TRENDING
Japan Greece Costa Rica
Italy Fiji Korea
← School Group Travel

Nepal

Nepal: Himalayan Village Life and Service — Custom School Trips

Groups of 8+ | Custom Dates | 16 Service Hours | Fully Supported | 4.9 on GoOverseas

1 / 6

Join ongoing service initiatives designed to address community needs related to post-earthquake disaster relief—infrastructure, education, environmental conservation, access to drinking water, and general quality of life improvements for local villages. Learn about daily life in a Nepalese village and understand the challenges and great rewards of living in a remote mountain environment under the shadow of Mount Everest and the mighty Himalayas.

Custom School Trip

Contact us for a custom quote

Custom dates & duration. Groups of 8+.

Response within 1 business day

Anna Beckerman

Anna Beckerman

Head of School Group Travel

Dartmouth · 15 years at Rustic

321+ school partners since 2010

Not sure yet?

Email Rustic Pathways

Talk to a personal travel advisor: +1 (440) 975-9691

Schedule a call

View program itinerary

What Does a 10-Day Program Include?

A typical program. Daily activities are subject to change based on group logistics and weather.

1

Welcome to Nepal!

Arrive into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. After some rest and lunch, head out to learn about local culture and religion, visit the city’s temples, and get introduced to the hustle and bustle of Nepal.
2

Whitewater on the Sunkoshi River

Hop into vans and head to Sun Koshi River for your first big adventure. After a safety and skills training, charge into class II-III rapids, enjoying the thrilling turns and taking in the beautiful landscape of the Nepali backwoods. Set up camp on the riverbanks, where you’ll stay that night. Relive that day’s biggest moments with your group and listen to the surrounding sounds of nature as you fall asleep.
3

Hike to your Village Home

Hike to a nearby village in the morning to meet your homestay family, who will great you with a traditional welcome ceremony. Stay for the next few nights, getting to know village members and learning about Nepali village life where families are dependent on agriculture, there are minimal city services, and education stops at fifth grade. Spend meals and downtime with your host family, getting to know them and learning about local customs.
4 – 7

Village Homestay and Service Days

Wake up to the cool mountain air and enjoy a home-cooked breakfast with your host family. Spend the next several days participating in ongoing service that could include earthquake relief projects, construction work, or educational enrichment activities. Adopt the slow pace of village life and learn what makes this village unique. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.
8

Trek to Nature and Namobuddha

Say goodbye to your host families and spend the day hiking to Namobuddha, a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site and home to a beautiful monastery. Explore the monastery and have lunch at a local dhaba before settling in for the night in the mountains. After a half-day hike with your group, telling stories along the way, arrive for a night in the mountains at a local guesthouse for a hot meal and a good night’s sleep.
9

Namobuddha to Kathmandu

Rise early for the van ride back to Kathmandu, watching the mountains and winding roads unfold until they open into the city cradled in the shadow of Everest. Drop your things at the hotel and explore the city sights to learn about Nepal’s unique climbing history and how the country responded to the 2015 earthquake. Kathmandu is the intersection of many Buddhist and Hindu cultures, as well as a host of other global influences. At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.
10

Namaste, Nepal!

After your last hearty Nepalese breakfast, explore the market and spend your final few hours at Boudhanath, a famous Buddhist monument. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure
12

Back to Kathmandu

Grab breakfast at the hotel this morning and then head to Pokhara airport for a quick flight back to Kathmandu. Arrive in Kathmandu in the early afternoon and head to the hotel for lunch. After freshening up at the hotel you’ll head out to the famous Boudhanath stupa - another UNESCO World Heritage site and the locus of Buddhist monasteries in the Kathmandu valley. Tour the Boudha area, shop in the markets, and then head to a restaurant for dinner. Tonight cap off your program with a group closing ceremony and a look back on all you have learned over the past two weeks. From rivers to mountains and from the jungles of Chitwan to the peaks of the Annapurnas you’ve experienced the best of the Himalayas! Overnight: Hotel, Kathmandu
13

Goodbye Nepal!

