School Trips to NepalKathmandu, Pokhara & Namobuddha
Rustic Pathways school trips to Nepal are private, custom programs that combine cultural exploration, outdoor adventure, community service, and experiential learning around each school's dates and learning goals.
3 sample itineraries from Kathmandu to Lumbini, Pokhara, the Annapurna foothills, and Namobuddha. Nepal programs run 10 days, $2,695 to $2,855 per student, excluding international airfare.
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Choose a Nepal school group travel program.
The three Nepal school travel itineraries are Himalayan Photography Adventure, Himalayan Trekking Expedition, and Himalayan Village Life and Service. Himalayan Photography Adventure starts at $2,855 for 10 days, Himalayan Trekking Expedition starts at $2,745 for 10 days, and Himalayan Village Life and Service starts at $2,695 for 10 days.
Compare the three itineraries side by side
| Itinerary | Himalayan Photography Adventure | Himalayan Trekking Expedition | Himalayan Village Life and Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 10 days | 10 days | 10 days |
| Starting price | From $2,855 | From $2,745 | From $2,695 |
| Learning focus | Art and Design · Cultural Studies | Physical Education · Environmental Science | Service Learning · Anthropology |
| Route | Kathmandu · Lumbini · Pokhara · Dhampus · Australian Camp | Kathmandu · Trishuli River · Pokhara · Nayapul · Hile · Ulleri · Ghorepani · Poon Hill · Deurali | Kathmandu · Sunkoshi River · Namobuddha |
| Overnight bases | Kathmandu (2) · Lumbini (2) · Pokhara (2) · Australian (1) · Pokhara (1) · Kathmandu (1) | Kathmandu (1) · Riverside (1) · Pokhara (2) · Hile teahouse (1) · Ghorepani teahouse (1) · Deurali teahouse (1) · Pokhara (1) · Kathmandu (1) | Kathmandu (1) · Riverside (1) · Village homestay (5) · Mountain (1) · Kathmandu (1) |
| Physical profile | 3 low · 6 moderate · 1 high | 3 low · 3 moderate · 4 high | 3 low · 6 moderate · 1 high |
| On-program flights | None | None | None |
| Highest night on the trail | One night up, at Australian Camp | Four nights on the trail, to 3,200 m | No trail nights; four days in one village |
| Best for | Best for schools that want the widest cross-section of Nepal, from the southern plains to the Annapurna skyline, with a professional photographer working alongside students the whole way. | Best for schools that want students on a trail for several consecutive days, with two days of whitewater first and the hardest climb early enough that the group finishes strong. | Best for schools that want students to settle into one household for several days rather than move each night, with the river, and the walk to Namobuddha bracketing the service block. |
Kathmandu · Lumbini · Pokhara · Australian Camp
10 days · From $2,855
Himalayan Photography Adventure
Explore Nepal through photography while traveling from Kathmandu's temples to Lumbini, Pokhara, and the Annapurna foothills. Students work alongside a professional photographer as they document religious sites, mountain landscapes, local communities, and daily life before trekking to Australian Camp.
Choose this programThe route connects Kathmandu, Lumbini, Pokhara, Dhampus, and Australian Camp.
- Kathmandu2 nights
- Lumbini2 nights
- Pokhara2 nights
- Australian1 night
- Pokhara1 night
- Kathmandu1 night
Your ten-day itinerary
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Day 1
Land in Kathmandu and out with the cameras
Tribhuvan International Airport is the first frame of the trip: the group meets the Program Leaders who stay with it for the whole program and is out photographing the city the same afternoon, which is where the working brief for the ten days gets set.
MorningThe group arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and is met by its Program Leaders.AfternoonStudents check into the hotel, rest after the flight, and eat lunch.EveningAn orientation discussion covers the week ahead and expectations, and the group walks out to city temples for a first look at Kathmandu.- Route
- Students arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer into Kathmandu.
- Travel
- A short road transfer from the airport to the hotel, then walking in the city.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a hotel in Kathmandu.
- Meals
- The land program begins at airport pickup, so lunch, and dinner are included and airline meal service before that is not.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day, with a short walk in the city after a long flight.
- Sleeping elevation
- Kathmandu, 1,300 m.
- Learning outcome
- Students name what they want to photograph over the ten days and set a working brief with the Program Leaders.
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Day 2
Buddhist and Hindu Roots
A full day across the Kathmandu Valley on the temples and palaces of two living religious traditions, learning their history, and context before photographing them.
MorningThe group explores the Kathmandu Valley and its temple and palace architecture.AfternoonStudents learn the history and context of Buddhist and Hindu sites and take time over each frame rather than shooting quickly.EveningThe group returns into Kathmandu for dinner and reviews the day's work.- Route
- Students move between temple and palace sites across the Kathmandu Valley.
- Travel
- Short local road transfers between sites, with walking at each one.
- Overnight
- Students stay a second night in the same hotel in Kathmandu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort day with several hours of walking and standing, including steps at temple sites.
