Enrolment form Nepal
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

In collaboration with local social institutions, EXIS arranges language, culture and volunteer work stays in Nepal.

Volunteering is a unique way to discover a country, its culture and people while doing a meaningful job.

You must be at least 18 years old, independent and outgoing, and have the desire to work as a volunteer.

The country
The kingdom of Nepal is a narrow sliver of land squeezed between India to the south and the vast Tibetan plateau to the north. Nepal rises from plain to plain, valley to valley, and mountain to mountain – a precipitous staircase that ends at the roof of the world, the Abode of Snows. Eight of the world's 10 highest summits, including Mt. Everest, lie within her borders.

At the base of these towering peaks, 50 ethnic groups work, play, worship and celebrate 30 different festivals annually. The tiny nation is a living cultural museum. Our volunteer program in Nepal is located in Katmandu and nearby rural areas.

Kathmandu is the ancient royal capital, located in the most developed part of the country, the Kathmandu valley at 4 700 feet’s altitude.
In addition to its magnificent mountains, Nepal also has a very rich fauna and flora. Because of different altitudes, there is a variety of landscapes, from tropical rainforests and savannah to mountaintops always covered with snow. Wildlife is very rich, especially in the jungle and swamp areas. Tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, elephants and the very rare Indian rhino exist in Nepal.

The official language is Nepali, but up to 36 local languages are spoken in different areas of the country. Educated people in Kathmandu usually speak and understand English, especially the younger generation. People in rural areas and the older generation do not understand English.

Below the surface
Nepal is a spectacularly beautiful and fascinating country, but beset with serious problems. It is one of the poorest counties in the world, with an extremely high unemployment rate. 80% of the population has no regular income, and 90 % work in agriculture. Even today, a large part of the population is unable to read or write. The law dictates that children go to school until they are at least 11 years old, but most never go because their families need help in the fields or simply because the nearest school is too far away.

Although only 12 % of the population lives in cities, an important migration from rural areas to towns has caused poverty to increase. You will see beggars, poor people and children who live in the streets of Kathmandu and other large cities. 

Tourism is growing and becoming an important asset to the country’s income. Unfortunately, tourism also means pollution, especially in the mountains. A large part of the fertile land has problems with erosion due to deforestation of large mountain areas, and pollution of air and water are hard to fight, as Nepal does not have the economic resources to solve environmental problems.

The program: 2 options
Exis offers two programs with focus on cultural exchange, voluntary work and other activities. 

1-week language- and cultural orientation about Nepal and Nepali language.

1 week stay with a Nepali family, in a village in the Chitwan region. Here you will be able to test and develop your knowledge of the language and culture.

During the following weeks, you will work as a volunteer at the project you have chosen. 

Option A gives you the opportunity to participate in a 6-day trek to the Himalayans following the famous Anna Purna trail. (Except during winter months from mid December to the beginning of March) and a 3-day excursion to the Chitwan National Park.

Program/Option A:

• 1 week language and culture course
• Excursion to the Kathmandu valley (1 day)
• Rafting
• Cultural dance
• 1 week stay in a village
• 1 day hiking
• 3 days excursion to Chitwan
• 1 week Anna Purna trekking
• Voluntary work program

Program/Option B

• 1 week language and culture course
• Excursion to the Kathmandu valley (1 day)
• Cultural dance
• 1 week stay in a village
• 1 day hiking
• 1 day excursion to the Chitwan National Park
• Voluntary work program

Dates

Voluntary work is possible all year round, and lasts from 4 to 12 weeks.

Language and culture courses, preceding volunteer work, start every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month except during October and November.

The Anna Purna trekking takes place during the last week of each month, and the excursion to the Chitwan National Park can be organised any time during voluntary work.

EXIS also offers a special 4-week summer program combining volunteer work and sightseeing. See page 4. 

