What Volunteer Program Fees are like in Nepal

The fee varies wildly and this should worry any potential applicants. Basically, there are 2 types of organizations offering volunteer travel in Nepal – one based in Nepal and the other based abroad. The fees of local organizations are much cheaper compared to the international ones.

You may ask yourself, 'how can they offer me all they've promised (e.g. accommodation, meals, volunteer program) if they have such low program fees?

They can. The local organizations hire local people. Their running cost is low, and you’ll be surprised when you come to Nepal just how cheap things really are in Nepal. They can still make good profit by offering low program fees.

Program fee USD100 per week is a good fee to pay. But...

Ask them what do you get by paying that much. You should get accommodation with a good host family, 3 local meals and a volunteer project for that fee.

Ask them how is the program fee distributed - e.g. between host family, volunteer project and the organizer.

Ask them to show proof of this.

If the organizer is taking most of the program money, then rest assured your host family will start complaining to you. Complains like - how less they are getting paid for hosting you, how they can't serve you food that will make you happy, etc.

If this happens, talk directly to your organizer. Do not try to satisfy your host family. You can't and it is not your responsibility.

Your host family must get at least USD50 for hosting you, and the orphanage (or the project) about USD40.

The organizer profits form your registration fee. So even if they do not get share of program fee they will still make a good profit for organizing your volunteer fee.