- Sleeping elevation
- Kathmandu, 1,300 m.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain how a working religious site differs from a monument, and what that changes about photographing people in it.
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Days 3-4
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Buddha
A long drive south from the Kathmandu Valley to Lumbini on the plains, then a full day at the sacred garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site of about eight square kilometers that draws pilgrims from across the Buddhist world.
MorningThe group wakes early for the long van drive south from Kathmandu toward Lumbini.AfternoonStudents reach Lumbini and walk the sacred garden, which spreads over about eight square kilometers.EveningThe group eats together in Lumbini, and the second day gives an unhurried afternoon making pictures of the site and the people who have come to it.- Route
- Students travel from Kathmandu south to Lumbini and stay there for the second of the two days.
- Travel
- One long van drive out of the Kathmandu Valley to the southern plains, then walking within the Lumbini site.
- Overnight
- Students stay in Lumbini for both nights of this card.
- Meals
- Meals both days cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Physical demand
- The drive day is low effort with long seated periods; the site day is moderate, with several hours of walking across a large flat site in heat.
- Sleeping elevation
- Lumbini, on the southern plains, 150 m. This is the lowest the program goes and the biggest single drop on it.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe what a place of pilgrimage asks of a photographer, and decide what they will not photograph.
- Customization
- The two Lumbini days can be reordered against the Pokhara block, and a school that wants the drive broken can ask for an overnight stop on the way south.
SequenceThis card covers two program days. Lumbini is a long drive from the Kathmandu Valley in each direction, so one day is spent reaching it and one at the site. -
Days 5-6
Himalayan Landscapes and Pokhara Town
North from the plains to Pokhara, a city of lakes, gorges, and waterfalls under the Annapurna range, with a hike to the Peace Pagoda, the markets, sunset on Phewa Lake, and the group's mid-trip discussion.
MorningThe group travels north from Lumbini to Pokhara, under the Himalayan skyline.AfternoonStudents hike to the Peace Pagoda, built by Nipponzan Myohoji monks, for views over the Himalayan ranges, Phewa Lake, and the city below.EveningThe group explores Pokhara's markets and spends time by the lake at sunset, then holds its mid-trip discussion on what students have seen and learned so far.- Route
- Students travel from Lumbini north to Pokhara and stay there across both days.
- Travel
- One long van drive from the plains up to Pokhara, then walking, and short local transfers in the city.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a hotel in Pokhara for both nights of this card.
- Meals
- Meals both days cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort card, with an uphill walk to the Peace Pagoda and several hours on foot in the city.
- Sleeping elevation
- Pokhara, 900 m.
- Learning outcome
- Students compare photographing a landscape at a distance with photographing a city at close range, and say what each asks of them.
- Customization
- The Peace Pagoda hike can be shortened by road, and a school can add a boat crossing of Phewa Lake in place of lakeside time.
SequenceThis card covers two program days. The drive up from the plains takes most of one, and the Peace Pagoda, the markets, and the mid-trip discussion fill the other. -
Day 7
Australian Camp
A trek up to Australian Camp at Dhampus Village, where climbers heading into the Annapurna range start out, and a night at the camp itself.
MorningThe group leaves Pokhara and starts the walk up toward Dhampus Village.AfternoonStudents reach Australian Camp, explore the nearby communities, and see climbers preparing for their own trips.EveningThe group stays the night at the camp, high above the Pokhara valley.- Route
- Students travel from Pokhara to the trailhead and walk up to Australian Camp at Dhampus Village.
- Travel
- A short road transfer out of Pokhara, then a sustained uphill walk on a hill trail.
- Overnight
- Students stay at Australian Camp above Dhampus Village, the one night of this itinerary that is not in a town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a high-effort day, with a sustained uphill walk carrying a day pack on an uneven trail.
- Sleeping elevation
- Australian Camp, 2,045 m, the highest night of this itinerary and the only one out of a town.
- Learning outcome
- Students plan for a sunrise or sunset shoot in advance, including where to stand, and what the light will do.
PreparationStudents walk in broken-in shoes with grip and carry a warm layer, a head torch, and a full water bottle. It is meaningfully colder at the camp than in Pokhara, and the drop comes after dark. -
Day 8
Hike Back to Pokhara
The walk back down to Pokhara, then an unstructured afternoon in the market, and a last night in the mountain town.
MorningThe group walks back down from Australian Camp toward Pokhara.AfternoonAfter lunch students explore the market, and the group has time to rest after the trek.EveningThe group spends a final evening in the mountain town, with the long drive east waiting in the morning.- Route
- Students walk down from Australian Camp and return into Pokhara.
- Travel
- A downhill walk on the same hill trail, then a short road transfer into the city.
- Overnight
- Students return to a hotel in Pokhara.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort day; the descent is long but the afternoon is unstructured.
- Sleeping elevation
- Pokhara, 900 m.
