Kathmandu Travel Forum

Hello everyone

I am thiking of a trip to Nepal next year. As i'll be there on my own i was thinking of get involved in some voluntiring, is it worth? are those agency really willing to help?

If i decide to get a tourist passport i can get it at the airport? (i am Italian), and what about women travelling alone? Is it really safe?

Thanks everybody for your help

Hi,

I was in the same situation as yourself in 2003 when I visited Nepal for the first time…on my own and I was also interested in volunteering but as I found out you really have to go about it the right way. It’s a long story but I met my guide and now new brother in Law in Kabul, Afghanistan. I was there with the Canadian Military where I met Gelbu and Pasang Sherpa. We struck up a friendship and since then I have been to Nepal twice and planning a third trip next summer. I would suggest contacting Gelbu, he is working in Assisi. His email is lhakpa_sherpa@hotmail.com . He has many contacts in Nepal and I’m sure he could get you started in the right direction. If you want his phone number you can email me off line…voyota@hotmail.com

Hope this helps,
Ron
Lansdowne, Ontario
Canada

I don’t know too much about the volunteering but the advice above sounds like a good place to start.
When you say “If i decide to get a tourist passport i can get it at the airport?) I assume that you mean a visa, This being the case then the answer is yes, you can get a 60day tourist visa for $30 and extend that, I think for up to another two months !!?? I have written a piece on my travel page about how to get this visa once you arrive at Kathmandu Tribuvan Airport
As to is Nepal safe for a woman alone, I would say it is as safe as anywhere, obviously you should take the usual precautions !!
I hope that helps a little
Happy Travels
Rob

I agree with Rob, I came here as a single woman traveller as well and never had a problem with that. Of course there are always some dangers but that applies for any place. You can get the visa at the airport, it's pretty straightforward, all you need for a 60 day visa are two passport photos and 30 US$ or the equivalent in Euro. You might have to queue up for a while, though, when there are many other tourists...

Hi, Just came across your query ,in May, about volunteer work in Nepal.We were in Pokhara,nice town near Annapurna Range,in June'o7 and came across an orphanage/outwork organisation called 'Namaste Childrens House'. We were very impressed wih what we saw & heard. Met some of the volunteers and they were all very positive about their experience. If you want to check them out their website is: www.orphanagenepal.org. As well as the orphanage they support children to stay in their families by setting-up the mothers in small,home-based, businesses.
Please don't take my word. You must check carefully for yourself. But they were very friendly,businesslike, and they did not press us to give money or make a commitment .Just gave us all the info. so we could go away and think about it.
Good luck. I wish we were young enough to volunteer. Regards ,Peter.

I am currently working as a volunteer in Nepal, teaching English in a local school and a monastery and working in an orphanage. I'm doing this with VSN (vsnnepal.org.) and highly recommend it. They're reasonably cheap, accept any length of volunteering you can offer (2 weeks to 5 months) and have several projects - others include health, construction and many more. It might be worth getting in contact with them, I've had a really good time here!
All the best,
Joe x

I am currently working as a volunteer in Nepal, teaching English in a local school and a monastery and working in an orphanage. I'm doing this with VSN (vsnnepal.org) and highly recommend it. They're reasonably cheap, accept any length of volunteering you can offer (2 weeks to 5 months) and have several projects - others include health, construction and many more. It might be worth getting in contact with them, I've had a really good time here!
All the best,
Joe x

I am currently working as a volunteer in Nepal, teaching English in a local school and a monastery and working in an orphanage. I'm doing this with VSN (vsnnepal.org) and highly recommend it. They're reasonably cheap, accept any length of volunteering you can offer (2 weeks to 5 months) and have several projects - others include health, construction and many more. It might be worth getting in contact with them, I've had a really good time here!
All the best,
Joe x