Nepal

Volunteer in Nepal

Not only a place on the map but an experience, a way of life from which we all can learn. Home to incredible scenery, adventure, diversity and culture, volunteers in Nepal are sure to have an experience of a life time. As one of the most under-developed nations in the world, Nepal has so many opportunities to make a real difference for the local people. Find out what makes Nepal so special....

WHY we need you in Nepal

everest - Nepal

Why Involvement Volunteers International?

Nepal kindergarten teaching with IVI 2 2 800x600 - Nepal

Volunteer in Nepal

Nepal is a country full of adventure & culture. Well known for the stunning peaks of the Himalaya’s & Everest Base Camp, Nepal is for the adventurous who want to help give back. We have amazing project options across Kathmandu (the capital city) and Pokhara (the incredible mountain town approx 8 hours from Kathmandu).     

Volunteer Projects in Nepal

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ENGLISH TEACHING, KATHMANDU

Teach children from different age groups and with different learning capabilities, through educational and fun activites. Encourage the children to develop their English conversational skills, reading and writing.

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

Nepal kindergarten teaching with IVI 2 2 oelpmu7uoyp1eyi9fvit6vb3rhx6o1rjrchem7kbjq - Nepal

KINDERGARTEN TEACHING, KATHMANDU

Bring your creativity, energy and enthusiasm and help to teach, play and interact with underprivilaged kindergarten children, aged 3-6 years. Teach through fun interactive games, play and creative activites.

Location: Kathmandu
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 2 Weeks
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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MEDICAL INTERNSHIP

For qualified professionals or medical students, shadow local doctors and nurses at a goverment hospital government, private, or community hospitals in Kathmandu and in around Kathmandu Valley.

Location: Kathmandu & surrounding areas
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 4 Weeks
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: Medical students (or related field) or healthcare professionals

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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Help empower young and elderly woman with education so they can help bring themselves and their families out of poverty. Work alongside a local teacher.

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 1 Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: 1 week introduction is mandatory for this program

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STRAY DOG REHABILITATION

Help rescue injured and mistreated stray dogs for rehabilitation and safe housing in pet shelters so they can be put up for adoption of released. Give them the love, attention & care they need.

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERNSHIP

Gain first hand experience as an intern in rehabilitation hospitals in Kathmandu. Aimed at medical students or those with relevant educational background or related fields.

Location: Kathmandu
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 3 Weeks
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: Medical student (or related field) or professional

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BUDDHIST MONASTERY TEACHING

Teach English and have one on one conversation classes with the monks. You will also get a chance to learn about Buddhism while doing this.

Location: Kathmandu, Pharping, Namobuddha, and Serlo (Everest region)
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 4 Weeks
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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CONSTRUCTION & EARTHQUAKE REBUILDING

Here you'll focus on the rebuilding of schools, orphanages and health centers in Kathmandu and remote villages deep in the mountains of Nepal.

Location: Kathmandu & surrounding areas
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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CULTURAL ORIENTATION WEEK

Gain an insight into the culture and norms before the start of your project. Enjoy a a welcome ceremony, language training, cooking class, hiking, yoga & more.

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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ADVENTURE WEEK

Take a break from volunteering and enjoy a week of hiking, rafting and jungle activities in Nepal! A great way to refresh and try some new and exciting activities, including nature viewing, canoeing, white water rafting, jungle jeep tour and mountain hiking.

Location: Kathmandu & Chitwan
Start Dates: 1st & 3rd Monday each month
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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MT EVEREST BASE CAMP & VOLUNTEER

Walk over expansive suspension bridges, raging rivers and some of the best scenery in the world. You'll be taken through the heartland of the Sherpa people and be provided a cultural experience, learning from the original inhabitants of the Everest Highlands.