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Day 9
Back to Kathmandu
An early van ride back to Kathmandu with the mountains unfolding on the way, an afternoon on the city's climbing history and its response to the 2015 earthquake, and the group's closing discussion and Rustic Ties.
MorningThe group rises early for the van ride from Pokhara back to Kathmandu, watching the mountains open into the city.AfternoonStudents explore city sites that carry Nepal's climbing history and the country's response to the 2015 earthquake.EveningThe group holds its closing discussion on what students engaged with and how they will use it at home, and takes part in Rustic Ties.- Route
- Students travel from Pokhara back to Kathmandu and spend the rest of the day in the city.
- Travel
- One long van drive east, then short local transfers, and walking in Kathmandu.
- Overnight
- Students return to a hotel in Kathmandu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day, with long seated periods on the road and walking in the city afterwards.
- Sleeping elevation
- Kathmandu, 1,300 m.
- Learning outcome
- Students select and sequence their own work from the ten days and explain the order they put it in.
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Day 10
Boudhanath at first light, then the flight home
Breakfast, the market, and the last hours at Boudhanath, which is the final subject of the trip before the Program Leaders take the group to the airport.
MorningStudents eat a last Nepali breakfast and photograph the market.AfternoonThe group spends its final hours at Boudhanath, one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the Kathmandu Valley.EveningProgram Leaders take the group to Tribhuvan International Airport for its flight home.- Route
- Students move between Kathmandu, Boudhanath, and Tribhuvan International Airport.
- Travel
- Walking in the city, then a road transfer to the airport.
- Overnight
- Students sleep in flight. The land program ends at airport drop-off.
- Meals
- Breakfast and lunch are included; the land program ends at airport drop-off, so airline meal service is not.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day with limited walking.
Kathmandu · Trishuli River · Pokhara · Annapurna foothills
10 days · From $2,745
Himalayan Trekking Expedition
Trek through the Annapurna foothills on a multi-day route connecting mountain villages and teahouses, with four nights spent on the trail. The journey also includes Kathmandu, two days of whitewater rafting, time in Pokhara, and a sunrise hike to Poon Hill.
Choose this programThe route connects Kathmandu, Trishuli River, Pokhara, Nayapul, Hile, Ulleri, Ghorepani, Poon Hill, and Deurali.
- Kathmandu1 night
- Riverside1 night
- Pokhara2 nights
- Hile teahouse1 night
- Ghorepani teahouse1 night
- Deurali teahouse1 night
- Pokhara1 night
- Kathmandu1 night
Your ten-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Land in Kathmandu and an afternoon in the city
Kathmandu comes first, on foot: after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport and meeting the Program Leaders who stay with it for the whole program, the group spends the afternoon walking the city. The river starts tomorrow, so this is the only unhurried day at the front of the trip.
MorningThe group arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and is met by its Program Leaders.AfternoonStudents check into the hotel, rest after the flight, and eat lunch.EveningAn orientation discussion covers the week ahead and expectations, and the group goes out to city temples and explores Kathmandu.- Route
- Students arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer into Kathmandu.
- Travel
- A short road transfer from the airport to the hotel, then walking in the city.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a hotel in Kathmandu.
- Meals
- The land program begins at airport pickup, so lunch, and dinner are included and airline meal service before that is not.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day, with a short walk in the city after a long flight.
- Sleeping elevation
- Kathmandu, 1,300 m.
-
Day 2
Rafting the Trishuli River
Out of the capital to the Trishuli for a safety and skills briefing with the rafting partner, then a run through Snell's Nose, Monkey Rapids, and Teen Devi, and a night camped on the riverbank.
MorningThe group drives out of Kathmandu to the Trishuli River.AfternoonAfter a safety and skills briefing from the rafting partner company, students run Snell's Nose, Monkey Rapids, and Teen Devi Rapids.EveningThe group makes camp on the riverbank and talks over the day before another full day on the water.- Route
- Students travel from Kathmandu west to the Trishuli River and camp on its bank.
- Travel
- A van drive out of the Kathmandu Valley, then the river itself.
- Overnight
- Students camp in the open on the riverbank, the first of two nights outside a hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a high-effort day, with sustained paddling on class II and III rapids and camp set-up afterwards.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe how a river's grade is read from the bank before anyone gets in it.
AccessibilityRafting is a whole-group activity on class II and III water and camping is on the riverbank with no road-side facilities. Tell us in advance about any student for whom either is a concern, and the day can be reshaped. -
Day 3
Head Downriver and Roadtrip to Pokhara
A second run through Monsoon, Upset, and Coffee Pot down to lower elevations, then off the water, and a three-hour road trip to Pokhara.
MorningStudents get back on the river for a run through Monsoon, Upset, and Coffee Pot rapids.AfternoonThe group runs the river down to lower elevations, comes ashore, and dries off.EveningA three-hour road trip brings the group into Pokhara, Nepal's second largest city.- Route
- Students travel downriver on the Trishuli, then by road from the take-out to Pokhara.
