) to 6 (Friday) Volunteering in Kathmandu
Your volunteer work will begin on Tuesday. You will be working at the placements as per the schedule that is pre-fixed. It will be mainly childcare and teaching placements. This volunteering experience will be a really memorable and rewarding experience for you.
Meals – Breakfast and dinner at the volunteer house, on all days.
Day 7 (Saturday) to Day 9 (Monday) Weekend Trip to Pokhara .jpg)
On Saturday, you will be going to the beautiful Himalayan destination, Pokhara. Transportation will be arranged for you in a deluxe bus. After reaching Pokhara, head towards your hotel (on your own by taxi) and then go for the boat ride at the Phewa Lake (included).
Return back to the hotel and afterward, you can have a walk around the bustling market street. You can go to any of the good local restaurants offering authentic Nepalese cuisine.
Day 8 (Sunday)
We will take you to Sarangkot to see the spectacular sunrise.
Enjoy the great view of the snow-clad Himalayas, which glitters in different hues and shades during sunrise. Later, you will be back to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we will take you for the local tour of Pokhara and in this tour, you will visit David's fall, Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple and Bindhyabasini Temple.
After this tour, you’ll have the entire day to explore the place on your own. You can try out paragliding or river rafting if you are interested in adventure sports.
Day 9 (Monday)
We’ll check out from the hotel and reach the bus station in Pokhara (on your own) for taking the bus to Kathmandu. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, reach the volunteer house (on your own) and take some rest.
Meals – Breakfast at the hotel in Pokhara, dinner at the volunteer house.
Day 10 (Tuesday) to Day 12 (Thursday) – Volunteering continues in Kathmandu
You will continue your volunteering and try serving the host community in the best possible way.
Meals – Breakfast and dinner at the volunteer house.
Day 13 (Friday) – Trip to Bhaktapur and Nagarkot
On Friday, we shall take you for another amazing day trip to Bhaktapur and then to Nagarkot. Bhaktapur is an ancient city near Kathmandu and you can see the magnificent temples and pagodas throughout the city.
After visiting this city of devotees, we will take you to Nagarkot and you will be amazed to see the splendid views of the Himalayas.
After seeing the sunset at Nagarkot, we will transfer you back to the volunteer house in Kathmandu.
Meals – Breakfast and dinner at the volunteer house.
Day 14 (Saturday) – Program Ends
You have a day to relax or to do shopping. Try getting some souvenirs for your friends and family back at home. You can contact our program coordinator if you would like to arrange for an airport drop at an additional cost.
Living
It is our duty to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable, so the moment you land in Nepal we take care of you. From arranging airport transfers to providing you a comfortable accommodation, clubbed with meals of your choice plus assisting with weekend tours, we try to serve you the best.
Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu by a member of the local coordinating staff. Those volunteers who will be already in Nepal will be met by the staff at a designated meeting point decided beforehand.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided on a shared basis at our volunteers homebase in Kathmandu. In case there is no availability at the volunteer home, then volunteers are also provided accommodation at a guest house or with a local host family. Depending on the availability you would be assigned your accommodation. Both the home stay accommodations and Volunteers house are neat and provide a comfortable stay during your volunteering period in Nepal. All accommodations have running water, electricity and all basic amenities available. The accommodations have hot water showers for winters and wifi internet is available.
Orientation
An orientation and briefing will be provided by your local program coordinator. We cover areas like, culture, greetings, locations, transportation etc. Start your volunteering experience by taking the 1 week Language Culture Orientation week in Kathmandu.
Meals
2 or 3 Nepalese meals will be provided to all volunteers depending on your work schedule.Breakfast typically consists of Bread, Butter, Jam, Sandwich, Tea etc.Typical meals provided include Dal (Lentils), Rice,Vegetables,Chicken and meat etc.The staple meal for most Nepalese people is dal bhat, which consists of lentil soup (dal), rice (bhat) and vegetables in curry (tarkari).If you have any special dietary requirements, you can let us know in advance and we can try our best to accommodate that.
During your Free Time
On the weekends volunteers usually head out to Chitwan National Park to do a Safari trip or to the beautiful town of Pokhara. On the weekdays, evenings are free and volunteers usually hang out at Thamel which is a famous backpacking touristy area with numerous cafes and restaurants or explore some of the most famous attractions of Kathmandu.
Program Cost
Please Note: -An application fee of $199 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 4% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up from the airport
- City Tour of Kathmandu
- 3 Day Pokhara weekend trip
- Day trip to Bhaktapur and Nagarkot
- Orientation
- Food (2-3 times a day)
- Accommodation
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- Airfare
- Return Trip to Airport (Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Local Transportation
- Visa Fees
- Vaccinations
Program Dates
| Months | 2022 | 2023 |
| January | 0216 | 0115 |
| February | 0620 | 0519 |
| March | 0620 | 0519 |
| April | 0317 | 0216 |
| May | 0115 | 0721 |
| June | 0519 | 0418 |
| July | 031731 | 0216 |
| August | 0721 | 0620 |
| September | 0418 | 0317 |
| October | 02 | 01 |
| November | 20 | 19 |
| December | 0418 | 0317 |
FAQ's
Connect with Past Volunteers
We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to connect with other participants and our team.
You can also visit the Nepal Program Reviews page to view the testimonials and feedbacks of our past participants.
To read alumni interviews and experiences, visit the ‘Meet a Volunteer’ section on our website.
Flights and Visa
Getting a Visa for this little Himalayan nation isn’t difficult in any way. You can get your visa on arrival at Kathmandu Airport itself or alternatively, you can also apply for Nepal Visa at your nearest Nepal Embassy.
