Tuition / Cost:
$15,500 USD
- LENGTH
12 Weeks
- DATE
5th September 2026
- GROUP SIZE
14
- AGES
17 - 22
Semester Overview
Spend 12 weeks in Nepal and India exploring spirituality, culture, and everyday life—through ethical community engagement, trekking in the Himalayas, and visiting the Dalai Lama’s hometown, as well as experiencing India’s iconic landscapes, tea estates, and bucket-list destinations. During the trip you will be moving from supported immersion to independent engagement, and fostering reflection, resilience, and global perspective that support long-term academic and personal growth.
Semester Overview
- Cost: $15,500 USD
- Length: 12 Weeks
- Date: 5th September 2026
- Group Size: 14
- Ages: 17 - 22
*Note: If you have other dates in mind or would like to travel as an individual, email us at [email protected] and we’ll be more than happy to help!
Semester Overview
Spend 12 weeks in Nepal and India exploring spirituality, culture, and everyday life—through ethical community engagement, trekking in the Himalayas, and visiting the Dalai Lama’s hometown, as well as experiencing India’s iconic landscapes, tea estates, and bucket-list destinations. During the trip you will be moving from supported immersion to independent engagement, and fostering reflection, resilience, and global perspective that support long-term academic and personal growth.
Two countries, One Story of Change
From sacred Inca landscapes to the global crossroads of the Panama Canal, Peru and Panama tell a story of resilience, connection, and change.
Two countries, One Story of Change
From sacred Inca landscapes to the global crossroads of the Panama Canal, Peru and Panama tell a story of resilience, connection, and change.
Experiencing both countries together demands reflection on resilience, belief, and what it means to live ethically and responsibly in a complex world.
ITINERARY
NEPAL
Weeks 1–6
Learn & Apply | Guided Immersion & Personal Growth
Trek the Himalayas, explore ancient towns, and immerse yourself in communities shaped by centuries of tradition. Over the first six weeks in Nepal, you’ll develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while engaging in ethical community work, cultural immersion, and high-altitude adventure. Through guided experiences, you’ll ignite curiosity, make an impact, and inspire personal growth—laying the foundation for the independence and responsibility you’ll carry into India.
ITINERARY
NEPAL
Weeks 1–6
Learn & Apply | Guided Immersion & Personal Growth
Trek the Himalayas, explore ancient towns, and immerse yourself in communities shaped by centuries of tradition. Over the first six weeks in Nepal, you’ll develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while engaging in ethical community work, cultural immersion, and high-altitude adventure. Through guided experiences, you’ll ignite curiosity, make an impact, and inspire personal growth—laying the foundation for the independence and responsibility you’ll carry into India.
Week 1 - Building Cultural Foundations
Kathmandu
You’ll settle into life in Kathmandu with orientations, language workshops, and hands-on cultural immersion activities that give you a sense of daily life in Nepal. Explore historic sites such as Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, and local neighborhoods, and engage in cooking and crafts to ignite curiosity about Nepali culture, cuisine, and traditions. Team bonding activities and personal goal setting activities will further help you lay the foundation for leadership, reflection, and the skills that will guide you through the weeks ahead.
Key Highlights:
- Cooking and craft workshops
- Language immersion
- Explore Durbar Square and Boudhanath Stupa
Week 2 - Ethical Community Engagement
Kathmandu
This week introduces you to ethical volunteering and community development. Under mentor guidance, you’ll help plan and deliver educational workshops and/or small-scale community projects. You’ll learn how to make an Impact that respects local culture, addresses community-identified needs, and focuses on long-term sustainability. Evening reflections allow you to consider your contributions, challenges, and the ripple effects of your actions.
Key Highlights:
- Deliver workshops in local schools
- Community clean-up and small-scale service projects
- Ethical development introduction with mentor support
Week 3 - Travel with Purpose
Multiple Locations
Journey to Bhaktapur, Pokhara, and Bandipur, learning about Newari culture, post-earthquake recovery, and local traditions. Trek the Poon Hill trail to prepare for your upcoming longer high-altitude trek, focusing on good expedition behavior, and reflection on personal limits. This week helps you learn to travel safely, confidently, and sustainably, while practicing leadership and soft skills under mentor support.
Key Highlights:
- Trek to Poon Hill
- Explore Bhaktapur and Bandipur
- Experience local travel on the winding roads of Nepal
Week 4 - Community Leadership & Workshop Delivery
Kathmandu
This week, you’ll dive deeper into the health, wellness, and social realities of Nepali communities, exploring how culture, gender, and tradition shape daily life. Drawing on experiences from your travels and time in local communities, you’ll work with your team to design workshops that respond thoughtfully to real needs, focusing on prevention and sharing knowledge so individuals can make informed choices for themselves. The emphasis is on supporting and empowering, rather than imposing change, helping you lead with respect, cultural awareness, and ethical responsibility.
Key Highlights:
- Design and deliver workshops focused on community health and wellbeing
- Explore cultural and gender dynamics in communities
- Notice your own growth as you lead, reflect, and learn
Week 5 - Challenge & Resilience on The Langtang Trek
Langtang Trek
Embark on a week-long trek through the Langtang region, where rugged trails and high-altitude landscapes push your physical and mental limits. Connect with local communities and the Himalayan environment, developing resilience, teamwork, and awareness of your own capabilities. Along the way, you’ll step into leadership roles within your group—guiding, collaborating, and making decisions to keep the team safe, on track, and supported throughout the trek.
Key Highlights:
- Summit Tsergo Ri (4773m)
- Engage with Himalayan Mountain communities
- Step up and lead part of the expedition!