- Travel
- A half day on the river, then a road transfer of about three hours.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a hotel in Pokhara.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort day, with paddling in the morning, and a seated afternoon on the road.
- Sleeping elevation
- Pokhara, 900 m.
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Day 4
Explore Pokhara
A day in Pokhara at the Peace Pagoda, the lakeside, and the markets, which is also where the group buys or checks the gear it needs for the trek that starts tomorrow.
MorningThe group visits the Peace Pagoda above the city.AfternoonStudents walk the lakeside and the markets, which are the best place in the country to pick up trekking gear.EveningThe group checks kit for the trek and eats in the city.- Route
- Students stay in Pokhara, moving on foot, and by short local transfer between the Peace Pagoda, the lakeside, and the markets.
- Travel
- Short local transfers and walking, with no long road travel.
- Overnight
- Students stay a second night in the same hotel in Pokhara.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort day, with an uphill walk to the Peace Pagoda and several hours on foot.
- Sleeping elevation
- Pokhara, 900 m.
- Customization
- Bungee jumping and zip lining are available in Pokhara as optional additions and are confirmed with the school before travel rather than assumed.
PreparationThis is the last day before four days on the trail. Students confirm broken-in footwear with grip, a warm layer, a rain layer, and a head torch, and pack a day pack they can carry all day. -
Day 5
Hike from Nayapul to Hile
A short drive to the Nayapul trailhead, tea, then the first day of walking through local villages and up some steep sections into Hile, with the group's mid-trip discussion in the evening.
MorningA short drive from Pokhara brings the group to Nayapul, the start of the trek, and students have Nepali tea before setting out.AfternoonThe trail runs through local villages and then up some steep patches to the town of Hile.EveningStudents explore the villages near Hile, meet local people over dinner, and hold the group's mid-trip discussion.- Route
- Students travel from Pokhara to the Nayapul trailhead and walk to Hile.
- Travel
- A short road transfer to the trailhead; from here to day 8 the group moves on foot.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a teahouse in Hile, the first of three nights on the trail.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a high-effort day, with sustained walking on a hill trail including steep sections while carrying a day pack. No prior trekking experience is assumed.
- Sleeping elevation
- Hile, about 1,490 m. The trailhead at Nayapul is 1,070 m, so the first trail day gains around 420 m.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain how a trail town supports the walkers passing through it and where its supplies come from.
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Day 6
Trek through the Rhododendron Forests
The hardest climb of the trek comes second: a steep ascent to Ulleri and the group's first sight of the Himalayas, then a full day through Asia's largest rhododendron forests to Ghorepani.
MorningThe day opens with a steep ascent to Ulleri and the group's first view of the Himalayan range.AfternoonThe trail continues through Asia's largest rhododendron forests on a full day's walk to Ghorepani.EveningStudents settle into a teahouse in Ghorepani for dinner as the sun goes down on the Himalayas.- Route
- Students walk from Hile up through Ulleri and the rhododendron forests to Ghorepani.
- Travel
- The whole day is on foot, with no road travel.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a teahouse in Ghorepani.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is the hardest day of the trek, a sustained steep ascent followed by a full day's walking at increasing elevation.
- Sleeping elevation
- Ghorepani, about 2,870 m. That is roughly 1,380 m gained in one day, through Ulleri at 2,005 m, and it is the largest single gain on any itinerary on this page.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe how the forest changes species with height and what that says about the mountain's climate zones.
SequenceThe steepest climb of the four trail days is the second one. The group meets it with a day's walking already behind it and three days of easier ground still ahead. -
Day 7
Climb Poon Hill
Up before dawn for the summit of Poon Hill at 3,200 meters and sunrise over the highest mountain range on earth, then breakfast, and a long ridge walk through rhododendron forest and river gorges to Deurali.
MorningStudents wake before dawn and climb to the summit of Poon Hill, at 3,200 meters, for sunrise over the range.AfternoonAfter breakfast the group follows a long ridge through rhododendron forest to Deurali, passing river gorges on the way.EveningThe group settles in at Deurali after the longest day on the trail.- Route
- Students climb from Ghorepani to the summit of Poon Hill, return for breakfast, and then walk the ridge to Deurali.
- Travel
- The whole day is on foot, with no road travel.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a teahouse in Deurali, the last night on the trail.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a high-effort day: a steep climb in the dark to the highest point of the program, then a long ridge walk afterwards.
- Sleeping elevation
- Deurali, about 3,110 m, the highest night on any of the three itineraries.
- Learning outcome
- Students name what changes for a walking group above 3,000 meters and how the day was paced to allow for it.
AccessibilityThe summit climb starts in the dark and is the highest walking point of the program at 3,200 meters. Tell us in advance about any condition affected by altitude, and about anything that makes walking on an uneven trail by head torch a concern. -
Day 8
Continue Exploring Pokhara
Back down the trail to Nayapul, the drive into Pokhara, and an afternoon in the city buying locally made gifts, with one more night in town.
