This 12-day program balances community project work with substantive cultural exploration in the Kathmandu Valley. It's structured for school groups that want a real contribution component but also want to see more of Nepal's heritage cities beyond a one-day pass-through. The itinerary gives both roughly equal weight.
Two days open in Kathmandu covering the main UNESCO World Heritage sites: Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River. Then the project week begins, five days working at a local community school on playground maintenance, classroom painting, and structured exchange sessions with Nepali students. These aren't drop-in visits. Students build relationships with the same kids over multiple days, which changes the nature of the interaction.
After the project, the group moves to Bhaktapur, the most intact medieval city in Nepal, for a full day that includes a hands-on pottery session at Bhaktapur's Pottery Square. Local potters have been working this craft continuously here for centuries. Students throw clay on traditional wheels under instruction from working artisans, not a demo. Bhaktapur's Durbar Square, Peacock Window, and 55-Window Palace give a dense afternoon of architecture and history. The tour returns to Kathmandu for the final day and departure. For a program that adds a mountain trek, see our school adventure tour. For a purely project-focused program, see our service learning trip.
Duration: 12 days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu) | Program Level: Suitable for all fitness levels — no outdoor experience required | Best Season: October-November, March-May (avoid major public holidays) | Group Size: Minimum 8 students | Includes: Kathmandu heritage tour, 5-day school project, Bhaktapur, pottery workshop, licensed guides
All of our holidays are completely tailor-made and prices will vary based on things like when in the year you will be travelling (High season, Low season), how far in advance you book, the number of people travelling in your group, the level of accommodation you choose etc. Please click on the next tab (INQUIRY/ BOOKING) and send us your inquiry. We will reply you with cost and other necessary details within 24 hours.
What does the school project involve?
5 days at a local community school: playground maintenance, classroom painting, and interactive sessions with Nepali students. Project activities are coordinated with the school in advance so students are doing useful work, not observing.
What is the pottery workshop in Bhaktapur?
Bhaktapur's Pottery Square is one of the few places in Nepal where traditional wheel pottery is still practiced at scale. Students spend hands-on time with working potters, not a demonstration. A directly practical cultural experience.
How does this differ from the service learning trip?
This tour (12 days) adds Bhaktapur and the pottery workshop as substantial itinerary components alongside the project. The Service Learning Trip (11 days) focuses more heavily on the project with fewer cultural side activities.
Can we customise the project type?
Yes. Project activities can be adjusted to match your group's skills and objectives. Contact us with group size, age range, and dates and we'll confirm what's available.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
TripAdvisor