DISCOVER NEPAL

Do You

Know  What to

Pack?

The All in one Guidedid someone say "Traditional Village Life"?

YOUR COMPLETE ITINERARY FROM DAY 1 TO DAY 14

HINTS TIPS INFO AND JUICY DETAILS

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO YOUR

PROJECTS

2 0 1 8 / 2 0 1 9 ED I T I ON

VOLUNTEERING

- 0 2 -

D I S C O V E R N E P A L |   T H E U L T I M A T E T R A V E L G U I D E

hey there!Firstly, on behalf of everybody at Bamboo, I would like to offer you our thanks for choosing to experience this

incredible part of the world with us. We guarantee you an amazing time and we’re all very much looking forward

to meeting you in Kathmandu soon.

I imagine that right now you’re very excited about your upcoming adventure and this little guide has been put

together to help you understand more about what will be happening, what to expect, how to plan and more. We

guarantee your time with us will be unforgettable from start to end.  

Bamboo is growing as our style of 'travel' has proven to be the 'way' to travel. You are now a part of this journey

and we welcome you with open arms and hearts. This growing experience is down to people like you, so do get

stuck in, become part of our way of life, live every moment and take nothing for granted.

Peace, Love & Bamboo Mark (& the other pandas, Steve & Colin)

highlights of your tour

Guided city tour throughKathmandu's best landmarks. Prepareto be dazzled and amazed.

KATHMANDU

Giving back to communities that seevery few western visitors.

GIVE

Meet the kids of Shining Stars andshare a daal bhat supper with thepeople that part of your fee supports.

DONATIONS

Get off the beaten track andexperience real, authentic Nepalesecommunities.

CULTURE

Embark through the crisp lakesidetown of Pokhara.

DISCOVERY

Explore the jungles and landscapes ofChitwan National Park.

NATURE

itinerary

Kathmandu, Nepal

Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel.As today is the arrival day, our team will be busyworking between the guesthouse and the airport.

Once you've been picked up and you're checkedinto the guesthouse, the remainder of the day isfree for you to do as you please; catch up on yoursleep, check in on Facebook or get out and explorethe local area.

In the evening there will be a very informal get-together for those who have already arrived.

This is a great way to break the ice, over a coldbeer and chat about just how insanely excited youare to be in Nepal!

DAY 1 (THUR) NAMASTE!Kathmandu, Nepal

After breakfast, we'll have a group orientation.This will be a chance for our team to run throughthe itinerary with you and answer any of yourburning questions. We'll take you through the dayto day stuff, explain more about the group split onday 4, give you a few hints and tips on culture,customs and traditions and make sure that you'reset up to get the most from your time with us.

There will also be a quick briefing, especially forthe trekkers today. One of the key points of thisbriefing is to make sure you have everything youneed - this is why it’s very important to make sureyou also read over the ‘packing suggestions’ laterin this guide.

Whilst volunteering you may still be walkingthrough tough terrain in the village and it can stillget quite cold.. It’ll be an immensely enjoyableexperience, we just want to make sure you’reready for it. If you're missing anything that'sdeemed important, there'll be time to find it andbuy it locally.

On completion of the meetings, we'll head out fora tour of the city of artisans, Patan. We'll alsotake you for a quick visit of the incredible ShiningStars Children's Home, part of your tour fee isdonated directly to maintain this home.

There are so many success stories behind the kidswho live here and without donations such asyours, these kids wouldn't have a future. Todayyou'll see exactly why Nepal is on so manytravelers 'must-visit' list and why so many ofthose who do visit, return year after year.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 2 (FRI) LET'S EXPLORE!

itinerary

Pokhara, Nepal

This morning we will drive to Pokhara which willtake around 7 hours. Be sure to bring a book, orsimply sit back and take in the beautiful vista asyou head on to your next location.

On arrival, if time allows and if weather permits,we may have the chance to take a boat across thestunning lake here and hike up the hill to visit thePeace Pagoda; one of the highlights of Pokhara.

In the evening we'll get together to run throughthe group split. The adventurous trekkers willmeet up with their guides for a briefing whilst ourlovely volunteers will hear from a representativeof our NGO partner.

