Nepal small group voluntourism trip (sorry the pretty pictures can make it slow to load)

Your Nepalese Adventure That Counts 12 days / 11 nights (15th February & 6th September, 2014) Price per person US$2,990*

Overview The ice capped Himalayas have long served as a lure for adventurers eager to pit themselves against the tallest mountain in the world.

However, Nepal’s foot hills with their lush green forests and magnificent backdrop are another wonderful reason to visit to Nepal.

You’ll be pleased that you haven’t ventured into the rarefied air of the high mountains when your time comes to assist in a deprived community.

Nonetheless, the friendly and laughing children, who are used to the lack of oxygen, will still be running circles around you. You’ll be a great source or amusement no doubt, but meeting the children is a great way to get to know the community.

It will probably be warm and sunny when you are helping a poor family with their new home.

However, at this altitude seasonal weather can be harsh, storms are punishing to anyone without adequate shelter.

Nepal is not all about the mountains; in Kathmandu you will discover the fascinating history, culture and architecture this wonderful nation has to offer. The Durbar Squares are a fabulous place to sit and watch life go by.

Day 1:

(-,-,D)

KATHMANDU You are met at Kathmandu’s Tribhuwan International Airport and transferred to the Tibet International Hotel in Kathmandu.

info@handsupholidays.com

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

Day 2:

(B,-,-)

KATHMANDU After breakfast, there will be a pre-trip meeting with your guide. You can use this opportunity to ask questions about your trip. For the meeting, please bring your passport, three passport-size photos, and a copy of your travel insurance policy.

With the formalities out of the way, it is then time to explore this fun and fascinating city. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide to show you around.

Delve straight into the religious and cultural center of Kathmandu and wander around the 17th Century Durbar complex. The Hanuman Dhoka is the entry gate to the royal palace, where a

standing statue of Hanuman (monkey god) guards the palace. Your guide will tell you about Narayan Mandir, Maiju Dewal, and Kasthmandap (a wooden temple built from a single tree), the Shiva Parvati temple, the great bell and drum, Seto Bhairab, Kal Bhairav and Taleju Temple.

The great Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath sits on a hill west of Kathmandu and is known affectionately as the 'Monkey Temple', after the large troop of playful monkeys that guard the hill and amuse visitors and devotees with tricks (including sliding gracefully down the banisters of the main stairway to the temple).

According to legend, the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake and the hill on which the temple sits 'self-arose' (swayambhu) from the muddy waters of the lake. The hilltop setting offers fabulous views over Kathmandu and the valley. For the Buddhist Newars, Swayambhunath occupies a

central position and is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal, it is second only to Boudhanath.

The Swoyambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, a Tibetan monastery, museum and a library. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on it. Between them, you will notice a marking which looks like the nose - however, this is the Nepali symbol of 'unity'. Much of Swayambhunath's iconography comes from the Vajrayana tradition of Newar Buddhism. However, the complex is also an important site for Buddhists of many schools, and revered by Hindus as well.

After lunch you are taken to Patan City where you visit the ancient Newar city and the historic Durbar Square. Patan is a center of Buddhist and Hindu culture. The city is filled with religious art, temples, and monasteries. Many religious festivals take place in Patan each year, but their dates vary by the lunar calendar. If your trip coincides with a festival, you’ll be enchanted by a sea of color and religious devotion. One famous festival is the Buddha Jayanti festival, marking the birthday of Lord Buddha, which occurs on Jestha Purnima (full moon night in April or May).

info@handsupholidays.com

The largest festival in Nepal, the Dashain festival, also takes place at the Palace Complex in Patan as well as in the other cities of the Kathmandu Valley and commemorates a victory by the gods over wicked demons. The celebration is in October and lasts 15 days and includes kite flying.

In Patan city you’ll visit the Golden Gate, the sky piercing temple of Taleju and the statue of Yogendra Malla, Krishna Mandir, Sati Temple, Hiranya Varna Mahabir (the golden temple), and Mahabouddha with its old carved wooden windows, curio shops and bazaars. Later, we visit a Tibetan handicraft center (including crafts such as weaving and carpet making) and a Tibetan refugee settlement.

