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Kathmandu, Nepal

Language & Orientation Week Nepal

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Trip Highlights

Join the Language and Orientation Week to understand, explore and know more about the language, culture and history of Nepal
Acclimatize with the daily life of Nepal and have interactive sessions with the local coordinator about how to volunteer well and what all to explore in the country
Travel around the city and know more about the heritage sites of the city
Prepare yourself well before the beginning of the volunteer program
A great start to your Nepalese journey and can be added before any volunteering program

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Overview Program Requirements Itinerary Living Costs Dates Reviews

Overview

Volunteering Solutions gives it's volunteers a great opportunity to learn the culture, history, and language of Nepal. Orientation week is aimed to teach the volunteers everything about the culture, basic language and history about Nepal before they start their program in the field.

You can also choose to take part in this Orientation week or join your volunteer program directly. This program starts on 1st & 3rd Monday of the month. The program aims to give you true insight about Nepal, it's culture, basic language, food, places to visit and things to do while you spend your time in Nepal. The program is held in Kathmandu the capital of Nepal. While on this program the volunteers would stay at the hostel or host family arranged by Volunteering Solutions.

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.

Schedule

Day 1: Welcome to Nepal, introduction to the program in Kathmandu, safety issues, basic culture and history about Nepal. Also, learn about your week's program and details about your volunteering program in Nepal to follow after this week.

Day 2: History, culture and traditional insight about Nepal followed with Nepali language class for 2 hours. Learn basic letters and words of welcoming, greeting, short expressions, as well as learn about important and handy words which would help you while at work in your placement. You would get a chance to explore by yourself around Kathmandu in the evening. Your coordinator would guide you about the best places to go and visit.

Day 3: Nepali language class continues for 3 hours, with more extensive words, sentences, and expressions. Explore the local markets in the evening time.

Day 4: Discover Kathmandu - Go on a guided tour to Kathmandu's most visited tourist spots. This would be a full day tour of New Kathmandu included with a lunch at a restaurant. The places volunteers visit are : -

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple): Listed as a world heritage site, this is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist sites in Nepal. Its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. At the 3km west of Kathmandu, this site is situated on a hillock, about 77 km above the valley. Painted on the four sides of the spire bases are the “ all-seeing eyes” of Lord Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
Bouddhnath Stupa: Lying some 6 km to the east of Kathmandu, this colossal and ancient stupa is one of the biggest in the world and the largest in the valley. A world heritage site, Bouddhnath is supposed to have been built by using dew to mix the mortar as Kathmandu was reeling under a severe drought during its construction. The stupa looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design.

Day 5: Nepali language class for 3 hours, covering more words and vocabulary to help you in daily use. In the evening explore the local markets for shopping around Kathmandu along with the coordinator.

Day 6: Discover Kathmandu (Day 2) - go on a guided historic trail to visit Kathmandu and see beautiful historic sights, with lunch in a traditional Nepalese restaurant.

The Temple of Lord Shiva: Pashupatinath is a richly ornamented pagoda with two tiered golden roof and silver doors.
Patan Durbar Square: It is an enchanting row of palace buildings, artistic courtyards, and graceful pagoda temples. Listed as a World Heritage site, the former royal palace complex is the center of Patan’s religious and social life and houses a museum containing an array of the bronze statue and religious objects. One remarkable monument here is a 17th-century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, built entirely of stone.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Once you enter the big gate you find the unique art and architecture and the special layout here. The 15th century Palace of 55 windows, situated to the left as you enter through the city gate, inspires admiration. The national art gallery is also housed inside. The palace entrance, the Golden Gate, is a masterpiece. This is the square full of various designed temples.

Day 7: End of Orientation week.

Cost $250 for this 1-week program.

** This is a suggested itinerary and is subject to change in order to comply with changes according to local conditions. The program does not include any monument entry fee **

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 a homestay accommodation in Kathmandu. The accommodation is managed by the local program coordinator.In case there is no availability at the volunteer accommodation, then volunteers are also provided accommodation at a guest house as well. Depending on the availability you would be assigned your accommodation. Both the home stay and guest house accommodation 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. Private rooms are available at guest house at extra charges as well.

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

Two Nepalese meals (Breakfast and Dinner) 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.

Dates

2023

2024

January

February

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December

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June

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December

Past Date

Available

Unavailable

Filling Fast

Costs

1 Week $250

Please Note: -An application fee of $229 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
Orientation
Food (2 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

Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

: 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.
: 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
: 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.
: 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.
: 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.