nepal

NEPAL

Embark on the volunteer vacation and cultural experience of a lifetime!

Joining forces with two amazing Napali leaders, Shanta Sapkota and Jamling Tenzing Norgay, PLAY it Forward is proud to bring you an adventure rich in education and abundant in culture. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss!

Start out in the village of Chapalgau, just outside Kathmandu, for an education on the serious topic of human sex trafficking. Meet Shanta herself, the founder of Peace Rehabilitation Center - a safe place for female victims of the sex trade to receive aftercare and rehabilitation after being rescued from brothels. There are two main reasons Nepal has such a high number of sex trafficking victims: poverty and the low status of women in their culture. Over the years Shanta found a number of girls living on the streets and took them into her home to look after them. She loved them with a mother’s love, listened to their horrific stories and provided for their physical needs. By the time she started PRC in 1994 she was convinced that literacy and skills training needed to be added to the program. That way when the girls left the center they’d be educated and have a means to support themselves.

PLAY it Forward Sojourners will contribute to the betterment of these women’s lives, through their sewing trade, by building a sewing room at Peace Rehab Center. This will be a place where they can develop a skill and generate income for themselves through their trade. For those wanting to make additional contributions, PRC will need tables, sewing machines and fabric to get the women started. This adventure offers an opportunity for Sojourners to raise money to put toward the “service” portion of this trip. Contact your PLAY it Forward representative for details.

October is festival season in Nepal! What better way to experience the culture. As we say farewell to Chapalgau and the women of PRC and hello to the Himalayas, Dashain Festival provides the perfect transition mid-way through your trip.

For the second part of your Nepalese experience, set out on a 9-day trek to Annapurna Base Camp – a physical challenge enriched by beauty and culture. When traveling in the Himalayas, it is important to expect the unexpected and embrace the cultural differences along the way. Priorities are different than what you may be used to at home. Efficiency, promptness, and time in general are less valued in Nepali culture. Respect for the being and the well-being of others is an ultimate virtue. These differences can make for a wonderful learning and cross-cultural experience, or become a source of frustration for some. Patience, flexibility, and acceptance of different world views will all be valued assets. See the itinerary below for a breakdown of our trek. If you’d like to see more detail, contact the PLAY it Forward office.

With the guidance of Shanta and Jamling during PLAY it Forward-Nepal, our combination of activities is sure to change some lives forever!

Sample 16-day itinerary

Day 1 Kathmandu – Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel, PIF orientation

Day 2 Chapalgau - Introduction to Peace Rehab Center, begin construction of sewing room

Day 3 Chapalgau – Continue construction of sewing room

Day 4 Chapalgau - Continue construction of sewing room

Day 5 Chapalgau – Closing ceremony at Peace Rehab Center, Dashain Festival

Day 6 Phedi - Day 1: Fly to Pokhara (2690′), drive to Phedi, meet Sherpa’s, begin 3-hour trek to Dhampus (5413′)

Day 7 Landrung – Day 2: Trek from Dhumpus to Landrung (5200′)

Day 8 Chomrung - Day 3: Trek from Landrung to Chumrung (6889′)

Day 9 Doban - Day 4: Trek to Doban (8530′)

Day 10 Machapuchhare Base Camp - Day 5: Trek from Doban to Machapuchhare Base Camp (12,139′)

Day 11 Annapurna Base Camp - Day 6: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp and back to Doban (13,549′)

Day 12 Chumrung - Day 7: Trek from Doban back to Chumrung (6889′)

Day 13 Gandruk - Day 8: Trek from Chumrung to Gandruk (6364′)

Day 14 Nayapool - Day 9: Trek from Gandruk to Nayapool to Pokhara, farewell dinner

Day 15 Thamel - Fly to Kathmandu, shopping, Visit PRC to see completed sewing room, final farewell dinner

Day 16 Kathmandu – Depart

For a detailed itinerary of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, contact the PIF office.

Tour Dates

October 5-20, 2010

Custom adventures available now! Call the PIF office to inquire: 651.493.8817.

Tour Details

Group size: 7 minimum, 15 maximum

Transportation: Van, plane

Accommodations: Hotels and tea houses

Activity Level: Level 5 – very high level of physical fitness and some training required

Culture Shock: Level 5 – high level of culture shock may be expected

Comfort Level: Level 4 - high level of comfort will be provided

Tour Cost

Land cost: Call 651.493.8817 for 2010 pricing.

Inclusions: Airport transfers, transportation, translation, accommodations, most meals, guide & Sherpa wages, National Park entrance fee, materials associated with the service project.

Exclusions: International airfare, vaccinations, valid passport, VISA obtained upon arrival ($100), some meals as outlined in the itinerary, personal gear & equipment associated with the climb, guide tips/gratuities.

Additional Spending: $150.00 USD

Travel Insurance Coverage / Cost: See our links on the sidebar indicated by the red cross.

Rates are determined by age; travel insurance may be facilitated through PIF Adventures.

Single Supplement: all participants must place their request for single rooms at time of registration, additional cost is be determined at the time of booking, PIF cannot guarantee the availability of single rooms.