Another fascinating place you’ll visit is the 2,500 year old Boudhanath stupa built in the 5th century in the valley displaying the four pairs of eyes of Buddha in the four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings.

Many Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims travel from far and wide to circumambulate this holy stupa.

Some will be prostrating themselves whilst others will be spinning their prayer wheels as they walk.

Overnight stay at the Tibet International Hotel.

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

Day 3:

(B,L,D)

TREK TO CHISAPANI Today you’ll have an early start for the 5 to 6 hour trek to Chisapani. A one hour drive from Kathmandu brings you to Kakani (1,082 meters), a village in the foothills of the Himalaya. It provides excellent mountain views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Annapurna…a fabulous backdrop to begin your trek.

Apart from stunning scenery, you may be lucky enough to spot some rare wildlife, such as sloth bear, clouded leopard, wild boar, Himalayan goral, Himalayan black bear, or more common species like Porcupine, Barking deer, and Common Langur. If you are a bird enthusiast, keep an eye out for blue magpies, yellow-throated marten, kalij pheasant, bonelli’s eagle, laughing thrush, crested serpent eagle, little pied fly catchers, rupy-throats, babblers and great Himalayan barbets.

For the first hour and a half, the trail climbs through mixed forest, steppes and terraced fields passing through some villages, where you'll gain insights into what Nepali farm life is like. After some steep and eroded sections, you'll pass through the first of several beautiful oak forests and the Burlang Bhanjyang (2,438m) pass. Enjoy the stunning views as you stop for a well deserved lunch.

The next hour you'll follow the trail with the majestic Himalaya as a backdrop. The earlier climb will be forgotten as you bask in this gorgeous scenery. From here a 3 hour hike along a level forest trail takes you to Chisapani, perched on a ridge, commanding almost 360 degree views.

You’ll want to take a stroll around town at dusk and chat with the friendly locals, enjoy the beautiful vista and soak up the moment the western sky lights up the mountains in rich tints of red.

You have dinner and spend the night at a local guesthouse.

Day 4:

(B,L,D)

TREK TO NAGARKOT If you are an early-bird, you’ll be rewarded: at the break of dawn, thin layers of clouds spread across the mountain range like blankets and smoke-like wisps cascade down the hills. Greeted by chirping birds the first rays of light glisten over the hills and gradually illuminate this gorgeous canvas.

The trek to Chauki Bhanjyang takes around two and a half hours, with a stop in the village of Chauki Bhanjyang for lunch.

Energized and fed, the charming trail continues on for three hours until reaching Nagarkot, by far the most popular hill station in the Kathmandu valley. On a clear day you will be greeted by a magnificent view of the Himalayan mountain range, stretching from Dhaulagiri in the West all the way past Mount Everest to Kanchenjunga in the East, in all its awe inspiring majesty and beauty.

Overnight at Bhangeri Durbar Resort in Nagarkot.

Day 5:

(B,L,D)

NAGARKOT – GORKHA This morning a slightly bumpy 4WD drive brings you to Gorkha. Located on the Northern-central part of Nepal, the Gorkha district has significant historical and political importance. Gorkha Bazaar is about 140 kilometers west of Kathmandu at an altitude of 1,135meters (3,400ft). Gorkha's centerpiece is a magnificent Gorkha Durbar comprised of a fort, a palace and a temple with excellent views of the surrounding valleys and the Manasalu mountain range.

Perched on a chain of hills, Arupokhari district is composed of 9 isolated villages. The nearest market town is Arughat, along the banks of the Budi Gandaki River, a strenuous 45 minutes hike from the nearest Arupokhari village. The makeshift dirt road is unusable most months of the year due to landslides and erosion. The villages were only connected to the electricity info@handsupholidays.com

grid in early 2011, a change which has brought new prospects of growth and progress to the region.

In the evening, we walk around the village and interact with the locals.

Dinner and overnight stay at a local house.

