Thanks for a fantastic time out here, fingers crossed I can get back out soon!

(Africamper)

Adventure Alternatives

The Expedition, Trek, Safari and Gap company. Professional, ethical adventure holidays around the world

Adventure Alternatives

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Gap Year - Nepal - General Info

Why Gap in Nepal for Adventure Alternative?

Gavin Bate (founder of Adventure Alternative) has guided expeditions around the world, including three Everest Expeditions. He was the organiser and leader of the Millennium Seven Summits Expedition, which climbed the highest peak on each of the seven continents, in under one year; a world record. He has been organising and leading expeditions for sixteen years.

Adventure Alternative came about through a need to formalise the different aspects of Gavin’s travelling life. The company has expanded to have branches in Belfast, Nairobi, Moscow and Kathmandu.

The central tenet of Adventure Alternative is our commitment to provide a really good service for everyone from climbers to trekkers to travellers, and to make lasting investments in the host countries which will genuinely create employment and development and initiate community projects.

Safety and responsibility

We provide extensive back-up for our treks in Nepal, including porters, cooks, sirdars and guides, to ensure your comfort and safety in the high altitude environments you will be trekking through.

Spending time in a Himalayan mountain village will give you the experience of living in a different culture. It will be a real step back in time for you, the mountain lifestyle is very slow and peaceful, dictated by the passing of the seasons. The Sherpa people are friendly, gentle and very religious. Their communities are centred around the monastery and they lead very traditional, ritualistic lives. You will learn a lot about Tibetan Buddhism and it is important to respect the Sherpas’ beliefs and way of life.

During your independent travel, you will find Nepal is generally a very safe place to travel through and the people very helpful and kind. Crime is not common in Nepal. These are poor people but, in the mountains especially, you will find them proud and honest. That is not to say that in Kathmandu there is not the danger of being hit by a fast moving rickshaw!

If you do decide to travel into India you will find it an extraordinary sensory experience. India can be very overwhelming for some people, especially after the relaxed pace of life in Nepal. Having said that, on the whole you will find people helpful and decent. Finding places to stay is really very easy and we can help you plan your trip. There is plenty of public transport from the border at Gorakhpur to Delhi, from where you can make a day trip to the Taj Mahal at Agra, or plan a longer trip further afield .

Fundraising

We help you with advice and can provide you with letters of support and certificates of involvement but we do not raise the money for you. That is your job and there are many resources available to you. It will require a lot of effort and commitment which is part of the Gap experience. We will not leave you out there in the cold though, we are always available to talk and offer advice.

You need to sit down and divide the costs of the trip into manageable chunks. Work out what you can put in, how much you can raise through work, what your parents can help you with, your relatives, your friends. Then look at how much you can raise through sponsorship, through community support (e.g. Rotary Club, businesses) and from grants (there are many, but it takes research and time to find and apply for them).

Then look at your timing, look at what you could borrow if it came to it. Brainstorm a series of fundraisers; no-uniform day, dinners, quizzes, bedpushes, sponsored events, themed parties, fashion shows etc. Then start writing letters and make yourself a portfolio. Get the local paper to feature you in an article, go on the radio, run a competition with a prize donated by a shop (the better the prize, the more people the competition will attract) and put posters up asking for help. Work weekends if you want to but make sure you don't jeopardise your studies. Above all get the support of your parents and their friends. You’ll probably find they would love to get together and run a jumble sale, car boot sale, garden fete or fundraising dinner. Organising all this should be a great experience and a steep learning curve.

Insurance

You will need to organise your own travel insurance and you must give us the details when the policy is in place. You only need a standard travel policy for this trip.

Politics

Nepal has been in the press a great deal recently, however this has not affected the running of our placements.Nowadays the political situation is one of peace with the Maoists having renounced their militaristic tactics. We have never had any problem with any of our clients in Nepal.

Payments

You need to pay a deposit of £250.00 if you are accepted onto the placement scheme with us, and we then operate a system of instalments. The final balance must be paid at least 8 weeks prior to departure. All monies are kept in a secure client account.

All payments must be made in sterling or euro to Adventure Alternative Ltd. We can provide you with our bank details if you wish to make a transfer. All payments will receive a receipt which will indicate amount paid and balance remaining. You can also pay online through our website.

Adventure Alternative is a Limited Company and a registered tour and expedition company with full tour operator, employer’s liability and public liability insurance.