MorningThe group walks back down to Nayapul, where the trek began.AfternoonA road transfer brings students into Pokhara, where they drop bags, and go back out to shop for locally made gifts.EveningThe group eats at a local restaurant and spends one more night in the city.- Route
- Students walk from Deurali down to Nayapul and travel by road into Pokhara.
- Travel
- A descent on foot to the trailhead, then a short road transfer into the city.
- Overnight
- Students return to a hotel in Pokhara, back off the trail.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort day; the descent is long, and the afternoon and evening are unstructured.
- Sleeping elevation
- Pokhara, 900 m.
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Day 9
The Last Night in Kathmandu
Back to Kathmandu, an afternoon in the city's shops and markets, and the group's closing discussion and Rustic Ties over its last Nepali dinner.
MorningThe group travels from Pokhara to Kathmandu.AfternoonStudents explore the city's shops and markets, then join a group discussion reflecting on the program.EveningThe closing discussion covers what students engaged with and how they will use it at home, and the group takes part in Rustic Ties over its last Nepali dinner.- Route
- Students travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu and spend the rest of the day in the city.
- Travel
- The mode and timing of the Pokhara to Kathmandu leg are confirmed in the final proposal against the group's dates.
- Overnight
- Students return to a hotel in Kathmandu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day, with travel in the first half and walking in the city afterwards.
- Sleeping elevation
- Kathmandu, 1,300 m.
- Learning outcome
- Students account for what four days of walking asked of them and what they would tell a group setting out tomorrow.
-
Day 10
Namaste, Nepal
The Program Leaders take the group to the airport for its flight home.
MorningStudents pack and eat breakfast at the hotel in Kathmandu.AfternoonProgram Leaders take the group to Tribhuvan International Airport.EveningThe group flies home.- Route
- Students transfer from Kathmandu to Tribhuvan International Airport.
- Travel
- A road transfer to the airport.
- Overnight
- Students sleep in flight. The land program ends at airport drop-off.
- Meals
- Breakfast is included; the land program ends at airport drop-off, so airline meal service is not.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day with limited walking.
Kathmandu · Sunkoshi River · Namobuddha
10 days · From $2,695
Himalayan Village Life and Service
Spend several days living with a host family in a Nepali village while participating in community service and learning about local life. Whitewater rafting on the Sunkoshi River and a mountain walk to Namobuddha complement the extended homestay and time in Kathmandu.
Choose this programThe route connects Kathmandu, Sunkoshi River, and Namobuddha.
- Kathmandu1 night
- Riverside1 night
- Village homestay5 nights
- Mountain1 night
- Kathmandu1 night
Your ten-day itinerary
-
Day 1
Land in Kathmandu and into the old city
From Tribhuvan International Airport the group goes straight into Kathmandu with the Program Leaders who stay with it for the whole program, to see the culture, and religion students will meet again in a very different form in the village.
MorningThe group arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and is met by its Program Leaders.AfternoonStudents check into the hotel, rest after the flight, and eat lunch.EveningAn orientation discussion covers the week ahead, and the group goes out to learn about local culture and religion at the city's temples.- Route
- Students arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer into Kathmandu.
- Travel
- A short road transfer from the airport to the hotel, then walking in the city.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a hotel in Kathmandu.
- Meals
- The land program begins at airport pickup, so lunch, and dinner are included and airline meal service before that is not.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day, with a short walk in the city after a long flight.
- Sleeping elevation
- Kathmandu, 1,300 m.
-
Day 2
Whitewater on the Sunkoshi River
Out of the capital to the Sunkoshi for a safety and skills session, a run through class II, and III rapids, and a night camped on the riverbank.
MorningThe group travels by van from Kathmandu to the Sunkoshi River.AfternoonAfter safety and skills training, students run class II, and III rapids through the Nepali backwoods.EveningThe group makes camp on the riverbank and talks over the day's biggest moments before sleeping beside the water.- Route
- Students travel from Kathmandu east to the Sunkoshi River and camp on its bank.
- Travel
- A van drive out of the Kathmandu Valley, then the river itself.
- Overnight
- Students camp in the open on the riverbank, the only night of this itinerary outside a building.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a high-effort day, with sustained paddling on class II and III rapids and camp set-up afterwards.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe how a river's grade is read from the bank before anyone gets in it.
AccessibilityRafting is a whole-group activity on class II and III water and camping is on the riverbank with no road-side facilities. Tell us in advance about any student for whom either is a concern, and the day can be reshaped. -
Day 3
Hike to your Village Home
A morning walk up to the village, a traditional welcome ceremony from the host families, and the first meal and evening in the house students will live in for the next several days.
MorningThe group hikes up to a nearby hill village and meets the host families, who greet students with a traditional welcome ceremony.AfternoonStudents settle into their homestay houses and begin to meet other members of the village.EveningStudents eat with their host families and start to learn the household's customs and routine.- Route
- Students walk from the river up to the hill village where the homestay block runs.
