The Land of Truth
Volunteering in Nepal
Leave your handprint at the roof of the world


Volunteer in Nepal
Why Gap Year in Nepal?
- Push your limits
- Make an impact
- Craft life-long friendships
- Give your CV an edge
- Become part of something bigger


Why GapGuru?
Extensive Gap Year Experience
Ethical Gap Year Programs
A community of support
Don’t just take it from us…
Why visit Nepal
This was an amazing experience
5

Sarah
Travelled in 2022
I loved experiencing new cultures
5

Mia
Travelled in 2022
A wholesome, fulfilling experience
5

Harrison
Travelled in 2022
learnt so much and had an amazing time.
5

M. Gray
Travelled in 2022
Your Gap Year in Nepal
All you need to know
Nepal Highlights
- Location: Southern Asia, bordered by India & China
- Population: 29.2 million
- Language: Nepali
- Temperature: 10-21°C
The Himalayas
Dhulikhel
When on a GapGuru experience in Nepal, you’ll be based in the traditional mountain town of Dhulikhel. You’ll wake up each day to breath-taking panoramic views of no less than five peaks of the incredible Himalayan mountain range.
Located in the eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley, at 1550m above sea level and about 30km from Kathmandu city, Dhulikhel is the gateway to numerous cultural and religious sites.
Dhulikhel means the ‘place where tigers play’, as ‘Dhu’ in Newari (the local ethnic language) means ‘tiger’ and ‘Khel’ means ‘play’.
Our office and accommodations are based near the centre of town, just a stone’s throw from local shops and cafes.
Language
There are an incredible 123 languages spoken across Nepal, but Nepali is the first language, covering around 44.64% of the population.
The language originates in the Sinja valley of Jumla dating back to the 11th Century. Historically speaking, the language was only spoken by the Khas people of Karnali Region, which gets its name ‘Khas Speech’. Today over 17 million people speak the language across the globe.
Here are a few phrases of Napali to get you started, but we encourage you to try and learn a few more from our team and the community while in Dhulikhel.
English | Nepalese Pronunciation | Nepalese |
---|---|---|
Good morning | Namaste | नमत |
How are you? | Aaramai Hunuhunchha? | आरामैनुछ |
Thank you | Dhanyabaad | धयवाद |
My name is… | Mero naam … ho | मेरोनाम……हो |
Nepalese History and Culture
History
The Kathmandu Valley has been populated for over 2,500 years, so the area is rich in history.
Its religious and political histories are long and intertwined, and there’s a lot for anyone on a gap year with an interest in the subject to discover.
From the founding of Buddhism under Prince Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BC) to the shift to Hinduism in the 11th century, to a more recent war with the British in 1815 and a 10-year period of unrest from 1996, that resulted in the slaughter of nearly 12,000 people.
Today, the monarchy has been abolished, and Nepal is now a Federal Republic. The constitution allows for an elected President and Prime Minister, who run the government through a two-house parliamentary system.
Culture
Religion in Nepal
Nepalese time
Greetings
Culture Shock
Culture shock can happen to anyone experiencing a new culture for the first time. It’s the shock your mind and body go through when your daily life changes and you have to get used to a new routine and way of life.
There is only so much you can do to prepare before you arrive in Nepal. We’ll make sure you have everything you need to know but it won’t be until after your first few days in the country that you’ll better understand the local culture.
Head to our Gap Year Advice section to find out more about culture shock, how to recognise it and the best ways to handle it.
The Community
During your time in Nepal, you’ll be working with children and their families from Dhulikhel.
Many of the families live under the poverty line and have limited access to education, health services, and valuable life lessons that could increase their income and livelihood.
Most people from the community have very limited English but are eager to engage and try. Energy, body language and creative ways of communicating go a long way!
Our Nepal programs are long-term and designed to create lasting change. You’ll be a part of that, making an impact on the day-to-day lives of the people of Dhulikhel. The friendships you forge with people from the community will stay with you for a lifetime.
