(Paused) ARCC Gap: Himalaya - Nepal & India

Name: (Paused) ARCC Gap: Himalaya - Nepal & India
Brand: ARCC Programs
SKU: 64720
Rating: 4.67 (3 reviews)

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4.67 Rating

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Location

Multiple Locations +2

Nepal
India

Length

4 - 26 weeks

Program Tags

Adventure Travel Conservation Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Post-High School Social Justice Volunteer Abroad Wilderness

Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility, BIPOC funding

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Program Details

Activities

Animal Viewing Backpacking City Exploring Farming Hiking Mountain Climbing Remote Exploring Sightseeing Surfing Swimming Trekking

Timeframe

Fall Spring

Housing

Guesthouse Host Family Hostel Hotel Lodge Tent

Primary Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Starting Price

15500

Price Details

Program tuition includes accommodations, transportation, food, and activities once participants are in-country. International airfare is additional.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Some Equipment Meals Park Fees Tour Guide

What's Not Included

Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: May 18, 2023

Last Reviewed: Dec 19, 2019

Wish List

3 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Embark on the journey of a lifetime as we experience the rich cultures, numerous religions, ancient histories, and indefatigable energy of Nepal and India. Coming together with two different environmental organizations, we work hand in hand with local conservationists to study the threats to the survival of the majestic snow leopard and the endangered sloth bear. Trekking through the mystical mountain trails of Annapurna, we test our endurance inspired by the glacial peaks of the Nepali Himalayas. Stepping foot onto a unique demonstration farm, we learn about a well-known bio-intensive farming technique that has been adapted to Nepal’s climate, soil, and landscape to benefit local farmers. Rising early from our Buddhist monastery for morning yoga, we spend our days learning the great practice of meditation. After living in and exploring two of the world's most fascinating regions, we leave our semester with broader perspectives and a new excitement to learn.

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with ARCC Programs for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Video and Photos

Visit Historic and Spiritual Monuments of the Himalaya

Students Working in the Demonstration Farm

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Diversity & Inclusion

ARCC Programs believes that social responsibility is an essential aspect of our programming and business operations. We strongly believe that cultural immersion, cross-cultural conversations, and reflection on these experiences can increase self-awareness, promote empathy, and foster growth. We recognize that our staff, student, and participant body is not as diverse as we would hope. We also recognize that there are inherent imbalances in access, particularly when it comes to international travel and outdoor experiences. Recognizing the current imbalances and accessibility issues within the world and more specifically within experiential/outdoor education/gap year programs, we are able to move towards a more just and inclusive world.

ARCC is committed to increasing accessibility for our programs and supporting socioeconomic diversity within our community. ARCC’s Voyagers Scholarship provides up to five scholarship opportunities per semester to students who identify within the BIPOC community. These scholarships can range anywhere from $5,000-$8,000, and also include gear lending and mentorship support throughout the gap year experience. The Voyagers Scholarship can also be combined with ARCC Financial Aid.

Learn More

Our Essential Eligibility Criteria outlines the requirements for participation in our programs to determine if our programs are a good fit for each student. While ARCC Gap is not a therapeutic program, we do provide an inclusive environment for students with neurodivergence. We have had students with various diagnosed neuro-differences (such as dyslexia, ADHD, ASD, TS, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, etc) find success on our gap semester programs.

During our interview process, we have open communication with students and families about the support ARCC instructors are able to provide students while on program. For students needing some additional support, we ask them to complete a “Plan of Action” with their at home support system. These plans may include additional information about communication/support preferences, coping strategies, and/or specific requirements to encourage the student to engage with the program effectively. Once on the program, our instructors will periodically check in individually with each student, help the student stay accountable to their Plan of Action, and provide general support to all participants.

ARCC Gap Travels to locations around the world that have varying levels of accommodations for students needing accessibility support. For this reason, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria to see if our gap programs are a good fit for you.

Whenever possible (determined by specific location and program - ie. infrastructure, access to specific health care facilities, dietary options available, etc), we have successfully assisted students with anaphylactic allergies, chronic medical conditions, and other accommodations on programs. We recommend that you reach out with specific concerns to your Gap Director to find the right fit for you.

Impact

At ARCC Programs we recognize that all human action impacts our physical environment and the living beings on the planet. Everything on Earth plays a role in supporting life and we believe that it is our responsibility to have a net positive impact with our actions. We strive to balance the impacts of our programming by partnering with communities and organizations with similar goals toward bettering our planet for future generations.

