Arupokhari School Volunteer Program - 14 Days

Recommended by 99% of travelers

This Arupokhari school volunteer trip combines philanthropy and adventure in a remote village where not many ventures into. An opportunity to experience the rural education scenario in Nepal and be able to teach them.

Country
Nepal
Duration
14 Days
Arupokhari School Volunteer Program
Difficulty
Moderate
Activity
Volunteering
Max. altitude
1,400 m/4,593 ft
Best season
Jan-Jun, Sep-Dec
Accomodation
Hotel & Tented Camp
Meals
Included

Trip Highlights

  • Scenic road drive.
  • Combines philanthropy and adventure in a remote village where not many ventures.
  • A unique opportunity for volunteers to live and work in remote Nepal.
  • Enough opportunities to witness the traditional lifestyle and culture of the common Nepalese people.
  • Fishing in the Budi Gandaki and over Stull Rivers.
  • Hike to the neighboring villages, or to the nearby hills to get a great glimpse of the sunrise and the sunset.

Trip Overview

This school volunteer trip combines philanthropy and adventure in a remote village where not many venture into. Arupokhari Volunteer Program (ASVP) 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 and mission. It provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to live and work in remote Nepal. In this volunteering program trip, an individual gets a chance to make a contribution for the sustainable development of Nepal especially in Gorkha.

A secluded village like Arupokhari is deprived of a sufficient number of qualified and educated individuals who could otherwise contribute significantly for the wellbeing of the community. Brain drains and a lack of opportunity for education has left the region bereft of the crucial human capital. Whether in the education, health or other technical sectors, the problem has become rampant. Ace the Himalaya and Sambhav Nepal have assessed the need of qualified volunteers to fill that gap.

The itinerary is very flexible and can be modified as required. You’ll get enough opportunities to witness the traditional lifestyle and culture of the common 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 do some fishing in the Budi Gandaki and Stull Rivers, both of which are very popular among fishermen. Bathing in the rivers and rivulets as well as the spring water will be very relaxing.

Maybe a hike to the neighboring villages, or to the nearby hills to get a great glimpse of the sunrise and the sunset. Nepal is culturally rich and in the pre-monsoon seasons, there will be multiple festivals held in the village and in the markets. These rituals are very lively, colorful and involve a lot of folk dancing and singing. There will be plenty to do in the village to experience a new way of life in this secluded region.

Short Itinerary

Day 01 :

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,400 m) and transfer to hotel. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 02 :

Meeting in the Ace official, language tutoring, and half-day sightseeing in Kathmandu. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 03 :

Early-morning drive to Ratmaté (a small village of Arupokhari located in Gorkha district) on a private tourist vehicle – 6 to 8 hours. Trek to Bhairabi Primary School – 1  to 2 hours; and same-day initial meeting with the locals. Overnight at a tented camp.

Day 04-11 :

Welcome Ceremony on day 05 and volunteer teaching activities. Overnight at a tented camp.

Day 12 :

Farewell Program and a day of reflection and exploration. Overnight at a tented camp.

Day 13 :

Trek to Arughat Bazar – 1 to 2 hours. Drive back to Kathmandu – 7 to 8 hours drive. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 14 :

Transfer to the International Airport for your Final Departure.

Departures & Availability

We do not have fixed departure date for this trip. This trip can only be organized upon your request. There is an option of private and tailor-made journey best suited for you, your family and friends. We have price discounts according to the group size, the bigger your group, the bigger your group discounts. We allow complete flexibility on your departure date, please choose your preferable date.

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Price Includes

  • All (international and domestic) airport transfers on a tourist vehicle
  • Twin-sharing/double accommodation in a 3-star hotel for 3 nights in Kathmandu including Breakfast.

  • Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu by Private tourist vehicle.

  • Twin-sharing/double accommodation in a tented camp including breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the village for 10 nights – food prepared by a local cook and kitchen team.

  • All ground transportation in Kathmandu and village transfer by Private tourist vehicle.

  • The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage from Arughat – village – Arughat (We assign one porter for every two guests).

  • Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance, and medications for all staff
  • USD 200 donations per person from the cost you have paid to buy this trip (This amount is to buy the construction materials to build the houses.)

  • 1 Ace the Himalaya’s duffel/kit bag, trekking map, sun hat, Buff (Neck Gaiter) and trip completion certificate
  • All administrative expenses and government taxes
  • A farewell dinner on the last night in Nepal

Price Excludes

  • Meals (lunch and dinner) – about USD 10 to 15 per person per day in Kathmandu.

  • International flight fare and airport departure tax
  • Any beverages including bottled and boiled water
  • Travel insurance along with high-altitude emergency evacuation coverage
  • Tips to trekking staff and driver
  • Nepal Entry Visa (Visa can be acquired easily after your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu with a fee of USD 50 for 30 days visa and USD 125 for 90 days visa)
  • Personal Gear and Equipment

  • Any expenses other than the Price Include section

Detailed Itinerary

Expand All

Day 01: Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel

Max. Altitude: Kathmandu (1,400 m)

One of our officials will greet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, upon your arrival. We will take you to the hotel in our private tourist vehicle. Pre-trip meeting will be done and you will meet with your trip guide. Make sure to confirm your queries about trekking in the mountains.

Overnight at a Hotel
No meals included

Day 02: Meeting in the Ace official, language tutoring, and half-day guided sightseeing in Kathmandu

Duration: 4-5 hrs sightseeing

After breakfast at your hotel, we all meet at the ACE office in Thamel near by your hotel and we’ll have a crash course in Nepali to learn the most important words and phrases that you might find handy in daily conversation and while teaching in the village. The length of this tutoring can be shortened or lengthened depending on how the group feels. After this we will have guided sightseeing of some of the important historical, religious and cultural sites of Kathmandu, which will include Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath.

Kathmandu Durbar Square
It is one of three squares within Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing piece here is the 17th- century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar Square is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. There are also three museums inside the palace building.

Boudhanath
Later visit Boudhanath, a Buddhist stupa in the Valley built in 5th century with four pairs of eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet going round the stupa spinning the prayer wheels.

Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath is the holiest shrine for Hindus from all around the world. In Pashupatinath area, you can see famous Lord Shiva temple and Hindu cremation ground. Though you are not allowed to go inside the temple as it is strictly for Hindus only, you can clearly see the temple and the activities from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. The two-tier golden roof and silver doors of the temple are famous all over the world.

Overnight at a Hotel
Breakfast included

Day 03: Early-morning departure to Ratmaté (a small village of Arupokhari located in Gorkha district) on a private tourist vehicle. Trek to Bhairabi Primary School; and same day initial meeting with locals

Duration: 6-8 hrs drive and 1-2 hrs trek

Transportation to and from the village will be in private tourist vehicles. The remote Arupokhari village is NOT connected by tarred multi-laned roads. There are single-lane dirt tracks that run along the side of large hills and are very bumpy, and prone to landslides, especially during the monsoon season (June – September). We assure you that all our drivers are very experienced in driving on these roads. We will make all necessary arrangements to ensure that you reach your destination safely.

On the way, you will be enchanted by the scenic beauty of Arughat and its neighboring hills. Our team as well as the local people will warmly accompany you to reach the village. After reaching our destination, a cup of tea with the school staff will give us the opportunity for a small introduction and interaction with the local teachers. Accommodation will be either in local houses or volunteer houses. Overnight at local houses or volunteer houses.

Overnight at a Tented Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

Day 04-11: Welcome Ceremony on day 05 and the volunteer teaching activities.

Duration: 4-5 hrs per day

Day 4th would be your first day in school officially; the teacher will have the small welcome ceremony program during the student assembly at 10 AM. They will offer you garlands (mala) with TIKA (red powder) which is the traditional way of showing hospitality and welcoming the new people. After this you will have a round of introductions to teachers and staffs at the schools.