First part (First week)

The language and culture program starts with a short introduction to the voluntary work program, host family stay, climate, facilities in the villages and other useful information. Lessons last 4-5 hours per day and take place either at the main office in Kathmandu or at the local hotel, depending on the number of participants.  

This first week in Kathmandu will introduce participants to the Nepali language, culture and religion. Two lectures about Nepali religion, culture, history, politics and geography by guest teachers and experts from the area give added insight.  Participants are free to discover Kathmandu on their own during free time.

Language course
Tuition starts 1st and 3rd Monday every month.

Second part (Second week)

Third part (Third week)

After two weeks’ language and culture program, volunteering starts. You can sign up for 4 to 12 weeks. During your working period, you will live with a Nepali host family close to your workplace.

Work areas

Teaching English
If you choose “English teaching” as volunteer work, you will teach children between 7 and 13 years old. Playing and drawing with the children as well as helping to organ-ize activities are also part of daily tasks.
Your work area depends on the season, as schools in Kathmandu close for holidays during winter, whereas holidays in the Chitwan province are in summer. Teaching placements are available in both public and private boarding schools.

Conservation nursery
Nepal’s environment has been deteriorating day by day under the growing demand for trees. In order to promote conservation work in Nepal, small village-based nurseries in various areas of the Chitwan province have been started. Work in a nursery includes collecting seeds, sowing, mulching, watering, weeding etc. The nursery projects produce seeds that are planted in community fields by schoolchildren, communities and villagers. Conservation project work is physically demanding.

Orphanage
Poverty and ongoing civil conflicts seriously affect the poorest children of Nepal. Every year, thousands of children go to Katmandu, searching for jobs and a better future. Many of these children end up working 14-hour days in industry, hotels or restaurants. A new orphanage in Katmandu has now been established to rescue these children from a life of poverty on the streets.

Staff at the orphanage welcomes active participation of volunteers with administrative tasks, health education, games, drawing and painting and basic conversational English teaching.
When you work with the orphans of Katmandu you give them a new perspective, new experiences, hope and fun. Orphanage work is truly meaningful. Some orphanages are less structured and basically function as informal education training centers.

 

Fourth part (program A only)

7-day Annapurna trek

Fifth part (program A only)

Chitwan National Park (3 days and 2 nights).
Under dit ophold i Nepal arrangeres der en 3-dages ekskursion til Chitwan Nationalpark.

During volunteering, all participants stay with local host families, who are used to accommodating volunteers from all over the world. Don’t expect luxury in Nepal. You will get a single room and be considered a member of the family, as long as you respect the rules in the household as well as their dos and don’ts. Almost all houses have electricity and at least one member of the family speaks English. You will be served three meals per day. Meals consist mainly of rice and vegetables. 

2008 Program prices
Program prices in EUROs 2008.

Included in the price

• Airport pick-up and transport to the hotel by public bus
• Teaching material and one week language and cultural immersion
• Excursions as described
• Transport to voluntary workplace (one time only)
• Food and accommodation during your entire stay. During the second and third part of the program, you will stay with a host family. During the remaining periods, you will share rooms in hotels.
• Pre-departure handbook about Nepal
• Placement fee/ administration
• Certificate of performance
• Other services: 24/7 emergency support, 24/7 support of local coordinator
  

Not included in the price

• Insurance
• Airfare to and from Nepal
• Any entrance fee during sightseeing and travel
• Transport from and to accommodation during volunteering (cost $3-$4/day)
• Any personal expenses for food and traveling, mineral water, soft drinks etc
• Gifts to project staff and host family
• Laundry, telephone, medical evacuation, insurance
• Visa and Visa extension fee
• Extra food and accommodation in case of earlier arrivals ($20/day at the hotel)
• International airport taxes (cost $25)

Note

• It is also possible combine the volunteer program in Nepal with trekking to the Everest base camp in Tibet.
  Send a mail to info@exis.org and ask for details.
• During the first and the last week of the program, the people in charge will be on site with participants.
• During the first week of the program, meals will be slightly adapted, with both Nepali and European food in order to get used to the Nepali cuisine that will be served during the rest of the program.
• During the first week, you also get one free drink per meal.
• From the beginning of the second week, only Nepali food is served. Juice, mineral water etc. are at your own expense.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol are not allowed in class.

