Under 18 High School Group

You will be met at the airport by one of our staff ( Bishal Shrestha or Anjila Joshi). Together with our driver, Bimal, you will be taken to either the Volunteer Society Nepal (VSN) office or a hotel. Here you can drop your bags and relax. The Volunteer Society Nepal (VSN) director, Tej Shrestha, will come to meet you to clarify you program for the first days. Depending on when you arrive, you will begin Nepali language class or a sightseeing tour of some of the world heritage sights of the Kathmandu valley. In the evening you will enjoy your first Nepali dinner.

After a leisurely start and breakfast, so you can recover properly from your journey, you will start your Nepali language course at the Volunteer Society Nepal (VSN) office. After meeting the entire Volunteer Society Nepal (VSN) team you will have 2 lessons from around 10.30 to 12.45 with our highly experienced language teachers. This will also give you a chance to meet any other volunteers joining at the same time. In the afternoon, one of our staff will take you round the local area of Pepsi-Cola where the office and homestays are for the induction period. Later that afternoon, you will be driven round being shown where all relevant amenities are: the nearest bank, shopping centre, internet café, food shops, post office. You will also be shown the local buses to that can take you to Kathmandu or to Bhaktapur and also where you can catch a taxi. You will also be told where to keep your valuables and general information about life in Nepal. In the end of afternoon, you will be driven with our guide to see some of Kathmandu’s famous UNESCO world heritage sites. One of our guides, Gelu Sherpa, has over 15 years experience taking foreigners round the ancient city and can answer any questions you have on ancient and contemporary Nepal. During your introduction, you can visit the famous Buddhist Boudanath and Swayambhunath stupas as well as the Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath. The Durbar squares on Patan and Kathmandu are also essential visits. If you have other sites you are particularly interested in then this may be integrated as well.

In the morning we will continue the Nepali language training. Be aware we are aiming for a basic understanding. For example to say ‘yes and no’ and to introduce yourself. We do not expect you to speak the language fluent after the training. After the lesson, you are driven round some of Volunteer Society Nepal (VSN)’s projects in the Kathmandu Valley. This may include the new CBIA school, our women centre, our orphanage in the Pepsi-Cola suburb, or a visit to the village of Sunakoti where you will see new toilets, drinking water systems and environmental projects that have all been recently implemented by volunteers and fundraising efforts. In the afternoon, you can do more sightseeing with our guide in Kathmandu, or if you desire to take some time for yourself that’s even so possible. This afternoon, it’s also a good opportunity to stock up with anything you may have forgotten before heading up to a rural placement. The tourist hub of Thamel will be able to furnish you with anything from Marmite to an extra pair of Merino socks.

Begin volunteering, focusing on education, community development, or environmental initiatives.

• Drive to the trailhead and commence the trek.
• Trek through lush forests, picturesque villages, and terraced fields.
• Reach Ghorepani, a charming village, and prepare for the sunrise trek to Poonhill.
• Witness a breathtaking sunrise over the Himalayas, including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.

• Drive back to Kathmandu for a farewell dinner with cultural performances.
• Share reflections on the program's experiences and growth.
• Departure from Nepal, carrying cherished memories and newfound perspectives.