- Travel
- The move to the village is on foot on a rural hill trail.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a village homestay house with a host family, the first of several nights in the same house.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included; from this evening meals are taken with the host family rather than in a restaurant.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort day, with a morning of uphill walking on an unpaved trail carrying a day pack.
- Learning outcome
- Students describe how a household organizes its day where families depend on agriculture, city services are minimal, and local schooling stops at fifth grade.
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Days 4-7
Village Homestay and Service Days
Several days in one village on work the community has already identified and already had running, with a post-service debrief each evening and the rhythm of the household in between.
MorningStudents wake to a home-cooked breakfast with their host family and go out to the day's work.AfternoonWork continues on ongoing community projects, which can include earthquake relief, construction or educational enrichment, and students learn what makes this particular village its own place.EveningThe group holds a post-service debrief on what it experienced and learned through the day's hands-on work, then returns to the host families.- Route
- Students stay in the village across all four days and move on foot between the house and the work site.
- Travel
- There is no road travel on these days beyond short movement on foot within the village.
- Overnight
- Students stay in the same homestay house with the same host family for every night of this card.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included and are taken with the host family.
- Physical demand
- These are moderate-effort days, with several hours of outdoor work involving standing, carrying, and walking on uneven ground.
- Learning outcome
- Students explain what it means to join a project that was running before they arrived and continues after they leave, and what that asks of the work they do on it.
- Customization
- The work is set by what the community has identified at the time of the visit and can include earthquake relief projects, construction, or educational enrichment, so the specific task is confirmed close to travel.
SequenceThis card covers four program days in one place. It is the longest continuous block on any Nepal itinerary and it is the reason this trip has no trail nights: students stay put while the other two itineraries keep moving.PreparationStudents work in closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty, and carry sun protection and a full water bottle to the work site. Bring a small gift for the host family only if the school has agreed it in advance with us. -
Day 8
Trek to Nature and Namobuddha
Goodbye to the host families, then a day's walk to Namobuddha, a Buddhist pilgrimage site with a monastery, and a night in the mountains at a local guesthouse.
MorningStudents say goodbye to their host families and set out on foot for Namobuddha.AfternoonThe group explores the monastery at Namobuddha and eats lunch at a local dhaba.EveningAfter a half-day walk with the group, students settle into a local guesthouse in the mountains for a hot meal.- Route
- Students walk from the village to Namobuddha and stay in the hills nearby.
- Travel
- The whole day is on foot, with no road travel.
- Overnight
- Students stay in a local guesthouse in the mountains, out of the homestay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included; lunch is at a local dhaba on the way.
- Physical demand
- This is a moderate-effort day, with a day's walking on hill trails split into two halves.
- Sleeping elevation
- The guesthouse is in the hills by Namobuddha, which sits at about 1,740 m. This is the highest the itinerary goes.
- Learning outcome
- Students place the monastery at Namobuddha in the Buddhist landscape they have been living in for the past week.
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Day 9
Namobuddha to Kathmandu
An early van ride back into Kathmandu with the mountains and the winding road unfolding, an afternoon on the city's climbing history and its response to the 2015 earthquake, and the group's closing discussion and Rustic Ties.
MorningThe group rises early for the van ride back to Kathmandu, along winding roads that open into the city.AfternoonStudents drop bags at the hotel and go out to city sites that carry Nepal's climbing history and the country's response to the 2015 earthquake.EveningThe group holds its closing discussion on what students engaged with and how they will use it at home, and takes part in Rustic Ties.- Route
- Students travel from the hills near Namobuddha back into Kathmandu.
- Travel
- A van drive on winding hill roads into the Kathmandu Valley, then short local transfers, and walking in the city.
- Overnight
- Students return to a hotel in Kathmandu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on this program day.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day, with long seated periods on the road and walking in the city afterwards.
- Sleeping elevation
- Kathmandu, 1,300 m.
- Learning outcome
- Students connect what they saw of village life to what the city says about the same country.
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Day 10
Back from the hills: the market and Boudhanath
Breakfast, the market, and the last hours at Boudhanath, back in the city after a week in the hills, before the Program Leaders take the group to the airport.
MorningStudents eat a last Nepali breakfast and walk the market.AfternoonThe group closes at Boudhanath, one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the Kathmandu Valley and a very different place from the village it left yesterday.EveningProgram Leaders take the group to Tribhuvan International Airport for its flight home.- Route
- Students move between Kathmandu, Boudhanath, and Tribhuvan International Airport.
- Travel
- Walking in the city, then a road transfer to the airport.
- Overnight
- Students sleep in flight. The land program ends at airport drop-off.
- Meals
- Breakfast and lunch are included; the land program ends at airport drop-off, so airline meal service is not.
- Physical demand
- This is a low-effort day with limited walking.
What applies across every itinerary
- Group and adults
- Groups start at ten students; smaller groups are considered on a case-by-case basis. One teacher's Program Tuition is free for every eight paying students.
- Rooming
- Students share gender-separated rooms, each with their own bed. Teachers get private rooms.