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is the major international airport serving all flights arriving in Nepal. It is well connected with direct flights from major Asian and Middle Eastern countries. If you are arriving from North America or Europe, you will probably need to book a flight with a stopover at a Middle Eastern city such as Abu Dhabi or Doha.
The major airlines flying into Kathmandu are:
Qatar Airways
Etihad Airlines
Air Arabia
Air India
Air Vistara
Silk Air
Dragon Air
Thai Airways
Fly Dubai
AlJazeera
Health and Safety
This fabled land of Buddha attracts thousands of travelers from around the world. The country has easily embraced the western culture and is one of the most traveled destinations in the world. Women, especially, can feel relaxed in this country. It is safe to go out in the night; however, avoid the company of strangers. Volunteers are advised to follow the safety guidelines given in the pre-departure handbook as well as told to you by your coordinator during orientation.
Carry general medicines with you, other than that consult your doctor before flying. We recommend these basic vaccinations for your safety:
Tetanus
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
You are also requested to consult your doctor before traveling to Nepal to get a list of recommended vaccinations.
Also, if you have altitude sickness then ask your doctor to prescribe proper medicines.
Yes, for all participants it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider at a very nominal cost.
Accommodation and Living
Your in-country coordinator will take you to your placement location from the airport and introduce you to everyone after giving you a basic orientation about the program, city, culture etc. You will be told about the daily mode of transport that you will need to take to go to your project location. Usually, the projects are within short distance from your accommodations. Some projects are within walking distance while others are a short ride away.
Accommodation is shared on the same gender basis in the volunteers home which is managed by the VS Nepal in-country coordinator. The accommodations are neat and provide a comfortable stay during your volunteering period in Nepal. The accommodations have running water, electricity and all basic amenities available. Volunteers need to understand that living conditions in Nepal can be different as compared to what you have back at home. You need to be flexible, open minded and adapt to the culture and environment. Living with other like-minded volunteers from around the world is a great experience in itself.
Yes – please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and they can guide you so that you get to taste the best food available out there! Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.
Typically, volunteers are required to put 5-6 hours every day, 5 days a week. However, work timing is dependent on the project chosen by the volunteers and can vary. You will get free time in the evenings and on the weekends. You can utilize this time to explore the local market streets of Thamel, visit Durbar Square, see evening prayers at the “ghat” of the Pashupatinath Temple and also visit Swayambhu temple. During the weekend, you can visit Chitwan National Park or go visit the famous tourist destination Pokhara.
We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the ‘Add-on Tours’ section in your ‘My Account’. Your in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in the country.
Nepal is an inexpensive country. It is recommended to get your personal stuff from a proper general store that sells on MRP (Maximum Retail Price). Locals can often quote high prices for souvenirs, try to bargain and you will get a good price. A simple bracelet should not cost you more than 50-100 NC (Nepalese Currency). Food and dining in Nepal are very reasonable. A 10% (flexible) service charge is applicable in dining and lounging areas.
There are many money exchange shops in Kathmandu city. The best option is to change your money at the airport counters itself. There are ATMs located all around the capital city, Kathmandu as well.
We always suggest our volunteers to pack light. Being a country on the lap of the Himalayas, the temperature is usually on the colder side, and we would recommend you to get woolen wears and jackets. Pack comfortable clothes and walk shoes. Nepal is a conservative country with numerous sacred worshipping places where short, tight and revealing clothes wouldn't be allowed.
FAQ's Application and Program Details
Usually, it takes around 10-12 working days for your application to be processed and placement to be confirmed by our team. After your application is accepted, your placement document will be updated in your ‘My Account’ online and you can view the information in your account. The application acceptance depends on the availability of seats in the project as well as the eligibility criteria of the program (age, skills and experience etc).
VolSol recommends all its volunteers to apply for the desired programs well in advance. Our major booking seasons are from January to July and September to December.
As we have limited spots available in our programs and serve on first come first basis, it is strongly recommended to apply for the program and book your spots well in advance. You can book your spot in the program by filling an online form and paying the application fee.
Once you complete your application, your individual 'My Account' will be active in which you will receive your placement confirmation after which you can pay the program fees. You can pay the program fees later as well in installments, but 45 days before the program starts.
The minimum age requirement for the programs in Nepal is 17 years. For the Medical program, volunteers must be 18-year-old and above.
He/she should have the flexibility to adjust in new environment and culture.
For Medical Program – Pre-Medical, Medical and Nursing students as well as Medical Professionals are welcome to join. Participants with other qualifications in the medical field such as CAN, EMT can also join the program.
Participants must be in good health.
Volunteers who are 16-year-old are also accepted in the Childcare program in Nepal. However, they need to provide a notarized parental consent form.
Yes, you are welcome to take part in any of the volunteering projects in Nepal as a group. It is a popular destination for group participation. Our Nepal programs have hosted large student groups from around the world including that of schoolies coming for short term volunteering programs. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.
In our experience of more than 12+ years we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.
In Nepal, all our volunteering programs as well the accommodations are based in and around the capital city, Kathmandu.
All volunteers need to arrive in Kathmandu on the mentioned program starting date.
All volunteers are provided with the airport pick up from the Tribhuvan International Airport (Airport Code: KTM) by the local coordinator or representative. Those who are arriving overland or are already in Nepal will be picked up at? a meeting point decided beforehand.
Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
If you are planning to come for multiple programs in your trip, you will have to pay the application fees just once. Your application fee is valid for a year's time (from the date of application). You will not have to pay the application fees again if you come within the mentioned time frame.
For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next VolSol program.
Volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day, however. It can vary depending on their program. You will have the weekend off so you can go and travel on weekends. However, in some placements, you will need to work on some Saturdays as well.
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