Depending on your flight timing today you may spend some time in the bazaars of Kathmandu, shopping for one last souvenir, or you may head directly to Kathmandu International Airport to catch your flight home. Say your namastes and dhanyabads with Team Nepal at the airport and keep your eyes on the mountains.We hope the people you’ve met, experiences you’ve had and lessons you’ve learned will help guide you in all future endeavors. Safe travels and we hope to see you again soon!

Total: 10 calendar days / 9 nights. International flights are not included.

How Does Rustic Pathways Handle Safety?

24/7 Support

In-person staff + US emergency line

Trained Program Leaders

Background-checked, first-aid certified, deep local knowledge

Licensed & Insured Transport

Risk management plans for every program

Customizable Itinerary

Custom dates and duration

Learn more about Rustic Pathways safety protocols.

Nepal

What Do School Organizers Ask?

Flights & Cost

How do flights work?

School groups can arrange their own flights, or Rustic Pathways can arrange them as an optional add-on. In either case, teachers fly with students, and Rustic Pathways coordinates airport pickup and handles all in-country logistics.

What's included in the price?

Included: Lodging, all meals, in-country transport, all activities, 24/7 staff.
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, personal spending ($150–200).

Is travel insurance required?

Travel insurance is not included in the program fee. Rustic Pathways recommends that families purchase travel insurance. Get a quote from our recommended provider →

Supervision & Safety

Who supervises the students?

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders complete a four-month vetting process, and programs maintain a 7:1 student-to-staff ratio. All Program Leaders are first-aid certified, and most have led multiple Rustic Pathways programs. Leaders range from 25 to 35 years old.

Are rooms gender-separated?

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers. Staff stay in adjacent rooms.

What about medical emergencies?

All Program Leaders are first-aid certified. Nearest hospitals are mapped out in all locations. Our health & safety team reviews all medical forms before departure and works with families to plan medications, allergies, and dietary needs.

Communication

Can students contact home?

Yes. Rustic Pathways’ policy is that students can call, text, or WhatsApp anytime. Rustic Pathways is happy to defer to established school policies instead.

How do families stay informed?

Rustic Pathways sends daily photo updates throughout the program.

Group & Logistics

How big is the group?

Group size varies based on the school’s needs. Contact Rustic Pathways for a custom quote.

Can friends room together?

Yes. Rustic Pathways provides a room list prior to travel. Schools can assign rooming allocations or allow students to choose their roommates.

Program Details

Will students have unsupervised time?

Structured independence with staff nearby. No unsupervised time in public areas.

Can Rustic Pathways accommodate food allergies? 

Yes. Dietary needs are collected during enrollment and shared with all meal providers.

How much spending money should students have?

$150–200 recommended. Tipping is included, no extra cash needed.

Support

What if a student gets homesick?

Homesickness can be common during the first few days; Rustic Pathways is well-prepared. See how staff support students through homesickness

Does Rustic Pathways support neurodiverse students?

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students. Read how Rustic Pathways supports neurodiverse students.

What Should Teachers Know?

Which students thrive on this program?
Students who are curious, adaptable, and open to new experiences. No prior travel experience is required.
What will students do each day?
Each day includes a mix of structured activities, cultural experiences, and group time. See the itinerary above for a day-by-day overview.
Nepal offers a unique combination of cultural richness, safety, and meaningful engagement opportunities for student groups. Rustic Pathways has operated programs here for years and maintains strong local partnerships.
How Do Flights Work?
School groups can arrange their own flights, or Rustic Pathways can arrange them as an optional add-on. In either case, teachers fly with students, and Rustic Pathways program leaders meet the group at the arrival airport and manage all in-country logistics from there.
What Meals Are Included?
All meals included. Dietary needs accommodated.
Included:
  • All lodging
  • All meals
  • In-country transport
  • All activities and excursions
  • 24/7 staff support
Not Included:
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending money

What Other Program Types Are Available?

Nepal Asia Service + Culture
Request a Quote