Clinic-Only: $1,880 (based on double occupancy)
Call our office for single-occupancy rates.
The dental clinic — located at 11,000 feet above sea level — is set up in the Ladakh valley where volunteers work to provide first-time dental care to children in the Ladakh area. Outside the clinic, volunteers have a chance to get to know the local people and take in mountain life on the Tibetan plateau. Volunteers work in the clinic for six days, after which the journey continues through India with sightseeing in Ladakh.
The project duration is 15 days, which includes: travel time to Leh, orientation, sightseeing in Ladakh, and six days working in the dental clinic.
Volunteers may opt out of the sightseeing portion of the project and head home after the clinic.
Project Dates
- August 19 – September 2, 2024
- August 31 – September 14, 2024
- August 18 – September 1, 2025
- August 30 – September 13, 2025
What’s Included?
- Two-star guesthouse with beautiful gardens in Leh for 11 nights/12 days
- Four-star hotel in Delhi on departure (day room)
- Two meals a day while working in the clinic and on sightseeing days
- Breakfast only in Delhi
- Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle
- All internal overland ground transportation within India
- Airport transfers
- Sightseeing as listed in the project itinerary
- Celebratory farewell dinner
Plus, you will get all this too:
- A small group of 14 to 18 international volunteers
- The chance to make connections and create lifelong memories with new friends from all over the world in a sought-after, adventurer travel destination
- GDR Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
- Two GDR designated trip leaders
- A GDR coordinator in the office to answer questions and ensure you are prepared for your trip
- All tips for guides and drivers (except arrival and departure airport transfers)
Sightseeing Itinerary
Day 1: Depart U.S.
Day 2: Delhi. Arrive in Delhi in the late evening and transit to domestic terminal for your flight to Leh (departing the morning of day three). If you arrive early in the day, you may have to overnight in Delhi.
Day 3: Delhi — Leh. Fly from Delhi to Leh. On arrival in Leh, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 4: Leh. Morning at leisure (to adjust to the elevation). Afternoon visit to the clinic site and project briefing of where you will be working for the next six days. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 5: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 6: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 7: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 8: Leh. Full day excursion to Shey, Thiksey and Hemis Monasteries. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 9: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 10: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 11: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 12: Leh. Full day sightseeing of Ladakh Valley. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 13: Leh. Day at leisure in Leh to explore on your own. Maybe go mountain biking or white-water rafting or take a day hike in the surrounding area. Overnight in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 14: Leh — Delhi. Fly to Delhi. Day room to rest before transferring to the airport for your evening flight home. (B/-/-)
Day 15: Arrive home.
Clinic-Only Itinerary
Day 1: Depart U.S.
Day 2: Delhi. Arrive in Delhi in the late evening and transit to domestic terminal for your flight to Leh (departing the morning of day three). If you arrive early in the day, you may have to overnight in Delhi.
Day 3: Delhi — Leh. Fly from Delhi to Leh. On arrival in Leh, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 4: Leh. Morning at leisure (to adjust to the elevation). Afternoon visit to the clinic site and project briefing of where you will be working for the next six days. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 5: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 6: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 7: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 8: Leh. Full day excursion to Shey, Thiksey and Hemis Monasteries. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 9: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 10: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 11: Leh. Full day working in the dental clinic in Leh. Overnight at hotel in Leh. (B/L/-)
Day 12: Leh — Delhi. Fly to Delhi. Day room to rest before transferring to the airport for your flight home. (B/-/-)
Day 13: Arrive home.
Physical Demands
Volunteer dental clinics are fast paced and include a moderate amount of physical activity each day at high elevation. At our volunteer programs in India, you will need to:
- Be reasonably fit and have no known limitations to altitude as the clinic is situated at approximately 11,000 feet elevation.
- Walk approximately 30 minutes daily (15 minutes each way) to and from the clinic site.
- Be able to stand and/or walk (including climbing stairs) for approximately two hours at a time during sightseeing tours.
- Sleep with street noise (dogs, car horns, chickens, etc.) and have weak or no hot water at times.
- After orientation, be able to navigate the walk to clinic location and local restaurants.
- Be okay having limited or unstable access to Wi-Fi/internet.
- Be willing to eat primarily local Indian food.
