Get Involved: Himalaya Volunteer

Day 1
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. Those on Land Only arrangements will join us in the afternoon at the Royal Singi Hotel. There will be a full trip briefing this evening.

Day 2
An early start for the 5 hour drive to Damauli. We depart Kathmandu and climb out of the valley with superb views of the mountains on a clear day. We drop down to the Trisuli River and the road follows the river for most of our journey today. At Damauli we will have lunch by the river, before meeting our raft guides and taking to our rafts. It is an easy paddle downstream with just a few small rapids. We stay tonight at a comfortable raft camp beautifully situated on the banks of the Seti River. The tents have twin beds and bedding and attached bathrooms. There is a dining room and spacious garden from where we can watch the river birds.

Day 3
After breakfast we trek to Nalbung village. We cross the bridge and have a steep climb up through the forest to Nalbung (approx 2 hours). On arrival we'll meet the headmaster of the Kalika School in Nalbung who will introduce us to the school children and the villagers. You will meet your host family and be taken to the house where you will be staying for the next 2 nights. You will sleep on a simple bed in a small room in the house. The homes will have a basic asian style toilet outside the house. Nalbung is a small rural village with lots of farmed land. The houses are spread over a wide area. We will have lunch as a group before the leader gives a full briefing on the project work that will take place. This will be fitting smokeless stoves or diigging a channel for a water pipe. Thee might also be the chance to help oiyt in the nursery. In the evening you will return to your host family for a traditional Nepali dinner.

Day 4
Exodus has been helping Nalbung village and the school for several years now. We have purchased land for the school and built classrooms and toilets and we sponsor a teacher at the school. Today we spend the whole day in Nalbung. A simple local breakfast will be served by your host familiy before we meet up for a day of project work. We'll have lunch as a group and the evening will be spent with your host family for a chance to meet other villagers.

Day 5
This morning we will finish off our project work and after a lunch with the villagers we say goodbye and walk back down to the Seti River Camp arriving late afternoon. We will spend the night at the camp .

Day 6
After breakfast we have a short paddle down the Seti River to Gaighat where we meet our bus. We then drive to Pokhara, a journey of 4-5 hours. There will be time in to explore this pretty lakeside resort overlooked by the mighty Annapurna range. In the evening the leader will brief you on the four day trek and you will have dinner at one of the many lakeside restaurants.

Day 7
After breakfast we leave Pokhara. The drive to Khare is approximately one hour and it is from here that we start walking. A gentle path takes us through forests to a clearing called 'Australian Camp'. From the simple lodges here we get stunning views of the Annapurnas at both sunset and sunrise.

Day 8
A short but beautiful walk today as the path climbs through the forest to Deurali and then drops steeply for before contouring round several hillsides to Landrung, a fine Gurung village, with superb views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

Day 9
We descend on a magnificent stone staircase down to the Modi Khola and cross a narrow bridge. It's then a steep climb the other side of the valley on a stone staircase passing neatly terraced hillsides to Ghandrung (1,951m). Ghandrung is a large, prosperous Gurung village and we'll have time to explore the maze of narrow alleyways separating neat slate-roofed houses and watch the ever-changing sunlight on Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare.

Day 10
We descend from Ghandrung on a stone staircase to Birethanti, a pretty riverside resort on the bank of the Modi Khola. Just outside of Birethanthi we meet our transport for the two hour drive back to Pokhara, where we stay in a simple hotel close to the lakeside.

Day 11
After breakfast we fly back to Kathmandu

Day 12
Today is free for sightseeing in Kathmandu. You may wish to visit Durbar Square in the heart of the old city where the old Royal Palace, with its intricate woodcarving is located. Outside is Kumari Chowk, home of the Kumari, the young girl who is revered as a living goddess. The whole area is a maze of temples and images. Leading away from the square in all directions are narrow alleys, full of the most amazing variety of shops and stalls. Alternatively you may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambunath, one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. Sightseeing tours can be booked locally. Please see the Optional Excursions section. There is also the option this morning to do the scenic mountain flight to see Everest. This shoud be booked and paid for locally. Please ask your leader for details.

Day 13
Those on the group flights to London will be transferred to the airport after breakfast. Those on land only arrangements will leave us after breakfast. (B) For those on group flights, these depart in the morning and will arrive in the UK the same day