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ARCC believes that we (as an industry) need to shift the way we think about international service. We (as a society) have now come to realize that international volunteers often benefit from their service experience, while the impact on the community can be short-lived or even harmful. We at ARCC are taking the years of experience that we have in the international service learning realm, have reflected on previous mistakes, learned from our in-country partners, and have made changes. Our goal is to live, work, and learn alongside community members while also making a positive impact. We are committed to partnering with local community-driven organizations to focus on reciprocity while contributing to established long-term projects. It is our responsibility to engage in mutually beneficial community-driven projects and teach fair trade learning principles to our students.

Program Highlights

Trek the Peaks and Valleys of Nepal’s Annapurna Mountain Range
Shadow Monks during a Buddhist Monastery Stay in the Nepali Mountains
Partner with Organizations Working to Conserve the Sloth Bear, Indian Elephant, and Snow Leopard
Watch the Sun Rise over the World-Renowned Taj Mahal
Learn about Sustainable Farming through Hands on Learning at a Demonstration Farm

Current Jobs

View the latest job postings by ARCC Programs.

Lead Summer Adventure Travel Programs

United States of America

Posted
2 months ago

ARCC Programs

Program Reviews

4.67 Rating

based on 3 reviews

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Rating Spread Gap Year

5 rating 66.67%
4 rating 33.33%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Housing 5
Support 5
Fun 4.7
Value 5
Safety 4.7

Good for Students, Adventure travelers

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

This program was one of the most interesting, difficult, fun, and rewarding experiences I've had throughout my life. To get you through the difficult parts though, is a extremely helpful well prepared staff, both in the office and with you on the program. This program is extremely group oriented yet manages to build your sense if independence throughout the semester. On this trip, you will need to be prepared to see a lot of devastation in some of the poorer communities you will volunteer in. These experiences completely shifted my world view and I now feel so much more aware in my daily life. Over all, I highly recommend this program- you will get to do really incredible things like living in a Tibetan Buddhist community, or being up close to Sloth Bears and Elephants all while meeting incredible locals.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

For me one of the most scary parts of the trip would have to be the Mardi-Himal Trek. I'm someone who lives at sea level and only does yoga for exercise so this was a big personal challenge for me. I expressed my concerns to my leaders and group (who almost all had trekking experience) and was met with so much support. I'm really proud of myself for overcoming that obstacle and really grateful for the support the group provided me that helped me get through it.

The view from our second hostel on the trip

The women in our rural Nepali village homestay

This program is filled with fun activities, volunteering, and learning not only about a different culture but also about yourself. In the beginning of my search to find gap semester programs, I was overwhelmed with so many options that all had amazing itineraries. I narrowed it down to 3 and tried to figure out which one had projects that focused on issues that I was interested in, adventurous activities, and learning but not super academic (I wanted to learn by doing and experiencing not just sitting and reading about the countries that we were in). One program that I liked was more rustic then others but it was only in Nepal and I wanted to experience India as well. Another program had more adventures like hiking and rafting but I felt like they weren’t getting immersed in the culture as much as this ARCC program. This program had the right balance of academics with reading different articles and experiential learning. This program also had the right balance of adventurous activities like hiking and rafting but also service and having down time. I also really enjoyed it being in two different countries. I took this program in the fall semester and for me it was important to start my year off with a structured program where I was immersed in the culture, had fun, and learned something new. That all happened within ARCC Himalaya and I am very happy that I chose this program.

One of my favorite memories from this trip was staying with a family in rural Nepal celebrating Dasain, a Hindu festival. The family I stayed with were so kind and always wanted to talk about in what ways our cultures were different, sports, and our interests. Even though I was fed pounds of dal bhat (lentils and rice) where I need to be rolled out of the room, I was so happy talking to my brother and sisters and learning about their culture and how they celebrate Dasain. Other favorites were doing hands on work caring for sloth bears at Wildlife SOS in India, talking with women at Her Farm about women’s issues in Nepal, and learning about Tibetan refugees at a monastery in Nepal. I also enjoyed the time spent with our group where we had deep conversations about life, made each other laugh, and created memories that I will never forget.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Before you go on this trip some things to know is that you will be traveling a lot by bus, plane, or tuk tuk and sometimes it will be exhausting because is order to see all the amazing sites we would need to wake up at like 3am but it’s worth it in the end. Another thing that you should know is that there isn’t a lot of independent time. This makes sense because we were traveling in a small group in an unknown country where we didn’t speak the language well, so I understand why we didn’t have a ton of independent time. Also I was able to get some alone time here and there but just something to note. One of my highlights on this trip was the Annapurna trek in Nepal, even though it was shorter then I would have liked. If you love hiking like me this trek was too short, but the views were still spectacular. If you are looking for a backpacking trip, this isn’t it. But, if you are looking for a program that immerses you into the culture while also going on a small, but worth while, trek then this is the one. I also brought too much stuff, all you really need is one hiking pants, one comfortable pants, a hiking shirt, 2 comfortable shirts, underwear, and 3 pairs of socks (hiking and normal), jacket, water filtration, toiletries, and a journal. You don’t need a sleeping pad, rash guard (it was nice to have but I only wore it once out of the 3 months), and heavy hiking boots (bring lightweight hiking boots). Pack light and bring some money to buy cheap and cool clothing (I got a really cool shirt for $4) and toiletries. Another thing to note is to keep an open mind and try new things. The culture is different, food is different (and delicious), and dress is different. You will see and do things that are outside your comfort zone but do it because that is how you grow. If you are thinking about taking a gap year be brave and do it. I grew as a leader and as a person on this trip, and if you are willing to step outside your comfort zone and try something new go on this program because it will give you a new perspective on life.

