Our ILP India volunteers just went on the COOLEST vacation to Nepal, where they saw the world-famous Mount Everest and more!
After spending months teaching English in the Himalayan mountain range of northern India, our ILP volunteers decided to hop over to Nepal to check off some pretty cool items on their bucket list, like flying over Mount Everest.
Check out our ILP India volunteers' favorite vacation!
Camel Trekking, Pink Cities, And The Taj Mahal — Welcome To Rajasthan!
There is no better time to dive deeper into the Himalayas than when you are already living in them... that's why our Travel Coordinator in India planned the dream Nepal vacation for our volunteers. Let's take a look at what they did so you can get ideas for your vacations during your ILP volunteer trip to India.
- What's a Travel Coordinator?
- Getting To Kathmandu, Nepal
- Seeing Mount Everest
- What Else Is In Kathmandu?
What's a Travel Coordinator?
When volunteering with ILP, volunteers are allotted vacation days throughout their semester to travel around their host country and the surrounding areas. In all of our programs around the world, volunteers are expected to plan their own vacations, book their own housing and transportation, and more. Well... everywhere except our India location!
If you are one of our ILP India volunteers, you'll be working with a Travel Coordinator. India is so vast that traveling with tour guides has been the norm here for years, so that's how you'll get around during your ILP trip to India too. Your Travel Coordinator is the lead of a tour company that arranges allllll the details of your vacations throughout the semester. All you have to do is choose the destination from their list of optional vacation plans!
Private Drivers? Check!
Flights? Check!
Meals? Check!
Tour Guides? Check!
There is no better way to see Nepal than through our lovely Travel Coordinator!
Getting to Kathmandu, Nepal
About Kathmandu
Many travelers begin their journeys in Kathmandu when they want to experience the rich culture of Nepal, trek the tallest mountain in the world (Mt. Everest), or witness the various temples and important Hindu shrines that many Hindus prioritize visiting at least once in their lifetimes.
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and it's where you will be spending most of your vacation. Luckily, your Travel Coordinator put together a full itinerary to help you see all the highlights.
Transportation from Kullu
Your journey from northern India to Nepal is a three-part journey, starting with a car ride to Chandigarh. Depending on where you're coming from, plan on quite the long road trip through windy roads (typically a full day's drive to give you an idea). For this tour that we're sharing, our ILP volunteers were picked up in the evening and drove through the night. This is usually the roughest part, so don't forget your Dramamine!
The second step of your journey to Nepal will hopefully fly by—literally. In Chandigarh, you will hop on a quick two-hour flight to Delhi, India. And as you know, unexpected things like long layovers and flight delays are always common with flying, so prepare accordingly.
From Delhi, you will get on your last form of transportation—another flight! This last flight will take you to Kathmandu. It is also only about two hours long and luckily takes you exactly where you need to be. Once you land, your local tour guide will be waiting for you.
Price Breakdown
The vacations that you book through your travel coordinator are all-inclusive and come at a fixed price. The price may fluctuate from semester to semester and change over time (plus the more people in your group that are going on this tour, the better the price overall), so it's best to wait until you've arrived for your ILP semester in India and can see the tour options + their prices.
But to give you an idea, ILP recommends budgeting around $2,000-5,000 for personal spending money while you're in India (which includes the cost of all of your vacations for your 3 month ILP trip). As a head's up, this trip to Nepal is going to be on the higher end of the excursion options. Flying to Nepal is going to be a more expensive trip than staying close to home and driving through the mountains in India. So if you're dreaming of coming to Nepal, your overall India budget will likely end up closer to the higher end of that spending range.
But it's one of those things when you ask yourself, "When am I ever going to see Nepal?" You're right here, and it's so close! If it's in your budget, it's worth the splurge, in my opinion.
This tour price includes private drivers, flights (both to Nepal and above the Himalayan mountain range), tour guides, all meals (drink, entree, dessert), hotels, a planned vacation itinerary, and of course the experience of a lifetime!
