Wander through bazaars, trek to sacred villages, and become a part of Nepalese village life on this rigorous cross-cultural program. Along the way, you’ll contribute through community-driven service and take in the sites under the peaks of the Himalayas. This is Nepal.
Nestled in high-altitude valleys and close harmony with the land, small communities practice timeless agricultural and pastoral lifestyles. At the “roof of the world,” Nepal’s Langtang amphitheater is the looming backdrop for your village stay and community service project. The rich cultural and spiritual fabric of Nepal, and the warm hospitality of the Nepalese people interweave to create an awe-inspiring appreciation for life’s beauty.
On this once-in-a-lifetime program with Global Routes, you’ll trek through breathtaking scenery, but become even more enchanted by the fortitude, generosity of spirit, and resilience of the Nepalese communities we visit. More than just a trip, this is an opportunity to dive deeper and immerse yourself on a challenging summer-long experience that will transform how you think about the world around you.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Wander through the bazaars, temples, and cobblestoned streets of Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.
Trek for nine days to sacred, jewel-like lakes beneath breathtaking peaks in the Himalayas passing through timeless Tibetan villages along the way.
Explore the rich cultural history and architecture of the ancient cities of Bhaktapur and Bodhnath.
RECENT TESTIMONIALS
“My Global Routes was truly life-changing, I gained valuable leadership skills and stepped outside of my comfort zone. I learned how to work in a group setting and because of that formed a number of special bonds. I ended my trip feeling accomplished and excited to do more with my life, to help others and use my new world view in my everyday life.” - Lily, Nepal, Student
“Our son's experience was transformational. He gained maturity, confidence, and a new perspective on global concerns. He even gained a love of hiking in the mountains. We sincerely thank the staff for that experience.” - Susanna, Nepal, Parent
Reviews (3)
Best summer I have ever had
Reviewed
on Oct/20/2019 by Mayley
Everything about this trip is incredible, the hiking, the views, the people, but the what changed my life the most was when we stayed with our host families. Living with them for two weeks helped me appreciate everything I had that I taken advantage of before. I also learned about how they lived, got to go to school and hang out with the kids of the village. We played games together, had dance parties, and they helped us with our construction project. The most incredible thing I did was spend a day with my family in the fields helping them with their day to day work and planting rice with them. I became very closer with my Nepali host family and miss them everyday, and I am still in contact with them through facebook. As well, my biggest accomplishment that I will never forget was making it to base camp of Annapurna after all the hard work it took us all to get there. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity Global Routes provided me.
Best summer of my life
Reviewed
on Mar/20/2018 by Emma
I went to Nepal with Global Routes and in the five weeks I spent there, I learned more about who I am and who I want to be than any other point in my life. I feel so incredibly lucky to have participated in this program. The leaders of the trip were the best I could ask for--super fun, interesting, responsible, and inspiring--and I met so many wonderful people in my group whom I will be friends with for years to come. Nepal is a magical place with the most welcoming of people. I was awed by its beauty on the 10-day trek, with mountainous landscapes and icy glaciers distracting me from the physical challenges of hiking. My home stay was comfortable and had some of the best food I've eaten (I still miss it), as well as the sweetest family that I still keep in touch with. It was very satisfying to have contributed to the building of the school and I enjoyed my time on the worksite. One of my favorite parts of the trip was traveling through Bhaktapur and Boudhanath--two beautiful cities I intend to visit again. As a whole, this trip was more amazing than I could have ever imagined. Global Routes gave me the tools to be a strong leader and compassionate friend.
A Life Changing Experience
Reviewed
on Jan/19/2018 by Nina
Going to Nepal with GR was the best decision I've made. It pushed me past my comfort zone to realize that my comfort zone was holding me back. The Trek portion of the trip was physically and mentally challenging. Hiking for 8+ hours a Day is exhausting, especially when you are getting to know 13 new people that you are living with and sweating through every layer of clothing you're wearing. I doubted my ability to finish with every step i took. However the bonds formed during the Trek are what enabled me to find the strength in myself to finish. The relationships I formed during this trip are long lasting and invaluable. This trip helped me connect to people in a way I never had before. Unlike most programs, GR includes a homestay portion into the trip. Learning how to form meaningful relationships with people who do not speak the same language as you do is such an amazing experience and one that has already helped me in my day-to-day life. I have such fond memories of sitting on the clay floor of my homestay families kitchen learning how to make traditional Nepali food with my homestay aunt and mom, trying to communicate through my very broken Nepali and sign language. I learned to appreciate the small victories, such as learning a new Nepali word to let my homestay Mom know that i loved her dinner and seeing the enormous smile on her face. This trip was both physically and mentally challenging for myself, however it enabled me to find a strength in myself that i had not seen before. Going on a Global Routes trip is the best investment and a life changing experience.
Testimonials(3)
"My Global Routes trip was one of the most enjoyable and challenging experiences of my life. I gained so much trust in my own abilities and experienced the travel adrenaline rush that I have been craving ever since."
- Nava, 2014 Student- January 18, 2018
Global Routes is an outstanding and enriching experience for students and young adults. Our son left for a 5-week program in Nepal as a curious, open-minded, quiet 16-year old and returned wide-eyed, open hearted and full of gratitude and introspection. The stories of learning about Nepalese traditions, ceremonies, simplicity, spirituality and respect trickle out on a daily basis and clearly changed our already open-minded son in beautiful ways. We only wish they offered an adult version!
- Megan, 2017 Parent- August 10, 2017
"Our son's experience with Global Routes was as effective as an entire year of school. Experiential learning is so valuable. He now feels like an important and effective citizen of the world, capable of working and collaborating with strangers and foreign cultures and curious about it all. Amazing."
- Elizabeth, 2017 Parent- August 12, 2017
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Everything about this trip is incredible, the hiking, the views, the people, but the what changed my life the most was when we stayed with our host families. Living with them for two weeks helped me appreciate everything I had that I taken advantage of before. I also learned about how they lived, got to go to school and hang out with the kids of the village. We played games together, had dance parties, and they helped us with our construction project. The most incredible thing I did was spend a day with my family in the fields helping them with their day to day work and planting rice with them. I became very closer with my Nepali host family and miss them everyday, and I am still in contact with them through facebook. As well, my biggest accomplishment that I will never forget was making it to base camp of Annapurna after all the hard work it took us all to get there. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity Global Routes provided me.