We'll have you fully prepared and ready for whatcomes next! It’s about to get seriously adventurous.

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 3 (SAT) PICTURESQUEPOKHARA

Pokhara, Nepal

At the time of writing this, we cannot give youabsolute, definitive, 100% nailed on details of thevolunteering projects you'll be working on.

It would actually be quite remiss of us to tell younow exactly what you would be doing months inadvance as it's highly likely that what we plan todo will change in the coming weeks!

We're not being awkward but when you areworking in a developing country, plans tend tomean very little when it comes to helping others.

DAY 4 -10 (SUN-SAT)VOLUNTEERING

Fear not, however, we are working with one of the most respected NGOs in Nepal, who have many years and thousands of hours' experience working with these communities.

This is a general breakdown of thevolunteering activities that we have agreed tohelp with:

1. Classroom and school renovations as well assetting up school libraries (as per the need ofschool management committee)

2. Basic maintenance work within the schools,health posts, communal buildings and youth clubs

3. Teaching School kids of different ages.Teaching will be as a classroom assistant andinclude English, Mathematics, arts and crafts andother educational activities

4. Activities such as environmental awareness,health awareness, sports and maybe even raisingawareness of child marriage with women groupsand/or youth clubs

VOLUNTEERING DETAILS

itinerary

Pokhara, Nepal.

The actual work will depend on various 'factors'such as where the work is most needed at thetime your group arrives, the size of your group,logistics in Pokhara, budgets and more.

If you have a particular skill that you feel couldbe put to good use, please let us know. We can'tpromise that it can be utilized but we'll do ourbest for you.

We guarantee that you'll be working whereneeded. We won't waste your time, our time, theNGOs time or the time of those people that ourwork will directly aid.

On day 10 you'll transfer back to town and meetup with those hearty souls who chose the trekkingoption.

Traditional Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner providedby host families each day of volunteering. (Dinneris not included on day 10).

VOLUNTEERING CONTINUED

Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Up with the sparrows this morning as we headsouth to Chitwan National Park.

The transfer should take around 4-5 hours butmay take longer due to roadworks and trafficcongestions.

This transfer will no doubt be an abundance ofcontinued story-sharing, or perhaps anotherintake of more serene vistas. On arrival in thenational park, we'll have a sightseeing trip - this isan especially stunning area of a countryoverflowing with stunning views!

In the evening there's a dinner and a 'Tharu'cultural program to welcome you to this area ofthe world - something NOT to be missed!

Meals included, Breakfast, Dinner.

DAY 11 (SUN) CHITWAN,HERE WE COME!

Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Today will be filled with activities so make sureyou have a hearty breakfast!

A canoe trip, jungle walk, jeep safari and a visit toan elephant breeding centre!

Man, do we spoil you. You’re all worth it though. This is going to be one of the highlights of yourtrip to Nepal so make sure that you and yourcamera are both fully charged!

Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

DAY 12 (MON) CHITWANESCAPADE

itinerary

Kathmandu, Nepal

Before breakfast, for anybody who's up for it,we've arranged a special trip for a bit of incrediblebird-watching, this is optional so feel free todecline the spectacle if you wish.

After breakfast, we'll leave Chitwan for thetransfer back to Kathmandu.

All being well, we'll arrive late afternoon so there'llbe plenty of time to get yourself looking beautifulbefore we have a final farewell dinner together atone of Kathmandu's best restaurants.

This has to be a night to remember to finish offthe most unforgettable team-trip in Nepal.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

DAY 13 (TUE) TO THE START

Kathmandu, Nepal

Don’t be sad that it’s over, but fill your heart withpride that it happened. There will be time forbreakfast to swap phone numbers, emails andmemories before a tidal wave of hugs and hi-5's!

It's going to be emotional but we promise thatyou'll be completely in awe of every second thatyou've spent with our team here. For those of youwho need to head back to the airport, we can helpyou arrange transport.

For those sticking around a little longer todiscover Nepal solo, our team are able to answerany questions that you have and to make sureyou're armed with all of the information that youmay need.

