High School Summer Programs

Nepal

Tropical Lowlands to Himalayan Peaks
Cultural Exchange, Himalayan Trek, Remote Homestay

4 Weeks

Wander through bazaars, trek to sacred villages, and become a part of Nepalese village life on this rigorous cross-cultural program. Along the way, you’ll contribute through community-driven service and take in the sites under the peaks of the Himalayas. This is Nepal.

Dates

June 29, 2024 – July 27, 2024

Ages

14 – 18

Availability

Spaces available

Group size

18 or less

tuition

$7,895
International airfare is not included in tuition. In general, roundtrip airfare (from New York, for example) can run from $1,100 – $1,900.

Program overview

Trek to Annapurna Base Camp in the Himalayas, staying in remote villages along the way and experiencing true cultural immersion. This is our longest running and most-heralded program for good reason!
Nestled in high-altitude valleys and in close harmony with the land, small communities practice timeless agricultural and pastoral lifestyles. At the “roof of the world,” Nepal’s Langtang amphitheater is the looming backdrop for your village stay and community service project. The rich cultural and spiritual fabric of Nepal, and the warm hospitality of the Nepalese people interweave to create an awe-inspiring appreciation for life’s beauty.

On this once-in-a-lifetime program with Global Routes, you’ll trek through breathtaking scenery, but become even more enchanted by the fortitude, generosity of spirit, and resilience of the Nepalese communities we visit. More than just a trip, this is an opportunity to dive deeper and immerse yourself on a challenging summer-long experience that will transform how you think about the world around you. 
Nepal map by Global Routes

highlights

Wander through the bazaars, temples and cobblestoned streets of Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.
Trek for nine days to sacred, jewel-like lakes beneath breathtaking peaks in the Himalaya passing through timeless Tibetan villages along the way.
Explore the rich cultural history and architecture of the ancient cities of Bhaktapur and Bodhnath.

what you'll explore

Please note that itineraries are subject to (and likely to) change. We run unique programs, so our team refines programs each year to create the best possible student experiences.

pokhara

Week 1

Start in the ancient city of Kathmandu, staying at the Aurobindo Ashram. Here, your group will begin your orientation to this complex and fascinating nation. With your Overseas Educators, learn more about the culture and traditions of Nepal, what to expect from the journey ahead, and your fellow travelers. At the Ashram, ingratiate yourself in a spiritual community that is home to hundreds of Nepali youth and families living with intention. Become a part of the community as you learn more about their initiatives to bring sustainable solutions and educational advancement to Nepal. Eat food grown in the garden and participate in lesson facilitation, milking cows, and everyday life. Spend afternoons practicing traditional music and dance, as well as yoga and meditation, with masters. Your time here gives you the opportunity to reflect and explore a deeper and different understanding of yourself and the world around you.

Weeks 2 & 3

Say farewell to your new friends from the ashram and travel to Pokhara, the starting point of the trek. Wander Pokhara’s historic sites as you gather your last-minute gear in the shops. From here, we begin the hallmark of this Global Routes program – the trek to the Annapurna Base Camp.
As you start out on the 10-day trek, you set group intentions to guide your physical and emotional journey. Together, you prepare to ascend to 13,500 feet in the heart of the Himalayas. Each day, you rest your head in a new, culturally diverse village, away from the noise of the cities. Between terraced fields, lush forests, and open valleys, you greet the sun each day as it rises over the mountains. On the breathtaking route, you meet some of the most interesting and generous host communities along the way. Enjoy home cooked meals at the end of a long day of trekking, learn new games from children in the villages, and gain confidence as you near your final ascent. At the end of the trek, make your way back to Pokhara for a celebratory dinner with your peers.
arms up victory

Week 4

After resting up, return to the Kathmandu valley and follow the foothills of the Himalayas to Takure. Along a ridgeline, this town sits among snow-capped peaks of the Langtang Mountain Range. Here, you’ll dive deeper into Nepalese daily life and engage in a community-led project.