Vacation Length
This vacation to Nepal can range anywhere from 4 to 7 days! Our ILP volunteers who went to Nepal only had four days to spare, and decided that they would take advantage of every moment and fill up their long weekend with a trip to Nepal. So yes! A four-day trip to Nepal is completely possible.
Depending on how long you choose/are able to go, you can expect your days to be filled to the brim with shopping, sightseeing, exploring, and learning.
Seeing Mount Everest
You can't go to Nepal without visiting the tallest mountain in the world! And you don't have to climb make the dangerous trek to the peak to get those incredible views — come take a private airplane ride across the mountain range.
Our ILP volunteers described this plane ride as almost reverent. Every person on the plane gets a window seat to gaze out of (talk about main character moment). Outside the window, you will be high above the Himalayan mountain range. These mountains are so tall that they poke up through the clouds, creating a serene, picturesque scene.
The flight lasts about one hour: 30 minutes one way and 30 minutes back. This way, no matter what side of the airplane you are on, you will have time to take in the breathtaking views and take in the fact that you are staring at the tallest point in the world. Wowza!
What Else Is In Kathmandu?
Kathmandu is full of "sprawling squares filled with temples, stupas, and holy men," markets filled with souvenirs, breathtaking architecture, picturesque views, and more. Take a peek at what some of our ILP volunteers were lucky enough to experience other than witnessing Everest:
Durbar Square
This town square is dotted with old Hindu temples and shrines that many Hindus make it a goal to visit sometime in their lifetime. Talk about a literal bucket list location. Here, you will learn and witness the rich history of the Hindu religion and the city of Kathmandu in general.
Durbar Square is actually a UNESCO site, which stands for "United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization." Its medieval architecture and incredible temples are acknowledged as having significant importance to all of humanity. How cool!
Pashupatinath Temple
This temple is located within Durbar Square and is one of the most well-known temples you will visit during your time in Nepal. It is Nepal's most important Hindu shrine because it is believed that Lord Shiva can reside there. This is a major pilgrimage site, so make sure to show your respect as you take advantage of this opportunity to see such a unique worship site.
Thamel
Thamel is in the tourist district of Kathmandu, and this is where our volunteers did all of their shopping. Some of their favorite souvenirs include wooden carved masks, knives, Nepali prayer flags, postcards, art, journals, books, Buddha statues (Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha!), and more!
Since Kathmandu is the closest city to Mount Everest's base camp, you will also find lots of Everest-themed things and knockoff U.S. brand merchandise catered to hikers, backpackers, and outdoorsy people.
Monkey Temple
This may come as a surprise... but at the monkey temple, you WILL come across many monkeys! They're everywhere! Very on-brand.
This temple is cool not only because of the furry friends, but also because it sits atop a hill that gives its visitors a beautiful panoramic view of the city below. Not only is the view gorgeous, but the temple has some pretty unique features, like an ancient Buddhist stupa, iconic Buddha eyes painted on the side, and prayer flags blowing around with the breeze. This temple is also a UNESCO site!
Bagmati River
The Bagmati River is one of the holiest, if not the holiest, places you will visit during your Nepal trip. This is a very sacred area and should be treated as such.
The Bagmati River is seen as the holiest of places for Hindus, and many move here in their old age to live nearby and eventually die in this river. Because of this, this scene can be uncomfortable for some travelers to see. Some of the sights that you see here can be startling, but they are also a unique cultural experience.
You can talk to your Travel Coordinator about the Bagmati River to decide if this is an area you want to visit. They will make sure you are prepared before you visit.
Nagarkot
Take a 60-minute drive to Nagarkot, where you can watch the sun rise or set over the captivating view of Mount Everest!
Depending on the time of year, the view may be foggy, but this peaceful viewpoint is the perfect place to take in the scenery while being out of the hustle and bustle of the city of Kathmandu.
This viewpoint is in a little hilltop village, where you can also visit the pagodas and temples that surround the area.
Wanting to learn more about our Humanitarian Exchange Program in India?
Yes, the vacations are cool, but fully immersing yourself in the culture, gaining close relationships with local kids, and forming lifelong friendships is life-changing! Come experience the India we know and love by volunteering with us here at International Language Programs!