Enrolment form Nepal
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

EXIS also runs a 4-week summer program in Nepal during the month of July. These 4 weeks are a mixture of volunteer work at an orphanage and tourism.   

Volunteers work at orphanages, teach English, organize activities, cook and clean. They also assist in general management and teach hygiene, how to live a healthy life. Your effort may help these children to get a positive experience and give them hope for a better future.

4 week program 1st to 31st of July

• 1 week language and culture program
• 2 weeks voluntary work
• Visit to the Chitwan Royal National Park
• 1 week Anna Purna trekking in the Himalayans.

Accomodation
During volunteering, all participants stay with local host families, who are used to accommodating volunteers from all over the world. Don’t expect luxury in Nepal. You will get a single room and be considered a member of the family, as long as you respect the rules in the household as well as their dos and don’ts. Almost all houses have electricity and at least one member of the family speaks English. You will be served three meals per day. Meals consist mainly of rice and vegetables. 

Requirement

• Minimum age: 18 years.
• Language skills: Reasonable English.
• A good physical condition for the Anna Purna trekking.

2008 Price summer program

Price in Euros: 1.186 € (4 weeks)

Included in the price

• Airport pick-up.
• Accommodation with full board in a hostel or with a host family during working period and in tents during trekking period.
• Transport.
• Guides and carriers.
• Official state taxes for trekking.
• Sightseeing.
• Donation to the project: approx. 75 dollars.
• Pre-departure handbook about Nepal.
  

Not included in the price

• International Airfare
• Any entrance fee during sightseeing and travel
• Transport from and to accommodation during volunteering (cost $3-$4/day)
• Any personal expenses for food and traveling, mineral water and soft drinks etc
• Gifts to project staffs and host family
• Laundry, telephone, medical evacuation, insurance
• Visa and Visa extension fee
• Extra food and accommodation in case of earlier arrivals ($20/day at the hotel)
• International airport taxes (cost $25)
  

Enrolment form Nepal
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Useful reading

• The Kathmandu Valley af Kerry Moran.
• Mount Everest National Park: Sagarmatha Mother of the Universe af Margaret Jefferies.
• The Royal Chitwan National Park af Margaret Jefferies and Hemanta Mishra.
• Trekking in the Everest Region af Jamie McGuinness.
• Trekking in the Annapurna Region af Bryn Thomas.
• Insight Guides: Nepal af Hans Hofer.

Links

• www.welcomenepal.com
• www.info-nepal.com
• www.nepaltravelinfo.com
  

Worth knowing from A to Z

Activities
Many tourists choose Nepal for its excellent trekking routes, but the country has much more to offer. White water rafting is very popular, especially on the Trisuli River near Kathmandu.
You can go on safari in Terai, the southern lowland, and mountain biking in the Kathmandu valley. If you are looking for more spiritual activities, there is a wide choice of yoga and meditation lessons etc.

Airport
You will be picked up at the airport and taken to the place where you will spend the night. Please remember to send us you arrival date and time as well as the number of your flight. If you do not find our contact at the airport because of a strike or extra security, you can take a taxi to the following address:

Hotel Excelsior
Narsingh Chwok Marga
Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977-1-4 257 748 eller 4 701 566

Remember to keep the receipt to get a refund.

Attractions
10 monuments and areas in Nepal are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The protected natural areas of the Everest National park and Chitwan National Park are 2 World Heritage sites. Others include Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha, as well as seven other Buddhist and Hindu temples and monuments in the Kathmandu valley.
The impressive architectural monuments in the ancient cities, Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur express Kathmandu valley’s religious, political and cultural life.