There are seven schools in the village, which are part of this volunteer program. Durbar Higher Secondary School students range from grades K-12 and age four to seventeen. Bhairabi, Balodaya and Sitala Primary Schools range from grades K-5, and age three to twelve. In Dharapani Secondary School students range from grades K-10 and age four to fifteen. Bear in mind that the facilities are poor and you must maintain a professional teacher-student relationship to create a child-friendly environment. It is recommended that you adopt result-oriented use creative and engaging teaching methods.

The Main Teaching Activities

  • You will be holding English conversation workshops in small groups of students and teachers for two – three hours at the end of the school day.
  • Volunteers can regroup pair up, and design their own curriculum.
  • You don’t need previous experience but you will need to be creative in making learning fun and engaging for the students.
  • Don’t forget that learning is not confined only in the classroom – outdoors games (during the break times) are hugely popular with the students.
  • Our past volunteers used some very innovative ways to make learning more interactive, fun and comprehensible for children. Some examples are word association games, drawing pictures of animals/people to help explain while conversing, singing (ex. “head shoulders, knees & toes!”) and acting out stories.
  • If certain teaching materials are not available in the library, you can ask our guide to get those for you from the Arughat.
  • The volunteers will teach according to the time they have divided among themselves in the school each day. You can also create a group and teach the children and teachers to converse in English during the late afternoon.
  • There will be one day of break during your volunteer session which you can reflect on your progress and share your thoughts and techniques with fellow volunteers as to how you can make your classes run more effectively.
  • You can also call for regular meetings (formal or informal) with the teachers, if you feel it’s necessary.

During evening you can also utilize the time visiting temples in the area, the village shaman, the blacksmith, do some traditional farming, and go hiking to nearby hillocks. We can occasionally also visit the Arupokhari market to run shopping errands. During this period, we can arrange a rest day to venture deeper into neighboring villages up north along the banks of the Budi Gandaki River, i.e. the trekking route of Mount Manaslu.

Overnight at a Tented Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Day 12: Farewell Program and a day of reflection and exploration (dancing with local community women's and student's).

In the evening we have a non-formal farewell program organized by our team, local women group and the locals. We will spend the remainder of the day reflecting on the volunteering experience and having a casual and relaxing time with the children, the teachers, the locals.

Overnight at a Tented Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Day 13: Trek to Arughat Bazar and drive back to Kathmandu

Duration: 1-2 hrs trek and 6-8 hrs drive

Today you will trek to Arughat Bazar and same day drive to Kathmandu on a Private tourist vehicle. This will take an hour’s walk and a 6 to 8 hour’s drive.

In the evening, we will host a farewell dinner at a typical Nepalese restaurant with cultural dance and music.

Overnight at a Hotel
Breakfast, lunch, and farewell dinner included

Day 14: Transfer to the International Airport for your Final Departure

The trip concludes – our airport representative will drop you at Kathmandu’s Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.

Breakfast included

Gears and Equipment

The following gives you a general idea of the personal items you need for this trip. The personal items, though, are optional and of choice. The most important factor to be considered is the time of the year, trekking days, region, and altitude.

In a supported tour, heavy items are carried by a vehicle and/or porters. Personal belongings of the clients that they may need for the day like money, water bottle, rain gear, camera, sun cream, toilet paper, etc. should be carried by themselves. It is, therefore, advisable that you pack items in two separate bags.

general GEARS AND EQUIPMENT

List of Recommended Equipment for this Trip

  • Four-season (zero degrees) sleeping bag (We have rental sleeping bags available for an additional USD 20)
  • Duffel or Rucksack bag or suitcase (We will provide one complimentary ACE duffel bag for you to keep.)
  • Daypack
  • Down Jacket for winter (We have rental jackets available for an additional USD 20)
  • Hiking pants
  • Full-sleeve shirt
  • Jumper or pile jacket
  • T-shirt
  • Swimsuit (For summer seasons)
  • Sandals
  • Woolen socks
  • Sun hat
  • Sun block for lips
  • Sun lotion
  • Goggles or sunglasses
  • Long thermal underwear
  • Water bottle
  • Sewing kit
  • Medical and first aid kit
  • Flashlight
  • Batteries and bulbs
  • Mosquito repellant creams
  • Swiss army knife
  • Personal towel
  • Personal toiletries and medication should be labeled

This list is only a guide. While you are required to bring everything on this list, there are numerous options, brands, and versions of each piece of equipment. Use your experience and the listed features to find the best gear for you. Some of the above equipment can be easily found in stores around Kathmandu at a much cheaper price.

