Nepal & India Adventure



It doesn't get more epic than this 2000-mile tour of the Indian subcontinent. From the high passes of the Himalaya; to tiger haunted jungles; to the beaches of Goa and everything in between, this is a journey of discovery that will open your eyes to things you have never seen before.

Combine challenging high-altitude trekking with wildlife experience, exotic city exploration and rewarding community volunteering in this travel adventure of a lifetime!

Perfect for: Adventure Travel and Wildlife Conservation.

DURATION: 7 WEEKS    |     PRICES FROM: £4250    |     DEPARTURES: APRIL & OCTOBER

TRAVEL STYLE: GROUP BACKPACKING ADVENTURE

Perfect for first time travellers such as Gap Year or University students looking to explore Nepal & India with a group of like-minded people!

Typical age range: 18 – 22

Accommodation: hostels, bunkhouses, guest houses

Transport: public and private buses, internal flights, trains, boats, taxis

Supervision: accompanied from start to finish by a Gapforce Leader


Highlights

  • Jungle Safari in the Royal Chitwan National Park
  • White Water Rafting on the Trishuli River
  • Trek to Poon Hill
  • Sunset at the Taj Mahal
  • Visit the home of the Dalai Lama
  • Assist on amazing Tibetan Refugee project
  • Relax on pristine white sand beaches of Goa
NEPAL

Week 1: Jungle Safari - Kathmandu • Chitwan

The adventure begins in Kathmandu, ancient capital of Nepal. After arrival, get to know your fellow travellers as you navigate the secret ways of this vibrant city, exploring ancient temples and bustling markets.

Experience the rush of white water rafting to break up the journey to the little-known tropical south of Nepal, home to incredible animals including elephant, rhinoceros, leopard and Bengal tiger. In Chitwan National Park learn about the unique local culture; visit an elephant training centre; and venture into tiger territory for thrilling jungle safari by jeep and traditional dugout canoe.

Week 2: Community Volunteering - Pokhara

From Chitwan the road leads north to Pokhara, an idyllic lakeside town among the foothills of the Annapurna range. Here you will have the opportunity to give back to the local community by engaging in some meaningful volunteer work, a hugely rewarding experience! 

The exact nature of your project will depend on what is needed by the local community at the time and may include teaching at a local school or monastery, organising games and activities for children and immersing yourself in the community's way of life. Depending on community needs, you may also assist with environmental cleanup or local development efforts.

Week 3: Poon Hill Trek

It’s time to step up! No trip to Nepal is complete without experiencing the majestic mountain kingdom on a multi-day trek.  The Annapurna range is home to some of the most beautiful trekking routes in the world, and you'll be ending your Nepal adventure on a high (literally!) with a trek to Poon Hill. 

The trek takes you among some of the tallest peaks on earth, home of panoramic views and Buddhist prayer flags. Demanding conditions call for determination and grit, rewarded by breath-taking vistas of timeless Sherpa villages, isolated monasteries, woolly yaks, giant vultures, glaciers and colossal peaks. This trekking adventure may at times leave you breathless in more ways than one, but you’ll never forget it!


INDIA

Week 4: Tibetan culture in Dharamsala 

For the next stage of your adventure, you’ll swap the delights of Nepal with the incredible sights and sounds of India. Your introduction will be the bustle of New Delhi, the county’s capital and economic powerhouse. From there you will journey north to the old colonial station of Dharamsala in the foothills of the Himalayas and now the home-in-exile of the Dalai Lama. 

During your time in Dharamsala, you will volunteer on an amazing project teaching English to Buddhist monks in training at the Tibetan Open School. Language lessons are incredibly important to newly arrived Tibetan refugees enabling them to build a new life for themselves in India.

