Nepal 2026 – What was it really like?

For Ludlow Sixth Form College student Phoebe, the opportunity to travel to Nepal was about much more than visiting a new country. It was a chance to immerse herself in a completely different culture, volunteer within a local community and challenge herself in a new environment.

Currently studying English Literature, History and French, Phoebe describes herself as “a humanities girl through and through”, with a passion for writing, debating, analysing the past and learning from different perspectives.

So, when she heard about the college’s Nepal volunteering trip, she knew she wanted to be involved.

“I wanted to go purely based off Nepal being somewhere I hadn’t explored yet and Asian culture being something I hadn’t had the chance to immerse myself in. When I discovered it was a volunteer programme in a local school, I was even more committed to going.”

Experiencing a new culture

Arriving in Katmandu was an unforgettable introduction to Nepal. Phoebe’s expectations of the country were quickly met by the reality of a place that was busy, vibrant and full of life.

“It was busy, chaotic and brimming with a unique Asian culture I had yet to understand. Arriving in Katmandu epitomised this and, although it was a little overwhelming, I got the sense that the vast number of local people were just part of some sort of very large and complex community.”

During the trip, Phoebe and the group spent time volunteering at a local school, supporting activities with pupils while also experiencing the many cultural opportunities Nepal had to offer.

From pottery making and painting to preparing local food, dressing in traditional clothing and hiking through the regional hills, every day brought something new.

“Genuinely every day involved something once we were back from the school and I loved each one.”

While there were many highlights from the trip, one spontaneous experience stood out for Phoebe, an unexpected wedding celebration in the streets of Nepal!

“To our group’s surprise, authentic weddings in Nepal often feature a grand street parade, of which we heard from our hotel and couldn’t resist joining.”

The group found themselves welcomed into the celebrations, dancing alongside local people, despite not knowing the songs, traditions or even the wedding guests.

“They opened their arms and we all had the most amazing experience, frolicking along the narrow streets together. There was something so thrilling about the pure spontaneous delight of that night and the unwavering enthusiasm of the local Nepalese people that I will cherish forever.”

Building confidence and communication skills

For Phoebe, the trip was also an opportunity to develop important personal and professional skills.

Being immersed in a completely different environment challenged her independence, resilience and ability to communicate effectively.

“I would say my communication skills have been improved the most, as our group had to adapt to communicating with not only children of a much younger age, but also with language barriers. My time in the school emphasised the importance of adapting to appropriate communicative needs.”

Although travelling abroad can feel daunting, Phoebe found that the support from the group quickly helped everyone feel at home.

“Your trip group becomes like family almost immediately. Whenever I did feel challenged, I knew I had a huge breadth of support around me, through my friends, teachers and project leads.”

The experience also strengthened Phoebe’s passion for understanding different cultures and societies.

Having always aspired to work within the United Nations in the areas of foreign affairs and human rights, her time in Nepal gave her even more enthusiasm for exploring global issues.

“My time spent in Nepal enabled me to reflect on the state of the country, both politically and socially, which was something I was incredibly interested in. Coming away with such enthusiasm has certainly confirmed my desire to continue learning from the politics and societies of countries beyond my own.”

A message to future travellers

For anyone considering taking part in a future international opportunity, Phoebe’s advice is simple:

“Whatever doubts you have, know that most people would have shared similar doubts but decided to go on the trip anyway, and you should do the same. You only regret the things you don’t do.”

Phoebe’s top tips?

“Take the pictures, make the memories, don’t be embarrassed to ask questions and continue to ask questions whilst you’re out there. My two weeks in Nepal went in a heartbeat… I’d do it all again if I could.”

For Phoebe, the lasting memory of Nepal came on the final day at the school, as the group said goodbye to the children they had spent time with.

“All the children found their way to the first floor of the building to wave goodbye. It was so incredibly sweet to see their smiling faces and them waving goodbye, there wasn’t a single dry eye amongst the group.”

“It was in that moment we realised the impact we had made in such a short space of time. It was such a special moment and it will stay with me forever.”