Please note that Nepalese are usually conservative in their dress and do get offended by the sight of tourists wearing tight-fitting, skimpy clothes. Shorts, singlets, and hats are not advisable at any time and must not be worn while visiting monasteries, Dzongs, and other religious institutions. These are offensive to the locals, especially to women.

optional GEARS AND EQUIPMENT

Other Recommended Items

  • Photos of your family and friends are always appreciated and are an easy way to help villages get to know you better
  • A musical instrument, if you play one, will win you many friends
  • Small items such as stamps, postcards, and trinkets from your home country make appropriate gifts.

Note: Villages in Gorkha are a remote region that has no proper shop facilities for more than an hour of where you’ll be staying; therefore, if you know what you might need urgently, it is advisable you take it with you from the city.

Trip Video

FAQs for Arupokhari School Volunteer Program

General

Is Nepal open to travelers following the Covid-19 pandemic?

Indeed, Nepal is entirely open. Travelers are welcome in Nepal without any restrictions. Arriving travelers can obtain a visa on arrival at the Kathmandu airport as well.

What are the conditions to travel to Nepal post Covid-19?

Traveling to Nepal is now hassle-free. You don’t need a vaccination certificate or negative PCR test, but check with your airlines and transit countries for any specific requirements.

We suggest you look at the Nepal immigration site https://www.immigration.gov.np for the most up-to-date information.

What additional documents do I need?

  • Two passport-sized photos (2×2 inch) to give to our office staff
  • A copy of your international flight ticket to give to our office staff
  • A copy of travel insurance to give to our office staff

What should I know about booking my flights to/from Nepal? Do I need to plan extra days in case of delays?

The best course of action is to add a day or two before and after your intended trek days in case of flight delays or cancellations. It also gives you time to buy clothing equipment and gear required before your trip.

Please be aware that Ace the Himalaya is not responsible for any inconveniences or missed international flights resulting from unforeseen events like airport changes, flight delays or cancellations, etc.

What immunizations will I need?

  • COVID-19 vaccination (Negative PCR report in case of unvaccinated travelers.)
  • Typhoid vaccination is recommended but not required

We suggest you have a dental checkup before your trip and know your blood type. It is helpful if you inform us of any medical condition that is relevant so we may convey this information in the event of an emergency. Ace the Himalaya keeps your medical condition confidential unless treatment is necessary.

Weather and Temperature

How are weather and temperature in these regions?

Spring – March, April, May, and June
Best time to travel. Always clear sky and good views. During springtime, the average temperature is 25 degrees C. But the temperature can climb up to a maximum of 30 degrees C, and it can drop to a minimum of 15 degrees C in the morning and at night (for areas above 2000 meters).

Monsoon Season – July, August, and the First Half of September
Not recommended to travel but best time to see the farming and work with local people in the field. The maximum temperature during the monsoon season can be 25 degrees C during sunny days and the minimum temperature can be 15 degrees C in the morning and at night (for areas above 2000 meters). The average temperature tends to hover around a comfortable 22 degrees C.

Autumn – Second Half of September, October, and November
Similar to spring. Best time of the year and much cooler than spring and monsoon.

Winter – December, January, and February
Cold season. The average temperature during this season is 10 degrees C and can climb up to a maximum temperature of 20 degrees C during sunny days and drop to a minimum of 0 degrees C in the morning and at night (for areas above 2000 meters.)

Arrival and Visas

Who will come to pick me up at the airport upon my arrival?

Our staff will be waiting for you outside the airport terminal with our signboard (Ace the Himalaya). You will be accompanied to a hotel in a private tourist vehicle.