Location: Kathmandu (starting point)
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 4 Weeks
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: Good level of fitness

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28 DAY ROAD TRIP

You will work alongside local communities in teaching placements, orphanages and community development within various regions of Nepal including Buddhist temples, Royal Chitwan National Park, river rafting, village hiking, light mountain climbing and much more!

Location: Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara & Annapurna
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 4 Weeks
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: Medical students (or related field) or healthcare professionals

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ANNAPURNA TREK & VOLUNTEER

Hike to Annapurna base camp! Spend the first week on an introduction in Kathmandu, before heading to Pokhara to start the Annapurna trek. After your trek you will spend a week volunteering back in Kathmandu at your chosen project!

Location: Kathmandu (starting point)
Start Dates: Monday each week (Sat/Sun arrivals)
Min Duration: 4 Weeks
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: Good level of fitness

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KINDERGARTEN TEACHING, POKHARA

Teach basic conversational English to children in the stunning region of Pokhara! As the kids are young, they love anything that gets them up and moving, such as physical games, interactive classroom activities or singing!

Location: Pokhara
Start Dates: Monday each week (Sat/Sun arrivals)
Min Duration: 2 Weeks
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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ENGLISH TEACHING, POKHARA

Teach at small schools, assisting the local teacher! You will be able to be creative in your ideas, teaching children aged 5-16 years of age. Your presence can not only help the children but also give the local teachers new ideas for lessons!

Location: Pokhara
Start Dates: Monday each week (Sat/Sun arrivals)
Min Duration: 2 Weeks
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

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DENTAL INTERNSHIP

Gain comprehensive experience by working as an intern at a Dental Hospital in the vibrant city of Kathmandu, Nepal. Volunteers on the dental internship will shadow practitioners and observe practices by local dentists.

Location: Kathmandu 
Start Dates: Monday each week (Sat/Sun arrivals)
Min Duration: 4 Weeks
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: Medical Professional or student

Testimonials...

Nepal

What's Included
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Airport Pickup
  • Local Transportation
  • 1 Day Orientation
  • 24/7 In-Country Support
  • Project Materials & Equipment
  • Pre-departure Expert Advice
  • Preperation Tools & Checklists
  • Certificate of Completion

Fees

All prices in USD
  • 1 Week - $395
  • 2 Weeks - $510
  • 3 Weeks - $725
  • 1 Month - $945
  • 2 Months - $1795
  • 3 Months - $2695
Vol House
All prices in USD
  • 1 Week - N/A
  • 2 Weeks - N/A
  • 3 Weeks - N/A
  • 1 Month - $1255
  • 2 Months - $2450
  • 3 Months - $3590
Vol House
All prices in USD
  • Adventure Week


    $495
  • 4 Week Annapurna Base Camp


    $1545
  • 4 Week Everest Base Camp


    $2495
  • 28 Day Road Trip


    $2150
Vol House

33 Years Experience

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.  We accept volunteers from all over the world and place them in meaningful overseas missions.  

Affordable Volunteer Travel

We’re not motivated by shareholder profits.   Our fees are fully transparent to ensure maximum benefit where it is most needed. 

Safe & Responsible Projects

All projects include a dedicated 24/7 in-country management team, operational & risk assessment & overseas support contact.   All projects are personally inspected to ensure very high quality.
 

Work Experience & University Credits

We place thousands of Uni students and can assist you with course credits and in-field experience points.   Many of our project coordinators are qualified practitioners in their respective fields allowing unique in-field supervision and Uni accreditation options

Nepal is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in the world.  Nepal first opened its borders to outsiders in the 1950s.  It is home to Mount Everest, the birthplace of Buddha, and an astonishingly beautiful landscape, ranging from the well-known peaks of the Himalaya to the low-lying regions of the Terai.

The Nepali people are as diverse at the geography, with over 70 languages or dialects and scores of traditional festivals celebrated throughout the year.

