Community Educational Tour

The “Sankosh” Village Development Community is situated in the Dhading district. It is a 2 ½-hour drive from Kathmandu, on the way to Pokhara. Most local people in this village depend on agriculture, while some work in government jobs such as teachers, officers, etc. You can find Brahmin, Newar, Gurung, Damai, Kami, and Sarki communities living here.

The higher-caste families, mainly Brahmins, generally send their children to good boarding schools in the district headquarters, whereas families from communities such as Damai, Kami, Sarki, and Gurung send their children to the local primary school. After finishing primary school, students walk one hour uphill to attend secondary school.

Community Project Work Types and Benefits:

Cultural performance (with different traditional dance forms)
Cultural exchange
Educational exchange & friendship with Nepali students
Social awareness drama
Nepali agricultural learning
Building a water storage tank
Compounding the school wall
Distributing water pipelines to villagers’ homes

This is an opportunity to contribute to a wide range of practical, village-based projects. Projects are usually decided in consultation with local communities, but volunteers may suggest additional ideas. Projects are funded partly by the communities and partly by partner organisations or volunteer contributions. It is essential to remain sensitive to the needs and wishes of the local community.

This service project encourages mutual understanding and exchange of knowledge while addressing the real needs of Nepali communities. Many villagers struggle with basic challenges, especially limited drinking water resources and a lack of proper water storage facilities.

After building the water storage tank, villagers will have enough drinking water and will be able to feed their livestock more easily. The primary school, located at a higher altitude with a small playground, will also benefit from improvements, as many students used to fall from the slope and get injured.

Such programs greatly support safety and well-being in schools. NTA has been conducting similar programs, including Health Camp Projects, in this district for the past three years.

You will work in a group with minimal supervision and often alongside villagers, learning traditional building methods. Example projects include cultural performances involving different castes and religions, school playground compounding, cleanliness awareness, toilet and drinking water projects, recycling projects, and learning Nepalese-style agriculture.

Community Maintenance Program:

The Community Maintenance Program is an opportunity to assist with community-based projects practically. Students will participate in projects such as building water storage tanks, compounding school walls, and learning Nepali agriculture. All work is completed using local tools, with most tasks done by hand. The program involves physical work—digging, carrying, clearing—requiring no specific prior skills.

Accommodation During Project Work:

Students will stay in a tented camp near village houses. Bathrooms and toilets will be shared with the community. A gas heater will be available for warm showers. Electricity can be expected, but availability may vary. During the dry season, “load shedding” is common, and electricity may be switched off at scheduled times.

Accommodation During Trekking:

During trekking, students will stay in tea houses with shared bathrooms and a warm heater in the dining hall.

Food During Project Work:

Students will receive three main meals per day, plus snacks and tea. Food will be prepared by trained cooks and will include continental meals. Occasionally, students can enjoy local dishes such as daal bhat tarkaari (rice, lentil soup, and vegetable curry), roti or chapati, and achaar. Mineral water will be supplied daily.

Food During Trekking:

During trekking, students will receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For lunch, limited menu options will be offered (group-based selection). Dinner and breakfast menus will offer various choices. One cup of tea per meal is included. Other beverages, such as mineral water, Coke, Fanta, or alcoholic drinks, must be purchased separately.

Communication:

Mobile phones receive international calls. In emergencies, communication facilities are available at the district headquarters.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Nepal. Overnight in Kathmandu

Day 02: Drive to Project Workplace, Dhading

Drive to Dhading (2 ½ hours) after breakfast. From Dhading, take a short hike to the project village after the school program, or transportation will be arranged if needed. Visit a boarding school near the headquarters for:

Cultural performance
Cultural exchange
Educational exchange & friendship with Nepali students
Social awareness drama

After the program, walk 30 minutes to the village (or drive if preferred). Overnight in a tented camp with community hospitality.

Day 03: Community Work

Work related to water resources—building a water storage tank. This tank will support half the village with drinking water and help with feeding livestock such as cows, buffalo, goats, etc.

Day 04: Continuing the Same Community Work:

Day 05: Compounding the School Ground in the Village School

Walk 15 minutes uphill to the primary school. Many students from low-income families study here. The school lacks facilities, and children often fall onto the road or rice fields. Compounding the playground will provide a safe area for playing and running. Afterwards, students will be taught cleanliness awareness, games, and dance.

Day 06: Nepali Agriculture Learning with Practical Work

Learn Nepali agriculture techniques such as rice planting and traditional ploughing with oxen. Later, change clothes and drive to Pokhara (4–5 hours). Overnight in Pokhara.

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Description:

(Everything corrected and preserved—no reformatting required.)

Day 07: Pokhara Drive to Nayapul (Bus) & Trek to Tikhedhunga (4–5 hrs)

4-hour trek to Tikhedhunga (1545 m) through bamboo forests and past a waterfall. Overnight in a tea house.

Day 08: Tikhedhunga Trek to Ghorepani (2775 m) – 5 hrs

Walk through fields, pastures, rhododendron, and oak forests. Ghorepani is an important stop for trekkers and mule caravans. Overnight in a tea house.

Day 09: Ghorepani Hike to Poon Hill (3210 m) & Trek to Tadapani (2540 m) – 6 hrs

Early morning hike to Poon Hill for sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre. Return to Ghorepani and continue trekking to Tadapani. Overnight in a tea house.

Day 10: Tadapani Trek to Ghandruk (1940 m) – 4 hrs

Descend through subtropical forest with bamboo and rhododendrons. Ghandruk is the cultural centre of the Gurung community. Overnight in a tea house.

Day 11: Ghandruk Trek to Nayapul (5 hrs) & Drive to Pokhara (2 hrs)

Walk down to Modi Khola, finish the trek at Nayapul, and drive to Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara.

Day 12: Drive Back to Kathmandu

6–7 hours drive. Evening farewell dinner with cultural dances. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 13: Fly to Your Destination

PRICE INCLUSIONS:

ACCOMMODATION:

2 Nights hotel in Kathmandu

2 Nights hotel in Pokhara

8 Nights hotel in Tea house(normal tea house)

TRANSPORTATION:

Airports pick up and drop off

Kathmandu drive to Dhading

Kathmandu to Pokhara

Pokhara to the trekking starting point

Trekking ending point to Pokhara

Pokhara to Kathmandu

TREKKING:

All meals (Breakfast/ lunch/dinner with tea and coffee),

Accommodation in teahouses,

Acap entry permits,

TIMS ( Travelers Information manual system)

English-speaking guide,

Porter

All necessaries for the guide (all meals, accommodation in tea houses, equipment, salary, insurance, etc.)

MEAL:

12 BREAKFAST, 10 LUNCH, 11 DINNER

PRICE EXCLUSION:

Sleeping bag,

Down jackets,

Any bar bills (Mineral water, Coke, beer, etc),

Personal clothing,

Personal expenses,

Emergency evacuation charge,

Client's personal insurance

Any unforeseen expenses

Tips