Is it possible to obtain a visa for Nepal upon arrival at the airport?

Yes, you can obtain a Nepal visa upon your arrival at the airport. There are kiosks in the arrival hall that you use to complete the necessary forms.  The cost is USD 30 for a 15-day tourist visa, including numerous entries, or USD 50 and USD 125 for a 30-day or 90-day tourist visa including numerous entries respectively. You should carry cash (USD) with you to pay your visa fees quickly and easily, as digital payments are frequently unavailable.

Payments and Extra Costs

How much additional money do I need per day?

Typically, USD 15 to 20 per person per day will be sufficient. This is to purchase water, tea/espresso, snacks, and hot showers in the mountains and for lunch or dinner in Kathmandu. Additionally, if you want to buy souvenirs or native Nepali goods, you can bring extra cash with you.

Is it possible to use credit cards in the places I visit?

In Kathmandu, yes. But once you are out of the city, all you need is cash. Please change the currency in local Nepali Rupees before you go to the villages.

Is it possible to reserve a trip now and pay a deposit later, or do I have to pay a deposit at booking/reservation?

When you book, you must pay a 30% deposit to secure your itinerary. The remaining balance can be paid upon your arrival at Kathmandu or before arrival. US Dollars cash and credit cards (Visa, Master, and American Express) are accepted once in Nepal. Please note a 4% transaction fee will be added for all credit card transactions.

How do I pay the remainder of my balance upon arrival in Kathmandu? US Dollars cash or credit card?

You can make payments via US Dollars cash or credit card (Visa, Master, and American Express). A 4% transaction fee is added if paying with a credit card. Thus, we encourage you to pay with USD cash if you are planning to pay upon your arrival in Kathmandu.

We prefer you pay with larger bills (USD 50 or 100).  Please note that the cash should not be older than 2009 and in good condition, as banks do not accept worn, torn, or crumpled bills.

How are the ATM and money exchange facilities in Kathmandu?

There are ATM and money exchange facilities almost every few meters in Thamel, where you will be staying in Kathmandu. So, you can easily use your cards to cash out limited sum of money to which a minimum charge is deducted by the ATM facility itself. You can easily exchange your foreign currencies in currency exchange centers for an exact rate.

Volunteering Activity

What is the main Volunteering Activities for teaching volunteers?

You will be holding English conversation workshops with small groups of children after school finishes from 3pm -5pm approximately (depending on school).

English is the second language in Nepal. While children are taught grammar and technical details of English, they have a limited opportunity to practice speaking and responding, in the village. This will make a large difference to the children need they travel outside the village for education or work later on in life. It is also a great way for you to engage and get to know the community.

What is the Mission The Arupokhari Volunteer Program (AVP) ?

The Arupokhari Volunteer Program (AVP) aims to mobilize teams of experts and interested individuals as an effective and economic measure in providing the human capital for education, health and community development within the region number 3 in Gorkha district, northern Nepal.

Physical Fitness

How fit do I need to be for this tour? Is this trip for me?

This trip is suitable for average people who are moderately fit. Some physical fitness programs such as running, swimming, hiking is recommended before you embark on your journey as you will engage in rebuilding activities.

If you are moderately fit and want to help a devastated community to rebuild, then this trip is for you.

Accommodation

What accommodation options do I have??

In Kathmandu, you will stay at a three-star hotel. In the village, you will stay at a tented camp. A sleeping tent will be provided to you. All the accommodation will be in twin-sharing basis with same gender. But for the entire trip if you want to have a single room including a single tent, you need to pay extra.

What are the bathing and laundry facilities like in the village?

In the village area, there are no private facilities for bathing and washing clothes. There are spring water creeks, rivers and communal water source available for bathing and washing. While in Kathmandu, the hotel offers the attached bathroom with hot and cold water.

We will provide the shower tent for those who want to have private shower near by the camp especially for our female volunteers. Depending on the weather our kitchen team will prepare the bucket of hot water for the shower.