Week 5: Amritsar and the golden triangle

Leaving Dharamsala behind, your journey continues to the city of Amritsar with its renowned Golden Temple, the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism. From here it’s on to Jaipur, the Pink City, an essential stop on any journey through India where you can take in the intricate architecture and rich history of the city including the Red Fort and city Palace. Last but by no means least, you will visit Agra and the famous Taj Mahal, a mind-blowing marble mausoleum which was recently included as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Week 6: Road-tripping through Rajasthan

Your journey continues through the state of Rajasthan, land of kings, famed for its stunning landscapes, forts and palaces. First stop is the fascinating blue city of Jodhpur with palaces and Mehrangarh fort, and then onward to Udaipur with its enviable location on the shores of Lake Pichola, before ending the week in the bustling city of Mumbai. Delve deeper into the culture and heritage of India, past and present, as each city yields its unique secrets.

Week 7: Beaches of Goa

Completing our epic journey from the mountains to the sea, we arrive at the white sand beaches of Goa. This pristine tropical paradise has drawn travellers for decades, and it’s easy to see why. Goa is the perfect place to conclude your adventure, relaxing on the sand, swimming in the warm waters and reflecting on your remarkable journey as the sun sets over the Arabian Sea.

7-weeks: £4250

For available start dates check out the 'Dates & Availability' section below - you may need to scroll right to view the prices and book on! You can secure your place on your chosen adventure with a deposit of either £300 or 10% of the trip price, whichever is higher. The remainder is paid leading up to the program departing.

What's included:

  • Pre-departure support
  • WhatsApp group created prior to travel
  • Airport pick-up and return transfer
  • Gapforce Expedition leader traveling with the group from start to finish
  • All accommodation for the duration of the trip
  • Three meals a day for the duration of the trip
  • Program transfers
  • All activities and tours as described in the brochure
  • 24/7 Emergency Backup
  • Financial Failure Protection

What is not included:

  • Flights to/from destination
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa & Vaccinations
  • Spending Money (souvenirs, optional activities, etc.)
  • Tips and gratuities for local tour guides and drivers

Who is this program designed for?

This program is for anyone looking to volunteer and travel through Nepal and India’s most sought-after destinations. There is no prior experience required although the minimum age is 18 and you must also have your doctor sign our medical form confirming you are medically fit to participate. A reasonable level of fitness is required to participate, and if you plan to take part in any open-water based activities without a life-jacket eg. beach swimming or surfing, you must be able to swim 200m. On most days, you may find yourself on your feet for 6 hours or more, so a reasonable level of fitness is required to participate.

Where will I be staying?

You will stay in a variety of diverse accommodations throughout your trip including local hotels, hostels, bunkhouses and volunteer guesthouses. Most accommodations will be dorm style with shared bathrooms. 

What is the food like?

Three meals a day are included, and these will be a mixture of local and western cuisine. Meals whilst at the volunteering projects are cooked for you, then whilst we are travelling we will either buy food to cook at our accommodation or visit local restaurants and cafes. Expect lots of rice, lentils, spices and flavour! Vegan and vegetarian diets can be catered for. Please check with us regarding further dietary requirements and/or allergies. 

What type of transport will I be using?

You are responsible to getting yourself to and from the start point of the expedition. During the expedition, program transfers are included. Travel is a combination of day and overnight journeys using a range of transport including public and private buses, internal flights, trains, boats and taxis. Please give us a call for more information on individual journey details.

Who will be supervising me?

Throughout your expedition you will be accompanied by a Gapforce Expedition Leader. At various stages of your expedition we utilize the services of local support staff including project coordinators, drivers and guides.

How much spending money do I need?

You will need money for extra meals, drinks & snacks, as well as for any activities not on the itinerary. We advise you to budget for £70 / €80 / $100 per week (this is a guideline only).


*Please download the program brochure for full details!

