GIVE Nepal Volunteer Excursion in the Himalayas

In 2017 I traveled abroad for the first time through GIVE to Tanzania and words can not describe the time I had in the community on Zanzibar Island. My one regret on that trip was not doing the add on to hike Kilimanjaro, so id be lying if I said I hadn't been eyeing the Nepal and Everest Base Camp trek when it was first announced. In a last minute spontaneous decision I booked the trip to Nepal and the rest is history!

From the moment we landed it felt like I had known our group for years. I could not have asked for better guides to help us feel welcome and at home during our time in Gorkha as well as on the trek, our head guide on the trek quickly received the nickname "Dad" because of his kindhearted and caring personality. The trek to EBC while challenging, was a highlight of the trip. Throughout the trek our group continued to grow closer helping each other along the way telling stories and singing god awful commercial jingles. Our EBC legs and EBC bodies did not fail, while I might not have made it to EBC (one trek short, yak milk got the best of me) I have no regrets! I only wish I could go back to spend more time in such a special place.

I hadn't heard of GIVE volunteers until I saw a flyer on my desk one day at school. From there I researched GIVE's website and, despite still not knowing much about the company, decided to sign up for a trip to Nepal. It was without a doubt one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was incredibly impressed with the relationship GIVE had built with the local communities in Nepal and how well all of the trip logistics were planned.

I'm so glad I got to experience both volunteering in the Gorkha district as well as the Everest Base Camp trek, as both of these experiences allowed me to see two completely different sides of the same beautiful country. Everyone we met along the way was extremely welcoming and friendly, in fact we even referred to our lead guide for the EBC trek fondly as "dad" because of his extremely caring nature. Being back home now just makes me realize how special the trip was and how badly I want to go back!

I came on this trip as the only British citizen in the entire group - being an American based thing, which for some people might be scary. But for me, I thrived on this difference.
On this trip, I met some fantastic people ranging from the GIVE staff who supported me during my worst moments on the trip to the amazing locals who inspired us with their harrowing stories of the 2015 earthquake.
With GIVE, it feels like you are re-born as an entirely different person, which is fitting given that the Buddha was born here! The food was incredible, the accomodation the entire trek was welcoming, and the views along the way were honestly awe-inspiring!
I would thoroughly recommend coming to Nepal and volunteering with GIVE. And the points stated above, are the reasons that I am very much considering coming back to do the Tibetan Frontier (again), Everest Base Camp, or both!

I had no idea what to expect when I first arrived in Kathmandu. I had traveled abroad before, but never to this extent, so obviously I was nervous. However, upon landing and meeting with my GIVE group, those nerves were all but gone. The staff was very friendly, helpful, and I can happily say I've made some lifelong friends with my fellow volunteers. For all of it's beauty, the people of Nepal were what truly made the country special. They invited us, total strangers to them, into their lives and homes, fed us and treated us like family. I will never forget them, or this trip and I recommend it to anyone and everyone with a passing interest in travel.

I had an experience in Nepal that will always be a part of me! The staff were very nice and supportive and the Nepal people were very nice. The kids were amazing so fun and cute. If your looking for a change, something new to do and something to be proud of try this excursion! If you love nature, exploring or hiking this is perfect! But anyone can do it! Not going to lie if you never hiked Before or have asthma then you may get very tired easily! But that did not stop me! I still was able to do it and I'm so proud of myself for that! It's definitely a once in a life time experience!

Joining the Give family was the best decision I ever made. This really was immersive travel at its finest. Meeting the beautiful local people and working alongside them, eating with them, staying with them and getting to know them was a real privilege that I am forever grateful for.

One of the biggest things I got from this trip was how much I learnt about being a global citizen and how a few simple changes can make all the difference, but also it really highlighted the effects that we have on the planet just by how we live our lives day-to-day. I now make more conscious decisions about where I'm shopping, what I'm buying and the impacts my life is having on the world and the people who inhabit it. You cannot go on a trip like this and come home unchanged.

This trip really allowed me to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone, it was unlike any trip I'd been on before. I don't do much hiking, we don't have any mountains nearby so the first mountain I ever climbed was a Himalayan peak!! I overcame so many challenges that I never ever thought I'd be able to do, but I did. None of this would have been possible without the support of my group and our amazing guides.

This was a trip unlike any other and I would go back and do it all again in a heartbeat.

Traveling with GIVE to Nepal is something I’ll never forget. From start to finish I felt safe and trusted my guides, all while being encouraged to step out of my comfort zone. GIVE leaves a positive impact on the places they visit while being intentional about sustainability and respect for the locals and their culture. I have always been concerned about “voluntourism” and doing more harm than good while traveling but I was extremely reassured by GIVE and saw that they do everything in their power to avoid these negative consequences.

I absolutely loved the Nepal excursion, being on the first group to go to LangTang the whole trip was surreal and eye opening. Between the hikes and the volunteering you really experience something that will make you grow as a person. The leaders and members all became family instantly. The whole organization is amazing and is something I think everyone should experience at some point in their life. It is physically challenging so I would be sure that you are capable of an intense trek, but it is all worth it in the end.