Climate
Nepal has diverse climates. Summer is normally hot, humid and rainy. Winter is cold in the morning and warm during the daytime. Temperatures drop during winter nights. Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing according to the season and activities. Fall and spring are wonderful.

Cost
Nepal is a very cheap country for living and travelling. 15 $ per day is enough if you stick to cheap hotels and local food. Please note that you get accommodation and food during the entire stay – all you need to bring is a little pocket money.

Cultural events
There are lots of cultural events all year round in Nepal. All local groups have their own festivals that they celebrate in temples or in other public spaces. These festivals are very important and many people participate.

Electricity
Electricity: 220 volt. Do not expect to find electricity in small villages so remember to bring a flashlight.

Environmental problems
Because of a lack of agricultural land and a dense population, many people have begun to deforest. The lack of trees causes erosion and water pollution. Vital agricultural earth is torn away by the monsoon and transported by the rivers to the sea. The rural population in Nepal depends entirely on the remaining land.

Flora and fauna
There are more than 6500 species of trees and flowers in Nepal. Wildlife is very varied with more than 800 bird species and such exotic animals as the Bengal tiger, snow leopard, elephant, bears, monkeys and jackals.

Food
Nepali meals are mostly composed of rice, vegetables with curry, lentil soup, and sometimes meat (no beef, since cows are sacred animals). The food is not very spicy. In large cities like Kathmandu, international food is available. Do not eat food that has not been cooked or fried or cannot be peeled. Locals usually drink mild tea. Bottled water is available everywhere. Never drink tap water.

Geography
Nepal is divided in three different regions.
The Himalaya region, covered with snow all year round. The mountain region with a subtropical climate. This region covers more than 64% of the country. The Terai region, the southern lowland that covers around 17% of the country. The climate is tropical, but in December and January temperatures drop to 1-5 degrees.

How to dress
Climate varies in Nepal. Bring light winter clothes for trekking, even if you come during summertime.
Female participants may not wear short skirts or shirts without sleeves; women must cover most of the body. Roads are unpaved so it is important to bring good hiking shoes.

Insurance
European insurances do not cover you outside Europe. Travel insurance is compulsory.

Internet
The use of Internet is more and more common in larger cities. In Kathmandu, there is a large number of internet cafés, where you can send and receive your emails and use the Internet at reasonable fees. In rural areas, it is often not possible to use phones. In the Chitwan region, where most volunteers work, possibilities are numerous. You will stay at our coordinator’s hostel during the first week and here you can use the Internet for a small fee.

Mail
The Nepali postal system is incredibly slow. It can take months to receive a letter or a postcard. Streets do not have names. It is not safe to send or receive packages. They are often opened and valuable objects tend to disappear. If you have to send or receive anything, use private companies, DHL, UPS or other. Use the coordinator’s address if you want to receive important packages or letters.

Money
Nepal has modern banks and in larger hotels, stores and restaurants credit cards are usually accepted. You can change money in banks, larger hotels and at the airport. Travellers checks can be changed everywhere.
US dollars and British pounds are accepted in most places. Try to change notes as often as possible, as many small stores, transports etc. often are unable to give money back.

Politics
In 1991 a democratic system was established within the constitutional monarchy. However, it has proven to be difficult to introduce this untraditional system to Nepal. The communist party has fought the government for 6 years, which has lead to periods of instability. In October 2006, a new peace agreement was signed, stabilizing the policital situation in a positive way.

Population
The 23 million inhabitants of Nepal are divided into 11 different peoples or tribes. The country is so varied that a traveller can experience everything from “stone age” in the west and in the mountains, to jet set in Kathmandu. Nepal is in every way a fusion of extremes, especially in urban areas.

