Trip Details

Cultural and Introduction week in Kathmandu

Add this culture week to kickstart your experience in Nepal!

If you’ve chosen to take part on a volunteer program in Nepal, our Culture Week in Kathmandu is great addition to your trip! Immerse yourself in the culture, traditions and scenery of this beautiful country and get a feel for the weeks ahead! In addition, you’ll meet many of the friends you will be working or staying with during your project, so this week is a great little ‘ice-breaker’ where you can plan further adventures following your culture week, here in the heart of Nepal!

All the Fun, Culture and Adventure you can fit into a Week!

Roll up for a guided tour of the historical Boudhanath, one of Kathmandu’s sacred locations, as you meet with the friendly local community! We will also take you hiking through Kathmandu’s picturesque valleys and villages to whet your appetite for further weekend adventures. Further, on any day, shoppers will love an amble through the city’s markets and bustling streets shopping for trinkets! And as for the food … ! Choose from a host of eateries, and even get to try your hand at authentic Nepali food with cooking lessons. Lastly, be chill; with Yoga and meditation sessions also part of our cultural introduction, you can really get into the Nepali way of life!

Accommodation, Transfers, Meals and Beverages* included

At TRU, we understand that you don’t want to be arranging anything but your own outings with new friends whilst you’re here! That’s why we include all the major elements of your culture week in Nepal, in our programme. When you book with us, your accommodation is taken care of, meals and beverages (tea, coffee, drinking water) and transfers to your project. Safety is paramount, too, and our experienced, local coordinators will be on hand for you during your stay. They will also provide you with all the information you need to have a safe and memorable Culture Week in Nepal.

Why book our Cultural and Introduction week in Kathmandu?

  • Perfect introduction to Nepal before you start your volunteering project
  • Immerse yourself in all things Nepal, its culture, communities and scenery
  • Explore further afield at the weekends with new-found friends
  • Enjoy staying in our safe and comfortable accommodation with communal areas
  • Discover authentic Nepali cuisine with all meals and beverages* included

*tea, coffee and drinking water

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

Cultural and Introduction Week Schedule

You’ll arrive on Sunday, with plenty of time to refresh, before your exciting Culture and Introduction week in Nepal begins!

Monday

Start your morning with a Puja – or worship – to the Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism, witnessing Religious rituals which are central to the culture. Discovering the importance of murtis (images), mantras (prayers), and yantras (diagrams of the universe), you will also find out about the personal nature of Hindu worship and the significance of individual offerings.

Following some fun activities to get to know the rest of your groups, you’ll spend the remainder of your morning discussing the schedule and safety of the program.

Lunch is served! After this you’ll have a Nepali Language Training session which will introduce you to some essential words and phrases to help you communicate more easily with the locals.

Tuesday

Your day begins with a Nepali Language session to get you talking! Following this, there’s a break for lunch and then a cross-cultural orientation session for an hour and a half to bridge the knowledge gap regarding dining, drinking, bathing, clothing and toileting customs in the culture of Nepal.

Wednesday

Back to school today, where you will have an introduction to Nepal’s schooling and educational system. The afternoon session takes you on a 2-and-a-half-hour tour of Boudhanath, one of the most sacred, and historically significant landmarks of Nepal. Finish the day with a Nepali cooking class and try out your new culinary skills for dinner!

Thursday

An early morning relaxing session of yoga and meditation is on the cards today! Thereafter, you will have your last Nepali Language session, before heading out to the local market.  Here you’ll get to try out your new skills as you scavenge for some local, authentic Nepali souvenirs.

Friday

Today is all about hiking! Following a beautiful nature trail, you’ll set off up the mountains to reach a spectacular viewing point over the Kathmandu valley. After a lunch break where you can relax and recharge your batteries, you’ll have a chance to evaluate your week’s activities, giving and receiving feedback and asking any questions you may have. A culinary delight is prepared for you in the evening as you take part in a lesson about traditional Nepali cooking techniques.

Please note: This schedule can be changed depending on weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Evenings and Weekends

After a day of introductions to Nepali culture, you can choose to explore the area or simply chill. Many of our volunteers enjoy mixing with their new volunteer friends through the week and plan bigger outings at the weekends!

Transportation

Programme transport is included. However, any additional excursions must be paid for separately.

 

Trip Accommodation

About our Accommodation

Our accommodation is comfortable and you will be staying in gender-based dorms. Inside there is a mini library where you can read, and communal dining and lounge areas where you can hang out with your fellow volunteers. There’s also a beautiful garden to relax in – perfect for sociable evenings! Importantly, be aware that there is a curfew of 22.30 at the house, to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Further, no alcohol can be brought into the houses.

Food

Nepalese food is delicious, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You will be provided with three meals a day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends. Our meals are a mix of Western and Nepalese food, with vegetarian dishes available every day, and a chicken dish about once a week. Alternatively, you can also choose to eat out at any of the local restaurants.

Facilities

Our house is located five kilometres away from the city centre, where you can find anything you might need. Further, the nearest ATM and supermarket are only a 15-minute walk away from our accommodation.

Transportation

From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):

  • Buddhist Monastery
  • Kavre
  • Mate
  • Pokhara

Please note – transport for your own outings is not included.

Trip Country Info

Nepal

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.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

Under 18, Parental Consent is Required
Travel Insurance

Additional Requirements

No requirements have been provided.

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Airport drop off
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa