Description

Home to over a billion people, India is an incredibly dynamic country where the landscape, language, and religion change every twenty kilometers. At the heart of it all is the state of Rajasthan, known for its vibrant colors, wonderful textiles, and welcoming traditional culture. From lakes to mountains and deserts, and from city bustle to quiet village life, this program will introduce you to the rich diversity of India. Add in a few meaningful service projects and great adventure activities, and you have the ultimate North Indian Cultural Experience!

Service in the Mountains
From Delhi, you will fly to Udaipur, the lake city of Rajasthan and a great place to get acquainted with Indian life. Practice your bargaining skills while hunting for treasures in the local market and check out the stunning Lake Palace. Your next stop is Mount Abu, the only hill station in the state of Rajasthan and a popular destination for Indian tourists. Here you'll dig in to your first service projects. Help out with a few environmental conservation efforts, including cleaning Nakki Lake and working on reforestation projects, and give from your heart during service at a center for visually impaired people. On your final day in Mount Abu, you will get a feel for what life is like for the people you have been working with as you go on a blindfolded scavenger hunt through town!

Village Immersion
From the shores of Nakki Lake, you will head to the small village of Galthani, where your immersion into Indian life will kick into high gear as you move in with a local family. Tell stories, swap English lessons for Hindi tutorials, share meals, and get to know one another during this intensive cultural exchange.

The service here will focus on community projects. You may find yourself repairing local huts, repainting community buildings, or building a wall at a retention pond. In addition to working on community projects, you will head to the local school, where you will lead fun lessons in English and math with the local students. Don't be surprised if the kids ask you to stick around for a game of soccer or cricket when school ends!

A Dash of Adventure
What would the North Indian Cultural Experience be without a little adventure? Go on a safari and try to catch a glimpse of the elusive Indian panther, trek through the forests of Mount Abu, milk cows at a local farm, go rock climbing and rappelling (optional), visit the vibrant markets of Udaipur and Shivganj, and marvel at the Lake Palace and the Mehrangarh Fort. Cap it all off on the final night with a camel safari in the Thar Desert. Gaze at the sunset over the dunes, get cozy next to a bonfire, watch a traditional Rajasthani folk dance, and fall asleep beneath the stars at a camp in the desert.

Grab a camera and your sense of adventure and get ready for this experience of a lifetime! This program easily connects with all of our other great trips in India, as well as with our programs in Southeast Asia and China

Highlights

LIVE with a welcoming Indian family and immerse yourself in an entirely different way of life during this challenging and rewarding cultural exchange.

RIDE a camel through the sand dunes and fall asleep under a blanket of stars in the Thar Desert.

GIVE back at a center for the blind, volunteer with environmental initiatives, and promote rural development projects.

TREK through the forests of Mount Abu and try to catch a glimpse of elusive Indian panthers while on safari.

GAZE in wonder at the stunning Lake Palace and explore the intriguing Mehrangarh Fort.

Qualifications

Students must be 16-years old and up to participate on the program. Additionally, participants must submit an application through the Rustic Pathways website and complete the appropriate documents before traveling on the program.

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism

Languages

• English
• Hindi

Cost in US$:

USD 2,995 + 395 Internal Airfare

Cost Includes:

• Travel while in host country
• Housing
• Food
• Excursions
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials pre-departure
• Written materials abroad

Program Fees Include:

The above cost includes all ground transportation in-country, 3 meals a day, housing, staff through the duration of the program, all supplies for the volunteer projects and all excursions on the program itinerary not listed as optional.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 business days

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement

Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded

1983