
Experience the enchantment of the Himalayas: trek on the roof of the world, study traditional arts with local masters. Live in a farming village and sit for a Buddhist meditation retreat.
open
three spaces
17-22
Tuition is all inclusive aside from airfare and insurance fees.
The Himalayas. Since time immemorial, these colossal peaks with their vast web of rugged, isolated valleys and distinct ethnic groups have drawn only the most intrepid travelers from distant lands.
Through rural and urban homestays, a retreat in a Buddhist monastery, high mountain trekking, service, and independent study, Dragons Himalaya students explore this remarkable region and its people, encountering ancient spiritual traditions with deep roots in a mystical land.
Our Himalaya Semester is based in the Kathmandu Valley, an ancient crossroads and melting pot of Himalayan peoples. While living with host families and studying Nepali language, students meet with local scholars and activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics and culture while pursuing a wide range of independent study and learning service projects.
The study of spiritual traditions is a central component…
Through rural and urban homestays, a retreat in a Buddhist monastery, high mountain trekking, service, and independent study, Dragons Himalaya students explore this remarkable region and its people, encountering ancient spiritual traditions with deep roots in a mystical land.
Our Himalaya Semester is based in the Kathmandu Valley, an ancient crossroads and melting pot of Himalayan peoples. While living with host families and studying Nepali language, students meet with local scholars and activists and learn about Nepal’s history, politics and culture while pursuing a wide range of independent study and learning service projects.
The study of spiritual traditions is a central component of our Himalaya semester, introducing students to a range of concepts in Buddhism, Hinduism and Shamanism. From academic discourse to hands on study, students find areas of personal interest to explore in depth during our time in urban homestays in the Kathmandu Valley. Bronze casting, jewelry making, stone carving, thangka (Buddhist iconography) painting, and traditional instruments are just a few of the apprenticeship opportunities available. Students interested in traditional medicine can work with a Tibetan doctor or an Ayurvedic practitioner. Students critically reflect on their place in the world through exploring concepts of service and development, visiting grassroots projects, and participating in local farming activities.
We leave the Kathmandu Valley for the foothills to explore rural Nepali village life. We settle into a calmer pace of agrarian life, living without electricity and learning about subsistence living. We also venture high into the Himalayas for an unforgettable trek amid some of the world’s tallest mountains, either in Langtang National Park or in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Hiking at high elevations, we enjoy two weeks of active exploration through one of the most ruggedly beautiful and dramatic areas on earth.
Click on the gallery below to browse photos, videos and quotes from our participants and instructors.
Spend a week at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery to learn about Buddhist philosophy and meditation and inquire deeply into the daily practices of Hinduism with homestay families and other local friends.
Examine issues of health and education, human rights, environment and land use, globalization and poverty.
Explore topics of sacred spaces and spirituality, religious practices, examination of development, current events, language and cultural anthropology. See college accredited curriculum for details.
Spend 3 weeks in urban homestays in the Kathmandu Valley and around 2 weeks in a homestay in a rural village.
Mentor with local experts in topics such as stone carving and mask making, Nepali cuisine, dance and vocals, women’s issues, comparative religion, ayurvedic medicine, and jewelry making.
Learn and practice Nepali language through intensive daily classes and language immersion throughout.
Volunteer to assist village home-stays with farm work and the harvest and learn more about service through visits with local nonprofits.
Split time between urban settings and the rugged mountain landscapes, traveling by bus, tempo, and on foot.
Embark on a challenging 2-week trek through rugged parts of the Himalayas in remote wilderness areas, with additional day hikes throughout.
In order to deepen your experience abroad, you may elect to enroll in college-level courses while participating on the Nepal Gap semester program. Those who enroll in an optional course will be invoiced an additional fee top of the land cost, for up to 16 college credits. To learn more, click here.
Students who take courses for-credit will receive an official transcript from a School of Record after successful completion of the program.
Through our Schools of Record, you may take the following courses for-college credit:
See full Course Offering descriptions.
Cate was able to discover a country and culture by traveling and being taught by experienced instructors, while also staying with families and being involved in day-to-day life. This is such an impactful way to experience a new world. The length of the program is vital to having this life-changing opportunity. The chance, also, to go to so many different areas of Nepal was amazing. It’s a testament to the planning of the instructors. From what we’ve heard, nothing felt trivial. The opportunity for be a part of an incredible group is priceless. They all had opportunities to follow, to lead, to care about each other. The timing of the trip is such a perfect lead-in to college. Cate’s heart, body and mind have been stretched in a wonderful way. We are so grateful.
Nepal Semester
"Excellent growth opportunity with cultural immersion, reflection, group discussion & bonding and stepping out of comfort zone."
Parents of Lauren Chin Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies
“The trip was absolutely amazing. I learned SO much about Nepal and about myself.”
Helen Whitty Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies
The entire WTBD team performed terrifically well across a myriad of spectrums: providing the kids with structured environments via homestays, separately creating other and more autonomous situations for growth, communication to parents, a safe environment, spiritual exploration, physical activity via treks and what I presume were other mind-blowing experiences – THANK YOU!
Gib Brady, parent of Clare Brady Nepal Semester: Himalayan Studies 2019