Religion
Religion is very important to the Nepalese. Around 90% think of themselves as Hindu, but in reality, it is very difficult to make a difference between Hindu and Buddhism as they share many sacred beliefs. The rest of the population is Christian or Muslim. Unlike our western culture, religion is very important in every day life and in the mornings, people gather in the temples to pray. In October and November, religious festivals last several weeks. There are no program starts during these months.

Telephone
Long distance calls can be made from several small stores in Kathmandu and other large cities. However, it is rather expensive. Internet is progressing fast and permits cheap calls. Do not expect to find phones in small villages.

Tips
In better restaurants in Kathmandu, a tip of 10% is expected if service is satisfying. It is not necessary to tip taxi drivers or waiters in cheap restaurants. On the trekking tour, you are expected to tip the carriers 100 rupees per day.

Transport
The road and rail network is not very developed in Nepal. In rural areas, there are only paths and unpaved roads.

Travel fees
Travel fees are not included in the program fees.

Trekking
The best season for trekking is between September and December, but March and April are popular months as well. On the Annapurna trail, you will spend the night in places at more than 14 763 feet, so it is important to bring a warm sleeping bag. Please note that trekkers are the main cause of environmental problems in Nepal, so do not throw away any waste during your trekking tour.

Vaccinations
Vaccinations against typhus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and meningitis. Malaria pills are highly recommended.

Visa
You can get a visa upon arrival at Kathmandu airport. A tourist visa costs 30 $ and is valid for 60 days. After that, you can extend by 30 or 60 more days for a fee of 50$. Long-term visas are valid up to 150 days. Remember to bring two passport photos. On the application form, you must state that you enter Nepal as a TOURIST.
You can download application forms from a Nepalese embassy in your home country.

What to bring

• Mosquito repellent (those available in Nepal are often not very efficient)
• Sun Tan/Sun Screen Lotion (the sun is very strong)
• Shoes that can be washed (unpaved roads in rural areas get very muddy when it rains)
• Comfortable clothes for working
• Gloves
• A hat to protect you from the sun
• Mosquito net
• Camera and film (or batteries for digital camera)
• Flashlight
• For the Anna Purna trekking:
• Sleeping bag
• Good, comfortable hiking shoes
• Raincoat
• Light clothing that allows you to put on/take off a layer depending on the weather.

It is a good idea to bring pictures of your family, friends and home country. One of the easiest ways to start a conversation for host families is to ask about your family at home. You can also bring gifts like toys, pens or other small objects for the children.

Economy
Nepal is amongst the poorest and least developed countries. Most people live as their ancestors did, without running water, electricity, telephone, doctors or paved roads. Agriculture is the most important source of income in Nepal. It provides food and income to 80 % of the population. Rice is the most important crop, with corn, wheat, sugar cane, jute etc. Even though the government has tried to make economic reforms to improve the economy, it has been difficult to realise projects, because of political instability (5 different governments in the last 5 years).

© Exis April 2008

Vaccinations
Make sure that you have your vaccinations up to date. For more information on which vaccinations could be necessary please contact your family doctor or insurance company.

Cancellation insurance
It's advised to underwrite a cancellation insurance.

Enrolment - deposit
Upon receipt of your enrolment form, EXIS will send you a confirmation and invoice. A deposit of 200 € is to be paid upon receipt of this confirmation. The remaining amount is to be paid six weeks prior to your arrival. If you enrol less that six weeks before arrival, the entire program price will be payable upon enrolment.

Cancellation
If you cancel your application before receiving information about your host family you will be able to have your deposit refunded less a deduction of 200 € for administration expenses.
If your application is cancelled after receiving the address of your host family, your deposit will not be refunded whilst the balance will be refunded in full. Once the language course has commenced, no refunds will be made.

Travel expenses
All prices are excluding travel expenses. Mail to info@exis.org for package price.

Prices
All prices are mentioned in Euros.

Price changes
EXIS reserve the right for changing the prices without further notice, in case of changed foreign currency or other circumstances, that are beyond our control.