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 14 (WED) THANKS FORTHE MEMORIES

What's includedDISCOVER NEPAL TOUR

1. Airport Arrival Pickup on the official start date between 6am & 8pm 2. All Accommodation throughout 3. All Activities outlined above 4. A city tour of the Nepali capital 5. Donation to all projects 6. Our team to accompany you 24/7 7. A Welcome meal with the kids of Shining Stars Children's Home. 8. A traditional homestay that many don't get to experience 

FAST FACTS: VISA

Most countries can buy a visa

on arrival

VISA entry is YOUR

responsibility

Kathmandu , capital of Nepal ,

is the living cultural museum

of the world .

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A visa is necessary to enter Nepal and there are

two options for obtaining one .

You can obtain one before leaving home from any

Nepalese Embassy or Consulate in your own

country .

Alternatively , you can buy a visa on arrival at the

Tribhuvan International airport , please check the

immigration website for exceptions :

www .nepalimmigration .gov .np

Multiple entry tourist visas can be obtained by

paying 25 USD for 15 days , 40 USD for 30 days or

100 USD for 90 days . This prices are subject to

change so please check online before arriving . 

THE INFORMAT ION YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE WE BEG IN D ISCOVER NEPAL

THE NITTY GRITTY

FAST FACTS: MONEY

Basic costs of things :

Local meal (Dal Bhat) 250 rupees

Bottle of beer 290-450 rupees

Bottle of water 25-30 rupees

Memories - Free of charge

The currency in Nepal is known as

the Rupee or NPR

Remember to tell your bank that

you are leaving the country to avoid

your card being suspended

When it comes to advice on how much

money to bring , it ’s impossible to say . All our

intrepid explorers are very different . Where

some go all out , others are on a budget . You

can find both high end and budget

restaurants , bars and shops across Nepal . A

rough guide for meals and drinks can be

found below :

Typical exchange rates are :

$1 - 105 rupees

£1 - 137 rupees

ATMs , or cash machines , are prevalent

throughout Nepal and will issue the local

currency . If you do plan on bringing your ATM

card with you , we recommend that you

inform your bank . This should prevent your

card being suspended due to irregular

withdrawals .

We don ’t recommend bringing traveller 's

cheques with you . The reason is that banks

across Nepal have odd hours of operating ,

and it may cause unnecessary hassle finding

a bank open when you wish to make a

transaction .

Negotiating a purchase , known as bartering ,

still happens in the tourist areas of Nepal

however not so much outside of these areas .

 If you ’re unsure as to whether or not you can

barter for a discount please speak to your

guide . 

MONEY

FAST FACTS: FUAX PAS

Packing for a trip to the unknown is always tricky .

It ’s definitely worth doing a little bit of homework

on this one and to consider local culture when

deciding what clothes to bring . Here is a list of

what you will need . Although Nepal can be warm

in the summer months , during the winter it can

reach subzero temperatures in the evenings so it

is vitally important that you are prepared .

KIT LIST

Backpack

Day pack

Sleeping bag (for added comfort)

T-shirts

Base layers (thermals)

Fleece vest

Rain jacket

Down jacket

Underwear

Sleeping trousers

Hiking shorts

Rain pants

Thermal Long Johns

Hiking boots

Socks

Flip-flops/camp shoes

Reusable water bottle

Water purification tablets

Sunscreen

Personal first aid kit

Sunglasses

Bandana

Flashlight/head torch

Travel towel

Wash kit

Instant hand sanitizer

Baseball hat/sun hat

Camera

Book/journal

Toilet roll & rubbish bag

Warm hat , gloves & neck warmer

Packs and bags

Clothing

Footwear

Miscellaneous

FAST FACTS: TRAVEL

For up to date information about the best travel

vaccinations to have before arriving in Nepal we

urge you to contact your own GP , a travel health

clinic or to check the World Health Organisations

website . Bamboo are not medical professionals

and therefore can ’t offer you medical advice . 

TRAVELVACCINATIONS

FLIGHTSThanks to the world wide web we all now have

access to great flight deals through websites such

as Skyscanner , Google Flights and more . If you ’d

rather use the services of a booking agent , the

likes of STA Travel , Trailfinders and Flight Centre ,

are all available online .  