Week 6 - Integration & Reflection
Kathmandu Area
After the trek, you’ll have time to recover and reflect, processing the lessons learned from the mountains. Complete your capstone project and present your reflections on personal growth, leadership, and community impact. Celebrate your achievements and prepare for your transition to India, bringing with you the skills, insights, and confidence for the next phase of your journey.
Key Highlights:
- Nature-based reflection and capstone project
- Farewell and celebration of achievements!
ITINERARY
INDIA
Weeks 7 - 12
Apply & Lead | Continued Exploration and Leadership
ITINERARY
INDIA
Weeks 7 - 12
Apply & Lead | Continued Exploration and Leadership
From the misty tea gardens of Himachal Pradesh to the bustling streets of Delhi and the marble splendor of the Taj Mahal, these six weeks immerse you in India’s extremes of culture, landscape, and society. You’ll lead community and conservation projects, navigating real challenges while engaging with people whose lives are shaped by both tradition and rapid change. Witness striking contrasts—from rural villages facing economic hardship to cities of wealth and opportunity— and reflect on your impact, leadership, and growth. Every day offers a chance to adapt, learn, and see the world—and yourself—differently.
Week 7 - Reorientation & Cultural Immersion
Palampur
Settle into the hill station of Palampur and bring your Nepal experiences into a new cultural context. Orientations, language practice, and cultural workshops help you adapt to local life while setting personal and team goals for the weeks ahead. Explore rolling tea estates, vibrant local markets, and the serene Himalayan foothills, and visit Dharamshala, the home of the Dalai Lama, where spirituality and culture intersect. Practice living “like a local,” connecting with communities and building independence, awareness, and curiosity at every step.
Key Highlights:
- Discover local arts and crafts (Henna, Pottery, Mandal making)
- Tea garden visit
- Visit Dharamshala, the home of the Dalai Lama
Week 8 - Community Project
Palampur & Surroundings
Building on the skills and insights developed in Nepal, you’ll take a more active role in planning and delivering community workshops and projects. Working closely with your team, you’ll ensure you truly understand local needs, apply ethical practices, and design activities that are respectful, meaningful, and sustainable. The evenings will provide space for reflection, helping you understand the impact of your work and your growth as a leader.
Key Highlights:
- Community project preparation and delivery
- Step up as a leader and facilitator!
Week 9 to 10 - Experience the India Bucket List
Travel across Northern India
Over the next two weeks, you’ll go on a road trip across northern India, not just seeing, but immersing yourself in the ultimate India bucket list. Witness the spiritual devotion at Amritsar’s Golden Temple and take part in Sewa. Feel the chaos and energy of Old Delhi’s spice markets and discover the city’s vibrant culture. Stand in awe at the Taj Mahal, and explore Jaipur’s royal Amber Fort and bustling bazaars. And that’s just a taste—so much more awaits to discover along the way. Along the journey, you’ll reflect on your experiences, practice leadership, and see how culture, history, and community shape life in modern India.
Key Highlights:
- Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
- Golden Temple of Amritsar
- The Blue City of Jodhpur
- Amber Fort
- Bollywood workshop
Week 11 - Community Leadership & Ethical Engagement
Palampur
Return to Palampur to implement workshops and community projects informed by your travel insights. Take responsibility for planning and delivering activities in partnership with local communities, practicing leadership, teamwork, and reflection. This week emphasizes ethical, sustainable engagement that prioritizes the needs and potential of the communities you support.
Key Highlights:
- Deliver workshops and small projects
- Apply leadership and teamwork skills
- Reflection on ethical engagement and impact
Week 12 - Integration, Celebration & Transition
Himachal Pradesh
Conclude your India journey by taking time to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and process the full experience of Nepal and India. Through final capstone presentations, storytelling, and guided reflection, you’ll celebrate your achievements, explore your personal growth, and consider how to carry your skills, insights, and perspectives forward into life at home or future adventures. These last days are about clarity, connection, and creating a plan to integrate everything you’ve learned into your next steps.
Key Highlights:
- Wind down, reflect, and reconnect with yourself
- Integrate your experiences and plan your next step
TESTIMONIALS
What's Included
A GapGuru Global Semester is fully comprehensive, providing everything a student needs for an immersive, safe, and transformative 12-week experience.
Included in your Global Semester:
- A Gap Guru mentorship pre, during and post departure.
- Designated group leader that travels with the group for the full 12 weeks
- Safe, fully vetted accommodation
- Meals throughout the program
- In-country transportation between destinations and activities
- In-country transportation
- Experienced local staff & 24/7 support
- Structured mentoring and reflection sessions
- Risk assessments, health & safety protocols, and communication
- Cultural immersion experiences and community projects
- Excursions, adventure activities, and learning opportunities
- Option to earn up to 9 college credits at no extra cost
- Certified carbon offset initiative
COLLEGE CREDITS:
What’s Not Included:
- International Flights
- Insurance
- Personal Kit
- Spending Money
- Visas
- Vaccinations
Earn up to 9 college credits which is included in the cost of the Global Semester. Integrated coursework turns real-world experiences into recognized academic credit and may allow the use of 529 plan funds to support the cost of the semester.
What’s Not Included:
- International Flights
- Insurance
- Personal Kit
- Spending Money
- Visas
- Vaccinations
Explore our semesters
Students are supported throughout by experienced GapGuru leaders and local teams based in-country year-round. Guided reflection and mentoring help turn experiences into lasting learning, creating a semester that’s adventurous, supportive, and transformative long after the gap year ends.