It was such a great time I learned a lot about myself and the world. The activities we did were great and the people were even better. I’m so glad I chose the Nepal and India gap semester it was great. I had such a good experience and I met my best friends as well college can wait but the world won’t. But this is a way to figure out whether you want to travel or not. The places we went were great we saw the Taj Mahal and we went to wildlife sos where we got to see elephants and bears and built them the greatest playground. I rate my experience as one of the best and I hope that anyone else can experience it too because it was the greatest and I wouldn’t regret it ever it helped me get a head start on my future and I hope it does the same for someone else.

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

group of travelers smiling

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my most memorable traveling experiences was this past Summer working with ARCC. We were in Ecuador in a rural mountain village and spent the whole day working side by side with locals to build a new community center. After a long day, we started playing a big game of futbol in the village center with dozens of ARCC students and locals watching and cheering. After the game, we had a big community dinner, shared stories of home, and went to bed prepared to do it all again the next day!

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

Southeast Asia is a really popular destination, but I feel it is still underrated because people feel like they can go spend 2 weeks in Thailand and get the full experience. There is so much to see! The concentration of different countries, cultures, destinations, outdoor activities, historical sites, and marine life is incredible. Each time I visit I'm amazed by how friendly the people are and how much there is to see!

In contrast, I think the most overrated destination is probably Australia. A great place to travel on your own and work in, but if you're going to fly all the way across the Pacific then I think it is a little too similar to the US for my taste.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The philosophy of the staff and ownership in the culture they want to create and objectives they want to achieve. Some companies get too big and lose sight of the transformative experiences they offer on an individual scale. Money also can become a big motivating factor for others. I believe the best companies are able to put the same effort and heart into each trip whether it's their longest running trip in California or their brand new trip to a remote destination.

It is a philosophy that must permeate from the owner, to the office, and all the way down to the seasonal leaders. This is something I experienced firsthand and was so impressed by ARCC for accomplishing each day from training to trips and gap semesters!

What unique qualities does your company possess?

ARCC is unique in how involved every person at every level is with each trip and program. There is such a family vibe and mentality that starts with the owners who are present throughout training and execution of trips to the office staff who plan and oversee.

From day one, you feel like a family member of the ARCC community and that same mentality is passed on from the leaders to the students. You want each and every student to be proud to be a part of the culture, history, and family that has made ARCC so amazing over the years.

Every trip, employee, and student is equally important to the success of the company, and it is this ownership that each instructor brings and passes on to the students, which makes them feel even more empowered by the experience.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of your current team.

This past summer was my first staff training and I was nervous going into such a new experience. I arrived in California and was surrounded by 50 like-minded individuals with incredible leadership abilities, emotional depth, intellect, and positivity. I was inspired by every person I met from the owners, to the office staff, to other brand new instructors.

It was so empowering to find myself in that community for a full week of leadership training as we all developed and prepared together. We learned from each other, supported each other, and felt confidence that every leader was ready for the excitement and challenges that each trip would offer. As we finished training and began preparing to depart for our trips I felt this immense moment of pride to be a part of such a positive and supportive team and already knew I wanted to come back again and again!

About ARCC Programs

ARCC has been offering summer and gap programs for young adults since 1983. We offer an opportunity to live and learn in some of the greatest classrooms on earth. Our programs take students on a journey of discovery of local peoples, places, cultures and ideas through project-based learning, rich cultural immersion, personal reflection and...