- Price
- Program Tuition doesn't cover flights to and from the program, travel insurance, medical insurance, or personal spending money.
- Flights and documents
- Groups book international flights themselves or ask Rustic Pathways to arrange them. Families arrange passports and any required entry authorizations with guidance from Rustic Pathways.
- Supervision
- Program Leaders operate the itinerary during scheduled activities and are housed on site and available overnight. The approved itinerary names any exception.
- Effort
- Low effort is limited walking, moderate is sustained walking on varied surfaces, and high is strenuous or technical activity.
- Altitude
- Only the trekking itinerary sleeps on the trail, up to about 3,110 m, and walks to 3,200 m at Poon Hill. Sleeping elevations are rounded to the nearest 10 m.
From Kathmandu, how high do you want to go and how much do you want to move?
The three Nepal itineraries differ mainly by elevation and pace. Himalayan Photography Adventure travels from the Kathmandu Valley to Lumbini, Pokhara, and Australian Camp.
Himalayan Trekking Expedition climbs from Nayapul through Hile and Ghorepani to Poon Hill at 3,200 meters. Himalayan Village Life and Service stays primarily in one hill village before walking to Namobuddha.
Each itinerary begins and ends in Kathmandu and can be customized for your school. Village programs host one school group at a time, while custom proposals can adjust trekking days, village stays, and time in the Kathmandu Valley.
How much does a school trip to Nepal cost?
A school trip to Nepal costs $2,695 to $2,855 per student for program tuition, or approximately $270 to $286 per day. Tuition covers lodging, meals, airport transfers, in-country transport, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees.
Schools receive one complimentary program tuition place for every eight paying students. Airfare is not included.
Prices include accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and scheduled activities but exclude international airfare, travel insurance, and medical insurance. Final costs move with four factors: dates, group size, itinerary, and lodging.
Every Nepal itinerary is quoted for your group, so the range above is where school groups land rather than a published departure date price.
What every Nepal school trip includes
- Accommodation for every program night
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinking water
- Airport transfers and in-country transport
- Scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees
- At least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male, and a female leader
- Community donations required by a service project, paid by Rustic Pathways, and never collected from students
- Enrolled families receive a 24/7 emergency number for use during programs and travel days.
- Pre-departure planning and school documentation
- One teacher travels free for every eight paying students
Not included: international airfare, travel insurance, medical insurance, personal spending money, passport or visa fees, and vaccinations.
What changes the price of a school trip to Nepal?
Five variables change the price of a school trip to Nepal: season, trip length, group size, chaperones, and accommodations.
- SeasonShoulder-season dates run cheaper than peak and holiday weeks. March, May, September, and November are peak season in Nepal, and the monsoon from mid-July to the first week of September makes community-service programming difficult.
- Trip lengthShorter trips can cost more per day because fixed costs spread across fewer days. Every Nepal itinerary on this page runs 10 days, which is why the published range is a narrow one.
- Group sizeLarger groups lower the per-student price. Programs start at 10 students with no upper cap, and the school sets the final size.
- ChaperonesOne teacher place is free for every eight paying students, so a group of 16 students earns two free places, 24 earns three, and 40 earns five. Additional chaperone seats are shared across the group and change the per-student price.
- AccommodationsLodging tier moves the price directly. A high-end hotel in Kathmandu costs more than a standard three-star option, and Rustic Pathways can arrange either.
Payment and cancellation
Installment plans are available. Schools pay as a group, or families pay monthly under the terms and conditions.
What do students learn on a Nepal school trip?
Students on a Nepal school trip learn cultural studies and art in the Kathmandu Valley and Lumbini, explore mountain environments on the Annapurna trail, and study service learning and anthropology through life in a hill village.
Art and Design
Work with a professional photographer to document Kathmandu Valley temples, Lumbini's sacred garden, and the Annapurna skyline above Pokhara.
How do you photograph sacred places while respecting the people who use them?
Himalayan Photography Adventure
Physical Education
Trek four days from Nayapul through Hile and Ghorepani, climbing Poon Hill at 3,200 meters and crossing a ridge to Deurali.
How do you pace a group when the steepest climb comes on day two?
Himalayan Trekking Expedition
Service Learning
Join community-identified work in a hill village, including construction, earthquake relief, or educational enrichment.
How does joining an ongoing project change your role in community service?
Himalayan Village Life and Service
What makes Rustic Pathways educational trips different?
A Rustic Pathways school trip is one private group on your school's own dates, one bed per student, and an itinerary built to your curriculum.
- 01No mixed groups. Just your school
- 02One student, one bed
- 03Your school picks the dates
- 04Monthly payment plans available
- 05No tipping; Rustic Pathways Program Tuition includes community donations
- 06Aligned to your curriculum
Who supervises and manages the trip to Nepal?
School chaperones and Rustic Pathways Program Leaders supervise and manage the school trip to Nepal together.