Day 6 - 8:

(B,L,D)

GORKHA It is in the village of Gorkha where you have the opportunity to make a difference. The topology of the village offers stunning views of the mountains and the surrounding regions. Terraced farming using traditional methods is very common.

Children are often seen herding cattle and goats in the day time and evenings. Almost all the food consumed in the village is grown locally, so each meal is fresh and organic.

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

However, it is a matter of great concern that the quality of living in the region of Arupokhari is well below the national average. Developmental infrastructure is poor, rendering the use of technology as a tool for development, useless.

There are no centrally located medical facilities or personnel in the region. This has at times negatively impacted upon the health of the community.

Decaying school structures and a lack of teachers means that the existing state-run schools are unable to perform at the level of city schools and literacy rates are abysmal.

The project you will work on aims to ameliorate these condition and is beginning to demonstrate success in filling the void in education and housing for the poorest families.

There is an immediate need to provide adequate housing for the very poorest families and also renovate the existing schools. This also includes the funding of resources, such as books and writing materials, to ensure a conducive study environment.

During your time in Ghorka, your cultural immersion is enhanced by living with a host family in their simple yet comfortable home. By sharing the same roof, you will discover even more about rural Nepali life.

Dinner and overnight stay at a local house.

Meet the locals, improve the lives of the poorest children and help to give them better options in life. Work alongside the local laborers as you are immersed into village life.

On your second to last day you will organize the handover ceremony scheduled to take place the following day. This is done in cooperation with the villagers and is another great opportunity for you to interact with the local community.

Day 9:

(B,L,D)

GORKHA On your last day of making a difference in Gorkha you will hand over the structure you helped build.

During the ceremony, enjoy your time with the local villagers and spend some time playing with the children that will benefit most from your input.

If you are interested in having a look at the surroundings, please let us know and this can be organized for the following morning as there will be a little time before your departure back to Kathmandu.

Dinner and overnight stay at a local house.

Day 10:

Day 11:

(B,-,D)

KATHMANDU Today, you have the day to stroll along the streets of Kathmandu for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. If you would like to go mountain biking, or do a scenic flight to see Mt Everest, we can arrange this, at an extra cost.

(B,L,-)

GORKHA - KATHMANDU Today you are transferred to Kathmandu by 4WD. You have the rest of the day free at leisure.

Having had your fill of religious sites and mountain views, you will no doubt be drawn to the former hippie centre of Thamel, part of Kathmandu. It is a great place to do some shopping, or just kick back in a cafe and reflect on your experience and debate if you have earned yourself that second slice of cake.

Your farewell dinner will be in a typical Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Overnight stay at the Tibet International Hotel.

Day 12:

(B,-,-)

KATHMANDU Today you are transferred to Kathmandu International airport on time for your departure flight.

Overnight stay at the Tibet International Hotel in Kathmandu.

info@handsupholidays.com

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)

TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Email bookings@handsupholidays.com with these details: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Trip Destination: Trip date: Number of people booking: Participant name(s) and email address: Phone number:

You can reserve your trip with payment of 20% deposit, with the balance paid at least 60 days prior to the start of your trip. You can pay your deposit by bank transfer (in US$ or GBP) or by credit card (in GBP only, and a 2% handling fee applies). Please indicate which option you prefer.

All bookings are subject to our usual Terms and Conditions except that any payments you make are fully refundable should we fail to reach the minimum number of participants for your trip within 60 days of your trip start date.

Included  Four star double occupancy accommodation in Kathmandu and Nagarkot.  Twin or triple sharing accommodation in tourist class lodges and guesthouses during the trek (1 night) and local house (home stay) whilst in Gorkha.  Breakfast at hotels in Kathmandu and Nagarkot.  All standard meals during the trek and while in Gorkha.  Transfer by air-conditioned vehicles (airport transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per itinerary) Transfers by air-conditioned Land Cruiser to and from Gorkha.  Assistance on arrival and departure.  English speaking guides throughout ( English speaking trekking guide during the trek and house building).  01 porter per 02 guests during trek to Chisapani and in Gorkha if needed.

 Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for all local staff.  House building cost through volunteering donation of $200 per person  Water during volunteering

Not Included  International Airport taxes  Mandatory health insurance  Personal expenses (telephone, laundry, drinks, camera/video-camera fee at monuments etc.)

A. IMPORTANT NOTES:  Travel insurance is compulsory (we recommend insurance with a medical evacuation clause); we can help you with this.  Volunteer activities may change from those noted above, depending on the needs of the project.

B. CONFIRMATIONS:  No services are booked yet. We will not process reservation before receiving your reservation request.  We reserve the right to reserve alternative options if the proposed service is not available at the time of booking.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Accommodation in Gorkha Traditional Nepalese houses (home stay) – Up to four participants can stay in each house. You will be provided with a simple bed and a mattress along with a quilt or a blanket. We suggest you bring along a sleeping bag.

In Chisapani, we offer clean tourist class “Tea House” (hiker’s lodges) lodges on a double occupancy basis.

Meals in Gorkha Typically, you will be served Nepali food twice a day by your host family (at around 9am and at 7pm) but they will usually be flexible to suit your needs. The staple diet of Nepal’s population is dal (lentils), bhat (rice), and tarkari (curried

vegetables). Beef is not eaten in Nepal for religious reasons since the cow is a revered religious animal in Hinduism. Tea is served in the morning and in the afternoon, either black or with cow or buffalo milk; popcorn, wheat, millet or corn breads offered in the afternoon. You can also request to cook in the Nepali kitchen of your host family. If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Meals While Trekking During the trek most teahouses (lodges) cook a delicious range of mostly vegetarian dishes.

Pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, dhal bhat, bread, soups, fresh vegetables and even some desserts like apple pies, pancakes and some interesting attempts at custard! You can always get hot chocolate, tea, and hot lemon drinks, as well as soft drinks, and treats like chocolate and crisps.

Each day dinner and breakfast are served in the lodge where you are spending the night. Lunch is taken on the way to your destination.

Toilet Facilities Most village families in Nepal do not have a flushing toilet and there is no sewage system. All toilets are squat toilets made of either a few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground or a stone pot with a bucket or tap. There usually is water supply next to the toilet, which is used for flushing the toilet. You need to take your own stock of sufficient toilet paper with you as it is not available for purchase in village markets.

Toilet facilities during the trek - common toilet facilities are available at the Tea House Lodges.

Bathing In village areas there are no private facilities for bathing. There are spring water creeks, rivers and communal water sources available for bathing and other tasks used by all locals. It is ok to use soap in the water streams when bathing.

Bathing can be done at any time, but it is strongly recommended that you wear attire that is not very info@handsupholidays.com

revealing, even if it is in a secluded area. Nudity is taken very seriously and is totally unacceptable.

In Chisapani, there is running water in your guesthouse.

Laundry Options in Gorkha and Chisapani Laundry facilities are the same as for bathing, but you can do your laundry in the nearby rivers.

There usually is a clothesline on your host family’s lawn.

In Kathmandu and Nagarkot you can use your hotel’s laundry service.

Wireless Communication in Gorkha and Chisapani The village you will be staying at has recently been supplied with electricity. This means you are now able to charge and use your mobile phone.

Do bear in mind that there is no internet in the village and the only possible internet access (CDMA technology – wireless internet via phone carrier) does not yield a high speed connection.

Please inform us in advance if you would like to book a wireless CDMA SIM card and a USB modem.

Your Kathmandu and Nagarkot hotels provide free Wi-Fi Internet in the lobby.

Adventure activities in Gorkha and Chisapani Since the house building activities take up no more than 6 hours daily, you have plenty of time in your hands for recreation and adventure activities. Some great options are mountain biking, hiking, swimming, fishing, walking in the jungle and rafting (if there is a sufficiently large group). Some of these activities, especially mountain biking, are seasonal and not possible during the monsoon season. Our field staff will be at your disposal if you need any information regarding any of these activities.

Key B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, BL = Boxed Lunch, D = Dinner * Price is excludes flights and is based on sharing a room with one other person

call: +1 201 984 5372 (from USA)

+44 207 193 1062 (R.o.W)