Please remember that this tour starts in

Kathmandu and finished in Kathmandu

IMPORTANT NOTICEOnce you have booked and confirmed your flight

to Kathmandu , please make sure that you have

shared your flight arrival time and flight number

with our team . Without those details , we will be

unable to guarantee that one of our team will be

at the airport to meet you on arrival . 

Did you know that?

The handshake is not very common

in Nepal . People of Nepal put their

palms together , bow their forehead

and say Namaste .

Did you know that?

On a flight the bathroom door isn ’t

really locked when you ’re inside .

Lavatory doors can be locked and

unlocked from the outside for a

multitude of reason . It allows flight

attendants quick access to locked

lavatories in case of emergencies . In

other instances , it allows the cabin

crew to restrict access to bathrooms

during takeoff and landing .

ARRIVALS INFO

ARRIVALKathmandu ’s International Airport is a very busy

airport and can be a confusing place .

You will be staying at Fuji Hotel . Please keep this

address handy as it will be requested upon your

arrival :

Fuji Hotel , Brahmakumari Marg , P .O Box : 6209 ,

Jyatha , Thamel , Kathmandu , Nepal

Once you ’ve passed through Immigration

(Passport Control) you ’ll need to collect your

luggage from one of the carousels . Make sure you

keep your airline baggage slips as you will need to

show these in order to exit the baggage hall . Once

you have your bags please make your way to the

exit passing through the ‘nothing to declare ’

channel . Once through you will enter the busy

main arrivals area .

Please keep a look out for our team . They should

be easily recognizable with their Bamboo

T-shirts and holding a sign showing the Bamboo

logo . Once you ’ve spotted our team , please head

over and introduce yourself . You ’ll then receive

further instructions . Please bear in mind that we

may be waiting for others to arrive so your transfer

to the hotel may not be immediate but we ’ll get

you there as soon as possible .

In the unlikely event that you can ’t find our team ,

please don ’t panic . As long as you have provided

us with your correct flight details one of our team

will be there . Please check again in the arrivals

area . If you still cannot locate one of our team

please call the following number +977 9849

141067 .

If you have supplied us with a mobile phone

number , please make sure your phone is turned

on as we may be trying to contact you .

On arrival to the hotel , we ’ll help you to check in

and give you more details of what ’s happening

next . 

Your hotel transfer will be around

30-40 minutes from the airport to

the heart of Kathmandu

Keep your eyes peeled for the

smiling face that holding our

Bamboo logo

Pick up is only available between the

hours of 6am - 8pm on the official start

date .

If you are arriving outside of these

hours and are getting a taxi to the hotel

please make a note of the hotels

contact information .

Name : Fuji Hotel

Num : +9771 425 0435

FUN FACTS: TRANSPORT

TRANSPORTAll trips between cities will be taken in a private

comfortable A/C minivan or bus (depending on

numbers) and we will have plenty of toilet breaks ,

snack stops and chances to take photos of the

incredible scenery along the way .

Transportation times can vary according to the

season , traffic and the road conditions at the

time .

Below is a typical estimate of the journey times

between each location :

Kathmandu to Pokhara : approximately  7-8 hours

Pokhara to Chitwan National Park : approximately

 4-5 hours

Chitwan to Kathmandu : approximately 6-8 hours

Our Discover Nepal tour actually

covers a distance of over 450km

from start to finish across

Kathmandu , Pokhara , Chitwan and

back to Kathmandu .

Nepal is home to one of the few

places on earth where you can see

both the Bengal tiger and the one-

horned rhinoceros

FAST FACTS: GUIDES

GUIDESAny tour is only as good as the guide – fact . The

input of a tour guide cannot be understated . Their

input in to your tour , their little insights and the

off-the-beaten-track adventures . The knowledge

and experiences that they share with you will

make or break your time wherever you are in the

world .

At Bamboo we take the selection and training of

our guides and our coordinators very seriously .

Each guide undertakes a structured training

program of three months and only once we ’re

convinced that they are genuine representatives

of Bamboo are they signed up to the family .

Each of our tours have English-speaking guides to

support you , answer your questions , educate you

and to ensure that your time is unforgettable .

