Trip Detail at-a-Glance
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- Trip Code: ATH380
- Best Season: Janaury to June, September to December.
- Country Visited: Nepal
- Trip Start: Kathmandu
- Trip Ends: Kathmandu
- Destination: Gorkha/Arupokhari
- Activity: Volunteering/Day Hike
- Group Size: Min. 1 pax pax
- Activity Per Day: Approximately 4-5 hrs community work per day and recreational activities such as hiking, visits to the temple and witch-doctor etc.
- Trip Category: Volunteering Program
- Combines philanthropy and adventure in a remote village where not many venture into.
- Scenic road drive
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu
- Welcome Ceremony on day 05 and Community activities with local people
- Contribution for the sustainable development of Gorkha district in Nepal
- Trek from and to Arughat
- Opportunity to renovate the local schools, health post and help the local farmers in the area.
Trip Highlight
Gorkha Community Volunteer Program is primarily designed to bring forth coordinated efforts of all the experts and interested individuals in different areas under one platform and thereon work towards achieving its common goal. It provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to live and work in Nepal. Upon being selected for volunteering, an individual gets a chance to make a contribution for the sustainable development of Nepal especially in Gorkha.
The program is coordinated by Sambhav Nepal, a Non-Government Organization. The main motive of our company to organize such trip is to help its CSR to reach the top level and try our best to minimize the problems sustained in the community. Through collaborative efforts, the Community Development Program was conceived.
The itinerary is flexible and can be modified. You’ll get enough opportunities to witness the traditional lifestyle and culture of the Nepalese people. You can indulge in farming methods, using bulls and other beasts of burden, during your free time. Besides the fun and mud in the field, you get a sense of how deprived the Nepalese farmers are of the modern technologies. Further, you could get involved into various recreational activities like fishing, bathing in the rivers and rivulets as well as the spring water, a hike to the neighboring villages or to the nearby hills to get a great glimpse of the sunrise and the sunset etc.
The volunteers always have the opportunity to contribute to the local community of the region. The volunteering activities basically depends upon the staus of work requirement of the local schools, health post and the process of seasonal farming in the village.
Itinerary Overview
- Day 01- Arrive at Tribhuvan International airport (1345meters). Overnight at Hotel.
- Day 02– Meeting in the Ace official, language tutoring and half day sightseeing in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.
- Day 03- Half-day guided sightseeing tour. Preparations for village departure. Overnight at hotel.
- Day 4- Early morning departure to Ratmaté (a small village of Arupokhari located in Gorkha district) on private 4WD SUV. Same day we will have initial meeting with local. 7 hours drive and 1.5 hours trek.
- Day 5 to 13- Welcome Ceremony on day 05 and community activities with local peoples. Overnight at local houses or volunteer house.
- Day 14- Farewell Program and a day of reflection and exploration. Overnight at local houses or volunteer house.
- Day 15- Trek to Arughat Bazar and drive back to Kathmandu, one hour trek and 7 hours drive. Overnight at hotel.
- Day 16- Transfer to the international airport for your final departure
The above information is a guide and standard template of what we provide. Our trip can be customized at your request to accommodate your specific requirements.
NOTE: During the trip; weather, local politics, transport or a multitude of other factors, that are beyond our control can result in a change of itinerary. It is, however, very unlikely that the itinerary would be substantially altered; if alterations are necessary the leader will decide what is the best alternative, taking into consideration the best interests of the whole group. Where a change does occur, we do everything we can to minimize its effect, but we cannot be responsible for the results of changes or delays.
Important Note
Transportation in the region may not always be reliable because even in 4WD vehicles, stranded trucks and buses, car accidents, heavy rain and landslides may ground all vehicles for hours on end. You must always be prepared to trek to the destination (accompanied by our staff guides) during such unforeseen circumstances. In an event that the 4WD SUV cannot take you to the final destination, there will be no refund of the transportation cost incurred because the above will already be accounted for in advance. If trekking is necessary, you can be assured that the route trails through the most pristine and traditional villages, exposing you to the traditional Nepalese culture and lifestyle up-close. Manaslu and the Ganesh mountain ranges as well as parts of the Annapurna range are visible from the path, and will make the trek well worth it.
Culture Shock
The lifestyle and way of the people in these small villages are authentic displays of traditional culture in Nepal, with very little influence of westernization unlike the cities. Because of this, Volunteers should be aware that they may experience a little culture shock on their arrival.
- Villagers speak louder and more aggressively than volunteers may be used to, although this is simply normal conversation.
- Physical disciplining (such as hitting and using the strap) are common and old practice in Government schools, and although the Government is working on phasing this out, it will take some time.
- Some traditional cultural practices involved animal cruelty. Animals are sacrificed in traditional Hindu festivals and in other cultural activities such as visits to the witch doctor.
- Many people in the village smoke cigarettes.
- Hygiene levels are often much lower in the villages, as local people have a much higher capacity for infection. It is helpful for volunteers to be aware of this when interacting with children and accepting food from villagers, so that they may reduce chances of getting sick.
