Volunteering in Nepal

The Country

Nepal is a narrow sliver of land squeezed between India to the south and the vast Tibetan plateau to the north. Nepal rises from plain to plain, valley to valley, and mountain to mountain – a precipitous staircase that ends at the roof of the world, the Abode of Snows. Eight of the world’s 10 highest summits, including Mt. Everest, lie within her borders.

Nepal was a monarchy until 15th January 2008, when the king lost most of his authority. A newly elected parliament declared Nepal a republic on 28th May.

Nepal is an agricultural society – about 90 % work in this sector. Crops include rice and other grains, sugarcane, tobacco, and jute. Herds of cattle, oxen and buffalo, are also an important resource.

The great variations in climate divide the land into 3 areas, the fertile tropical lowland Tarai, the central highland with grasslands and forests, and the Himalaya Mountain range with several of the world’s highest peaks.

There is a rich animal life, especially in the jungle and marsh regions, where tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, elephants and the very rare Indian rhinoceros roam.

Klimaet i Nepal

Den store variation i klimaet opdeler landet i 3 områder, det frugtbare og tropiske lavland Tarai, det centrale højland med græsgange og skove, samt Himalayabjergene med nogle af verdens højeste tinder.

Language

The official language in Nepal is Nepali.

EXIS in Nepal

You will find the most of our projects in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

General information – Worth knowing from A to Z

Activities
Many tourists choose Nepal for its excellent trekking routes, but the country has much more to offer. White water rafting is very popular, especially on the Trisuli River near Kathmandu.
You can go on safari in Terai, the southern lowland, and mountain biking in the Kathmandu valley. If you are looking for more spiritual activities, there is a wide choice of yoga and meditation lessons etc.

Airport
You will be picked up at the airport and taken to the place where you will spend the night. Please remember to send us you arrival date and time as well as the number of your flight.

Attractions
10 monuments and areas in Nepal are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The protected natural areas of the Everest National park and Chitwan National Park are 2 World Heritage sites. Others include Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha, as well as seven other Buddhist and Hindu temples and monuments in the Kathmandu valley. The impressive architectural monuments in the ancient cities, Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur express Kathmandu valley’s religious, political and cultural life.

Climate
Nepal has diverse climates. Summer is normally hot, humid and rainy. Winter is cold in the morning and warm during the daytime. Temperatures drop during winter nights. Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing according to the season and activities. Fall and spring are wonderful.

Cost
Nepal is a very cheap country for living and travelling. 15 $ per day is enough if you stick to cheap hotels and local food. Please note that you get accommodation and food during the entire stay – all you need to bring is a little pocket money.

Cultural events
There are lots of cultural events all year round in Nepal. All local groups have their own festivals that they celebrate in temples or in other public spaces. These festivals are very important and many people participate.

Economy
Nepal is amongst the poorest and least developed countries. Most people live as their ancestors did, without running water, electricity, telephone, doctors or paved roads. Agriculture is the most important source of income in Nepal. It provides food and income to 80 % of the population. Rice is the most important crop, with corn, wheat, sugar cane, jute etc. Even though the government has tried to make economic reforms to improve the economy, it has been difficult to realise projects, because of political instability (5 different governments in the last 5 years).

Electricity
Electricity: 220 volt. Supplies are often cut off during the evening, so remember to bring a flashlight.

Environmental problems
Because of a lack of agricultural land and a dense population, many people have begun to deforest. The lack of trees causes erosion and water pollution. Vital agricultural earth is torn away by the monsoon and transported by the rivers to the sea. The rural population in Nepal depends entirely on the remaining land.

Flora and fauna
There are more than 6500 species of trees and flowers in Nepal. Wildlife is very varied with more than 800 bird species and such exotic animals as the Bengal tiger, snow leopard, elephant, bears, monkeys and jackals.

Food
Nepali meals are mostly composed of rice, vegetables with curry, lentil soup, and sometimes meat (no beef, since cows are sacred animals). The food is not very spicy. In large cities like Kathmandu, international food is available. Do not eat food that has not been cooked or fried or cannot be peeled. Locals usually drink mild tea. Bottled water is available everywhere. Never drink tap water.