Where you’ll be staying
You will be staying at a local, family-run guesthouse. All the rooms are dorm style, so you will be sharing with 2-4 other participants from your group.
The accommodation is safe and regularly cleaned, with plenty of chill-out spaces for you to relax in during your spare time. But be aware that the amenities will be a step down from your home comforts here in the UK. This is all just part of the challenge of embracing the local culture and understanding the way that many people in the world live their daily lives!
If needed, fans are available in summer or small heaters and extra blankets in winter. The beds will likely be harder than you’re used to and the pillows are not as soft.
There are shared bathrooms throughout the guesthouse that include either a western or drop toilet, shower and sink. The hot water in the building is solar-powered, which can be unreliable in winter. There are kettles for hot bucket showers as a backup if this happens.
Meals
Meals are served family-style and are vegetarian to ensure that we can provide you with safe food and also reduce our carbon footprint.
We can cater for all dietary requirements, so long as our team are made aware of these before your arrival. You’ll have access to free safe and clean drinking water at all times.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Your Typical Day
Though each program is unique you’ll follow a similar routine regardless of what you’re doing.
You’ll rise around 7:00 am for breakfast at your accommodation, then head out to your project location around 8 am for morning activities. After lunch back at the accommodation or at your activity, you’ll head out again for the afternoon session.
The sessions are between 2-3 hours in the morning and afternoon, with time built into the day for resting, planning and group debriefing.
The evenings are for group bonding activities run by your in-country team learning about Nepalese culture. The evenings are also time for exploration where you can get out and discover Dhulikhel!
Weekends
Your weekends are yours to spend as you like, but we’ll work with you to create an unforgettable itinerary.
You might stay in Dhulikhel and visit some of the local tourist hot spots like walking the ‘Thousand Steps’ to the Kali Temple or exploring the Dhulikhel old town.
But a stay in Nepal wouldn’t be complete without at least a little hiking, and there’s plenty right from your doorstep in Dhulikhel. Or you might want to pass the day or the whole weekend in the capital.
There are so many ways to spend your free time so if you want any help organising activities, let us know before or during your stay and we’d be delighted to help.
Budgeting
Although all meals are included in your programme, whilst you are in Nepal you’ll want to buy snacks and try the local foods.
Here’s a list of a few standard items to help you budget for your trip, however, approximately £5 per day should be adequate for your time in Nepal.
100 Nepalese Rupees (NPR) = £0.67*
Sweet treats
Dairy Milk Chocolate | 140 NPR |
Mars Bar | 95 NPR |
Oreo – 50gm | 25 NPR |
Coconut Cookies – 150gm | 50 NPR |
Digestive Biscuit – 300gm | 200 NPR |
Mari Gold – 3000gm | 100 NPR |
Potato Chip Biscuit – 95gm | 45 NPR |
Parley G – 25gm | 150 NPR |
Savoury snacks
Crisps – 80gm | 75 NPR |
Samosa – 1pc | 25 NPR |
Momo’s 10pc | 140 NPR |
Chowmin – 1 plate | 150 NPR |
Chat (veg) – 1 plate | 80 NPR |
Pani Puri – 1 plate | 60 NPR |
Drink & Fruit
Per bottle – 1ltr | 100 NPR |
Banana 12pc | 120 NPR |
Mango 1kg | 200 NPR |
Papaya 1kg | 150 NPR |
Orange 1kg | 200 NPR |
Apple 1kg | 380 NPR |
Your support
Our Gap Year programs have the best of all worlds: independent, impactful travel with a support network that’s there whenever you need it.
During your stay in Dhulikhel, you’ll be in the care of our dedicated Nepal GapGuru mentors. They not only ensure you never feel too far from home but they’re also there to help you make the most of your time in Nepal.
Our Nepal team are based in Dhulikhel where they live and work in the community year-round. They currently support 624 local students and their families. Current projects include STEM, English, Climate Action, WASH, Stress Management and Women’s Health. This means that when you visit Nepal, you will be able to contribute to long-term programmes and see first-hand the work FutureSense Foundation do.