This community of 200 households survive by farming rice, corn, millet, and wheat. Almost every family also cares for livestock – cows, goats, buffalo, and chickens. This hospitable community is home to diverse cultures (Brahmin, Tamang, Newari, Chetri, Rana Magar, Dahal, and more), making it a wonderful opportunity to learn about the complexity of Nepal’s culture, history, and traditions. Spend your days working alongside a local foundation that is bringing healthy and practical solutions to navigate unique challenges in Nepal. Get hands-on experience helping your host community with everyday activities and lending a hand in any gardening, building, or education projects. As with all Global Routes programs, we also spend time reflecting on what we’ve learned, how we can bring our newfound knowledge back into our home communities, and who we’ve become over the course of four impactful weeks.

are you ready for the adventure?

How to enroll

Take the first step here

Learn more about enrolling in a summer program below.

The Application Process

1. Submit your Application

If you’re ready to learn more about a meaningful summer program, fill out our obligation-free application to get started.

2. Optional Informational Call

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll be offered the option to book an informational call with our team. If you’re ready to commit, move forward to finalize enrollment! 

3. FINALIZE ENROLLMENT

Ready to sign up and save your spot? Finalize enrollment by submitting your deposit and beginning the pre-departure journey!

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FAQ

Once we receive your application and reserve a space for you in the program, we provide you access to a password-protected webpage designed specifically for your program. There, we post information about passports and visas, detailed packing lists, all necessary travel information, information about your leaders, and much more! We’re also always on hand to answer any questions you might have.

Global Routes accepts students 14-18 from all over the world!  Right-fit participants are those looking for something more community-driven than a teen-tour and more culturally engaging than strictly outdoor education programs. Global Routes participants return as more confident, directed, self-aware, and adventurous global citizens with a better understanding of the unique contributions they offer their communities and the world. 

We expect you to have a positive attitude, demonstrate patience and flexibility in the face of the inherent challenges of group living in a foreign country, be sensitive to the cultures and customs of your host community, contribute to a positive group experience, and abide by the  student contract you sign on the application. No previous construction, teaching, or foreign language experience is necessary.

 

The student policies for Global Routes High School programs are: 

  1. Being flexible, patient, and open-minded in the face of new and challenging situations.
  2. Participating positively and fully in all group meetings and activities, understanding that Global Routes programs are group-based and that, at times, I may be asked to put the group’s needs before my own.
  3. Making my best effort to work and live respectfully with others within and outside the group.
  4. Maintaining group cohesion by not becoming involved in any exclusive behavior, including being part of a clique, getting involved in a romantic relationship, or isolating myself from the group.
  5. Respecting and caring for the property and equipment of Global Routes, my hosts, and my group.
  6. Forgoing the possession and/or consumption of tobacco products, un-prescribed drugs, or alcohol of any kind.
  7. Abiding by all local laws.
  8. Abiding my all safety policies set forth by my leaders and not leaving their supervision without their permission.
  9. Acknowledging that Global Routes reserves the right to dismiss, without program fee refund or issuance of community service hours – and at the expense of the participant.

Living conditions will vary throughout your program, but they will always be safe and comfortable. During orientation and final travel you stay with your group in family-run guesthouses or small hostels or hotels.

If your program includes a homestay, during the homestay portion of your program, your entire group will stay in one village where you and a partner live in a simple and rustic home, constructed of wood or cement block. When hosted, not all homes will have electricity or indoor plumbing. 

In each destination we have in-country staff who identify potential communities and  interview and select each host family. Prior to the start of your program, one of your leaders makes an additional pre-trip visit to your community to meet with village leaders, members of the project committee, and all host families. 

At other points in the program, we will find ourselves in hotels, hostels, or even camping as the final itinerary indicates.

We present all students with a certificate noting the number of completed service hours. You will complete anywhere between 40 and 100 community service hours, depending on your program. Each school determines whether or not Global Routes service hours meet their requirements. We’re happy to communicate with your school service advisor ahead of time to answer any questions they may have about your service work.

We believe that limiting technology on a program builds better connections to ourselves, our peers, and our new environments. We appreciate that cell phones can be helpful when meeting your leader or parent on travel days and therefore we permit the use of cell phones for communication on the first and last days of your program ONLY. Cell phone use is not allowed during the entire course of the program Although this can be daunting at first, most students cite the lack of phones as one of their FAVORITE parts of the Global Routes summer program!

Global Routes stays in close contact with each program and receives updates every few days. We are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to our group leaders for the entire summer, and provide regular updates via email and blog posts to parents, guardians, and mentors back home. Additionally, students will have a few opportunities throughout the program to contact home by mail, email, and phone.

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