How is toilet facility in the village?

During your stay in a tented camp in village, we will provide you a common tented toilet. While in Kathmandu, the hotel will offer the room with attached toilet and bathroom.

What will the daily meals be comprised of?

During the camping in Gorkha, our local cook can prepare normal and special meals upon request. There is a wider variety of food available, including Western-style food, and you may request to eat at any point of the day. The camping price includes an all-you-can-eat food service.

Please note that lunch and dinner in Kathmandu is excluded in your trip price.

Important: It is common in Nepalese culture to offer food when receiving guests into the home; however, volunteers are advised not to accept any food from local villagers at any time. Please kindly reject the offer. Often time the food is not prepared properly or contains contaminated water and volunteers risk getting sick. If visiting a villager’s house, or a local festival, it is recommended to take a guide from the Ace team to communicate this issue. If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know and we’ll do the best in our ability to have this arranged.

I'm a Vegetarian, is that a Problem?

No problem at all because we can serve the vegetarian meals. We always recommend our volunteers to eat vegetarian meals to avoid the food poisoning.

Is there any electricity/communication/Internet while we are in the village?

Only very recently has the village started receiving electricity, which means you are now be able to charge your electronic devices. Internet facilities cannot be guaranteed though.

Please, remember to bring your adapters!

Practical Matters

Is there any Important Cultural Tips and Consideration for this trip?

  • To greet in a traditional manner, place your palms together in a prayer style and say “namaste” or “namaskar”.
  • When talking to someone elder to you, you must address the person as “dai” (elder brother) for men, or “didi” (elder sister) for women. Raising your voice or shouting is also not acceptable, especially in public.
  • Dress conservatively, well shirted, to keep shoulders and knees covered in a temple. It is not acceptable to wear revealing and tight clothes like lycra, low-necks, tank tops and so on. This applies particularly to women. Public nudity, even while bathing, is punishable by law. When swimming in the river, it is suggested that women wear a one-piece swim suit. Men must wear trunks; Speedos are acceptable.
  • Always remove your shoes before entering a Nepali home or a temple.
  • The cow is a sacred animal in Nepal and injuring or killing them is an offence. You will find cows roaming freely all over the place.
  • Always use your right hand to accept what is being given to you. Likewise, use your right hand to offer food and other items. Left hand is considered polluted.
  • Avoid “disrespecting” the food by inadvertently touching it or bringing it into contact with a used plate or utensil. Using your own fork or spoon to serve more food is not acceptable; always wait to be served by the host. If you feel you have been given too much food, ask them to take some away before you commence eating; this is perfectly okay and is more appreciated than wasting food. Of eating, a tourist once noted: If you don’t hold your hand over your plate, it doesn’t matter how many times you tell people you’re full – they will just keep heaping food on your plate. If holding your hand over your plate doesn’t work, try bending your whole torso over the plate to block the incoming food with a little more bulk.
  • You are expected to wash your hands and mouth before dining.
  • It is normal to drink from a glass or a container without the lips touching the vessel. If you are not comfortable doing this, you may pour the water into a cup.
  • Kissing, hugging, snuggling and other forms of public displays of affection are frowned upon in public. Swearing, discussing or insinuating about sex in public is also strictly prohibited. It is also strongly suggested that any sensitive topic on religion and politics not be debated at lengths.
  • It is normal for boys and men to walk arm in arm. More often than not, these are signs of friendship and should not be subjected to sexual profiling.
  • It is impolite to step over someone’s outstretched legs or to touch (or point at) someone with your foot.
  • Don’t expect to find toilet paper in private houses, esp. in remote areas. Always be prepared with your own stock.
  • As with any country, Nepal operates on a different concept of time – things happen when they happen! The Nepalese people are said to have a casual and laid back approach to life.
  • Be prepared for lots of questions. Just walking in the streets you may be asked: “What’s your name? Where are you from? How old are you? Where are you going?” – perhaps questions you may consider personal. Don’t be affronted or consider it rude or an invasion of privacy. It’s usually genuine curiosity, friendliness or a desire to practice their English. Respond with patience and in a cheerful manner. Concepts of privacy in some countries can be very different to your home country.
  • Giving alms is not advisable because it will encourage begging, particularly among children.