Om Baral

Neer Tuldahar
Nepal Program Pricing
We like to keep our pricing simple. We’ve been doing this for a while and have confidence that our experience allows us to shape truly impactful gap year programs in Nepal.
We’ve done the hard work meaning you don’t need to scroll through hundreds of program choices. Our cherry-picked destinations and activities are the best of the best to help you create a Gap Year that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Our Nepal programs run for a minimum of four weeks. You can add additional weeks to your Nepal program or combine it with another one of our destinations.
And if you want to include some independent travel let us know and we can help you organise it around your programs.
- Registration £250
- 4 week program £2,195
- Combine with another destination + £1,755 per destination
- Additional weeks £250 per week
Prices Include
- Safe Accommodation
- 3 x nutritious meals (Mon –Fri)
- All pre-travel materials
- Training & orientation
- Pre-travel, in-country & post-travel care
- In-country transport
- Airport pick-up & drop-off
- GapGuru Mentor
What we can help you with
- International Flights
- Visa and Travel insurance fee
- Vaccinations
- Local Transport and Travel
- Any Personal Expenses
Things to do in Nepal
Your Nepal Bucket List
Hiking in Nepal
No gap year program to Nepal is complete without a trek in the majestic mountains.
Most local treks follow well-trodden foot trails that have been in use for hundreds of years, so don’t worry if you’re not an experienced hiker. Trek any of these to discover hidden villages and hamlets, where you can stop and sample the local chai.
Some popular longer treks with gap year travellers include the Annapurna Circuit and Everest base camp. If you’re interested in taking these on, let our GapGuru advisors know and they’ll help you build it into your itinerary.


Hiking Nepal
Kali Temple
One of the sites not to miss in Dhulikhel is the Kali Temple which to reach you must hike a thousand steps. The Kali Temple is located on the hilltop of Dhulikhel. The view from the temple is incredible, taking in the breath-taking Himalayan ranges, rolling hills, and scattered settlements. Make sure to grab a photo at the selfie rock!


Kali Temple
Dhulikhel Old Town
Dhulikhel, like much of Nepal, features incredible Newari architecture. The old town lies at the southern end of Dhulikhel and is an assembly of old ethnic Newari houses. Strolling around the ancient buildings is a great way to experience authentic culture of Nepal.
Built to accommodate multi-generational families, a prevalent practice in Nepal, the houses in Dhulikhel’s old town area are often occupied by twenty or more family members.
The houses feature beautifully carved doors and windows and the town is made up of narrow streets.
Dhulikhel was based on an ancient Hindu aesthetic philosophy of planning and architecture. The position, shape, scale, and dominance between temples, buildings and public squares lead to a mindful living experience.


Dhulikhel
The Royal Chitwan National Park


Chitwan
Kathmandu
We recommend spending your free weekend in Kathmandu. You can leave Dhulikhel on Friday afternoon and then come back on Sunday evening in time for dinner! There are so many amazing things to see in Kathmandu, from incredible UNESCO World Heritage sites and markets to the eclectic backpacker neighbourhood, Thamel.
Kathmandu is set in a valley surrounded by the Himalayas and is famous for its many temples. There are many sightseeing opportunities in Kathmandu, with most tourist attractions originating from as early as the 14th Century – some are even 2,000 years old! Durbar Square and the medieval royal palace plaza are must-sees during any visit to Kathmandu. And there’s so much more, from a visit to the Garden of Dreams to a stroll through the Old City to shopping at Asan Tole to experience the true hustle and bustle of the City!
Our team will be able to help you arrange everything for your weekend when you arrive in Nepal, so you don’t need to do any planning before you go. Kathmandu has a huge range of accommodations to fit any budget – from quirky hostels to more decadent hotels.


Kathmandu
Nagarkot
Located 30km east of Kathmandu, Nagarkot is a great weekend getaway for gappers in Nepal looking to take it easy for a few days and capture some up-close views of the Himalayas.
There are a few things to do in Nagarkot, including a hike up to a viewing tower to take in the breath-taking views of the iconic mountain range and surrounding countryside to paragliding for those looking for something more thrilling!


Nagarkot
Lumbini
Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace, and non-violence. It’s found 250km southwest of Kathmandu. The broken Ashokan Pillar, remnants of an old monastery, images of Buddha’s mother Maya Devi, and much more are still preserved in Lumbini.
For gap-year travellers interested in history this is a very worthwhile trip. It’s accessible by air from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa and takes about 8 hours by bus or car.


Lumbini

The FutureSense Foundation
Be a part of something bigger


Nepal volunteer programs
How do you want to make your impact?
How it works
The GapGuru Way
STEP 01
Choose where you'll make your impact
STEP 02
Decide how you'll make a difference
STEP 03
Choose your add-ons
What to learn more about Nepal?
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