Nepal essentials

Nepal is a country located in Southeast Asia, known for its diverse culture, geography, and history. It is bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east, and west.

This country encompasses a wide range of geographical zones, from the Terai plains in the south to the rugged peaks of the Himalayas in the north. Nepal is home to eight of the ten highest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth. This varied topography gives rise to a wide range of climates, from tropical in the lowlands to arctic in the high altitudes.

This diversity offers endless activities if you choose Nepal as your volunteer experience destination.

Today, we suggest some must-see places and activities during your adventure.

KATHMANDU

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, a city rich in history, culture, and spirituality. Here, you will find some of the most popular places that you can’t miss.

  • Durbar Square:

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to ancient temples, palaces, and the Kumari House. The Kumari Ghar is the residence of the living goddess Kumari, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of her at one of the palace windows. You can also visit Kasthamandap, an ancient wooden pavilion believed to have been built from a single tree, which gave the city its name. Lastly, the Taleju Temple is dedicated to the goddess Taleju Bhawani, worshipped by the Nepalese royal family.

  • Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple):

An ancient religious complex atop a hill west of the city, considered one of the most important religious sites for both Buddhists and Hindus. It offers panoramic views and is surrounded by monasteries, temples, and, of course, many monkeys.

  • Boudhanath Stupa:

One of the largest and most sacred Buddhist stupas in the world, this site is a significant place of pilgrimage and spirituality. Visitors can join the pilgrims in circumambulating the stupa while spinning prayer wheels.

  • Pashupatinath:

One of the most important Hindu temples, dedicated to Shiva. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River, it is famous for the cremation ceremonies held on the ghats along the river.

Only Hindus can enter the main temple, but visitors can observe the rituals from the opposite bank.

  • Thamel:

This is the tourist district of Kathmandu, filled with restaurants, shops, bars, and travel agencies. It’s a lively and colorful place, perfect for shopping, enjoying local and international cuisine, and diving into the city’s nightlife.

  • Garden of Dreams:

An oasis of peace in the midst of the city’s hustle and bustle, this historic garden has been restored and is an ideal spot to relax, read a book, or enjoy a coffee.

  • Asan Market:

A traditional market where you can find all sorts of products, from spices and fresh food to crafts and clothing. It is one of the oldest and most vibrant markets in Kathmandu.

POKHARA VALLEY

The Pokhara Valley is one of the most beautiful and popular destinations in Nepal, known for its spectacular natural scenery and stunning views of the Himalayas. Here, you can enjoy:

  • Phewa Lake:

The second-largest lake in Nepal offers a peaceful and picturesque experience. You can rent a boat and row to the island in the center of the lake, where the Tal Barahi Temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to the goddess Varahi, is located. On clear days, you can see the reflection of Machapuchare mountain in the lake’s waters, an iconic image of Pokhara.

  • – Sarangkot:

Sarangkot is one of the best places to watch the sunrise over the Himalayas. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and especially Machapuchare mountain. It’s also a famous spot for paragliding, offering incredible views of the valley and Phewa Lake.

  • Devi’s Fall (Patale Chhango):

This impressive waterfall has a peculiarity: it disappears into an underground tunnel. It’s a popular site that can be combined with a visit to the nearby Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, where a temple dedicated to Shiva is located inside.

  • World Peace Pagoda:

Situated on a hill southwest of Phewa Lake, this Buddhist pagoda offers panoramic views of Pokhara, Phewa Lake, and the Himalayas. You can reach it by walking, biking, or taking a boat and then hiking up the trail.

  • International Mountain Museum:

This museum is a must-visit for those interested in mountaineering and the geography of the Himalayas. It showcases information about the Himalayan peaks, Sherpa culture, and the expeditions that have reached their summits.

  • Bindhyabasini Temple:

An important temple dedicated to the goddess Bhagwati (a form of Durga). It is one of the oldest shrines in Pokhara and offers a beautiful view of the city and surrounding mountains.

  • Seti River Gorge:

The Seti River flows through a deep canyon in Pokhara, creating a gorge that is fascinating to see. You can visit it at various points in the city where the river is visible.

  • Old Bazaar:

Explore the oldest part of the city, where you can see traditional architecture and visit the local market to buy crafts, spices, and other typical products.

  • Trekking and Adventure:

Pokhara is the starting point for one of the world’s most famous treks, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, which offers spectacular views of the Himalayan peaks. The trails around Pokhara also offer exciting mountain biking routes, with landscapes ranging from green hills to snow-capped mountains.

TREKKING IN THE HIMALAYAS

The Himalayas are one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the world, stretching across five countries: Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan.

They contain Mount Everest, the highest point in the world at 8,848 meters, known as Sagarmatha in Nepal.

For those who aren’t experienced mountaineers, the trek to Everest Base Camp is an epic experience that offers stunning views of Everest and other Himalayan peaks.

As mentioned earlier, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is another option, offering close-up views of mountains like Annapurna I (8,091 meters) and Machapuchare (6,993 meters).

There are many other famous routes and peaks that will leave you speechless.

There are many other must-see places that you can’t miss, but we can save those for a second entry about Nepal, a wonderful country that will not leave you indifferent.

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UNIVERSITY PRACTICES

Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?

At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…

The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.

If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.

Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.

And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.

You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.

If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality. 

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.

It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity. 

Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.

Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.

We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.

We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.

The advantages of corporate volunteering include:

  • Improving communication.
  • Group unity.
  • Cultural integration in different situations.
  • Employee training.
  • Increased Corporate Social Responsibility.

The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.

If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. 

Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.

Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.

Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.

There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.

Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.

An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.

And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.

SENIOR VOLUNTEERING

At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.

There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.

Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.

We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.

It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.

Some of the benefits include:

  • Sense of purpose: Provides a sense of purpose by contributing your skills and experiences to meaningful causes.
  • Emotional well-being: Reduces feelings of isolation and establishes social connections.
  • Personal development: It’s continuous learning, skill development, and discovering new activities while keeping the mind-body active.
  • Physical health: Keeping active.
  • Stress reduction: The act of helping others reduces stress and contributes to mental health.

Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after. 

SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING

A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.

When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.

Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.

Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.

At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…

And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.

If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.