However, Nepal is also one of the most under-developed countries in the world, with low rates of literacy, high rates of poverty and a persistent gender imbalance. The government is frequently unable to provide adequate education and health facilities throughout the country and both urban and rural areas are forced to live without necessary resources to promote growth and development of their communities.

Nepal is a year round destination, and the cliate can vary between the North and South regions. The best overall times to visit are during spring and autumn (particually for trekking).

December to Febuary is winter, and it can get extremely cold in the mountains (down to sub zero). Summer in this region has a pleasent temperature but still bring some warmer clothing for the evenings. 

Summer in southern Nepal can get extremely hot (plus 40°C) in some areas. Winter temperatures in this area can range from 7°C to 23°C.

Kathmandu has a pleasent climate on average. The monsoon rains start from June to September in Nepal. 

The majority of Nepalis are either Hindus or Buddhists, but there are many other religions here too like Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Sikhism. You will find many temples and monasteries around Nepal. The right hand is used for important things such as passing money, eating and the giving of gifts. 

Nepalese people love their food and much of it has been influenced by Indian and Tibetan cultures. Nepali people have a lot of respect for elders and will call each other didi (“older sister”), bahini (“younger sister”), etc, even if they are not actually related. The family unit is very strong and having a close knit family is important for the local people. 

Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal, is an incredible place! The contrast of decaying buildings, smell of incense, street sellers, historic temples and incredible mountain views will invigorate your senses and keep you inspired to learn more about the amazing history and culture. For several hundred years, Kathmandu was one of three rival royal cities, along with Bhaktapur and Patan. The highlight of Kathmandu has long been Durbar Square, the largest of the palace squares in the three royal cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Temples and monuments of varying shapes, sizes, styles, and faiths can be found here. This small, mountain-sheltered valley is the historical centre of Nepal, a place where kingdoms rose and fell, where palaces and temples were built and rebuilt, and where Nepali art and culture was developed and refined.

Pokhara, is a must see for truly spectacular scenery, adventure activities and food. Situated approx 5-6 hours by bus from Kathmandu, the bus trip alone is worth the journey. Here you will witness the awe and glory of the Himalayas. Pokhara has a chilled out vibe and great to relax and unwind form the busy pace of Kathmandu. You can enjoy a clear view of snow-capped mountains just 20 KM’s in the distance. Be sure to check out the adventure sports such as paragliding or white water rafting and of course world famous treks in and around the Annapuma Mountain range.

All accommodation is included during your placement. Your stay will be comfortable, clean and secure with basic modern amenities. Depending on your chosen volunteer project, you will stay in either a volunteer centre (dedicated house) or a home stay.

Located in the heart of Kathmandu, about 1 hours drive from the airport, the volunteer centre houses up to 20 volunteers with 3 to 4 people sharing one room (single gender rooms). They have modern bathrooms; a modern kitchen and dining room, mini library, a fully furnished living room, TV, computer, DVD player, fans, live-in staff on call 24/7, a garden complete with a comfortable covered area and 24/7 security. Centrally located, there are several gym’s nearby as well as local supermarkets, ATM’s, mobile phone shops etc.  

*For couples or those wanting more privacy, there are upgrade accommodation options available for an additional cost (approx US $150 p/room p/week). This must be booked well in advance and is subject to availability. 

In Pokhara, enjoy life in a home stay living with up to 4 other volunteers. Here you will be made to feel like a local with much gratitude from the local villagers. You’ll share a room with max 3-4 other volunteers. The home stay is basic, but clean with bathrooms, a kitchen and dining room. Private bathroom, lockable rooms, bed linen, fans and mosquito protection included. Laundry facilities are available (at a small fee) but no hot showers! There are ATM’s located about 15 minute walk to the house and a supermarket about 33 minutes walk. 

3 vegetarian meals are provided p/day on weekdays and 2 vegetarian meals p/day on weekends for the duration of your program. You can expect chicken dishes approx twice per week. You are free to eat as you like when you are out and about and there are many exciting options available.

