Building in Nepal School Trip
Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad has worked in Nepal for over 20 years, employing many local staff members. Through the efforts of our local teams and student volunteers, we have achieved much in community development projects, health, and education.You and your students will work alongside professional builders in constructing a classroom, digging foundations, building the walls and fitting and decorating the interior. You will learn many practical skills and, working hard as a team, have the satisfaction of making a meaningful contribution.
Your students will also engage with the local children, arranging and leading activities while soaking up the Nepali way of life and learning some language from the children.
There is a long list of schools requesting new and better learning spaces, so the project runs in different suburbs of Kathmandu. Your group will have the chance to work in places visitors usually never see, observing and learning about an authentic Nepali way of life.
You will stay in a hotel in the bustling centre of Kathmandu, travelling by minibus to work each day. The hotel will serve as a base for visiting the temples, shopping streets, or just watching life go by in this charming and awe-inspiring country's charismatic and ever-fascinating capital city.
Get immersed in the rich and vibrant culture of Nepal through captivating experiences that include witnessing traditional dances, engaging in meaningful conversations with locals, and savouring the authentic flavours of Nepali cuisine.
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Expedition Providers Association Tailor your trip Help promoting your trip Offset your trip carbon footprint
Example Itineraries for our 2026 & 2027 trips
Days 1 - 2
You will land at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, where our local Projects Abroad team will be waiting for you to drive you to the hotel in the city's Thamel district.
After settling in, you will receive a thorough induction on the project aims, expectations, safety and Nepali culture.
You will then embark on a guided walk around Thamel, familiarising everyone with your new environment and day-to-day life in the hectic city. Your group will also visit the building site, discuss plans and ensure that everything is ready to start the work the following day. On the way, you can stop to look at completed examples of classrooms and feel inspired!
Days 3 - 6
Building days ' Your group will be split into teams, each working on different tasks under the supervision of local builders and Projects Abroad staff. Working towards constructing classrooms for the local children, you will learn to prepare building materials, build walls, install roofing, and much more!
Everyone will take turns trying their hands at all tasks. The progress is usually visible quickly, which helps build enthusiasm and pride within your group.
There will also be opportunities to interact with the local children at the school. We will schedule activity sessions where you and the students may organise games or sports or support the children in English lessons, which will often become Nepali lessons for your group at the same time.
Throughout the week, Projects Abroad will coordinate your group's late afternoon and evening activities, such as dancing and cooking lessons, henna painting, quizzes, visits to temples, and staff-led shopping expeditions.
Days 7 - 9
Pokhara is a stunning hill town with incredible views towards the Annapurna Ranges of the Himalayas. You will travel by bus to Pokhara, which is a five-hour drive, stopping for snacks and sightseeing along the way.
After checking in at your hotel, you will start on an orientation around the town. The group may do activities on the famous Phewa Lake, watch the sunset over the mountains and watch a show.
The following day will be busy with visits to caves, temples, and Sarangkot above Pokhara. From here, you can see amazing views back down to the lake and across to some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.
After a relaxing couple of days embracing the spectacular mountain scenery, your group will drive back to Kathmandu and spend the afternoon resting or shopping and getting ready for the resumption of building the following day.
Days 10 - 13
Back to your building work, which you should be able to complete during your stay. In the second week, you can start decorating the classrooms' interiors and completing the structure (roofing done by local builders).
There will be more engagement with the local children and more evening activities.
Dinner will be enjoyed at different restaurants, allowing you and your students to sample Nepali cuisine, including the Nepali version of some more familiar dishes.
On day 13, you will attend a farewell party at the school, followed by a last dinner in the city to make some final memories together and reflect on your achievements. There will then be one more debriefing session and a discussion on their stay and the lessons they have learned.
Day 14
If there is time, do some last-minute shopping before the local team takes your group back to Tribhuvan airport in time for departure after a job well done.
As you leave Nepal, please know you will always be welcome back. We look forward to seeing what you and your students accomplish in the future.
You will land at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, where our local Projects Abroad team will be waiting for you to drive you to the hotel in the city's Thamel district.
After settling in, you will receive a thorough induction on the project aims, expectations, safety and Nepali culture.
You will then embark on a guided walk around Thamel, familiarising everyone with your new environment and day-to-day life in the hectic city. Your group will also visit the building site, discuss plans and ensure that everything is ready to start the work the following day. On the way, you can stop to look at completed examples of classrooms and feel inspired!
Days 3 - 6
Building days ' Your group will be split into teams, each working on different tasks under the supervision of local builders and Projects Abroad staff. Working towards constructing classrooms for the local children, you will learn to prepare building materials, build walls, install roofing, and much more!
Everyone will take turns trying their hands at all tasks. The progress is usually visible quickly, which helps build enthusiasm and pride within your group.
There will also be opportunities to interact with the local children at the school. We will schedule activity sessions where you and the students may organise games or sports or support the children in English lessons, which will often become Nepali lessons for your group at the same time.
Throughout the week, Projects Abroad will coordinate your group's late afternoon and evening activities, such as dancing and cooking lessons, henna painting, quizzes, visits to temples, and staff-led shopping expeditions.
Days 7 - 9
Pokhara is a stunning hill town with incredible views towards the Annapurna Ranges of the Himalayas. You will travel by bus to Pokhara, which is a five-hour drive, stopping for snacks and sightseeing along the way.
