Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I fly into?
You will need to hop on two flights at least, usual transfer airports are Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Frankfurt, Instanbul, Delhi, Muscat. Travel time can be anywhere from 14 hours to 24 hours and more
Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
Yes. But it is quite easy to get your hands on. You can buy one at Tribhuvan International Airport once you arrive. Alternatively you can buy it on the border if approaching by land but be ready to pay in cash and have small change. You can pay in dollar, sterling, euro, Swiss Franc, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Hong Kong dollar and Japanese yen.
It’s important to note that you cannot pay with Nepalese or Indian rupee or a credit card to secure a visa. Sounds strange to not pay for visa in the host country’s currency, but be warned!
Visa costs vary on how long you plan to stay in Nepal. A 15 day visa costs $30, 30 days for $50 and 90 days for $125.
Last thing for your visa, remember to have an in date passport (at least six months) and a passport sized photo. This one’s easy to forget, we hope you don’t!
Check updated info here https://www.welcomenepal.com/plan-your-trip/visa-nepal-information.html
Ireland – There is no Nepalese embassy In Ireland but you can call 01 – 4869090 with visa queries.
UK – UK and Irish citizens can contact the Nepalese embassy on e-mail at eon@nepembassy.org.uk or call + 44-20-7229-1594 / 44-20-7229-6231 / 44-20-7229-5352
Do I need to get any injections?
There are a few you will need. But you may have them from previous trips abroad and may only need boosters. Click below to check them out on the Tropical Medical Bureau’s website: https://www.tmb.ie/destinations/vaccinations-for-nepal
What skills do I need to volunteer with Indreni?
If you feel like you want to volunteer then that’s enough for us. When you volunteer with Indreni you will spend time helping improve the lives of children, so this could be through teaching English in one of the schools. It could be teaching some songs to the children, dance and drama are always in demand too. Some volunteers have brought over instruments and taught the children to play guitar and generally grow a love for music. Computer skills of any kind are of huge benefit to the children.
No matter how unskilled or unprepared you think you are, you aren’t! At Indreni we know the value of someone giving up their time to help a child in poverty. That’s why we’d love to see you join us.
I’d like to volunteer abroad in Nepal but not in the school, what else can I do?
There are always ongoing projects happening that require help. Recently we finished a guest house for people to stay in while volunteering. Some volunteers helped build, plumb, paint, etc. (Don’t worry you can still camp out if you prefer looking up at the Himalayan stars at night.)
We are building a second home for children affected by poverty in Nepal. It will be right beside the main house and school. There are many many opportunities for skilled and unskilled volunteers here. If you have any queries about any aspect of volunteering abroad with us you can find contact details for us here https://www.indreni.org/contact/
How much money should I bring?
When you volunteer abroad with Indreni you pay for everything before you leave home (including flights – we get cheaper rates for groups). Your food (we take volunteers to different restaurants), your accommodation and all your travel is included in that. You may want to put money aside for buying souvenirs. A highlight for many of our volunteers is on the last day, each volunteer goes on a shopping trip with one to four children, buying them something they need or will treasure long after you’ve gone.
Do I need to bring a large group of volunteers with me?
Indreni are always trying new ways of helping grow the good work carried out in Nepal. Through people getting in touch over the years we have been able to establish different volunteer opportunities such as the Leadership Programme, the Corporate Programmes for company staff and the family programme. We also cater for people travelling with a friend or even alone.
How long do I have to volunteer abroad for?
When you volunteer abroad with Indreni we don’t really have a minimum or maximum amount of time you must spend with us. Usually people do at least a week and are sorry to leave us!
Will someone collect me from the airport in Kathmandu?
Yes. That is standard. You will receive a welcome like no other. Rum Hari the Indreni manager will collect you and bring you to your accommodation before visiting the children’s home. Once you arrive everything will be taken care of.
Where will I stay when I volunteer abroad? Who organises that?
You will stay in Kathmandu. We either go by car or by bike to Sundarijal to visit the children’s homes. There is a 6 hour drive to the village of Simthali in the Himalayan mountains where you will visit school children high up in the hills. Here you will stay in the newly built volunteer house. When you depart from Sundarijal you can trek downhill and take in the breathtaking views of the Himalayas.
Will I be volunteering all day?
No. Part of our volunteer abroad programme is experiencing Nepal. That means you will be brought to different sights and scenes, go for a bike ride, a climb and eat some amazing Nepalese food in the best authentic restaurants in Kathmandu and surrounding villages.