Nepalese cuisine has Indian & Tibetan influences with lentils and rice forming the base of most meals and a diverse range of herbs, vegetables and smoky flavors. The national dish is daal bhaat tarkaari, which is spiced lentils over rice served with tarkari and cooked with spices. Cow meat is forbidden because Hindus consider cattle to be sacred. In fact, many tribes and communities in Nepal are strict vegetarians.

Your program includes a 1 day orientation. This is an important day to help you become familiar with your surroundings, as well as learning about the local customs, culture and surroundings.
 
Typical Orientation Day Includes:
  • Introduction meeting, General rules, Setting Expectations, Advice on Health and Safety and insuring you have all your documents.
  • Do’s and Don’ts, Cultural introduction, learning about the countries history 
  • Tour around the accommodation and local area.

You are also encouraged to take up our orientation week. This is beneficial to help acclimatise to the different lifestyle and pace of Nepal and get to know your fellow volunteers, the facilities, the town etc.

An arrival airport pickup is included in the cost of your placement. Accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees. Arrivals are on Saturdays and Sundays (please check the individual project for the pickup window times, as they can differ). 

If arriving outside the pickup times we can arrange a private transfer and extra night’s accommodation, depending on availability, or you can make your own way to the project.   

The weekends are always open for your leisure. The local team will assist you in organising additional travel plans with heaps of local knowledge. Shopping in Kathmandu is an experience all its own. Thamel, Kathmandu’s tourist hotspot, is where shoppers can find Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian artifacts, woodcarvings, handicraft and an assortments of unique clothing and apparel. There are also several malls where you can find fashionable clothing and grocery stores, offering everything from wine to breakfast cereals. There are numerous dining options available throughout the city, including Italian, Indian, Thai, Korean and Chinese in addition to a variety of local cuisine.

Check out this amazing blog with step by step info on how to raise funds for your overseas volunteer experience to help maximize your impact abroad. Guide to Fundraising

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Articles

Teaching and Adventures in Nepal

Hi! My name is Elke and I’m 21 years old. I’m living in the Netherlands and I will be travelling for one year and my first country to visit is Nepal! I just finished my Bachelor’s in Psychology and I wanted to travel before I will start my Masters. The reason I chose Nepal is that you can do a …

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Stray Dog Rehabilitation- Nepal Review

Hi Lauren, Thank you for your email. I had an amazing time volunteering at the KAT center. I really loved spending time with the animals.  Answers are below.   Highlights of the trip: The highlight of the trip was working at the KAT center. It was so rewarding and I just loved being able to spend time with the dogs …

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Community Construction Nepal 2018

Highlights of the trip: It was my first time in nepal and i really enjoyed being amongst mountains, experiencing a little of the local culture and making new friends from around the world. Comments on the team, food and accommodation: Everyone was very friendly, food was good and accommodation was clean. Any improvements to help us be better: Maybe more …

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Nepal Kindergarten Volunteering Feedback

Highlights of the trip: Working in the Kindergarten, spending time with the children, a weekend away to Pokhara and cultural week (especially the yoga, trekking and cooking class). Comments on team, food & accommodation: The team were great, very helpful and supportive. I am vegetarian and the food catered to me perfectly, a great variety of traditional Nepalese food! Accommodation …

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Nepal Physiotherapy Hospital Internship Review

Sorry for the very delayed response! I did have an amazing time on the trip. I actually don’t have any pictures of volunteering (didn’t want to take any for patient confidentiality). The only photos I have are the ones that are already on the fb page. Highlights of the trip: I really enjoyed participating in Culture Week the week before …

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Nepal Medical Internship Team 2017

Highlights of the trip: Earthquake rebuilding was definitely my favourite week, it was so authentic and I felt that I was making a real difference there. The host mother was beautiful and fed us very well. It was nice to get involved with the locals more than I did in Kathmandu as well. The hospital was great I learnt so much …

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