Gapforce Ultimate India Experience

This was my first real traveling experience and as I was nervous about going on my own, so far away and for so long I wanted to know I'd be looked after. Gapforce made me feel confident that I would be in safe hands from the very start. Before going I was given plenty of information and if I had any questions my emails would be answered, usually within a couple of days. I was also contacted on a few occassions, including a few days before I went, to make sure I didn't have any further questions.While I was there I had an amazing experience. The coordinators were all very friendly and helpful. I felt they knew what they were talking about and welcomed questions. They were also more than happy to help you plan things to do in your free time.The only complaint I have is that I booked a 'beach week' as part of my trip, but soon after I arrived I was told this probabaly wouldn't be possible due to the monsoon season and that it would be a better idea to do an extra volunteer week. I was quite disapointed I hadn't been informed of this beforehand, especially as there was quite a large difference in price between the 2 weeks. However I requested a refund as soon as I got home and again my email was answered quickly and I recieved and apology and told a refund would be made.This also worked out quite well as I got more into the volunteering than I expected, so I was more than happy to do 2 weeks of it. I was quite worried about it to begin with, but again the coordinators were a great help and supported me the whole time. I knew I was not expected to do anything I wasnt comfortable with and I was given as much help or as much freedom as I wanted. Overall I had a lovely experience and definitely feel comfortable to travel again in future.


Nepal Road Trip

I am from China and study in UK. I traveled here with Gapforce from UK! This was an excellent trip when I spent one month in Nepal. Delicious food, friendly people! Chitwan national park was wonderful, wild animals and elephant riding! The experience in orphanage was memorable!! Meeting lots of children and staying with them was happy! Dan is a reliable guy who take care for one month! Many thanks

Vincent, China

To EBC and Back Again

To say that this trip has changed my life is a huge understatement. Within a matter of five weeks, I've been to dozens of temples in Kathmandu, went on an elephant back safari through the jungle in Chitwan National Park, worked at a wonderful orphanage and trekked to Everest Base Camp. While this trip isn't for the faint of heart, I can highly recommend it. GapForce has been a great company to travel with and I wouldn't change a thing about my time spent in Nepal.

Mary, Texas

Greatest Experience

I had a wonderful trip! I just did the nepal part, but it was amazing. We were able to see many various parts of the country. This gave me the chance to get to know different subcultures within the main culture. Of course the Everest Base Camp trek was a main part of the trip! It was beautiful to see the untouched nature. Luckily we were able to make it to Base Camp, that was an absolute highlite of the trip!! This was quite exiting because I suffered a day from altitude sickness, but thanks to the expedition leaders (who were of great help) I was able to continue! Thanks a lot GapForce for this experience of a lifetime

Quinten

My Nepal and India experience

My favourite memory is paragliding in Nepal, it is something that I never thought I could do and I was really proud of myself afterwards!I really enjoyed the EBC Trek a lot more than I thought I would. I have never done hiking like that before but after doing that I would definitely like to do more. Also I thought Narayan was a great leader and would highly recommended Gapforce to use him in the future! He was very knowledgeable and mixed well with the group.I would recommend to future participants to not pack too many winter clothes for the trek as they take up a lot of room in the backpacks and you end up wearing the same items quite a lot!I feel after this trip I can say that I have gained a lot more confidence! I was really nervous about the trip but India is always a place that I wanted to experience and I am so glad that i decided to do it. I liked the fact that I was on my own but was also in a group.

Harriet, 20, gap year student from the UK

Highly Recommend!

Overall, this trip was amazing! I didn’t expect to love Nepal as much as I did, it was absolutely beautiful, Chitwan and Pokhara were my favorite because it was more tranquil than Kathmandu. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek as I sprained my ankle a few days before in Pokhara (watch out for the potholes!) but the support I got from my leaders was amazing, Colin came with me to the hospital and was very comforting and helpful when trying to sort out what I was going to do. I met back up with everyone for the India portion of the trip which is so different to Nepal. I enjoyed the second half of India more because we went to calmer places (Dharamsala, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Goa were my favorites). At first, it’s overwhelming with the list of all the places to go in India, but every place is worth going to because there is something to see and do in each place. Overall, Gapforce is a great program [provider] and they always seem to find [...] really cool hostels and restaurants that I would never think of going to! I’ve learnt so much on this trip about different cultures, dealing with difficult situations, being around a large group of people all the time and also about myself. Would highly recommend!

Ellie, 19, gap year student from the US

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  • Nepal
  • Duration: 7 weeks
  • Departures: April, October

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