Overview
Nepal offers a profound landscape of both natural majesty and human resilience. We invite you to join an intimate circle of travelers on a journey that goes far beneath the surface. This is more than travel; it is an elegant, thoughtfully paced exploration of systemic change, cultural heritage, and the universal pursuit of human dignity, led directly by the grassroots advocates reshaping the fabric of their nation’s future.
Designed specifically for curious, discerning, and socially engaged minds, this is an immersive opportunity to analyze the intersection of policy, ancient faith traditions, and modern constitutional rights.
In Nepal, members of the Dalit community—historically marginalized under ancient social stratifications—constitute an estimated 14% to 20% of the population. For generations, they have faced deep-rooted social exclusion and systemic barriers to education, employment, and property rights. Today, a powerful movement led by visionary grassroots organizations is actively reshaping the fabric of Nepali society. This trip grants you direct, high-level access to the individuals fueling this transformation through respectful, intellectual, people-to-people exchange.
Your experience begins in Kathmandu, where ancient temples and Buddhist stupas coexist with modern civil leadership. Basing the delegation at the tranquil, woodland sanctuary of Park Village Resort, you will explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites at an unhurried pace while engaging in private roundtable briefings with legal experts, educators, and advocates.
Midway through the journey, we step beyond policy into the welcoming rural village of Aapshawara. As guests of a community-run Dalit homestay program, you will share meals and stories while witnessing local resilience firsthand. Here, you can observe or participate in heritage craftsmanship—including intricate bamboo weaving, traditional ironwork, and regional music—while engaging in seminar-style discussions with women’s groups and youth clubs spearheading grassroots reform.
The delegation then travels overland by private road transport to the lakeside city of Pokhara. This driving route takes you directly through the rural valleys and hillside villages, leading to the foothills of the Annapurna Range. Here, you will spend time beside tranquil Phewa Lake and visit the hilltop World Peace Pagoda, offering spaces for group reflection.
From the hills, you will descend into the sub-tropical lowlands of Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO-listed sanctuary. By positioning ourselves in the quiet jungle during this window, the delegation stays outside of the massive holiday crowds and traffic filling the capital city center for the Maha Shivaratri festival. In Chitwan, you will experience nature through conservation-focused wildlife tracking via private 4×4 jeeps led by senior naturalists. You will also connect with the indigenous Tharu community, learning from community leaders about ancestral land rights, cultural preservation, and the delicate dynamics of human-wildlife coexistence.
Our journey culminates back in the Kathmandu Valley at Hotel Heritage Bhaktapur—an architectural property constructed from traditional bricks and historic wood carvings, allowing you to reside directly within the heritage area. Throughout the itinerary, time is set aside to optimize rest after travel segments. You will return home deeply enlightened, carrying an enduring understanding of our shared human desire for dignity, equity, and connection.
What’s Included
Accommodation
Accommodations in 3-4 star hotel and two nights in a clean, simple village homestay
Single Supplement
$375
Airport Transfers
In-country transportation
Honoraria for guest speakers, community leaders and cultural groups
Aadditional tipping is not discouraged if you feel inspired to do so
A direct community contribution supporting Dalit women’s groups and village initiatives
Preparatory materials
Meals
Breakfast and lunch daily with the exception of arrival and departure days or as indicated in the itinerary.
Note: Meals are freshly prepared using filtered water. Dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten-free, low spice, etc.) can be accommodated with advance notice once you register.
What’s Not Included
International airfare
Gratuities to guide and driver
travel insurance
Expenses of a purely personal nature
Optional Everest mountain flight (approx $220 USD)
Itinerary
Times and events subject to change
Welcome to Nepal. Upon clearing customs, you will be met by our private transport team and transferred to Park Village Resort. Tucked away at the edge of the northern hills in Budhanilkantha, this green woodland property offers clean air, expansive gardens, and a peaceful environment to rest after your long international travel.
Gather this evening for an intimate welcome dinner and introductory briefing with your fellow delegates.
Accommodation: Park Village Resort
Meals: Dinner Included
We begin the morning with an intensive, seminar-style briefing directly at our resort on Nepal’s Spiritual Tapestry & the Historical Roots of Caste, led by a prominent regional sociologist. This is followed by a private roundtable discussion with legal experts from civil society organizations, representatives from the National Dalit Commission, and human rights advocates to analyze the intersection of policy and modern constitutional rights.
In the afternoon, we set out for an unhurried tour of Patan Durbar Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here, we will examine ancient Newari craftsmanship and architectural preservation while contextualizing how history and social systems have shaped modern life in the valley.
Accommodation: Park Village Resort
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
We depart the Kathmandu Valley today via our private, air-conditioned vehicle to begin our overland travel into the mid-hills. We drive directly to the rural village of Aapshawara. We arrive as guests of the community-run homestay program, where you will share a traditional, freshly prepared meal and exchange stories with your local host family.
Accommodation: Aapshawara Community Homestay (Clean, simple village rooms)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner Included
Spend the day engaged in direct people-to-people exchange within the community. Meet with village women’s collectives and youth clubs to discuss local educational initiatives and organizational strategies against discrimination. You will have the opportunity to observe and learn about traditional Dalit craftsmanship, including bamboo weaving and ironwork, directly from local masters.
Accommodation: Aapshawara Community Homestay
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Included
Following breakfast with our host families, we board our private transport and continue our overland drive westward through the river valleys to the lakeside city of Pokhara. After checking into our hotel, the remainder of the day is set aside for rest, relaxation, and personal reflection after the travel segment. You can enjoy a quiet evening stroll along the flat lakeside boardwalk.
Accommodation: Temple Tree Resort & Spa (or similar comfortable boutique hotel)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
We spend the day exploring the scenic and spiritual landmarks of Pokhara. Enjoy a peaceful wooden boat cruise across the calm waters of Phewa Lake, followed by a drive up to the hilltop World Peace Pagoda. This tranquil site offers panoramic views of the Annapurna Range and serves as a dedicated space for group reflection on the themes of the journey.
Accommodation: Athithi Resort (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Included
We travel south via our private transport, descending from the hills into the subtropical plains of Chitwan National Park (UNESCO). By positioning ourselves in the quiet jungle today, our delegation stays entirely outside of the massive holiday crowds and traffic congestion filling the capital city center for the Maha Shivaratri festival. Settle into our riverside lodge and join an evening educational briefing on indigenous Tharu history and cultural preservation.
Accommodation: Sapana Lodge Resort (or similar comfortable jungle lodge)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Included
Experience nature through a conservation-focused lens. We embark on a 4×4 open-jeep wildlife safari led by senior naturalists to track the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros and local bird species. In the afternoon, meet with Tharu community leaders to discuss ancestral land rights, cultural heritage preservation, and the dynamics of human-wildlife coexistence. Conclude the day with a quiet sunset boat drift down the calm Rapti River.
Accommodation: Sapana Lodge Resort (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
We make our final overland journey back into the Kathmandu Valley. To ensure our guests avoid central city congestion, we bypass the core of Kathmandu completely and check straight into Hotel Heritage Bhaktapur. Constructed from traditional bricks and historic wood carvings, this property sits directly within the historic heritage area.
Celebrate our collective journey with a farewell dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Heritage Bhaktapur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Farewell Dinner Included
Enjoy a final relaxed morning exploring the historic streets of Bhaktapur at your own pace. Rooms are available for packing and resting until checkout. In the afternoon, board our private transport for the smooth transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your international flights home.
Meals: Breakfast Included
