- AddressG21b, The Pier, Pier Point Road, Cairns QLD 4870 Australia
You can apply by clicking this link.
You will have access to ATMs in Kathmandu. We recommend that you carry a minimum of $100 cash with you, make sure this is in $10s and $20s, as you will be paying for your visa at the airport and it safeguards against any issues when you have the correct money.
Some people have asked how much extra money they should take with them. Most of your expenses are covered by the money you have paid, but if you enjoy shopping (and the shopping in Kathmandu is fantastic!), we recommend that you budget around $350 for your stay.
All volunteers should have access to an emergency fund, in the event they decide volunteer life is not for them, or they decide to take a break from village life for a few days. In circumstances such as these, the volunteer would need to cover the costs of transport when departing the village early, and the costs of any extra stays in hotels. For this reason, we recommend that volunteers carry an ATM card so that they can access emergency funds from home if required.
Your accommodation in Kathmandu and Chitwan will be in a hotel with ensuite facilities. You will share your room with someone of the same sex. In the village you will be housed in hostel type accommodation. You will share your room with a maximum of 3 other people and the facilities are shared. Village accommodation is basic but comfortable, and the rooms are clean.
We are very happy for you to share the experience with your friends and we will work with you to ensure that you can be accommodated together during your time in Nepal.
You must be 18 by the date of departure. We do provide the option for a parent/guardian to sign paperwork that grants permission for you to join the program if you are under 18. We would also encourage you to consider inviting an older family member to accompany you on the program to Nepal.
Yes! As long as you are willing to volunteer and improve the lives of the villagers in Nepal, we are more than happy for you to join the program.
We strongly encourage your parents to contact us, as we welcome parental involvement. We will answer any questions your parents may have through email or telephone contact.
Once we have accepted your application, we begin to incur costs for you, as we book accommodation, internal travel, reserve your spot in the game park and so on. So your deposit is non-refundable.
You can make a booking by clicking this link.
Treks depart each month, throughout the year. Dates vary depending on the arrival date of a particular group. We can accommodate different departure dates in the same month if required.
No. If you are a couple or small group, and you wish to travel alone, we can accommodate you. We try to bring trekkers together into groups as we find it’s a more enjoyable experience for all, but if you wish a more individual trek for yourself or your companions, we’d be happy to arrange this.
The short answer is yes. Nepal is safer than most countries around the world, possibly due to the religious nature of the people and their natural kindness. Over the past 10 years Nepal has enjoyed a growth in visitors, from all over the world. The people are very hospitable. The Nepalese accept that tourism is a mainstay of the economy and are very welcoming.
Yes. You can obtain your visa prior to departure through the General Consulate of Nepal. Please visit their website to download the details and relevant form Nepal Australian Consulute
Alternatively, you can obtain the visa upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu. You will be applying for a tourist visa. If you choose this option, we advise you should have 4 passport sized photos ready and AUD or US dollars in cash to pay for the visa. The cost for a 30-day visa is between $30 and $50. There is an EFTPOS facility at the airport, but this is unreliable and we recommend you have cash ready to avoid any issues that could arise. The process at the airport is straightforward and easy. Please download the visa application form, fill it in and take it with you in your hand luggage, this will save you some time at the airport.
Please see attached a scanned copy of the visa application form, this form gives you an idea of the information they require upon arrival. We recommend that when you disembark from the airplane that you don’t dilly dally, head straight for the visa applications, fill it out and get in line! Sometimes there can be quite a line up (I’ve been caught out a few times!) but that may not be the case as you are travelling in the off season.
Travel Insurance is compulsory if you wish to participate in the program. We will require a copy of the insurance certificate and you must also bring a hard copy of your insurance certificate with you to Nepal. Nepal does not require any vaccinations in order to enter the country. However, we strongly recommend that participants consult with a doctor before departing for Nepal for information about immunisations and advice on how to stay healthy while traveling.
Nepal has four distinct seasons. Spring lasts from March to May and is warm with rain showers; temperatures around 22°C. Summer, from June to August, is the monsoon season when the hills turn lush and green. Temperatures can get quite warm, up to 30°C. Autumn, from September to November, is cool with clear skies and is the most popular season for trekking. Temperatures are not too warm, with daily maximum about 25°C and cool nights with minimum of 10°C. It usually does not rain for more than one or two days during the autumn and the winter season. In winter, from December to February, it is cold at night with temperatures sometimes below zero. However, the maximum temperatures can still reach up to 20°C. Then the mountains are covered with snow.
You do not need to learn Nepali. Prior to departure, we will provide you with a document of key words and phrases in Nepali, in order for you to be prepared. On your first day in the village, you will be given a lesson in Basic Nepali. We are encouraging the village children to learn English, as this is the key to better opportunities for them in the future. The children are keen to learn and to practice their English with you.
You will have access to the internet and telephones in Kathmandu and in Chitwan. We encourage you to open a Skype account, to reduce the costs of calling from Nepal to Australia.
In the village your team leader will have a reliable phone connection, you will be provided with his number prior to departure, to leave with family members who may wish to contact you during your time in the village. We encourage volunteers to distance themselves from internet and technology, as this allows for a more authentic village experience.
You will need to book your own flight and travel insurance. You’ll be met at the airport and transported from there to your accommodation in Kathmandu.
Upon acceptance into the program you will be sent a comprehensive Preparation Pack, this will outline all that is required to be fully prepared for your exciting experience. It will include a list of items that we encourage you to take with you to Nepal.
The water in Kathmandu and Chitwan is unsafe to drink, we will provide you with free bottled water. In the village, the water is clean and safe to drink but it will be treated to ensure your protection against any water borne issues.
© Take on Nepal 2018
