Location: N/A
Below is our anticipated schedule of activities during our India volunteer trip. The group will have limited access to the internet throughout the volunteer abroad program. While we understand families are eager for news, we ask for patience as our staff’s energy is focused on the students and the program at hand. Please do not call our office regarding these trip logs, as the office does not control the postings or the content of the updates. Thanks very much for your understanding!
Note: The group’s primary accommodations include the Colonel’s Retreat (Delhi), the Tsechokling Monastery Guesthouse (Dharamsala), and the Golden Tulip (Amritsar).
Day 1 (June 21) – Students depart from the U.S.
Day 2 (June 22) – Student arrival day in Delhi; Transfer to hotel, rest, and settle-in; Initial safety briefing to India
Day 3 (June 23) – Morning student orientation & icebreakers; Afternoon tour of Jama Masjid and Akshardham, a large Hindi complex that displays millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture. Activities include a boat ride and multimedia exhibits.
Day 4 (June 24) – Morning flight to Dharamsala (SpiceJet SG2468); Afternoon orientation to the town of Dharamsala and service activities; Tour of the Dalai Lama Temple
Day 5 to 9 (June 25 to 29) – Full-service program including morning English tutoring at Lha Charitable Trust and afternoon teaching at the Tibetan Children’s Village; Evening Tibetan learning program and local excursions
Day 10 (June 30) – Morning rest and relaxation time; Afternoon tour of Parliament in Exile and Geshe Lhakdor talk; Service learning preparation and lesson planning for next week
Day 11 (July 1) – Morning rest and relaxation time; Afternoon fun activity including a scavenger hunt, shopping, and evening cultural program; Service learning preparation and lesson planning for next week
Day 12 to 16 (July 2 to 6) – Full-service program including morning English tutoring at Lha Charitable Trust and afternoon teaching at the Tibetan Children’s Village; Evening Tibetan learning program and local excursions
Day 17 (July 7) – Norbulingka Institute of Tibetan Arts and Gyuto Monastery tour with an overnight stay at Norling Guesthouse
Day 18 (July 8) – Drive to Amritsar; Evening visit to the Golden Temple
Day 19 (July 9) – Begin closing activities; Afternoon flight to Delhi (Jet Airways 9W-809); Special dinner in Nehru Place Social
Day 20 (July 10) – Early morning train to Agra; Morning tour of the Taj Mahal; Return to Delhi for evening rest and packing
Day 21 (July 11) – Morning shopping at Dilli Haat and exploration of Haus Khas Village; Afternoon/evening student transfer to the airport and departures for home