• 💰 Program Fee Transparency: Where Does Your Money Go?

  We believe in complete transparency. As a locally run program, we ensure that the vast majority of your program fees stay right here in Nepal, directly supporting your daily living logistics, local staff, and the community animal welfare projects you are working on.

  Here is exactly how your financial contribution is utilized to host you safely and responsibly:

  🏠 1. Host Family Accommodation & Daily Meals

  A significant portion of your fee goes directly to your local Nepalese host family. This safely covers:

  • Your Room: A clean, comfortable, and secure living space within a welcoming home environment.

  • Daily Meals: 2 to 3 freshly prepared, authentic home-cooked meals every single day (breakfast and dinner with your host family, plus lunch options). This ensures your basic needs are fully taken care of from the moment you arrive.

  🚗 2. Seamless Airport Transfers

  Arriving in a new country can be overwhelming, so we eliminate the stress entirely. Your fee covers:

  • Arrival Pickup: A friendly team representative meeting you directly outside the arrivals terminal at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) to drive you straight to your host family.

  • Departure Drop-off: Reliable transport back to the airport at the end of your placement to ensure you catch your flight home safely.

  💼 3. In-Country Support & Project Coordination

  To maintain a high-quality, structured, and sustainable program, a portion of the fee funds the underlying infrastructure:

  • 24/7 Coordinator Support: Fair wages for our dedicated local coordinators who manage your placement, lead your cultural orientation, and are available around the clock for any emergencies.

  • Clinic Partnerships: Managing logistics, administration, and support with our partner government-registered private vet clinics and animal hospitals.

  ⚠️ What is NOT Included (Extra Expenses)

  To help you budget accurately for your time in Kathmandu, please note that the following items are not covered by the standard program fee and will be your responsibility:

  • Daily Commute to the Clinic: The daily local transport costs (taxis, local buses, or micro-buses) to travel between your host family home and your assigned veterinary clinic or hospital.

  • Personal Beverages & Snacks: Any bottled water, sodas, alcoholic beverages, coffee shop visits, or extra snacks purchased outside of your provided family meals.

  • Weekend Travel & Sightseeing: Entry tickets to heritage sites, museum fees, day hikes, or any adventure tours (though your host family's sister company, Good Karma Trekking, can help you book these reliably at the best local rates!).

  • Flights, Visas, & Insurance: Your international airfare, Nepal tourist visa fees, and mandatory personal travel/medical insurance.

🛬 Airport Pickup & Arrival Logistics

Arriving in a busy new city can feel a bit overwhelming, but you have absolutely nothing to worry about. From the moment your flight touches down at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, our team handles your logistics so you can step straight into your adventure with peace of mind.

🛂 Step 1: Visa on Arrival

Before exiting the airport, you will need to process your Nepalese entry visa. Most international volunteers easily obtain a Tourist Visa on Arrival.

• The Process: You can pre-fill the online form on the official Nepal Department of Immigration website up to 15 days before landing (highly recommended to save time), or use the electronic kiosk machines inside the arrival hall.

• The Fees: You will pay the visa fee at the designated bank counter before proceeding to the immigration desks.

  • 15 Days: USD 30

  • 30 Days: USD 50

  • 90 Days: USD 125

• 💡 Pro Tip: We strongly advise carrying clean, crisp USD cash to pay your visa fee. While card machines are available, they can occasionally experience network delays during peak landing hours.

🎒 Step 2: Collecting Your Baggage

Once immigration stamps your passport, head downstairs to the ground floor to collect your luggage from the carousels. After grabbing your bags, you will pass them through a final quick X-ray security check just before stepping out into the main arrival lounge.

👋 Step 3: Spotting Your Coordinator

🚨 Crucial Arrival Guidelines

⚠️ Say "No Thank You" to Unofficial Porters: Inside and outside the terminal, independent luggage handlers or unofficial taxi drivers may try to grab your bags or offer rides. Politely but firmly decline them. Our official representative will never ask a stranger to carry your bags, and our pickup service is completely free!

• Flight Delays: We track your flight status live. If your flight is delayed or rescheduled, our driver will automatically adjust and be waiting for you whenever you land.

• Submit Details Early: Please share your confirmed flight numbers, airline, and exact arrival times with the coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to departure.

🏠 Accommodation & Living Arrangements

Living with a local family is one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering abroad. It completely transforms your trip from a standard holiday into a deep, authentic cultural immersion.

Our volunteers stay with a welcoming, experienced Nepalese host family in Kathmandu. You won't just be a guest; you will be treated as an extension of the family, sharing daily life, laughter, and stories under the same roof.

🛏️ Your Room & Facilities

Our homestay provides a safe, comfortable, and clean environment situated in a peaceful residential area of the Kathmandu Valley, away from the heavy tourist traffic.

• The Space: You will stay in a bright, cozy room equipped with clean bedding and blankets. Depending on current project capacity, you may have your own private room or comfortably share with a fellow international volunteer of the same gender.

• Modern Conveniences: Unlike highly remote rural areas, our Kathmandu homestay features more developed amenities, including continuous running water, Western-style flushing toilets, and access to Wi-Fi to keep in touch with family back home.

• Rooftop Views: Enjoy access to the family rooftop—a peaceful place to relax with a book, dry your laundry, and look out over the colorful cityscape of Kathmandu against the backdrop of the surrounding valley hills.

💡 Good to Know: Adapting to Local Life

To make sure you settle in smoothly, keep these simple aspects of Nepalese household life in mind:

• Resourcefulness: Like much of Nepal, electricity and hot water can occasionally fluctuate. Bringing a headlamp/torch is highly recommended for moving around comfortably if the power goes out temporarily.

• Personal Spaces: To maintain a clean and hygienic home environment, volunteers manage their own personal laundry and are expected to keep their bedrooms tidy and clean.

• Respecting House Rules: Out of respect for your host family and the recovering animals nearby, our facility and homestay maintain a strict no smoking and no alcohol policy inside the premises.

🍛 Daily Meals & The True Taste of Nepal

Your program fee includes 2 to 3 freshly prepared meals every single day, offering a wonderful introduction to authentic Nepalese cuisine:

• 🥣 Breakfast & Dinner (With Your Host Family): You will gather with the family to enjoy home-cooked meals. These shared moments are the heart of the homestay experience—the perfect time to chat about your day or learn a few words in Nepali. You will frequently enjoy Dal Bhat (the nutritious national staple of rice, lentil soup, flavorful vegetable curries, and pickles), along with local breads, eggs, and hot tea.

• 🍛 Lunch (At the Hospital/Clinic): During the workweek, your lunch break takes place directly at your assigned veterinary project site. You can step away from the clinic floor to eat, recharge, and bond with the local veterinary staff and fellow volunteers.

🌱 Dietary Requirements: Vegetarian? Vegan? Glutan-free or have specific food allergies? No problem at all! Just let our coordinator know before you arrive, and your host family will gladly adjust their cooking to accommodate your dietary needs safely.