Travel For A Cause

Travel for a Cause, a Charity tour or trek to Nepal,- Experience the real Nepal while helping rebuild after the earthquake

“Knowing is not enough, we must implement” – Buddha

In addition to our travel and trekking business, Earthbound Expeditions believes in our responsibility towards our society and good Karma (deeds). We have always been dedicated to Nepal and its future by organizing past past social activities & philanthropic events, such as building schools, clinics and libraries (you can read more at Our-Philanthropic-Activities).

Particularly during this time of great need, Earthbound Expeditions wants to give back by offering a philanthropic tour, Travel for Cause, to help bring relief to Darkha, a remote and earthquake-hit area in Dhading district of Nepal. Donating money is good and necessary at this time, but if you are looking for a meaningful way to directly participate in rebuilding Nepal after the earthquake, please join in this effort. This is an opportunity to build good karma and contribute to the positive energy across Nepal.

About this tour and trek:

It has long been said that you come to Nepal the first time for the scenery, you come back for the people. Now is your chance to interact with the Nepali people and experience first hand their amazing kindness, self-sufficiency, and resilience. In 2016, after the earthquake, travellers on this trip helped build four schools, 27 classrooms and a temporary medical clinic in Darkha. Ask us which community project the trip supports on your dates.

Your tour will begin with two days in Kathmandu starting with a day tour of the heritage sites and to see first hand the effects of the earthquake. Following, we will provide a briefing and overview of the building efforts, provide a finalized itinerary, and assign duties to each volunteer. We will also stage the supplies to be transported to the village.

The next day we will begin travel to Darkha. The road is currently open, so you will travel by bus along with the supplies and building materials. If the road is closed due to landslides, you will be transported to the nearest drop point, and then hike for no more than one day to get to the village. We will spend 3 days helping villagers construct the building and the clinic. If you wish can stay longer too.

This volunteering tour or the charity trek is a safe organized adventure combined with philanthropic activities. We will provide safe drinking water, food, and shelter to participants (hotel in Kathmandu, tents in the village). You will provide much-needed volunteer labor. Each participant will be provided with one porter to carry your backpack, but your proceeds will also fund an extra porter per person to carry supplies and building materials for the village. The guides and porters will act as translators to allow you to communicate with the villagers and will also provide additional labor for the construction efforts.

This tour is not for profit. The cost of the tour and charity trek will cover the cost of transportation, food, shelter and treks, building materials, and support. Not only are you helping needy villagers, but you are simultaneously keeping Nepalis employed

What you will see and experience:

See and be a part of the real Nepal, apart from the familiar trekker tea houses and crowded hiking trails. You will still enjoy spectacular mountain scenery and vistas while you trek through the sub-tropical jungle, rural villages, passing terrace farms with locals caring for goats, cattle, and buffalo. You will interact directly with Nepali villagers as they rebuild their lives after the earthquake. You will also learn affordable earthquake-proof construction methods.

Recovery after the trek:

We understand that this type of volunteering tour or trek can be physically and emotionally demanding. At the end of the tour, we will provide each participant with an option of a stay at a yoga retreat and spa to recenter your body mind and spirit, and share your good karma with your fellow participants. The retreat offers locally grown organic food, a hand-picked a team of yogis, therapists, guides and chefs to ensure your stay is sublime, worthwhile, secure and memorable. In addition to yoga, they also offer spa and naturopathic services which are independent of or integrated into yoga packages and can also offer Ayurvedic treatment.

Combine your trip with other adventures in Nepal:

If you would like to extend your stay, either before or after the philanthropic tour, and visit other parts of Nepal, Earthbound Expeditions would be happy to organize additional treks and tours to compliment your journey. We have field tested tours to the Everest Base Camp, Ghorepani Poon Hill, Annapurna Base Camp, Chitwan, and the Kathmandu Valley Rim, and other locations. We also have tours running to India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Make this trip an epic adventure.

How your contribution helps:

The most sustainable recovery is to give someone a job. Building schools and library to the locals.

Cost Includes/ Excludes

Includes

• Three meals a day while in the Mountain
• Meals in the village will be camp cooking or stay in Home
• Shared room at the Thamel Eco Resort in Kathmandu. Homestay or Tent while in Darkha.
• Subsidizes Supplies for rebuilding this village in Nepal
• Shared Transportation of goods to the village
• Organization of the rebuilding efforts
• Employs 5 people