What is the language preference?

The main language is Nepali. English is the official second language of Nepal, but despite this, young students in the village speak only broken English, and the older generations will not speak at all.

It is for this reason that we recommend you learn some basic Nepali phrases before arriving in the village. It will help you communicate and get to know the villagers, as well as explain basic rules in your workshops.

Do I need to tip my guide and driver? How much would that be?

Tipping is expected. Your gratitude towards the trek guide and porters would be appreciated. You can tip your trekking guides and porters based on your satisfaction and enjoyment. Assuming you find it hard to choose, we suggest you spend at least 10% of your total trek cost tipping the whole nearby staff. During our pre-trip meeting in Kathmandu, you’ll be likewise educated about the proportion of tipping guides and porters based on your group size.

How much additional money do I need per day?

You don’t need much money in the village. However, you can carry some cash on you, about USD 10 to 15 to buy some snacks or other necessities. You need to change the USD in Kathmandu into local currency before going into the village or the mountains. You can change the money easily from the banks and money exchange counters nearby your hotels.

Is Ace the Himalaya's staff insured?

Our company insures all our trekking staff members, including guides, cooks, Sherpa, and porters. Please browse through our legal docment page to view insurance details.

Do your guides have Tour guide certificates from the Hotel Management and Tourism Center?

Yes, they have all received a 45-days training from the Hotel Management and Tourism Center in Nepal. The guides have also received high altitude first aid training from KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project). Please check Ace the Himalaya’s team page

Transportation

What are the available mode of transportations?

All transportation inside Kathmandu will be in a private vehicle (a car or a minibus) including airport/hotel pick up and drop off. For transportation to and from the village, we will use private tourist vehicles. The remote villages are not connected by tarred multi-lane roads. There are single-lane dirt tracks that run along the side of large hills, are very bumpy, and are prone to landslides, especially during the monsoon season (June – September). We assure you that all our drivers are very experienced in driving on these roads. We will make all necessary arrangements to ensure that you reach your destination safely.

Important: Transportation in the region may not always be reliable because stranded trucks and buses, car accidents, heavy rain, and landslides may block the roads 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 cannot take you to the final destination, there will be no refund of the transportation cost incurred because the cost 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 ranges are visible from the path and will make the trek worth it. Within the village, there is no public transportation. Depending on the location of accommodation and the project you are assigned to, you will have to walk anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour each day. However, these walks will have stunning views of surrounding villages, the opposite hills, distant Himalayan peaks, and the valley below.

Do I need to book my international flights for the travel to Nepal?

Yes, you must book your international flights. We are a local agency and do not make international flight arrangements. You can easily browse through flight tickets in airlines sites to book ones most feasible for you.

Traveler Reviews

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What makes this trip different ?

Our CSR with Sambhav Nepal

Our CSR with Sambhav Nepal
Our CSR with Sambhav Nepal

  • Ace the Himalaya believes in giving back to the communities that surround and support tourism in Nepal. Ace provides logistical support and, if needed, cash donations to the projects of Sambhav Nepal (a local NGO).
  • Sambhav Nepal and Ace work together to plan volunteer programs that will bring in foreign volunteers and make use of their enthusiasm, time, and talents in a variety of projects.
Sustainability and Responsible Tourism

Sustainability and Responsible Tourism
Sustainability and Responsible Tourism

  • Of the few Travelife Partners in Nepal, Ace the Himalaya is one. We respect the procedures for sustainable tourism. Our excursions are socially and environmentally conscious, leaving the lowest possible impact in the Himalayas.
  • About 80% of Ace the Himalaya’s staff members are natives of the regions where our trips are organized. It is one of our sustainable and responsible efforts to help local communities, support small businesses, and promote regional culture and way of life.
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Arupokhari School Volunteer Program - 14 Days

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