Geography
Nepal is divided in three different regions.
The Himalaya region, covered with snow all year round. The mountain region with a subtropical climate. This region covers more than 64% of the country. The Terai region, the southern lowland that covers around 17% of the country. The climate is tropical, but in December and January temperatures drop to 1-5 degrees.

How to dress
Climate varies in Nepal. Bring light winter clothes for trekking, even if you come during summertime.
Female participants may not wear short skirts or shirts without sleeves; women must cover most of the body. Roads are unpaved so it is important to bring good hiking shoes.

Insurance
European insurances do not cover you outside Europe. Travel insurance is compulsory.

Internet
The use of Internet is more and more common in larger cities. In Kathmandu, there is a large number of internet cafés, where you can send and receive your emails and use the Internet at reasonable fees. In rural areas, it is often not possible to use phones. In the Chitwan region, where most volunteers work, possibilities are numerous. You will stay at our coordinator’s hostel during the first week and here you can use the Internet for a small fee.

Mail
The Nepali postal system is incredibly slow. It can take months to receive a letter or a postcard. Streets do not have names. It is not safe to send or receive packages. They are often opened and valuable objects tend to disappear. If you have to send or receive anything, use private companies, DHL, UPS or other. Use the coordinator’s address if you want to receive important packages or letters.

Money
Nepal has modern banks and in larger hotels, stores and restaurants credit cards are usually accepted. You can change money in banks, larger hotels and at the airport. Travellers checks can be changed everywhere. US dollars and British pounds are accepted in most places. Try to change notes as often as possible, as many small stores, transports etc. often are unable to give money back.

Population
The 23 million inhabitants of Nepal are divided into 11 different peoples or tribes. The country is so varied that a traveller can experience everything from “stone age” in the west and in the mountains, to jet set in Kathmandu. Nepal is in every way a fusion of extremes, especially in urban areas.

Religion
Religion is very important to the Nepalese. Around 90% think of themselves as Hindu, but in reality, it is very difficult to make a difference between Hindu and Buddhism as they share many sacred beliefs. The rest of the population is Christian or Muslim. Unlike our western culture, religion is very important in every day life and in the mornings, people gather in the temples to pray.

Telephone
Long distance calls can be made from several small stores in Kathmandu and other large cities. However, it is rather expensive. Internet is progressing fast and permits cheap calls. Do not expect to find phones in small villages.

Tips
In better restaurants in Kathmandu, a tip of 10% is expected if service is satisfying. It is not necessary to tip taxi drivers or waiters in cheap restaurants. On the trekking tour, you are expected to tip the carriers 100 rupees per day.

Transport
The road and rail network is not very developed in Nepal. In rural areas, there are only paths and unpaved roads.

Travel fees
Travel fees are not included in the program fees.

Trekking
The best season for trekking is between September and December, but March and April are popular months as well. On the Annapurna trail, you will spend the night in places at more than 14 763 feet, so it is important to bring a warm sleeping bag. Please note that trekkers are the main cause of environmental problems in Nepal, so do not throw away any waste during your trekking tour.

Vaccinations
Vaccinations against typhus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and meningitis. Malaria pills are highly recommended.

Visa
You can get a visa upon arrival at Kathmandu airport. A tourist visa costs 50 $ and is valid for 60 days. After that, you can extend by 30 or 60 more days for a fee of 50$. Long-term visas are valid up to 150 days. Remember to bring two passport photos. On the application form, you must state that you enter Nepal as a TOURIST. You can download application forms from a Nepalese embassy in your home country. More details will be sent after enrolment.

What to bring
Mosquito repellent (those available in Nepal are often not very efficient)
Sun Tan/Sun Screen Lotion (the sun is very strong)
Shoes that can be washed (unpaved roads in rural areas get very muddy when it rains)
Comfortable clothes for working
Gloves
A hat to protect you from the sun
Mosquito net
Camera and film (or batteries for digital camera)
Flashlight
For the Anna Purna trekking:
Sleeping bag
Good, comfortable hiking shoes
Raincoat
Light clothing that allows you to put on/take off a layer depending on the weather.
It is a good idea to bring pictures of your family, friends and home country. One of the easiest ways to start a conversation for host families is to ask about your family at home. You can also bring gifts like toys, pens or other small objects for the children.