After checking in at your hotel, you will start on an orientation around the town. The group may do activities on the famous Phewa Lake, watch the sunset over the mountains and watch a show.
The following day will be busy with visits to caves, temples, and Sarangkot above Pokhara. From here, you can see amazing views back down to the lake and across to some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.
After a relaxing couple of days embracing the spectacular mountain scenery, your group will drive back to Kathmandu and spend the afternoon resting or shopping and getting ready for the resumption of building the following day.
Days 10 - 13
Back to your building work, which you should be able to complete during your stay. In the second week, you can start decorating the classrooms' interiors and completing the structure (roofing done by local builders).
There will be more engagement with the local children and more evening activities.
Dinner will be enjoyed at different restaurants, allowing you and your students to sample Nepali cuisine, including the Nepali version of some more familiar dishes.
On day 13, you will attend a farewell party at the school, followed by a last dinner in the city to make some final memories together and reflect on your achievements. There will then be one more debriefing session and a discussion on their stay and the lessons they have learned.
Day 14
If there is time, do some last-minute shopping before the local team takes your group back to Tribhuvan airport in time for departure after a job well done.
As you leave Nepal, please know you will always be welcome back. We look forward to seeing what you and your students accomplish in the future.
Which Curriculum Subjects do we cater for?
Cultural
During this two-week programme, you and your students will be fully immersed in the Nepali culture. Our cultural sensitivity training will provide you with the tools and insight about customs and culture you will need during your stay. You will learn more about the local community by working with builders, our Projects Abroad team and the school children.
You will also visit areas of Nepal full of history and learn a new language.
Design Technology
Your students will learn how to plan the construction of an earthquake-resistant classroom before entering the building phase, from creating the structure plans and design to decorating the finished room.
Geography
What better way to study geography than to travel to a different country? Your students will be able to experience a different culture and discover an environment that they have only read about in their textbooks until now. Discover mountain ranges and impressive caves and learn about Phewa Lake, one of the largest lakes in Nepal!
Architecture
Working alongside local builders, your students will work on a renovation project for a school. They will learn how to:
- Create classroom designs resistant to earthquakes and quick to build
- Choose the right materials
- Dig foundations
- Build and fit the walls
- Decorate the interior
Activities
Engage in social and cultural activities on the weekend to learn more about Nepali culture and traditions!
Participate in a cooking class to make Momo dumplings, explore the local area, and learn yoga, making unique memories together as you go.
What size groups do we cater for?
All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place for every 9 students.
Access for visitors with disabilities?
Disabled facilities can be offered on request.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Visitors with special educational needs can be catered for on request.
Anything else?
Projects Abroad holds the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge and operates in compliance with BS 8848 standards for overseas activities. For school leaders and governors, this means the programme meets recognised national benchmarks.
We provide comprehensive risk assessments, safeguarding policies, and approval-ready documentation for every trip, supporting SLT, governor, and district approval processes. The team that plans your trip is the team on the ground when you arrive.
By travelling with us, you also contribute positively to local economies, environmental protection, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Don't take our word for it; we're B Corporation Certified! We're committed to setting the new sustainability standard in school travel by offsetting 110% of carbon emissions associated with your in-destination programming.
Our Partnerships Team is happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!
We provide comprehensive risk assessments, safeguarding policies, and approval-ready documentation for every trip, supporting SLT, governor, and district approval processes. The team that plans your trip is the team on the ground when you arrive.
By travelling with us, you also contribute positively to local economies, environmental protection, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Don't take our word for it; we're B Corporation Certified! We're committed to setting the new sustainability standard in school travel by offsetting 110% of carbon emissions associated with your in-destination programming.
Our Partnerships Team is happy to answer any queries and guide you through the process of booking the school trip of a lifetime!
Who are Projects Abroad?
Since 1992, Projects Abroad has helped young people step beyond the familiar and discover what they're truly capable of. As a global leader in educational travel, we've partnered with over 500 schools to deliver transformative school trips that help shape students' passions, careers, and futures.
We realise that each school has its own goals and interests, and the students have their own interests. We work with every school to develop a tailored itinerary that reflects their values and allows the students to make a connection with the community in which they serve.
We're proud of our dedicated in-country staff whose diverse skill sets, local knowledge and love of their community allow us to develop relevant, immersive and worthwhile schedules for school trips. These experiences give the students responsibility and teach them to see the world through a different lens.
The result is a trip that students remember long after they've left school, and one that reflects well on the school that made it possible!
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Expedition Providers Association Tailor your trip Help promoting your trip Offset your trip carbon footprint
Addressing the "comfort crisis": Why students need the challenge of the unfamiliar
Resilience Feature
As educators, we’ve all seen the shift. While today’s students are often more academically driven and digitally connected than any previous generation, many are navigating what experts call a "comfort crisis."
> readWhy Climate-conscious school trips matter: A guide for educators
Environmental Geography Feature
Discover how schools can plan climate-conscious overseas trips that inspire students, protect the planet, and build lasting global responsibility.
> readTop 4 Conservation School Trips
Conservation Feature
Take your students for a walk on the wild side with a conservation school trip overseas!
> read
Subscribe