From time to time we may have new guides-in-

training on our tours . If you ’re lucky to have a

trainee on your tour , please be patient . They are

undergoing training and therefore their

knowledge won ’t be that of the trained and

experienced guide who will be accompanying

them . 

TIPPINGAlthough not in any way expected or encouraged ,

anybody who goes over and above the call of duty

to ensure that you have the very best time , may

deserve a special little thank you .

Did you have extra special service in a restaurant?

Did the bus driver make an additional pit-stop

just for you? Did your guide go out of the way so

that you could experience something unique? At

Bamboo we ’re firm believers in Karma – what goes

around most definitely comes around ! 

Our guides are the face of Bamboo ,

and they come in all shapes and

smiles .

We love each and every one of them

more than Elephants love bananas . 

Whilst most of them are elite travel

mavericks in their own right , you

may come across newbies who are

on the path the greatness .

If you 're lucky enough to meet a

fresh-faced newbie , be sure to show

them your support and patience ,

most guides remember their first

tours forever , so let 's play nice .

YOUR ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

Discover Nepal

Namaste! Welcome to

Kathmandu!

Rooms in the Nepali capital

will be twin shared (2 beds)

and have a private Western-

style bathroom (no squatting!).

Air conditioning and WiFi are

also available in all rooms.  

it is the perfect place to relax

after a long day exploring

everything that Nepal's capital

has to offer. We'll make sure

you feel at home as soon as

your step inside. 

KATHMANDU

POKHARA

Take in the sights as we venture

closer to Nepal's giant: the

Himalayas.

Your chosen accommodation

will be twin shared (2 beds). All

rooms are fitted with a private

Western-style bathroom.

Free WiFi & air-conditioning is

also available throughout the

hotel.

Sit back and relax with your

fellow guests as you prepare for

what comes next.

POKHARA

Experience a breath of fresh air

as you move farther away from

Nepal's busier cities.

Accommodation whilst

volunteering will be traditional

and basic. An outhouse squat

toilet is available for our

volunteers to use, but there is

no hot running water. This is all

part of the true Nepali

experience! 

Dinner will be prepared in a

traditional manner by the host

family, but volunteers are more

than welcome to help!

VOLUNTEERING

CHITWAN

Time to come in contact with

the wildlife. 

Your accommodation will be

twin share and all rooms are

fitted with an en-suite

western style bathroom.

The hotel offers a restaurant

and bar where meals and

beverages can be purchased. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner is

included during your time at

Chitwan National Park.

YOUR PROJECT GUIDE

DISCOVER NEPAL

YOUR PROJECT GUIDEHimalayan Quests (HQ) main focus is on health, education and sanitation. Our volunteers will be involved in small-scale projects that fall under one of these umbrella headings.

Some of the projects include small-scale rural renovations, often with an opportunity to interact with a local school and its kids. Many rural schools and government buildings are left in poor repair with no budget: this is the gap we aim to fill.

Other projects might include building raised washing-up stations for poor community members to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and illness.

What it involves

Thanks to the partnership between Bamboo and HQ, a lot of sweat and teamwork will combine to achieve three main goals. These are:

1. To improve or beautify school facilities and create a more welcoming learning environment for the children. This will then inspire pride in the schools.

2. To support local communities where requested by repairing or building community halls, toilets and general infrastructure.

3. To reduce the risk of disease and illness through cross-contamination when preparing and washing up after meals

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

TERMS & CONDITIONSPlease read these Terms and Conditions carefully as they form the basis of your contract

with WeAreBamboo. This agreement is made at the time of booking and becomes legally

binding upon payment of your deposit. By booking a program with WeAreBamboo, you

signify you have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions

All programs advertised on our website and/or on Facebook are offered and/or operated

by WeAreBamboo Ltd. (trading as Bamboo and referred to as Bamboo or ‘we’ herein

after) with company number 59926953 whose registered office is:.

WE ARE BAMBOO LEVEL 2

61 SEAVIEW ROAD LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND 5010

All travel arrangements are sold subject to the following conditions. Bamboo reserves the

right to update the Terms and Conditions at any time.

Please view our full terms and conditions here:

https://www.wearebamboo.com/about/legal.php

Please note that the information in this pack is subject to change at any time without notice.