Rustic Pathways manages the itinerary, accommodation, ground transport, activities, and emergency procedures; your school manages its own student conduct and communication policies.
Your school can book international flights directly or ask Rustic Pathways to arrange them. Families receive trip logistics and itinerary information through the MyRustic web app.
How safety is managed on a school trip to Nepal?
Program Leaders manage local operations and safety procedures alongside school chaperones. Across 13 years of published incident data from every Rustic Pathways program worldwide, 87% of reports were GREEN, the minor tier where the group stays intact.
What the team plans for
Kathmandu
City traffic and crowded temple and palace sites with uneven steps, on foot across multiple days in the capital. Long road transfers south to Lumbini's plains and north to Pokhara add hours of seated travel and heat exposure at the site.
The trekking and river days
Whitewater rafting on class II and III rapids on the Trishuli and Sunkoshi rivers, with a night camped on the riverbank away from road access. The trek's steepest day gains about 1,380 meters to Ghorepani before continuing to the 3,200 meter summit of Poon Hill.
The village
An uphill walk on an unpaved rural trail into the homestay, carrying a day pack. Several days of community work follow, involving standing, carrying, and walking on uneven ground, with tasks confirmed close to travel.
Controls built into every trip
Written risk plan. A score above 5 requires new controls, reassessment or cancellation.
Two-Deep Leadership. A single staff member is never alone with students, and at least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male, and a female leader, support each School Group Travel trip.
Assessed activity vendors. Trekking, rafting, and coach transport vendors are reviewed before use, every one to two years, and on site when high risk.
Medical readiness. WFR coverage for remote programs and Dr. William R. Smith, who has led medical planning as Medical Director since 2015.
When to travel to Nepal
Travel to Nepal in March, May, September, or November for peak-season conditions.
Nepal's monsoon runs from mid-July through the first week of September, making community-service programming more difficult. September overlaps both periods, so travel dates within the month matter.
Monsoon · mid-July to the first week of September
Peak season · March, May, September, and November
Is Rustic Pathways the right Nepal partner for your school?
Yes, Rustic Pathways is the right partner for private, curriculum-focused school trips to Nepal. Your school chooses the travel dates, and Rustic Pathways builds the itinerary around your curriculum.
Students travel only with their teachers and classmates and never join another school's group. Individual students can join open enrollment teen travel programs to Nepal instead.
A strong fit if
- One private group, your dates, your teachers.
- Trip length here is 10 days.
- You want the day-by-day before you commit.
Worth a conversation first if
- A student has significant mobility, medical or mental-health support needs, a condition affected by altitude, or a specialized dietary or religious accommodation
- You have fewer than 10 students, the minimum for a school group trip
Probably not the right fit if
- You are an individual student or parent looking for open enrollment teen travel programs to Nepal. Individual students travel on Rustic Pathways student trips in Nepal.
- You are comparing packaged school tours, educational tours or school expeditions where several schools travel together on the same published dates.
- You need a confirmed departure date before a proposal and planning cycle.
Individual support needs are planned into the itinerary. If a student has mobility, medical, sensory, or mental-health support needs, raise it early, and Rustic Pathways builds the route around it.
Questions about school trips to Nepal
The questions schools ask most before requesting a Nepal proposal, answered from the itineraries, and prices on this page.
How much will a Nepal trip cost?
A Rustic Pathways school trip to Nepal costs $2,695-$2,855 per student for 10 days, excluding international airfare.
Pricing varies by travel dates, group size, and lodging tier. Groups start at 10 students, with one free teacher place for every eight paying students.
When is the best time to travel to Nepal?
The best times to travel to Nepal are March, May, September, and November.
The monsoon runs from mid-July through the first week of September and can make community-service programming more difficult. Rustic Pathways plans each itinerary around your school's travel dates.
Have a question before you ask for a proposal?
Keegan Kennedy runs Rustic Pathways operations across Southeast Asia and answers Nepal school-trip questions with the school travel team.
Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
Start with your travel window
Start your Nepal trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and customized trip options within 48 hours.
Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com
Have a school expeditions or tour operator quote?
Send it over. Rustic Pathways will show you what’s possible for the same budget.
Need approval or funding first?
Certificate of insurance, risk management plans, and fundraising templates for families, on request.
Need help fundraising?
Rustic Pathways provides parent-letter and sponsor-letter templates, plus a fundraising ideas sheet, to help families cover the cost.
Destinations related to Nepal
Browse all school trip destinations- Rustic Pathways has operated student travel since 1983. Recent industry recognition:
- 2026 GoAbroad Innovation AwardsInnovation in Adventure-Based Programming · Global Adventure Learning Model
- 2025 International Travel AwardsBest Group Tour Operator
- 2024 Skift IDEA AwardsIndustry Innovators – Tour Operators
- 4x WYSETC Best Youth Tour Operator2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- BBB A+ RatingBetter Business Bureau profile
- NESA Affiliate OrganizationNear East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools
- 2025 World Travel AwardsUnited States’ Leading Tour Operator